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Sarah Polley Biography

Birth Name:Sarah E. Polley

Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Profession Actress, Writer, Director, Producer, Music department, Soundtrack, Camera department

Fast Facts

Was inducted into the Canada Walk of Fame in 2010
Is the first woman to win the Genie Award for Best Direction
Received the Canada's Governor General's National Arts Centre Award in 2013
Was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2013
Received an honorary doctorate degree from Trent University
Born to former actress Diane Polley
Began her acting career at the age of four
Quote: "Telling stories is our way of coping, a way of creating shape out of a mess․ It binds everyone together․"
Quote: "I think young girls are done a disservice when they are read fairy tales and given the fantasy of happily ever after․ We're always told about the beginning and the end of a relationship, but what about the middle?"

Awards

1990Gemini-Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Continuing Dramatic Role: nominated
1990Young Artist Award-Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion Picture: nominated
1991Young Artist Award-Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series: nominated
1992Gemini-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
1993Gemini-Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role: nominated
1993Young Artist Award-Best Young Actress Starring in a Cable Series: nominated
1994Gemini-Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role: nominated
1997BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
1997Genie-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1997Genie-Best Original Song: nominated
1997NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
1998CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
1998CFCA Award-Most Promising Actress: nominated
1998Chlotrudis Award-Best Actress: nominated
1998Gemini-Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series: nominated
1998NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
1998TFCA Award-Best Performance, Female: nominated
1999Teen Choice Award-Film - Breakout Performance: nominated
2000Canadian Comedy Award-Film - Performance - Female: winner
2000Chlotrudis Award-Best Actress: nominated
2000Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Female: nominated
2002Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2002Genie-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
2004Chlotrudis Award-Best Actress: winner
2004Genie-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: winner
2004Goya-Best Lead Actress (Mejor Actriz Protagonista): nominated
2004VFCC Award-Best Actress - Canadian Film: winner
2005Chainsaw Award-Best Actress: nominated
2006Barcelona Film Award-Best Actress (Millor Actriu): nominated
2006CEC Award-Best Actress (Mejor Actriz): nominated
2006Best Canadian First Feature-: winner
2006European Film Award-European Actress: nominated
2007EDA Female Focus Award-Best Woman Screenwriter: nominated
2007EDA Award-Best Director: nominated
2007EDA Award-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: winner
2007EDA Special Mention Award-Best Leap from Actress to Director: winner
2007EDA Female Focus Award-Outstanding Achievement by a Woman in the Film Industry: nominated
2007EDA Female Focus Award-Women's Image Award: winner
2007EDA Female Focus Award-Best Woman Director: winner
2007CFCA Award-Most Promising Filmmaker: nominated
2007DFCS Award-Best Newcomer: nominated
2007DGC Team Award-Feature Film: winner
2007DGC Craft Award-Direction - Feature Film: winner
2007Film and Literature Award-: nominated
2007Gemini-Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series: nominated
2007ICP Award-Best First Feature: winner
2007New Generation Award-: winner
2007NYFCC Award-Best First Film: winner
2007NYFCO Award-Best Debut as Director: winner
2007PFCS Award-Breakthrough Behind the Camera: winner
2007Audience Award-: winner
2007SFFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2007Audience Award-Best in World Cinema: winner
2007Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
2007Satellite Award-Best Director: nominated
2007Excellence in Filmmaking-: winner
2007International Jury Award-Best Feature Film: nominated
2007International New Talent Competition - Grand Prize-: nominated
2007Holden Award for Best Script - Special Mention-: winner
2007Prize of the City of Torino-Best Feature Film: nominated
2007TFCA Award-Best First Feature: winner
2007Golden Spike-Best Film: nominated
2007WFCC Award-Best Movie by a Woman: winner
2007WGC Award-Feature Film: winner
2008Oscar-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2008COFCA Award-Breakthrough Film Artist: winner
2008Chlotrudis Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2008Chlotrudis Award-Best Director: nominated
2008Chlotrudis Award-Best Actress: nominated
2008Claude Jutra Award-: winner
2008Genie-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
2008Genie-Best Achievement in Direction: winner
2008Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2008OFTA Film Award-Best First Feature: winner
2008OFTA Film Award-Best First Screenplay: nominated
2008OFCS Award-Best Breakthrough Filmmaker: winner
2008Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2009Robert-Best Non-American Film (Årets ikke-amerikanske film): nominated
2011Chainsaw Award-Best Actress: nominated
2011Golden Seashell-Best Film: nominated
2012Black Pearl Award-Best Documentary Feature: nominated
2012Documentary Film Competition-Special Jury Award: winner
2012Politiken's Audience Award-: nominated
2012DFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2012DFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2012DGC Craft Award-Direction - Feature Film: nominated
2012Grand Prix Focus-Feature Film: winner
2012Art Cinema Award-: nominated
2012SDFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
2012Rogers Award-Best Canadian Film: winner
2012Fedeora Award-Best Film (Venice Days): nominated
2013EDA Award-Best Documentary Feature Film: winner
2013EDA Female Focus Award-Best Woman Screenwriter: nominated
2013EDA Female Focus Award-Best Woman Screenwriter: nominated
2013EDA Female Focus Award-Best Woman Director: nominated
2013EDA Female Focus Award-Best Woman Director: nominated
2013Best Documentary-: winner
2013Canadian Screen Award-Best Feature Length Documentary: winner
2013Chlotrudis Award-Best Director: nominated
2013Chlotrudis Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
2013DGC Team Award-Allan King Award For Excellence in Documentary: winner
2013IDA Award-Best Feature: nominated
2013Halfway Award-Best Director: nominated
2013LAFCA Award-Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film: winner
2013Festival Prize-Best Film: nominated
2013Golden Space Needle Award-Best Director: nominated
2013Sydney Film Prize-Best Film: nominated
2013VFCC Award-Best Director - Canadian Film: nominated
2013VFCC Award-Best Screenplay - Canadian Film: nominated
2013Robert and Frances Flaherty Prize-: nominated
2014Chlotrudis Award-Best Director: nominated
2014CinEuphoria-Best Documentary - International Competition: winner
2014Cinema Eye Audience Choice Prize-: nominated
2014Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Direction: winner
2014Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking: nominated
2014DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary: nominated
2014Gold Derby Film Award-Documentary Feature: nominated
2014INOCA-Best Documentary: winner
2014Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Documentary: nominated
2014WGA Award (Screen)-Best Documentary Screenplay: winner
2014Youth Jury-Special Mention: winner
2014Big Stamp-International Competition: nominated
2018Canadian Screen Award-Best Limited Series or Program: winner
2018Canadian Screen Award-Best Writing, Drama Program or Limited Series: winner
2018Gotham Independent Film Award-Breakthrough Series - Longform: nominated
2018USC Scripter Award-Television: nominated
2022BSFC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
2022CFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2022CFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2022DFWFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2022FFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2022Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2022GWNYFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2022IFJA Best Special Presentation Award-: winner
2022IFJA Award-Best Director: nominated
2022IFJA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2022ICP Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2022Sierra Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2022Audience Award-Mind the Gap: winner
2022OAFFC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2022OAFFC Award-Best Director: nominated
2022Kanbar Award for Storytelling-: winner
2022SEFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2022SLFCA Award-Best Director: winner
2022SLFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2022SFC Award-Best Director: nominated
2022SFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2022People's Choice Award-Best Film: nominated
2022UFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2022WAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2022WAFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2022WFCC Award-Best Movie by a Woman: winner
2022WFCC Award-Best Woman Storyteller: winner
2023Oscar-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023EDA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023EDA Female Focus Award-Best Woman Director: nominated
2023EDA Award-Best Director: winner
2023EDA Female Focus Award-Best Woman Screenwriter: winner
2023AFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2023Windie-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023Windie-Best Director: nominated
2023Chlotrudis Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2023Chlotrudis Award-Best Director: nominated
2023Cinema for Peace Award-Cinema for Peace Dove for Women's Empowerment: nominated
2023COFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2023COFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023Critics Choice Award-Best Director: nominated
2023Critics Choice Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023DFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2023DFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023Outstanding Directorial Achievement-Feature Film: winner
2023DFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2023Dorian Award-Screenplay of the Year: nominated
2023Dorian Award-Director of the Year: nominated
2023Independent Spirit Award-Best Director: nominated
2023Robert Altman Award-: winner
2023Independent Spirit Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2023GAFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2023Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
2023HFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023HCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2023HCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023HFCS Award-Best Director: nominated
2023HFCS Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2023ICFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2023ICFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2023ICS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2023KCFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023LEJA Award-Best Director: nominated
2023LEJA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2023MNFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2023MNFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2023MCFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2023NCFCA Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023OFTA Film Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2023Director of the Year Award-: winner
2023SDFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2023SFBAFCC Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
2023SFBAFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
2023Satellite Award-Best Director: nominated
2023Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
2023Septimius Award-Best American Film: nominated
2023TFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2023TFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2023Aurora Award-: winner
2023Faith in Film Award-: winner
2023USC Scripter Award-Film: winner
2023VFCC Award-Best Director in a Canadian Film: nominated
2023WGA Award (Screen)-Adapted Screenplay: winner
2025Astra TV Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
2025Best Screenplay-: winner
2025OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated