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Meg Tilly

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Occupation
  
Actress, novelist

Partner(s)
  
Colin Firth (1989–94)


Name
  
Meg Tilly

Role
  
Actress

Meg Tilly MegTilly MEG TILLY YOUNG 4X6 PHOTO Legs eggs megs and

Full Name
  
Margaret Elizabeth Chan

Born
  
February 14, 1960 (age 63) (
1960-02-14
)
Long Beach, California, United States

Years active
  
1980–95, 2010–present (acting)1994–present (writing)

Website
  
www.officialmegtilly.com

Siblings
  
Jennifer Tilly, Steve Tilly, Rebecca Tilly

Children
  
Will Firth, Emily Zinnemann, David Zinnemann

Parents
  
Harry Chan, Patricia Tilly

Spouse
  
Don Calame (m. 2002), John Calley (m. 1995–2002), Tim Zinnemann (m. 1983–1989)

Movies and TV shows
  
Similar People
  
Jennifer Tilly, Will Firth, Colin Firth, Livia Giuggioli, Mary Kay Place

Actress and Author Meg Tilly on her New Romance Suspense Novel "Cliff's Edge"


Meg Tilly (born Margaret Elizabeth Chan; February 14, 1960) is a Canadian-American actress and novelist.

Contents

Meg Tilly Meg Tilly Gallery 1

For her role in the 1985 film Agnes of God, she won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her other film roles include Psycho II (1983), The Big Chill (1983), Masquerade (1988), and Valmont (1989). For her role in the television series Bomb Girls (2012–13), she won the 2013 Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Meg Tilly Beautiful Meg Tilly Bing images

Tilly has also written six novels, including Porcupine (2007), which was a finalist for the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. She is the younger sister of actress Jennifer Tilly.

Meg Tilly Meg Tilly Biography and Filmography 1960

Meg tilly


Early life

Tilly was born in Long Beach, California, the daughter of Patricia Ann (née Tilly), a Canadian teacher, and businessman Harry Chan. Her father was Cantonese American, while her mother was of Irish and Finnish descent.

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Following her parents' divorce when she was three, Tilly was raised by her mother and stepfather, John Ward, on rural Texada Island in British Columbia. She later claimed that Ward was a violent pedophile. At the age of 12, Tilly started taking dance lessons, in part to avoid her stepfather, and in a few years had developed into a gifted ballerina.

Meg Tilly Beautiful Meg Tilly Bing images

After graduating from Esquimalt High School in Esquimalt, British Columbia, Tilly left home and moved to the United States to pursue a career as a professional dancer. In New York City she studied with Madame Darvash and Melissa Hayden on full scholarship. She joined the Connecticut Ballet Company. She made her screen debut as a dancer in Alan Parker's 1980 musical drama Fame. Tilly's dance career came to an abrupt halt when, in 1979, a dance partner dropped her, causing a serious back injury.

Acting

Forced to give up dancing because of complications stemming from her back injury, Tilly moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actress and studied acting under Peggy Fuery. She made her television debut in the 1981 half-hour drama The Trouble with Grandpa, co-starring Elisha Cook, Jr.. After playing a prostitute in a second-season episode of Hill Street Blues, she appeared in her first starring role in the 1982 coming-of-age adventure film Tex with Matt Dillon.

In 1983, she appeared in two of the year's most successful films: Psycho II with Anthony Perkins, and Lawrence Kasdan's award-winning ensemble film The Big Chill, with Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, Tom Berenger, William Hurt, Jeff Goldblum, JoBeth Williams and Mary Kay Place. Tilly's appearance in The Big Chill, which was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, helped her career significantly.

In 1985, Tilly landed the acclaimed, title role in Norman Jewison's Agnes of God, appearing with Jane Fonda and Anne Bancroft. Playing the role of a novitiate nun who confesses her involvement in a virgin conception, Tilly "delivered a magnificent portrayal of a tormented young woman experiencing the ultimate crisis of faith". Tilly's critically praised performance earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award.

Tilly was the first choice for the role of Constanze Mozart in Miloš Forman's film Amadeus, having received glowing appraisals of her rehearsal work by both her would-be costar Tom Hulce and director Forman. However, she sustained a leg injury playing soccer and had to abandon the project. The role later went to Elizabeth Berridge.

Tilly later appeared in Valmont (1989), The Two Jakes (1990) with Jack Nicholson and Leaving Normal (1992) with Christine Lahti, as well as the 1993 horror film, Body Snatchers. After this, she stopped acting for the next 15 years.

Tilly returned to acting in 2010, portraying the Blessed Mother, a Pope-like figure in the Caprica episode "Unvanquished". In 2011 she played Martha in Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, presented by the Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre in Victoria, B.C.

In January 2012 Global Television in Canada launched the six-part Bomb Girls about women who work in a munitions factory during World War II. Tilly stars as Lorna, the emotionally closed floor matron who blossoms as a leader and an appealing woman. She won the 2013 Lead Actress, Drama Canadian Screen Award for her work on the series.

Writing

Tilly is the author of six published novels. In 1994, Tilly's first novel Singing Songs was published by Dutton to generally positive reviews. Donna Rifkind from Publishers Weekly called the book "an impressive first novel", and the New York Times Book Review praised Tilly for "the remarkable coherence and clarity" of Anna's narrative voice. The book is about a young girl and her sisters living in the Northwest who are molested by their stepfather.

Her second novel Gemma was published in 2006 by the Syren Book Company. and picked up by St. Martin's Press in 2010. The book is about a twelve-year-old girl who is kidnapped and taken on a cross-country journey in which she is physically and sexually abused by her captor.

Her third novel Porcupine was published in 2007 by Tundra Books. The book is about a twelve-year-old girl, Jacqueline "Jack" Cooper, whose life is shattered by the death of her father by friendly fire in the War in Afghanistan. Porcupine was a finalist for the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize, shortlisted for The Canadian Libraries Association Best Children's Book 2008, Foreword Magazine Book of the Year and was an Ontario Library Best Bets 2008.

Her fourth novel First Time was published in 2008 by Orca Book Publishers. The novel is about a sixteen-year-old who is molested and physically abused by her mother's boyfriend, and must deal with the trauma alone without the help of her mother or best friend. First Time was a 2009 Golden Eagle Award Nominee, a 2009 YALSA Quick Picks and 2010 CCBC Best Books.

Tilly's fifth novel A Taste of Heaven was published in 2013 by Puffin Books. A departure from the darker themes of Tilly's previous work, the novel is about two young girls who become friends who experience the "comical, sometimes bittersweet and melodramatic trials and tribulations of tweenhood". One reviewer wrote, "Tilly paints an insightful, memorable portrait of the ups and downs of friendship and the unwavering bonds of family, delving into age-old issues of honesty, trust, and loyalty. A Taste Of Heaven was shortlisted for the 2014 Libris Young Reader Book of the Year, a 2014 Diamond Willow Award and won the 2014/2015 Chocolate Lilly Award.

Her latest novel, Behind The Scenes, was published in 2014 by Puffin Books.

Personal life

In 1983, Tilly married her first husband, Tim Zinnemann, an American film producer and son of film director Fred Zinnemann. They met on the set of her first film, Tex. The marriage produced two children, Emily (born 1984) and David (born 1986), and ended in divorce in 1989.

In 1989 Tilly began a 5-year relationship with British actor Colin Firth, whom she met during the filming of Valmont. They moved from Los Angeles to a log house on five acres of mountainside property about an hour outside Vancouver near the town of Maple Ridge, British Columbia. Their relationship produced a son, William "Will" (born 1990), and ended in 1994.

In 1995 Tilly married her second husband, John Calley, an American film studio executive and producer 30 years her senior. They moved to Los Angeles where Calley worked as president and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. The marriage ended in divorce in 2002.

In 2002 Tilly married her third and current husband, author Don Calame, who writes fiction for adolescents. They met during a writing seminar in Big Sur, California. The couple lives in Toronto.

She is the younger sister of actress Jennifer Tilly.

Works and publications

  • Tilly, Meg (1994). Singing Songs. New York, NY: Dutton. ISBN 978-0-525-93778-4. OCLC 29357009. 
  • Tilly, Meg (2006). Gemma. Minneapolis, MN: Syren Book Co. ISBN 978-1-429-95770-0. OCLC 862069558. 
  • Tilly, Meg (2007). Porcupine. Plattsburgh, NY: Tundra Books. ISBN 978-0-887-76810-1. OCLC 77046068. 
  • Tilly, Meg (2008). First time. Victoria, BC: Orca Book Publishers. ISBN 978-1-551-43946-4. OCLC 298262290. 
  • Tilly, Meg (2013). A Taste of Heaven. Toronto: Penguin Group (Canada). ISBN 978-0-143-18249-8. OCLC 937048604. 
  • Filmography

    Actress
    2022
    Chucky (TV Series) as
    Meg Tilly
    - Doll on Doll (2022) - Meg Tilly
    - Death on Denial (2022) - Meg Tilly
    2017
    War Machine as
    Jeanie McMahon
    2016
    Antibirth as
    Lorna
    2012
    Bomb Girls (TV Series) as
    Lorna Corbett
    - Facing the Enemy (2014) - Lorna Corbett
    - Blood Relations (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - Kings and Pawns (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - Romeo Foxtrot (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - Something Fierce (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - Fifth Column (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - Party Line (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - Where There's Smoke (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - The Harder We Fight (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - Guests of Honour (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - The Enemy Within (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - Roses Red (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - The Quickening (2013) - Lorna Corbett
    - Elements of Surprise (2012) - Lorna Corbett
    - Armistice (2012) - Lorna Corbett
    - Bringing Up Bombshell (2012) - Lorna Corbett
    - How You Trust (2012) - Lorna Corbett
    - Misfires (2012) - Lorna Corbett
    - Jumping Tracks (2012) - Lorna Corbett
    2014
    Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy (TV Movie) as
    Lorna Corbett
    2010
    Caprica (TV Series) as
    Mother
    - The Heavens Will Rise (2010) - Mother
    - Unvanquished (2010) - Mother
    1995
    Journey (TV Movie) as
    Min
    1994
    Trick of the Eye (TV Movie) as
    Faith Crowell
    1994
    Sleep with Me as
    Sarah
    1994
    Winnetka Road (TV Series) as
    George Grace
    - Virtual Reality (1994) - George Grace
    - Women in Love (1994) - George Grace
    - The Real Wisconsin (1994) - George Grace
    - Videosity (1994) - George Grace
    - The White Zone (1994) - George Grace
    - Townies (1994) - George Grace
    1993
    Fallen Angels (TV Series) as
    Lois Weldon
    - Dead-End for Delia (1993) - Lois Weldon
    1993
    Body Snatchers as
    Carol Malone
    1993
    Avonlea (TV Series) as
    Evelyn Grier
    - Evelyn (1993) - Evelyn Grier
    1992
    Leaving Normal as
    Marianne
    1990
    The Two Jakes as
    Kitty Berman
    1990
    In the Best Interest of the Child (TV Movie) as
    Jennifer Colton
    1989
    Valmont as
    Madame de Tourvel
    1989
    Nightmare Classics (TV Series) as
    Carmilla
    - Carmilla (1989) - Carmilla
    1988
    The Girl in a Swing as
    Karin Foster
    1988
    Masquerade as
    Olivia Lawrence
    1986
    Off Beat as
    Rachel Wareham
    1985
    Agnes of God as
    Sister Agnes
    1982
    Hill Street Blues (TV Series) as
    Gina Srignoli / Hooker
    - Davenport in a Storm (1985) - Gina Srignoli
    - Some Like It Hot-Wired (1982) - Hooker
    1984
    Impulse as
    Jennifer
    1983
    The Big Chill as
    Chloe
    1983
    Psycho II as
    Mary
    1982
    To Climb a Mountain (TV Movie) as
    Cindy
    1982
    Tex as
    Jamie Collins
    1981
    Insight (TV Series) as
    Dori
    - The Trouble with Grandpa (1981) - Dori
    1981
    One Dark Night as
    Julie
    1980
    Fame as
    Principal Dancers
    Writer
    2023
    Ordinary Angels (writer) (post-production)
    1994
    Winnetka Road (TV Series) (1 episode)
    - Women in Love (1994)
    Self
    2017
    Home & Family (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Erin Krakow/Meg Tilly/Betty Fraser/Perry Pollaci (2019) - Self
    - Meg Tilly/Camila Alves/Emma Ishta (2017) - Self
    2014
    The Big Chill: Thirtieth Anniversary Q&A (Video short) as
    Self
    2013
    The 38th Annual Gracie Awards (TV Special) as
    Self
    2011
    The Hour (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #9.135 (2013) - Self
    - Episode #9.113 (2013) - Self
    - Episode #8.70 (2012) - Self
    - Episode #8.38 (2011) - Self
    2013
    Revealed (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Meg Tilly (2013) - Self
    2006
    The View (TV Series) as
    Self - Guest
    - Episode dated 5 October 2006 (2006) - Self - Guest
    1999
    The Big Chill: A Reunion (Video documentary) as
    Self
    1998
    The 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV Special) as
    Self
    1994
    Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) as
    Self - Guest
    - Meg Tilly/Joe Torry/Jud Hale (1994) - Self - Guest
    1994
    Today (TV Series) as
    Self - Guest
    - Episode dated 4 June 1994 (1994) - Self - Guest
    1994
    Signé croisette (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 17 May 1994 (1994) - Self
    1994
    The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) as
    Self - Guest
    - Episode #3.41 (1994) - Self - Guest
    1988
    Bogart (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #4.10 (1988) - Self
    1988
    Hour Magazine (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 21 March 1988 (1988) - Self
    1986
    The 58th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
    Self - Nominee
    1986
    The 43rd Annual Golden Globe Awards 1986 (TV Special) as
    Self - Winner
    1985
    Good Morning America (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 16 September 1985 (1985) - Self
    1983
    The Electronic Press Kit: Psycho II (Video short) as
    Self
    Archive Footage
    2010
    The Psycho Legacy (Video documentary) as
    Self
    1986
    De película (TV Series) as
    Self / Sister Agnes
    - En busca del Oscar (1986) - Self / Sister Agnes

    References

    Meg Tilly Wikipedia