Bernadette Jones Biography

Bernadette completed her university studies in English and Drama at Concordia University. After graduation, she started her professional career acting and directing in Montreal. She also founded a touring company - Platform Theatre and taught at Vanier College for 3 years. Bernadette returned to Toronto in 1982. Since that time she has directed short films and over thirty theatre productions. Bernadette was the founder of Theatreworks Productions of Toronto.

Bernadette is Canada’s leading authority on the Shurtleff approach to acting and has taught in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Shurtleff’s studio in Los Angeles. Her professional association with Michael Shurtleff started in Toronto in 1984 and continued in Los Angeles. She was responsible for all the master classes he gave in Toronto over a ten-year period. She was instrumental in the making of 'SHURTLEFF' - The Documentary which has aired on TVO and BRAVO!.

In 1992 Bernadette shifted her focus to film and television. She built extensive on-set experience coaching lead actors for TV Series, MOWs, Mini Series and Feature Films. Bernadette's first short film was 'Damaged Roses' which she wrote, directed and produced. This film aired on W Channel's Shameless Shorts. Her most recent short, 'Werewolf Tango' is set to air in the 2011 season on BRAVO! This short starred Lisa Ray and Chris Owens.

Bernadette has also developed many new plays, often times producing and directing the first production of a script. Bernadette and the actors/writers she has directed have received Dora Mavor Moore award nominations on numerous occasions. One of the largest theatre projects for which she was co-writer, director and producer was the play Gizmette – produced in May 2003 to audience acclaim. This production starred: Gord Rand, Tammy Isbell and Suzanne Schnieder

Her professional memberships include: Canadian Actors Equity, ACTRA, Toronto Association of Acting Studios (TAAS), Playwrights Guild Canada, and Theatre Ontario.

Bernadette is also recognized in Chatelaine’s “Who’s Who of Canadian Women”. And was awarded the coveted "Harold Award" in 2010 for her "outstanding contributions to Toronto's performing arts scene".

Actors taught or coached include: Lisa Ray (Cooking With Stella, The Summit, Water, Toronto Stories), John Ralston (Living In Your Car, Flash Gordon), Sofia Milos (The Border), Jane McLean (Time Travellers Wife, Dexter), Matt Taylor (Red Coat Justice), Abigail Spencer, Lyriq Bent (Angela’s Eyes), Sandrine Holt, (Bored To Death, 24, John Woo’s Once A Thief), Nicholas Lea, Ivan Sergei, (John Woo’s Once A Thief), Amy Ciupak Lalonde (Wild Roses, Sophie), Victor Webster (Mutant X), Paul Popovich (The Bridge), Keram Maliki Sanchez, Nev Campbell, Jackie Richardson, Justin Louis, Melissa DiMarco, Shaun Majumder, Shane Daly, Ronica Sajnani, Gord Rand, Boyd Banks and many others.


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	Bernadette Jones Biography Bernadette completed her university studies in English and Drama at Concordia University. After graduation, she started her professional career acting and directing in Montreal. She also founded a touring company - Platform Theatre and taught at Vanier College for 3 years. Bernadette returned to Toronto in 1982. Since that time she has directed short films and over thirty theatre productions. Bernadette was the founder of Theatreworks Productions of Toronto. Bernadette is Canada’s leading authority on the Shurtleff approach to acting and has taught in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Shurtleff’s studio in Los Angeles. Her professional association with Michael Shurtleff started in Toronto in 1984 and continued in Los Angeles. She was responsible for all the master classes he gave in Toronto over a ten-year period. She was instrumental in the making of 'SHURTLEFF' *- The Documentary* which has aired on TVO and BRAVO!. In 1992 Bernadette shifted her focus to film and television. She built extensive on-set experience coaching lead actors for TV Series, MOWs, Mini Series and Feature Films. Bernadette's first short film was 'Damaged Roses' which she wrote, directed and produced. This film aired on W Channel's Shameless Shorts. Her most recent short, 'Werewolf Tango' is set to air in the 2011 season on BRAVO! This short starred Lisa Ray and Chris Owens. Bernadette has also developed many new plays, often times producing and directing the first production of a script. Bernadette and the actors/writers she has directed have received Dora Mavor Moore award nominations on numerous occasions. One of the largest theatre projects for which she was co-writer, director and producer was the play Gizmette – produced in May 2003 to audience acclaim. This production starred: Gord Rand, Tammy Isbell and Suzanne Schnieder Her professional memberships include: Canadian Actors Equity, ACTRA, Toronto Association of Acting Studios (TAAS), Playwrights Guild Canada, and Theatre Ontario. Bernadette is also recognized in Chatelaine’s “Who’s Who of Canadian Women”. And was awarded the coveted "Harold Award" in 2010 for her "outstanding contributions to Toronto's performing arts scene". Actors taught or coached include: Lisa Ray (Cooking With Stella, The Summit, Water, Toronto Stories), John Ralston (Living In Your Car, Flash Gordon), Sofia Milos (The Border), Jane McLean (Time Travellers Wife, Dexter), Matt Taylor (Red Coat Justice), Abigail Spencer, Lyriq Bent (Angela’s Eyes), Sandrine Holt, (Bored To Death, 24, John Woo’s Once A Thief), Nicholas Lea, Ivan Sergei, (John Woo’s Once A Thief), Amy Ciupak Lalonde (Wild Roses, Sophie), Victor Webster (Mutant X), Paul Popovich (The Bridge), Keram Maliki Sanchez, Nev Campbell, Jackie Richardson, Justin Louis, Melissa DiMarco, Shaun Majumder, Shane Daly, Ronica Sajnani, Gord Rand, Boyd Banks and many others.