Many recall Molly Parker’s breakthrough role, as a sympathetic necrophile in ‘Kissed’ (1996), among others. However, beyond this Ms. Parker has been recognized for dozens of turns in many other films and TV series. Now, she is filming next year’s ‘The Firm’ for television.

Ms. Parker’s career has seen a few understated roles, and she has earned praise for even minor characters. But a number of her roles have been colourful. She played a flat-mate living in a closet in ‘Twitch City’ (1998); a prostituting, married receptionist in ‘Suspicious River’ (2000); an escort in ‘The Centre of the World’ (2001); and an alcoholic mother in ‘Men with Brooms’ (2002), to name a few.

Three of her roles have required singing. ‘Under Heaven’ (1998) and ‘Marion Bridge’ (2002) each featured a song performed by Ms. Parker; ‘Trigger,’ last year, had her and co-star Tracy Wright, who was dying of cancer as they filmed, singing as rock-stars (for which they shared the ACTRA Award for ‘Outstanding Performance – Female’).

It was her performance in ‘Kissed’ that won her not only major acclaim, but also a Genie Award, Canada’s equivalent of the Oscar. She has a dozen nominations in television and film and half a dozen awards, so far.

Her versatility is visible in the styles of projects she has chosen: whether comedy or drama, feature film or music video, Ms. Parker has been a perfect fit in each context.

She played a rabbi in the macabre drama ‘Six Feet Under’ (2001-2005); she narrated the documentary ‘Undying Love’ (2002). Her character was a laudanum-addicted widow in the western ‘Deadwood’ (2004-2006); she was an unfaithful and abandoned wife in the comedy-drama ‘Who Loves the Sun’ (2006).

This last film was directed by her husband, Matt Bissonnette. They gave their son, William, his middle name ‘Strummer’ after the singer of The Clash (Joe Strummer).

Molly Parker’s natural beauty is matched by a gentle and sometimes vulnerable façade, which she uses expertly in many of her roles. She has been the love interest, or part of a romantic triangle, on more than a few occasions. Her interviews, too, give the impression of a sensitive, kind, modest woman with a twinkle in her eye.

‘The Firm’ has her cast as the wife of the protagonist, a high-profile role for her and for co-star Josh Lucas. Her brother-in-law will be played by compatriot Callum Keith Rennie, with whom she has worked in a number of shows. Her steady work continues to offer the balance of quality and quantity and, already, 2012 appears to be a busy year for Molly Parker. So much the better.

Image Courtesy of  Josh Jensen

Share This

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

About the author

Andrew Cameron
There once was a man from Victoria. He would try very hard not to bore you. Why he got into prose, well, nobody knows. But, if you glanced at his work, he'd adore you.