Tanja Jacobs is a Belgian-born Canadian actress and theatre director. She originated the role of Constance Ledbelly in Anne-Marie MacDonald's Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet).
Early life Jacobs was born in Belgium to German parents. Her mother, Katia Jacobs, was a visual artist. At age 5, following the collapse of her parents' marriage, she, her mother, and older brother relocated to Canada. Katia Jacobs would later remarry Bill Kennedy, who Tanja considers to be her father. Jacobs says she knew she wanted to be an actress at age 9. At age 16, Jacobs left high school. She began taking acting classes at age 18.
Career At age 22, Jacobs landed her first notable role playing Dr. Chebutykin in an all-female production of Chekhov's Three Sisters.
In the 1980s, Jacobs was a member of the Toronto theatre company, Autumn Angel. Other company members were Richard Rose, Thom Sokoloski, Maggie Huculak, Stewart Arnott, Kim Renders, Bruce Vavrina and Mark Christmann.
In 1987, landed the role of Skinner in Howard Baker's The Castle. The production marked a turning point in Jacobs' career; after that performance, she worked almost constantly.
Jacobs originated the role of Constance Ledbelly in Ann-Marie MacDonald's Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) in 1988. Jacobs was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for her performance.
Personal life Jacobs has a daughter, Nina, who was born in 1998. Following Nina's birth, Jacobs took a break from her career to be a stay-at-home mother. In 2018, Jacobs completed her MFA in Stage Direction at York University.
Filmography Television +YearTitleRoleNotesRef.2005Slings & ArrowsWitch #23 episodes1999Power PlaySM3 Reagan Sexsmith6 episodes1997The New Ghostwriter MysteriesMrs. ShepherdEpisode: "Disappearing Act"1995A Taste of ShakespeareGertrude / Laertes / GravediggerEpisode: "Hamlet"1995Ready or NotMadame FuturoEpisode: "Crossing the Line"1995Side EffectsLolaEpisode: "Sixth Sense"1990War of the WorldsMiss GholstonEpisode: "The Pied Piper"1988Alfred Hitchcock PresentsMarjorieEpisode: "Animal Lovers"1987Seeing ThingsLady TheresaEpisode: "Here's Looking at You"1987Street LegalJill6 episodes1985The Suicide MurdersMartha TracyTV movie Film +YearTitleRoleNotesRef.1999Below the BeltShort film
Theatre credits As director: +YearProductionCompanyNotesRef.2022Orphans For The CzarCrow's Theatre2021Paradise LostCanadian Stage2019Getting MarriedShaw Festival2018A Midsummer Night's DreamShakespeare in High Park (Canadian Stage)2018La BeteSoulpepper2018Love and InformationCanadian StageCo-directed with Alistair Newton2017Twelfth NightShakespeare in High Park (Canadian Stage)2016The Model ApartmentHarold Green Jewish Theatre2010The Eleventh DavidTheatre Passe Muraille (Backstage Buzz)20021002 NightsShed Co.2000GoddessTheatre of the Repressed and Sansregret ProductionsAt Toronto Fringe As actor: +YearProductionCompany/TheatreRoleNotesRef.2019Cyrano de BergeracShaw FestivalLe Bret2018The Assembly: episode 1Porte Parole and Crow's TheatreValerie2015The WatershedPanamania (Pan Am/Parapan Am Games)2014Bloody FamilyTheatre CentreClytemnestra2012Grannie Didn't Go To FloridaSNAP Productions and Theatre Hetaerae (Cooking Fire Theatre Festival)Grannie2012SeedsCrow's Theatre and Porte Parole2011Tout Comme ElleNecessary Angel (Luminato Festival)2010Happy DaysTheatre ColumbusWinnie2010Mother Courage and Her ChildrenNational Arts CentreMother Courage2008The Way of the WorldSoulpepper and National Arts CentreLady Wishfort2006The Innocent Eye TestMirvish Productions2006Great PeaceActors Repertory CompanyStaged reading2005FrozenCitadel Theatre2004The Swanne: Queen Victoria (The Seduction of Nemesis)Stratford Festival2003OrchideliriumPea Green Theatre and Theatre Voce2003PhaedreSoulpepper2002Far Horizons HotelPlaywrights' Workshop Montreal and Factory TheatreStaged reading2002Girl in the Goldfish BowlTarragon Theatre2001Elisa's SkinTarragon TheatreElisa2001A Christmas CarolSoulpepper Theatre at the Premiere Dance Theatre2001TempestThe production used simply, Tempest, rather than the more typical title, The Tempest.Ariel2001A Trickster TaleTheatre DirectTouring school production2000The Wild Stage: An Evening Of German CabaretAlt.COMedy Lounge1993AbundanceHarbourfront CentreMacon1991Writing With Our FeetSophie, Alphonsinette, Zenaide, Lucy, Father Rocky, and Raymond Loewy1989The Man I LoveTarragon TheatreMax1989The PossibilitiesNecessary AngelMultiple roles1988Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)Nightwood TheatreConstance Ledbelly1987The CastleNecessary AngelSkinner1984Under the SkinThree SistersDr. Chebutykin
Awards +YearAwardCategoryWorkRoleResultRef.2018Gina Wilkinson Prize for an Emerging Female DirectorN/AN/AN/A2010Dora Mavor Moore AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal RoleHappy Days2003Performance in a Feature Role in a Play or MusicalGirl in the Goldfish Bowl2002 Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Featured RoleElisa's SkinElisa1994Abundance1990Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)Constance Ledbelly1984Under the Skin
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