Angela Besharah

Angela Besharah
Born Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Occupation Actress, director, producer, photographer
Website http://www.angelabesharah.com/

Angela Besharah (born August 12) is a Canadian actor, director and producer.

Early life

Angela was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and is of Lebanese, English and German decent. Her mother worked in international development and her father is an architect. She started ballet at the age of 4 and continued to dance in ballet and jazz until her early teens. Besharah then took up the double bass and was a member of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra by the age of 12. She auditioned for her first play at the age of 15 and landed the lead role. Besharah continued to act in school productions until graduation. At the age of 16, she was scouted to model in Milan, Italy. There she landed her first big campaign for United Colors of Benetton. Besharah continued to model internationally during summer breaks from school, working in Japan, Germany, Taiwan, the United States and Canada.

Acting

Though originally enrolled at The University of Toronto for environmental science, Besharah changed to the theatre program in her second year. There she played roles such as Ophelia in Hamlet and an old Newfoundland bag lady version of Gower in Pericles, Prince of Tyre. Her Toronto theatre debut was as Corey in Theatre Passe Muraille's Little Dragon which garnered her great reviews.[1]

Besharah first appeared on film in a music video directed by Sloan's Chris Murphy for The Local Rabbits and upon graduation was first cast on Mutant X.[2] More recent credits include - Ann Gargan,[3] opposite Emmy nominated Tom Wilkinson, in the mini-series The Kennedys,[4] Nelly McClean for BBC America's Copper.[5] and in the supporting roles of Jobina Lost Girl and Bridget Bishop "Bitten" for Syfy and Showcase.

Directing

Besharah directed her first play Just Another Day on the Hunt as part of the University of Toronto Drama Festival and was awarded Best Production and Best Direction by Robert Crew. She has since gone on to direct 6 more original plays; The Churkendoose was voted by the Toronto Star as a "Top 10 Best Bet", The Way was voted by the Toronto Star as a "Producer's Pick",[6] and Mad 5/Still Alive was given a 4 star review by Eye Magazine. In 2009, The Keeper's Secret also received a 4 star review from Eye Magazine; their critic commented, "You can’t help feeling like you’re seeing the future of theatre.".[7] Her most recent, "You Said Love" was acclaimed by audiences to an extended run.

Besharah was co-artistic director of Sterling Studio Theatre from 2012-14 directing Echoes by N. Richard Nash,[8] By A Thread by Diane Flacks and The Bear by Anton Chekhov.[9] "This production of Chehkov’s The Bear floored me. I’m not sure I ever stopped laughing."

She directed two documentaries, Taking IT Global and Fu-Gen Theatre Company, as part of the Get Involved! series for TVO.[10]

Her first short film creation Now & Then.[11] premiered at the San Diego International Children's Festival,[12] is touring India with the WorldKids International Film Festival [13] and was screened at the Brookyln Film Festival [14] and Artisan's Film Festival in the Hamptons. It was featured in The New York Times.[15]

Besharah is also an Acting Coach - coaching auditions and laying down tapes at "Inside Light Studio" [16] plus a weekly scene study group with Haven Studio Toronto.[17]

Producing

Besharah was the co-producer of the feature film Fondi '91 [18] that shot on location in Italy. She's produced two short films (Now & Then and The Evening News[19]) - The Evening News had its world premiere at The ReelWorld Film Festival [20][21] April 7, 2011 and then its US premiere at the 44th Annual WorldFest Houston International Film Festival April 17, 2011 where it received the Platinum award in its category (shorts dramatic original). She has also been producing indie theatre for over a decade.

References

External links

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