Lesleh Donaldson (born April 7, 1964) is a Canadian actress who has worked in stage and film. After making her film debut in the drama Running (1979), she would appear in several horror films in the early 1980s, which earned her the title of "scream queen" among genre fans.[1] These films include: Funeral Home (1980), Happy Birthday to Me (1981), Curtains (1983), and Deadly Eyes (1982). She also had a featured guest appearance on the Friday the 13th: The Series (1987).

Lesleh Donaldson
Born (1964-04-07) April 7, 1964 (age 60)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActress
Years active1979–present

Early life

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Donaldson was born in Toronto, Ontario. As a child, she studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada and appeared in early television commercials for Ford automobiles, as well as print ads for Sears.[2] Donaldson's father was a professional operatic tenor.[2]

Career

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In the late 1970s, she appeared in several made-for-television movies including On My Own about a teenager suffering from epilepsy.[3]

Her first theatrical film appearance was in Running (1979) starring Michael Douglas.[2] She then starred in a number of theatrically released horror movies, including William Fruet's Funeral Home (also known as Cries in the Night) (1980), J. Lee Thompson's Happy Birthday to Me (1981), Deadly Eyes (1982) and Curtains (1983).

In 1982 Lesleh was nominated for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Genie Award for her performance in Funeral Home. She also appeared in an episode of the television horror series Friday the 13th: The Series.

Filmography

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Movies

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Running Andrea Andropolis
1980 Funeral Home Heather
1981 Happy Birthday to Me Bernadette O'Hara
1982 Deadly Eyes Martha
1983 Thanks for the Ride Short
Curtains Christie Burns
1987 Hearts of Fire Penny
1992 Hurt Penguins Norma
1994 You Love Me I Hate You Mother Short
2010 What the F*ck Doug E. Doug? Woman in park
2011 Octoberfeast Heather Video
2014 Fall to Rise Melanie
The Night Before Easter Janice Sykes
Tales of Poe Evelyn Dyck / Woman in black
In the Future Love Will Also Multiple (Voice) Short
Behind Bars Nancy Short
2017 Swamp Freak Professor Belinda Southworth Voice Role
2017 Witness Protection Eleanor Television film
2018 Abnormal Attraction Anne
2018 A Simple Favor Bus Tourist

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Hot Wheels TV Short
1983 The Littlest Hobo Natalie Wilson 1 Episode, Second Sight
1984 Special People Robin TV movie
1985 The Undergrads Kim Barrett TV movie
Star Wars: Droids Kea Moll 13 episodes
1986 Adderly Dale 1 Episode, Brotherly Love
Ewoks 13 episodes
1987 Friday the 13th: The Series Lyla 1 Episode, The Great Montarro
1988 Night Heat Janet Crossleigh 1 Episode, Woof
Chasing Rainbows TV mini-series
1994 Street Legal Carol Murphy 1 Episode, The Firm
2011 Joe Zaso's Cafe Himbo Guest Star
2015 High Falls Lulu 3 episodes
2018 The Handmaid's Tale Neighbouring Martha #2 1 Episode, The Word
2019 Jett Sweeney's Sister 1 Episode, "Frank Sweeney"

Stage credits

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Title Venue
The Diary of Anne Frank Manitoba Theatre Centre
Criminals in Love The Factory Theatre
The Moundbuilders Equity Showcase Theatre
You Can't Take It With You Manitoba Theatre Centre
Burn This Manitoba Theatre Centre
How Could You, Mrs. Dick Winter Garden & Tivoli
Wonderful Tennessee[4] Sanford Meisner Theatre

References

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  1. ^ Doupe, Tyler (March 31, 2014). "Scream Queens of the '80s: Where Are They Now?". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Losing Her Head: An Interview with Lesleh Donaldson". Terror Trap. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  3. ^ "Official Website - bio". Official Website. Archived from the original on 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  4. ^ Willis, John, ed. (2000). Theatre World 1997–1998. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-557-83409-6.
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