Jordan Todosey (/ˈtɒdəsi/ TOD-ə-see, born February 8, 1995) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her role as Adam Torres,[1] the first transgender character on the long-running TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation, and as Lizzie McDonald on Life with Derek.
Jordan Todosey | |
|---|---|
 Todosey in November 2010 | |
| Born | February 8, 1995 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Known for | Life with Derek, Degrassi: The Next Generation |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
Early life
editTodosey was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and began working as a child actor at a young age, making appearances in series such as Instant Star (2004–2008), Life with Derek (2005–2009) and Flashpoint (2008–2012).
Career
editDegrassi
editTodosey is perhaps best known for playing a transgender character, Adam Torres, in the Degrassi franchise, becoming the first actor to portray a transgender character in the show's 30-year history. Her portrayal of matters involving transphobic violence, coming out, and gender transitioning received praise by audiences and LGBT+ organizations.[1][2]
For her performance, Todosey won a Gemini Award in 2011, for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series,[3][4] and the two-part episode "My Body Is a Cage" has also been widely recognized, including winning a Peabody Award in 2011, citing that Todosey "beautifully portrayed" a transgender character.[5][6]
Chaz Bono, who is transgender, appeared on the show, in support of Todosey's role. He invited her to meet with his group for trans teens to discuss her portrayal and to help her understanding the role. Bono stated that Todosey's character was "spot on" in the experiences of transgender people in high school and had helped one of his group members discover their own trans identity.[7]
When Todosey's character was killed off from the series in 2013, controversy ensued,[8][9][10] including a statement from GLAAD condemning the decision to kill off Todosey's character, while also calling Todosey's performance "authentic, multi-dimensional..."[11]
Linda Schuyler, one of the show's creators, defended the choice to kill the character, saying in a statement that Todosey's storyline "will affect even more lives in an authentic way…"[12] The executives argued that Adam's death, a result of texting while driving, was an important storyline to present to audiences.[13]
It was also revealed that Todosey's contract had ended with the show and the actress had chosen to not to renew it, leading to the death storyline.[13]
Other work
editTodosey played Lizzie McDonald in the series Life with Derek from 2005 to 2009 and the spin-off movie Vacation with Derek. She received a Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series - Comedy or Drama at the Young Artist Awards for the show.[14]
In 2006, Todosey portrayed Amelia in the short film Santa Baby. Her performance earned her a Best Female Performance win at the Yorkton Film Festival.[15]
She also appeared in one episode of Flashpoint; in The Pacifier as a Firefly (Girl Scout); and in The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio as Tuff Ryan at 9 years old. She also voiced the main character, Willa, on the animated TV series Willa's Wild Life.
In 2015, she co-starred with Henry Rollins and Boo Boo Stewart in the thriller He Never Died. She appeared as Tracey in Between. In 2016, she appeared in Murdoch Mysteries.[16]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Pacifier | Firefly #3 | |
| The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio | Tuff Ryan at 9 yrs | ||
| 2006 | Instant Star | Helen | "Problem Child" |
| Santa Baby | Amelia | Short film | |
| 2007 | The Stone Angel | Lottie (age 9) | |
| 2015 | He Never Died | Andrea | |
| Reign | Charlie | ||
| Portal to Hell!!! | Angie | Short film | |
| 2016 | Sweetblood | Lucy | |
| 2017 | The Immaculate Conception Photography Gallery | Nina | Short film |
| 2019 | Two People in Complete Darkness | ||
| You and Me | Jess | Short film; executive producer | |
| The Marijuana Conspiracy | Sally | ||
| 2021 | Vienna | Robyn |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–2009 | Life With Derek | Lizzie McDonald | 70 episodes, main character |
| 2006 | Instant Star | Hannah | Episode: "Problem Child" |
| 2008 | Flashpoint | Phoebe Swanson | Episode: "First in Line" |
| 2008-2009 | Friends and Heroes | Sophia | Voice role; 13 episodes |
| Willa's Wild Life | Willa | Main role (voice) | |
| 2010-2013 | Degrassi | Adam Torres | Main role; 136 episodes |
| 2010 | Vacation with Derek | Lizzie McDonald | TV film |
| The Good Witch's Gift | Jodi | TV film | |
| Degrassi in India | Self | Documentary | |
| 2011 | Rookie Blue | Esther | Episode: "Heart & Sparks" |
| 2012 | Secrets of Eden | Tina McBradden | TV film |
| 2013 | Saving Hope | Arwen | Episode: "Why Waste Tim" |
| 2015 | Remedy | Patti McLellan | Episode: "Blood & Guts" |
| 2015-2016 | Between | Tracey Creeker | 12 episodes |
| 2016 | Murdoch Mysteries | Fen | Episode: "Wild Child" |
| 2017-2018 | Wishfart | Tsuni | Voice role; 40 episodes |
| 2018 | The Detail | Episode: "The Past is Never Dead" | |
| 2019 | Hudson and Rex | Alicia | 1 episode |
| Go Away, Unicorn! | Jaded | Voice role; 7 episodes |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series - Comedy or Drama | Life with Derek | Nominated | [14] |
| Yorkton Film Festival | Best Female Performance | Santa Baby | Won | [15] | |
| 2011 | Gemini Awards | Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Won | [4] |
| 2016 | South African Horrorfest | Best Ensemble Cast | Portal to Hell!!! | Won | [17] |
References
edit- ^ a b "'Degrassi': We interview creator Linda Schuyler before ep 300 airs". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
- ^ "'Degrassi' tackles transgender storyline". CTVNews. 2010-07-15. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ "26th Gemini Awards Nominee List" (PDF). Gemini Awards. 3 August 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ a b "2011 Gemini Awards Presented in Drama, Children's or Youth, Comedy and Variety Categories" (PDF). Gemini Awards. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ "'Degrassi' episode wins Peabody Award | Toronto Star". thestar.com. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
- ^ "Degrassi: My Body Is A Cage". Retrieved 2016-06-25.
- ^ "Chaz Bono and Jordan Todosey Talk "Degrassi"'s Trans Storyline". www.logotv.com. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ "Degrassi: Fan Favorite Dies". 16 August 2013. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
- ^ "Dear Writers, I Will Not Allow You to Quietly Bury Your Queers | Bitch Flicks". www.btchflcks.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
- ^ "Invisibility: Why TV needs Adam Torres". Thoughts by Erica. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
- ^ "Sad turn for Adam on "Degrassi" in last night's episode (Spoiler)". 2013-08-16. Archived from the original on 2016-08-13. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
- ^ Swift, Andy (2013-08-16). "'Degrassi' Shocker: Adam's Fate Revealed In Emotional Episode". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
- ^ a b Allen, Joseph (2018-01-24). "17 Dark Secrets Behind Degrassi You Had No Idea About". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ a b "Jordan Todosey - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
- ^ a b "Yorkton Film Festival (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
- ^ "Rollins joined on screen to He Never Died by the Twilight franchise star Boo Boo Stewart (X-Men: Days of Future Past), Kate Greenhouse (The Dark Hours), Jordan Todosey ("Degrassi: The Next Generation"), and Steven Ogg". Gemini Awards. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ "South African Horrorfest (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-08.