Polly Shannon (born September 1, 1973) is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Margaret Trudeau in the 2002 miniseries Trudeau, a film about the Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau.
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Biography
Polly Shannon was born September 1, 1973, in Kingston, Ontario, and raised in Aylmer, Quebec. Her father, Michael Shannon, is a doctor who served in various senior posts at Health Canada, including director general for the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control. Her mother, Mary Mackay-Smith, is a screenwriter for children's films and television. At age 13, after acting in theatre as a child, Shannon became a model, with assignments that took her to New York, London, and Tokyo. She attended Philemon Wright High School in Hull, Quebec.
In 1992, Shannon began her television career, landing a part in Catwalk, a YTV series about a struggling rock band. She went on to appear in several television series, including Sirens (1994) as Kelly Van Pelt, Ready or Not (1996) as Angelique, Side Effects (1996) as Lisa Burns, and the Canadian horror series The Hunger (1999) as Jen.
In 2002, Shannon appeared in the popular comedy film Men with Brooms in the role of Joanne. Her most notable role was playing Margaret Trudeau in the 2002 miniseries Trudeau, a film about the late Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau. "Playing Maggie was a really thrilling experience," Shannon noted at the time. "It was a challenge that was different from anything else I've done."
Shannon starred opposite Tom Selleck as his girlfriend Abby Taylor in two Jesse Stone television films, Stone Cold (2005) and Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006).
Filmography
Films
Love and Human Remains (1993), The Second Victim
A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1995), Alisande/Alexandra
End of Summer (1995, TV movie), Maid
No Contest (1995), Candice 'Candy' Wilson, Miss U.S.A.
Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn Story (1995, TV movie), Carol
Snowboard Academy (1996), Tori
Devil's Food (1996, TV movie)
Frankenstein and Me (1996), Elizabeth
The Girl Next Door (1999, TV movie), Fiona Winters
My Date with the President's Daughter (1998, TV movie), Cashier (uncredited)
Dirty Work (1998), Toni-Ann
The Sheldon Kennedy Story (1999, TV movie), Jana
Daydream Believers: The Monkees' Story (2000, TV movie), Phyllis Nesmith
The Stalking of Laurie Show (2000, TV movie), Christine
Harvard Man (2001), Juliet
The Triangle (2001, TV movie), Julia Lee
Men with Brooms (2002), Joanne
Trudeau (2002, TV movie), Margaret Trudeau
TrueSexLies (2003, short), Jackie
Television series
Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1992, "The Tale of the Pinball Wizard"), Sophie
Catwalk (1992–1994), Nina Moore
The Hidden Room (1993, "Marion & Jean"), Counter Girl
Sirens (1994, "The Needle and the Damage Done"), Kelly Van Pelt
Forever Knight (1995, "Trophy Girl"), Liselle
No Greater Love (1996, TV movie), Helen Horowitz
Ready or Not (1996, "Glamour Girl"), Angelique
Side Effects (1996, "Behind the Scenes"), Lisa Burns
A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1995), Alisande/Alexandra
Due South (1997, "Seeing Is Believing"), Judy Cates
Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension (1998, "Perfect", 1998), Esthetician
Highlander: The Raven (1998, "Passion Play"), Young Lucy Becker
Earth: Final Conflict (1999, "Between Heaven and Hell"), Dr. Joyce Belman
The Outer Limits (1999, "The Human Operators"), Human Operator of Starfighter-88
Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (1999, "Sacrifices"), Moira Stratton
The Hunger (1999, "Brass"), Jen