Isabelle Blais

One of Canada's most respected actors, Isabelle Blais often tackled roles that showcased her versatility and onscreen charm. She was born in 1975 and raised in Trois-Riviéres, Québec, Canada. Blais was the eldest of three children, which included her sister and fellow actor Stéphanie. A 1997 graduate of Montreal's Conservatoire d'art Dramatique, she landed the female lead in a theater production of "Romeo and Juliet" (1597). Blais' other stage work also included Moliere's "The Tricks of Scapin" (1671) and "Hamlet" (1603).

She made her television debut in 1999 on "2 freres" (Groupe TVA) and in the made-for-TV horror film "Les siamoises" (Cinema Libre). Blais' feature debut came with the drama "The Three Madeleines" (2000), about three generations of women in a French family. In 2002, Blais landed a minor role in her first Hollywood project, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." Blais' career took off in her native Canada after she delivered critically acclaimed performances in the romantic comedy "Québec-Montréal" (2002) and the Oscar-winning film "The Barbarian Invasions" (2003) from renowned director Denys Arcand.

Aside from acting, Blais also established a successful music career. She sang lead vocals for the Quebecois pop-rock group Caïman Fu, which released its self-titled debut album in 2003. A staple of Canadian television, Blais appeared on the drama series "Nos étés" (2005-08), "C.A." (2006- ), and "Prozac, La Maladie Du Bonheur" (2010). In 2010, Blais appeared in "The High Cost of Living," about a woman who loses her child in a car accident and then meets her guardian angel.

By Candy Cuenco