Sophie Lorain

A vibrant actress capable of creating fully flesh-and-blood characters on screen, Sophie Lorain built an impressive career in film, television and on the stage. Born Nov. 20, 1957 in Montréal, Québec, Canada, Sophie Lorain completed her dramatic training at the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in England and then the Théâtre français de Toronto. The bilingual actress made her screen debut in "Il était une fois dans l'est" (1974) and went on to impress in such projects as the layered newspaper drama "Scoop" (Radio-Canada, 1992-95), for which she earned two Gémeaux Award nominations, as well as "Urban Angel" (CBC, 1991-93), where she essayed a police reporter. Lorain won a Gémeaux for her performance in "Omertà, la loi du silence" (Radio-Canada, 1996-99), a series that examined the complications and overlapping worlds of law enforcement and the Mafia. She took supporting roles in several projects that crossed over with American audiences, including the Marlee Matlin thriller "In Her Defense" (1999) and the coming-out family comedy "Mambo Italiano" (2003). She notched a small role in Denys Arcand's highly influential, Oscar-winning "Les invasions barbares" ("The Barbarian Invasions") (2003), but Lorain's most famous role came as the star and producer of the wonderful mystery series "Fortier" (TVA, 2000-04). As the titular criminal psychologist, Lorain explored the many quirks of her character - including a dark, secret past - as she struggled to stay on top of her dangerous, high-pressure job, winning a well-deserved Gémeaux Award for her masterful work.