Janet Wright (March 8, 1945 â€" November 14, 2016) was a Genie and
Gemini Award-winning English-born Canadian actress and theatre
director. She was best known for her role as Emma Leroy on the hit
Canadian sitcom, Corner Gas. She performed in many film and television
shows, and she also acted in, and directed, dozens of theatre
productions in Saskatoon, Vancouver, and at the Stratford
Festival.Wright was born in Farnborough, Hampshire, England. Wright
grew up as the eldest of four siblings (the others being Susan, John,
and Anne) who have all participated in Canadian theatre.Wright, along
with her sister Susan, co-founded the Persephone Theatre company in
Saskatoon in 1974. Wright's first husband, Brian Richmond, became the
theatre's director. Wright later worked at the Vancouver Arts Club
Theatre where she appeared in and directed more than 40 productions.
She also appeared in several other productions in live theatre across
Canada, and at the Stratford Festival in Ontario. Her theatre work
eventually led to television and film roles in Canada and the United
States.In 1991, she performed at the Stratford Festival with her
sisters Anne and Susan in Les Belles-soeurs, to positive reviews. In
1995, she was the first woman to play the title role in King Lear, for
Canadian Stage in Toronto. Wright acted in the film Bordertown Café,
for which she received a best actress Genie Award in 1992. In 2003 she
was named best supporting actress in a dramatic program or miniseries
at the Gemini Awards for her role in Betrayed.
Gemini Award-winning English-born Canadian actress and theatre
director. She was best known for her role as Emma Leroy on the hit
Canadian sitcom, Corner Gas. She performed in many film and television
shows, and she also acted in, and directed, dozens of theatre
productions in Saskatoon, Vancouver, and at the Stratford
Festival.Wright was born in Farnborough, Hampshire, England. Wright
grew up as the eldest of four siblings (the others being Susan, John,
and Anne) who have all participated in Canadian theatre.Wright, along
with her sister Susan, co-founded the Persephone Theatre company in
Saskatoon in 1974. Wright's first husband, Brian Richmond, became the
theatre's director. Wright later worked at the Vancouver Arts Club
Theatre where she appeared in and directed more than 40 productions.
She also appeared in several other productions in live theatre across
Canada, and at the Stratford Festival in Ontario. Her theatre work
eventually led to television and film roles in Canada and the United
States.In 1991, she performed at the Stratford Festival with her
sisters Anne and Susan in Les Belles-soeurs, to positive reviews. In
1995, she was the first woman to play the title role in King Lear, for
Canadian Stage in Toronto. Wright acted in the film Bordertown Café,
for which she received a best actress Genie Award in 1992. In 2003 she
was named best supporting actress in a dramatic program or miniseries
at the Gemini Awards for her role in Betrayed.
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