Jordan Todosey

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Jordan Todosey
Todosey in November 2010
Born (1995-02-08) February 8, 1995 (age 29)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActress
Years active2005–present
Known forLife with Derek, Degrassi: The Next Generation
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)

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.

Early life[edit]

Todosey 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[edit]

Degrassi[edit]

Todosey 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]

Todosey with series creator Linda Schuyler at the 70th Annual Peabody Awards

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[edit]

Todosey 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[edit]

Film[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]

  1. ^ a b "'Degrassi': We interview creator Linda Schuyler before ep 300 airs". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
  2. ^ "'Degrassi' tackles transgender storyline". CTVNews. 2010-07-15. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  3. ^ "26th Gemini Awards Nominee List" (PDF). Gemini Awards. 3 August 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "'Degrassi' episode wins Peabody Award | Toronto Star". thestar.com. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
  6. ^ "Degrassi: My Body Is A Cage". Retrieved 2016-06-25.
  7. ^ "Chaz Bono and Jordan Todosey Talk "Degrassi"'s Trans Storyline". www.logotv.com. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  8. ^ "Degrassi: Fan Favorite Dies". 16 August 2013. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Invisibility: Why TV needs Adam Torres". Thoughts by Erica. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ Swift, Andy (2013-08-16). "'Degrassi' Shocker: Adam's Fate Revealed In Emotional Episode". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
  13. ^ a b Allen, Joseph (2018-01-24). "17 Dark Secrets Behind Degrassi You Had No Idea About". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  14. ^ a b "Jordan Todosey - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  15. ^ a b "Yorkton Film Festival (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "South African Horrorfest (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-08.

External links[edit]

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