CAST BIOGRAPHIES
MELANIE NICHOLLS-KING – MISS VIOLET
This New York-based Canadian actress began her career on stage with the theatre company Sugar’n’Spice, earning a Dora nomination for her performance in Sistahs. She is best known for her roles as Cheryl in HBO’s The Wire, appearances in all three Law and Orders, Showtime’s Deacons for Defence, and Disney’s The Famous Jett Jackson.
Her film credits include Clement Virgo’s Rude, the first feature by African-Canadians, which earned acclaim at TIFF, and How She Move, an indie hit at Sundance later distributed by MTV Films. On TV, Melanie starred as Noelle Williams in Rookie Blue for five seasons and continues her law enforcement roles as Sgt. Catherine Shaw on MTV’s Eye Candy.
PETER WILLIAMS – HARRY GAIREY
Peter Williams (born 31 December 1957) is a Jamaican-born Canadian actor best known for playing Apophis, a key antagonist in Stargate SG-1. Most of his work has been in television, but he has also appeared in films like Catwoman and The Chronicles of Riddick. His brother, Stephen Williams, is a TV director known for shows like Lost and Crossing Jordan. Before Stargate SG-1, Williams appeared in the 1995 movie Jungleground alongside other Stargate actors. In 2007, he starred as Gene Wright in Frances-Anne Solomon’s A Winter Tale, and as the antagonist Anthony Hyman in 2019’s HERO: the Extraordinary Life of Ulric Cross.
OWEN BLAKKA ELLIS – MARCUS MOSIAH GARVEY
Blakka is a celebrated and beloved Caribbean comedic entertainer, recognized on the world stage as one half of the comedy duo “Blakka and Bello.” He has worked in the fields of education, entertainment, and community arts/activism for over 30 years. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Edna Manley School of Drama in Jamaica. A talented actor and writer, he has earned many local awards for acting and directing, as well as wide international acclaim for his poem “The Gateman” and many others.
RICHARD MORPHEUS WALTERS – YOUNG DENHAM
Richard Walters is a Canadian Jamaican actor, entertainer, dancer, and recording artist from Toronto. Best known for his role as a series regular on “Degrassi,” he has since appeared in acclaimed films and TV shows like “Akilla’s Escape,” “American Woman,” and “Frankie Drake Mysteries.” In 2020, he won the Reelworld Film Festival’s Stand Out Actor Award for his performance in “An Uninvited Guest.” Alongside acting, Richard has produced award-winning short films, music videos, and TV projects, including the hybrid “Speak” and the mockumentary “Zeen?,” which explores culture and privilege in the Caribbean diaspora. As recording artist Morpheus Richards, he writes and composes music inspired by legends like James Brown and Michael Jackson, striving to create a true musical experience for listeners.
TYMIKA TAFARI – ELOUISE
Tymika Tafari (she/her) is a proud Jamaican-Canadian actress and activist. Born in Tkaronto, Jane and Finch, Tafari (pronounced tuh-far-eye) started her career on the GBTS stage, noticed her own potential in television, and has been challenging herself ever since. In her free time, she enjoys reading manga, watching anime, spending time with her family and minding her business.
LUCKY EJIM – KWESI
Lucky Ejim is a versatile actor with universal appeal. He won the Nollywood 2014 Best Supporting Actor award for his role in Render to Ceasar and has appeared in Moby Dick, Good Dog, Dark Matter, A Winter Tale and CBC’s comedy series Kim’s Convenience. Lucky starred in and directed the award-winning film The Tenant. As a writer and producer, he has many projects in development, including Intersection, an action drama.
VALERIE BUHAGIAR – MARIA
Valerie Buhagiar, born on May 12, 1963, is a Maltese-Canadian actress, film director, and television host known for her contributions to both stage and screen. She began her career starring in film by Bruce MacDonald including Roadkill and Highway 61. Buhagiar made her directorial debut with The Passion of Rita Camilleri, a short film that earned the prestigious Silver Plaque at the Chicago Film Festival in 1993. Her talents extend to the stage, where she has received two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for her performances in The Lorca Play and White Trash, Blue Eyes. Beyond her work as an actress and director, Buhagiar has also shared her passion for cinema as a host on Canadian television networks Showcase and TVOntario, where she presented and curated film programming.
MRS. MURPHY – SARAH MCVIE
Sarah is best known for her role in the hit series Workin’ Moms. At the age of 11, Sarah attended a theatre production of Don’t Drink the Water at a federal prison where her father worked, and so began her passionate pursuit of acting and storytelling. A native of Ottawa, Sarah graduated from Canterbury High School for the Arts, pursued post-secondary classical theatre training, and began her career as an actor with five consecutive seasons at the prestigious Stratford Shakespeare Theatre Festival. Roles at Stratford included Cordelia in King Lear opposite Christopher Plummer, Marianna in All’s Well That Ends Well, and The Bawd in Pericles. Pericles.