Lina Blais

Gemini Award-nominated actress Lina Blais (2010) rejoices her audience by interpreting solid and acute characters, infused with a very personal flavor, reflecting her charisma. Easily passing from drama sobriety to biting comedy, Lina possesses a quick, distinctive wit, married with a depth of emotion that anchors her interpretations. Her inventiveness gives her the ability to shine in parts ranging from lead to eccentric characters. As a graduate from The Montreal Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and as a member of UDA and ACTRA, she has been delighting audiences professionally for over 20 years. Lina hails from Trois-Rivieres in Quebec, Canada and studied acting in Montreal, Canada before moving to Toronto in order to deepen her knowledge of English. Eighteen years later, Lina still lives in Toronto and performs on television and on stage in the city, as well as in Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec city and Sudbury. On television, Lina impresses with her unique screen presence. She shot more than 100 episodes in several productions. Nominated for a Gemini Award (2010) for her portrayal of lead character, the delicious Gisele Mailloux, in comedy series Meteo+ (4 seasons, 58 episodes, TFO, 2007-2010), she made her mark in the world of television. She was also the lead character for 4 seasons of tangy character Sophie Pouliot in drama series Francoeur (42 episodes, CBC, Unis, 2002-2006). Lina is part for the third consecutive season of romantic comedy Toi et Moi (2013-2016), which will be broadcast on CBC French in July, 2016, interpreting Minister of Yukon in Parliament of Ottawa, the entertaining Kathleen Stackhouse. She will also be seen on CBC French this summer in the new sketch comedy series, Jerome (2015). On stage, the audience was pleased to follow her in remarkable productions: Les Precieuses ridicules (TfT), Freres d'Hiver (Catapulte), Les Fridolinades (TfT/Catapulte) for which she received a Prix Rideau Award nomination, Rage (Catapulte), Bonbons assortis (TfT), La Societe de Metis (TfT/Catapulte/CNA/Theatre Blanc) which earned her the Excellence Theatre Action Award, Portrait chinois d'une imposteure (TfT/Catapulte), Un air de famille (TfT), Un Caprice (TfT), Parasite au bloc (La Tangente), a play she co-wrote with Louise Naubert, La Passagere (La Tangente). Lina is also dramaturg, teacher and playwright. She created (with Nathalie Nadon), directed and co-starred in the moving Collage Rose, epines, cendres et dentelle, presented for the World Women's day. Collaborating with Theatre Action organisation, she worked with them on several projects: as a dramaturg of their students' writing program; as a teacher to its members from the community and as a Star Host of their Franco-ontarian Theatre Festival for two consecutive years. Some of Lina's other collaborations: Amandine & Rosalie a la recherche des animaux du quartier, Amandine et Rosalie la decouverte du lac Ontario, Amandine et Rosalie fetent les Noels du Monde (youth theatre) and De Wawa a New York (Musical with vocal trio Les Chiclettes). She is currently working on writing the play L'Affaire des Bacchantes, together with her accomplice Nathalie Nadon. Aspiring constantly to broaden her creative universe, Lina has been diligently studying private singing lessons for more than three years with professor renowned for his technique of Bel Canto, Alan Reid. This helps her realize her childhood dream of singing. She produced and performed in her first Cabaret show entitled Suspended Time in October 2015.