Yanna McIntosh
Encyclopedia
Yanna McIntosh, sometimes credited as Yanna MacIntosh, is a Jamaica
n-born Canadian
television, movie and theatrical actress.
and the American Repertory Theatre Institute at Harvard University
, in which she trained for acting in theatrical productions. For a time she taught students of theatre at the National Theatre School in Montreal, Quebec and at Toronto, Ontario's Humber College
.
, Hedda in Hedda Gabler
, Mary in Friedrich Schiller
's Mary Stuart, and Condoleezza Rice
in David Hare
's Stuff Happens
.
McIntosh's most notable recurring roles in television series include Dr. Currie in the short-lived 90's medical drama Side Effects
, Jenni Hernandez in Riverdale
, Edna Myles in The Eleventh Hour, Dr. Rollins in Blue Murder, Zona Robinson in This is Wonderland
, and Ms. Dymond in the Canadian teen drama The Best Years
. She has starred in a number of made-for-television movies, such as Atomic Train
(1999), in which she played Christina Roselli, Strange Justice
(1999), in which she played Jeanette, Deliberate Intent (2000), in which she played Elaine, Crown Heights (2004), Chasing Freedom (2004), in which she played Ruth, Reversible Errors
(2004), in which she played Genevieve Carriere, Doomstown
(2006), in which she played Pat Barrows, Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy
(2006), in which she played Dr. Crone, They Come Back (2007), in which she played Naketha, and Matters of Life and Dating
(2007).
Some of her appearances in movies and direct-to-video films include Nicole in Spooky House (2000), Penny Mills in Full Disclosure
(2001), Teddy Vargas in The Sentinel
(2006), and Diana in Finn's Girl (2007). Other roles include Down in the Delta
(1998), John Q
(2002), and Heaven on Earth
(2008).
of the Toronto Star
described McIntosh as capable of good performances on difficult stage roles, titling his article "No role too bold for Mary Stuart star". In his later review of the play, Ouzounian, who rated the play with two stars out of four, stated that McIntosh's role as Stuart and Nancy Palk's role as Elizabeth I of England were among the few highlights he saw in the play.
Her performance as Pat Barrows in the 2006 made-for-TV movie Doomstown
won Yanna McIntosh the 2007 Gemini award
for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series. For her theatrical acting, she has received six Dora Mavor Moor award nominations in the Best Actress category. She won the award twice; once for Florence Gibson's Belle and again for Athol Fugard
's Valley Song.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n-born Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television, movie and theatrical actress.
Early life
McIntosh attended the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and the American Repertory Theatre Institute at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, in which she trained for acting in theatrical productions. For a time she taught students of theatre at the National Theatre School in Montreal, Quebec and at Toronto, Ontario's Humber College
Humber College
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning is a polytechnic college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Humber offers more than 150 programs including: bachelor’s degree, diploma, certificate, post-graduate certificate and apprenticeship programs, across 40 fields of study. Humber serves...
.
Career
Yanna McIntosh's theatre credits include Petruchio in The Taming of the ShrewThe Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591.The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the Induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself...
, Hedda in Hedda Gabler
Hedda Gabler
Hedda Gabler is a play first published in 1890 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. The play premiered in 1891 in Germany to negative reviews, but has subsequently gained recognition as a classic of realism, nineteenth century theatre, and world drama...
, Mary in Friedrich Schiller
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
's Mary Stuart, and Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
in David Hare
David Hare (playwright)
Sir David Hare is an English playwright and theatre and film director.-Early life:Hare was born in St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, East Sussex, the son of Agnes and Clifford Hare, a sailor. He was educated at Lancing, an independent school in West Sussex, and at Jesus College, Cambridge...
's Stuff Happens
Stuff Happens
Stuff Happens is a play by David Hare, written in response to the Iraq War. Hare describes it as "a history play" that deals with recent history.The title is inspired by Donald Rumsfeld's response to widespread looting in Baghdad:...
.
McIntosh's most notable recurring roles in television series include Dr. Currie in the short-lived 90's medical drama Side Effects
Side Effects (TV series)
Side Effects was a Canadian television series, which aired from February, 1994 to January, 1996 on CBC Television.A hospital-themed drama created by Brenda Greenberg and Guy Mullally, the cast included Elizabeth Shepherd, Albert Schultz, Joseph Ziegler, Jovanni Sy and Arsinée Khanjian....
, Jenni Hernandez in Riverdale
Riverdale (TV series)
Riverdale is a Canadian prime time soap opera which ran for three seasons .The series was set in the Toronto community of Riverdale, which had the reputation of being home to many CBC employees at the time. It focused on a variety of characters and their interactions in everyday life...
, Edna Myles in The Eleventh Hour, Dr. Rollins in Blue Murder, Zona Robinson in This is Wonderland
This Is Wonderland
This Is Wonderland was a Canadian television series which aired on CBC Television. The series is a legal drama with comedic elements, or a comedy-drama. It was created by playwright George F...
, and Ms. Dymond in the Canadian teen drama The Best Years
The Best Years (TV series)
The Best Years is a Canadian teen drama series set in Boston, Massachusetts. The series was created by producer and writer of Degrassi: The Next Generation, Aaron Martin...
. She has starred in a number of made-for-television movies, such as Atomic Train
Atomic Train
Atomic Train is a 1999 action-thriller film about an accidental nuclear explosion destroying the city of Denver. It was originally broadcast on NBC as a two-part miniseries.-Cast:*Rob Lowe as John Seger*Kristin Davis as Megan Seger...
(1999), in which she played Christina Roselli, Strange Justice
Strange Justice
Strange Justice is a 1999 television movie starring Delroy Lindo and Regina Taylor and directed by Ernest Dickerson. Originally aired on the Showtime network, the film is based on a book by Jane Mayer and Jill Abramson.-Synopsis:...
(1999), in which she played Jeanette, Deliberate Intent (2000), in which she played Elaine, Crown Heights (2004), Chasing Freedom (2004), in which she played Ruth, Reversible Errors
Reversible Errors
Reversible Errors, published in 2002 is Scott Turow's sixth novel, and like the others, set in fictional Kindle County. The novel won the 2003 Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for Fiction. The title is a legal term....
(2004), in which she played Genevieve Carriere, Doomstown
Doomstown
Doomstown is a Canadian television movie, which aired in 2006 on CTV. Set in the Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown neighbourhood of Toronto, the film explores the issue of gang violence....
(2006), in which she played Pat Barrows, Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy
Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy
Why I Wore Lipstick To My Mastectomy is a 2006 television film that aired on Lifetime Television and starred Sarah Chalke. It is based on the memoir of the same name, written by Geralyn Lucas...
(2006), in which she played Dr. Crone, They Come Back (2007), in which she played Naketha, and Matters of Life and Dating
Matters of Life and Dating
Matter of Life and Dating is a 2007 Lifetime Television movie, directed by Peter Wellington and starring Rachael Harris, Ricki Lake, and Holly Robinson Peete....
(2007).
Some of her appearances in movies and direct-to-video films include Nicole in Spooky House (2000), Penny Mills in Full Disclosure
Full Disclosure (film)
Full Disclosure is a 2001 thriller film starring Fred Ward, Christopher Plummer, Rachel Ticotin and Penelope Ann Miller. It was directed by John Bradshaw.- Background :The film was shot in 1999...
(2001), Teddy Vargas in The Sentinel
The Sentinel (2006 film)
The Sentinel is a 2006 action thriller film about a veteran United States Secret Service bodyguard who is suspected as a traitor after an attempted assassination of the president reveals that someone within the Service is providing information to the assassins...
(2006), and Diana in Finn's Girl (2007). Other roles include Down in the Delta
Down in the Delta
Down in the Delta is a 1998 drama film directed by Maya Angelou. The film stars Alfre Woodard, Al Freeman, Jr., Esther Rolle, Loretta Devine, and Wesley Snipes.-Cast:* Alfre Woodard ... Loretta Sinclair* Al Freeman Jr. ... Earl Sinclair...
(1998), John Q
John Q
John Q is a 2002 film directed by Nick Cassavetes starring Denzel Washington as John Quincy Archibald, a father and husband whose son is diagnosed with an enlarged heart and then finds out he cannot receive a transplant because HMO insurance will not cover it...
(2002), and Heaven on Earth
Heaven on Earth (film)
Heaven on Earth a.k.a Videsh is a 2008 Canadian film directed and written by Deepa Mehta. Preity Zinta plays the leading role of Chand, a young Indian Punjabi woman who finds herself in an abusive arranged marriage with an Indo-Canadian man, played by theatre actor Vansh Bhardwaj...
(2008).
Reception
In his 2007 article on Yanna McIntosh's role as Mary Stuart in the Friedrich Schiller play of the same name, chief theatre critic Richard OuzounianRichard Ouzounian
Richard Ouzounian is a Canadian journalist and theatre artist. He is currently the chief theatre critic for the Toronto Star and the Canadian theatre correspondent for Variety.-Life and career:...
of the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
described McIntosh as capable of good performances on difficult stage roles, titling his article "No role too bold for Mary Stuart star". In his later review of the play, Ouzounian, who rated the play with two stars out of four, stated that McIntosh's role as Stuart and Nancy Palk's role as Elizabeth I of England were among the few highlights he saw in the play.
Her performance as Pat Barrows in the 2006 made-for-TV movie Doomstown
Doomstown
Doomstown is a Canadian television movie, which aired in 2006 on CTV. Set in the Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown neighbourhood of Toronto, the film explores the issue of gang violence....
won Yanna McIntosh the 2007 Gemini award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series. For her theatrical acting, she has received six Dora Mavor Moor award nominations in the Best Actress category. She won the award twice; once for Florence Gibson's Belle and again for Athol Fugard
Athol Fugard
Athol Fugard is a South African playwright, novelist, actor, and director who writes in English, best known for his political plays opposing the South African system of apartheid and for the 2005 Academy-Award winning film of his novel Tsotsi, directed by Gavin Hood...
's Valley Song.
Further reading
- Re: Producing Women's Dramatic History By D.A. Hadfield. Pages 105 - 113. Published by TalonbooksTalonbooksTalonbooks is an independent publisher of Canadian literature, whose repertoire features authors writing in the literary genres of poetry, fiction and drama, as well as non-fiction books in the fields of ethnography, environmental and social issues, cultural studies, and literary criticism.The...
, in 2007. Original from the University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. ISBN 088922563X/ISBN 9780889225633