Ensemble Bios

Jennifer Phipps

“She’s got the kind of presence, even in the smaller parts, that sets the audience buzzing.”
(St Catharines Standard, 2003)

One of Canada’s finest actors, Ms Jennifer Phipps’ performance as Anfisa in Chekhov’s Three Sisters in 2003 prompted the National Post to write, “As always, she brought a world – the world of the play – on stage with her, enforcedly filling out every moment of her character’s progress and connecting all the dots.” This season, Jennifer returns to the Shaw Festival in Present Laughter and Hedda Gabler.

Jennifer has appeared in both leading and supporting roles at the Shaw Festival since 1967. Just a few of her Shaw Festival roles include Mrs Eugene Chauvenet in Mary Chase’s Harvey, Miss Charlotte in the North American premiere of Githa Sowerby’s The Stepmother, Miss Potter in Terence Rattigan’s After the Dance, Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible, Maddalena in The Magic Fire, Dame Maud in Harlequinade, Mrs Dowey in The Old Lady Shows Her Medals, Mrs Farragut in Detective Story, Madame Cordier in S.S. Tenacity, Peachy Beech in Joy, Mrs Tilford in The Children’s Hour, Ellen Creed in Ladies in Retirement, Sarah in Eden End, Madam Arcati in Blithe Spirit (1993), Mrs Higgins in Pygmalion (1992), and Judith Bliss in Hay Fever. She has also appeared in Man and Superman (2004), Picnic, Love from a Stranger, Cavalcade (1995, 1986), This Happy Breed, Misalliance (1990), Trelawny of the ‘Wells’, War and Peace, Major Barbara (1987, 1967), Arms and The Man (1986), Heartbreak House (1985) and The Devil’s Disciple (1984).

Acting in Canada since 1960, Jennifer has appeared with Toronto Arts Productions for ten seasons and the Stratford Festival for seven. Two of her favourite roles at Stratford are Mistress Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Tamara in Titus Andronicus. Favourite roles elsewhere include Mother Courage in Mother Courage and her Children, Amanda in The Glass Menagerie, and Mrs Malaprop in School for Scandal. At Tarragon Theatre, she has appeared in Waiting for the Parade, L’Amanthe Anglaise and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You, for which she won a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best Actress in 1993. She has also received the George Luscombe award for Mentorship in Theatre, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Award, a Gemini nomination for Best Actress for her performance as Maddy in Ann and Maddy, the 1995 Gemini Award for Best Supporting Actress as Ruth in Coming of Age and a Jessie Award for her performance in Morris Panych’s Vigil at Vancouver Playhouse. Jennifer appeared as part of 1998’s 30th Anniversary season at Theatre Passe Muraille in The Duchess by Linda Griffiths, Wit at Citadel Theatre and was heard as Miss Julie on CBC Radio’s Peggy Delaney Mystery Project. She also sang in Jolen Gay’s Beggar’s Opera, playing Miss Peacham, with the Ontario Youth Choir – a memorable production directed by Robin Phillips and has read poetry with Artistic Director Emeritus Christopher Newton at the Elora Music Festival and made a personal appearance in the pilot of Sold and Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning, both by CTV.

Born in London, England, Jennifer made her theatrical debut during World War II, when at the age of ten she wrote and directed a play called Lovers in the Wood. The total ticket receipts came to two guineas, which were donated to the Aid to Russia Fund, and for which she received a thank-you letter from Lady Churchill, wife of the Prime Minister.

Six years later, Jennifer attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Four west-end plays and touring and repertory theatre work followed. She came to Canada in 1960 with her husband Peter Boretski and appeared in her first production in Canada in Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Gaslight. Except for a brief period of time spent in Los Angeles, Jennifer has worked in Canada ever since.

Theatre and the arts are in Jennifer’s blood; the profession was something she always knew she would be a part of. The great-great-granddaughter of the “Swedish Nightingale” Jenny Lind and granddaughter of the noted actress/producer Nancy Price, the family theatrical tradition continues with her son and daughter. Her son, Paul Boretski, is an actor and her daughter, Daliah, a writer and film actor. Her eldest daughter, Wendy Jay, owns and operates a metaphysical bookstore in Fort Myers, Florida. The family home is a charming historic house nestled among the fruit orchards of Niagara-on-the-Lake.