Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin

A rising star who came into her own with age, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin impressed critics with her steady development into an accomplished dramatic actress of enormous range. Born in 1981, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin earned valuable professional experience on the soap opera "Les héritiers Duval" (Radio-Canada, 1994-97) and went on to land roles on programs such as "Le monde de Charlotte" (Radio-Canada, 2000-04), "Emma" (TVA, 2001-04) and "Grande ourse" (Radio-Canada, 2004-05). After roles on "La promesse" (TVA, 2005-2012) and "Il était une fois dans le trouble" (VRAK.TV, 2004- ), she landed the starring role in the lightweight but likable teen romantic comedy "À vos marques party!" ("Taking the Plunge") (2007) as Gaby Roberge, a high school girl who tutors (then falls for) the sexy swim team captain (Jason Roy-Léveillée). So popular was the film that it spun off a sequel, "À vos marques party! 2" ("Taking the Plunge 2") (2009). Although she had built an impressive career as a rising star in lighter fare, Désormeaux-Poulin wowed international critics and audiences with an unexpected and impressively powerful dramatic turn in Denis Villeneuve's wrenching, Oscar-nominated "Incendies" (2010), the Shakespearean-worthy story of a Middle Eastern mother whose death spurs her Canadian-born twins (Désormeaux-Poulin and Maxim Gaudette) to search out the secrets of her painful life. Nominated for a Best Actress Jutra and Best Supporting Actress Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award, Désormeaux-Poulin saw her profile boosted accordingly, leading to roles in the films "Hors les murs" (2012) and "Omertà" (2012).