Jordan Todosey ( , born February 8, 1998) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her role as Adam Torres, the first transgender character on the long-running TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation, and as Lizzie McDonald on Life with Derek. More recently, Todosey has released music under the alias 'odditie'.
Early life Todosey was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and began working as a child actor at a young age, making appearances in series such as Instant Star (2004–2008), Life with Derek (2005–2009) and Flashpoint (2008–2012).
Career Degrassi Todosey is perhaps best known for playing a transgender character, Adam Torres, in the Degrassi franchise, becoming the first actor to portray a transgender character in the show's 30-year history. Her portrayal of matters involving transphobic violence, coming out, and gender transitioning received praise by audiences and LGBT+ organizations.
For her performance, Todosey won a Gemini Award in 2011, for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series, and the two-part episode "My Body Is a Cage" has also been widely recognized, including winning a Peabody Award in 2011, citing that Todosey "beautifully portrayed" a transgender character.
Chaz Bono, who is transgender, appeared on the show in support of Todosey's role. He invited her to meet with his group for trans teens to discuss her portrayal and to help her understanding the role. Bono stated that Todosey's character was "spot on" in the experiences of transgender people in high school and had helped one of his group members discover their own trans identity.When Todosey's character was killed off from the series in 2013, controversy ensued, including a statement from GLAAD condemning the decision to kill off Todosey's character, while also calling Todosey's performance "authentic, multi-dimensional..."
Linda Schuyler, one of the show's creators, defended the choice to kill the character, saying in a statement that Todosey's storyline "will affect even more lives in an authentic way…" The executives argued that Adam's death, a result of texting while driving, was an important storyline to present to audiences.
It was also revealed that Todosey's contract had ended with the show and the actress had chosen not to renew it, leading to the death storyline.
Other work Todosey played Lizzie McDonald in the series Life with Derek from 2005 to 2009 and the spin-off movie Vacation with Derek. She received a Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series - Comedy or Drama at the Young Artist Awards for the show.
In 2006, Todosey portrayed Amelia in the short film Santa Baby. Her performance earned her a Best Female Performance win at the Yorkton Film Festival.
She also appeared in one episode of Flashpoint; in The Pacifier as a Firefly (Girl Scout); and in The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio as Tuff Ryan at 9 years old. She also voiced the main character, Willa, on the animated TV series Willa's Wild Life.
In 2015, she co-starred with Henry Rollins and Boo Boo Stewart in the thriller He Never Died. She appeared as Tracey in Between. In 2016, she appeared in Murdoch Mysteries.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2005 The Pacifier Firefly #3 The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio Tuff Ryan at 9 yrs 2006 Instant Star Helen "Problem Child" Santa Baby Amelia Short film 2007 The Stone Angel Lottie (age 9) 2015 He Never Died Andrea Reign Charlie Portal to Hell!!! Angie Short film 2016 Sweetblood Lucy 2017 The Immaculate Conception Photography Gallery NinaShort film2019 Two People in Complete Darkness You and Me Jess Short film; executive producer The Marijuana Conspiracy Sally 2021 Vienna Robyn
Television +YearTitleRole Notes2005–2009Life With DerekLizzie McDonald70 episodes, main character2006Instant StarHannahEpisode: "Problem Child"2008FlashpointPhoebe SwansonEpisode: "First in Line"2008–2009Friends and HeroesSophiaVoice role; 13 episodesWilla's Wild LifeWillaMain role (voice)2010–2013DegrassiAdam TorresMain role; 136 episodes2010Vacation with DerekLizzie McDonaldTV film The Good Witch's GiftJodiTV filmDegrassi in IndiaSelfDocumentary2011Rookie BlueEstherEpisode: "Heart & Sparks"2012Secrets of EdenTina McBraddenTV film2013Saving HopeArwenEpisode: "Why Waste Tim"2015RemedyPatti McLellanEpisode: "Blood & Guts"2015–2016BetweenTracey Creeker12 episodes2016Murdoch MysteriesFenEpisode: "Wild Child"2017–2018WishfartTsuniVoice role; 40 episodes2018 The DetailEpisode: "The Past is Never Dead"2019Hudson and RexAlicia1 episodeGo Away, Unicorn!JadedVoice role; 7 episodes
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2006Young Artist AwardsBest Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series - Comedy or DramaLife with DerekYorkton Film FestivalBest Female PerformanceSanta Baby2011Gemini AwardsBest Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or SeriesDegrassi: The Next Generation2016South African HorrorfestBest Ensemble CastPortal to Hell!!!
References
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