Bright, beautiful and talented, Joely Collins is one of Canada's top actresses.
She began her acting career with dramatic studies at The Vancouver Youth Theater, then at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England. She was cast as "Rachael Langston" in the highly acclaimed television series Madison (1993). At the young age of 22, she was named Canada's "Best Leading Actress", earning a Gemini Award for her work.
Following Madison (1993), she was cast in the recurring starring role of "Christine Wren", in the award-winning series Cold Squad, brigade spéciale (1998), Canada's longest running hour-long drama. Her work in Cold Squad, brigade spéciale (1998) earned her a Leo Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category. She recently completed production, starring in the feature film by director Bruce McDonald, The Love Crimes of Gillian Guess (2004) and she plays a futuristic tattoo artist in the Robin Williams feature Final Cut (2004).
Last year, she appeared in Ill Fated (2004) with Peter Outerbridge. Her other roles include that of a hilarious small-town gossip in The Dinosaur Hunter (2000) and as a mysterious force in Corey Lee's indie feature, Defining Edward (2003), a dark psychological thriller.
Collins formed Wunderkind Productions Inc. in 1997 and the company's first production was Summer Love: The Documentary (1999), which she produced, directed, wrote and starred in. The one-hour feature length documentary debuted on Much Music and earned two Leo Award nominations. This ABC-guide to rave culture also screened at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, won the "Audience Choice Pick" at the Oshawa Durham Film Festival and played to a "turn away" audience at Vancouver's Celluloid Social Club.
Born in Vancouver, raised on Canada's west coast and in England, she is the daughter of environmental activist Andrea Collins and musician Phil Collins. She is active in developing independent film and documentary projects while pursuing her acting career.
Her various and diverse passions include music, particularly House, fashion and design, film and fitness, architecture and travel. She is an advocate for gay and human rights and the ethical treatment of animals. A devout Buddhist, she is a young women's leader for the Soka Gakkai International of Canada.
