Denise Filiatrault

1999 Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Screens and Voices (formerly Broadcasting and Film))

"Her essence is energy!" Actress, writer and director, Denise Filiatrault, with her zest for "doing", has fashioned a long and fascinating career in all the entertainment media. Her love of life, her gusto, and her passionate pursuit of the future characterize this wonderful artist.

Raised in the same milieu as Michel Tremblay, she has performed in many of his works, part of the cadre of artists who have explored together every aspect of that world that formed the basis of their own lives.

Mistress of that most difficult art, making people laugh, she is known first as a comic actress but has also directed widely, winning many awards, most recently for her magnificent stagings of works as diverse as Les Leçons de Maria Callas and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme. All the main French-language stages in the country have been home for her productions, and she has directed all the French-language mainstage productions of Montreal's "Just for Laughs" comedy festival. Today, again using the words and scenes of Tremblay, she has achieved a lifetime dream, directing her first feature film to huge box-office success: C't'à ton tour, Laura Cadieux. She is already embarked on its sequel.

Officer of the Order of Canada, a Gemini Award and the Victor-Morin Prize, both for lifetime achievement, are among her many honours.