Michelle Thrush

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Michelle Thrush (born February 6, 1967) is a Canadian actress and First Nations activist who works for Indigenous peoples in Canada and the Americas. She is best known for playing Gail Stoney in Blackstone, a role that won her a Gemini Award in 2011. She also had recurring parts as Sylvie LeBret in North of 60 and Deanna Martin in Arctic Air. Thrush appeared in Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian, which was nominated for the Palme d'Or and César Awards.

Thrush is Cree and grew up in Calgary, Alberta, with parents who struggled with alcoholism. She remembers being called “Squaw” and being bullied at Bowness High School. In ninth grade she moved to Calgary’s Plains Indian Cultural Survival School, where she felt accepted and learned about her culture, language, drumming and singing.

Her childhood hardships stayed with her. She acted in her first film at 17 but didn’t think acting could be a career. She planned to become a social worker. After meeting First Nations actor Gordon Tootoosis, who encouraged her to follow acting, she moved to Vancouver at age 20 to pursue it and found an agent.

Since the 1980s, Thrush has had a busy career. She began acting in film while in high school and later took her first theatre job in Vancouver. She has had many TV roles, including parts in Madison, Northern Exposure, North of 60, Highlander, Forever Knight, Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy, Moccasin Flats and Mixed Blessings. She has appeared in many films about Indigenous peoples, such as Isaac Littlefeathers, Unnatural & Accidental, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Skins, Dead Man, Dreamkeeper and Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian.

In 2011 Thrush wrote a one-woman play, Find Your Own Inner Elder, often performed as Inner Elder. It is a personal show that she has performed across Canada, including Calgary in 2018 and Toronto in 2019 with Nightwood Theatre and Native Earth Performing Arts. The show is a structured monologue about her life and experiences.

Her daughter, Imajyn Cardinal, is also an actress.