Annabella Piugattuk

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Annabella Piugattuk
Born (1982-12-19) December 19, 1982 (age 42)
Frobisher Bay, Northwest Territories, Canada
OccupationActress
Years active2003–present

Annabella Piugattuk (born December 19, 1982) is a Canadian Inuk actress, notable for her role in the 2003 film The Snow Walker.[1]

Early life

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Annabella Piugattuk was born December 19, 1982, in Frobisher Bay, Northwest Territories (what is now Iqaluit, Nunavut), Canada. She was raised with her four brothers and younger sister in Igloolik, a village with a population of 1,286 in Nunavut.[2] Throughout her childhood, Piugattuk spent time with her grandfather, listening to his stories of their ancestral past and developing a deep understanding of Inuit tradition. She became adept at hunting and wilderness survival techniques.[2]

Acting career

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Annabella became interested in acting after her grade eight teacher involved her in a school play. At the age of 19, she read a story in the Nunatsiaq News about casting directors in town searching for actors for a new film, The Snow Walker. She was encouraged by her mother to audition.[3]

At a community dance with friends, Piugattuk was approached by casting director Jared Valentine, who asked her to audition for the role of Kanaalaq.[4] After attending local auditions, the diminutive teenager (she is 4'9") and six other semi-finalists were flown to Vancouver to do screen tests.[5] A few weeks after returning home, she received word that she was offered the part.[2]

In the film The Snow Walker, Piugattuk plays the character of Kanaalaq, a young Inuk woman who helps a Canadian bush pilot to survive the harsh conditions of the Northwest Territories following an airplane crash.[1] Like the character she portrays, she can fish, hunt seal and walrus, and make clothing out of caribou hides.[4] For her role in The Snow Walker, Piugattuk received a Genie nomination as best supporting actress in 2004.[6] Her performance was commended by Susan Walker in the Toronto Star and by Liz Nicholls in the Edmonton Journal.[7][8]

In 2005, she appeared in the TV miniseries Into the West in the role of Dancing Water.

Filmography

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Honors and awards

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  • 2004 Genie Awards Nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (for The Snow Walker)
  • 2006 DVD Exclusive Awards Nomination for Best Actress (for The Snow Walker)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Annabella Piugattuk". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Annabella Piugattuk Biography". Tribute. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  3. ^ "Annabella Piugattuk: Newly discovered Inuit actor; co-star, The Snow Walker". The Province. 2003-10-05. p. 40. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  4. ^ a b Burroughs, Alexandra (2004-03-18). "She hunts seals, skins caribou, lands major film role". Star-Phoenix. p. 41. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  5. ^ Schaefer, Glen (2003-10-10). "A story and a city bring duo together". The Province. p. 80. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  6. ^ Kirkland, Bruce (2004-03-17). "The 'real deal'". The Winnipeg Sun. p. 19. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  7. ^ Walker, Susan (2004-03-05). "It's no Atanarjuat, but it's a pretty ice story". The Toronto Star. p. 53. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  8. ^ Nicholls, Liz (2004-03-12). "Actors' chemistry rescues Snow Walker". Edmonton Journal. p. 44. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  9. ^ "Awards for Annabella Piugattuk". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
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