Biography for
Karyn Dwyer More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada

Birth Name

Karyn Elizabeth Dwyer

Height

5' 2" (1.57 m)

Mini Biography

Karyn Dwyer starred in Better Than Chocolate (1999), one of Canada's top films at the international box office. Better Than Chocolate (1999) ranked 31 on The Hollywood Reporter's list of best independent films that year, won numerous awards at international film festivals, and earned Karyn a loyal cult following. This Newfoundland native has gone on to play a diverse array of roles, large and small, in independent films. Karyn got her start in theater at age 10 when she starred in Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador's production of Alice In Wonderland and went on to become a theater veteran by the time she graduated from high school. She turned down a scholarship to study journalism at the prestigious Carleton University in Ottawa. Instead, she made the long hike from Newfoundland to Toronto to attend theater school. Her first film role was acting opposite David Cronenberg in the Canadian cult classic Boozecan (1994). She went on to work with Molly Shannon and Will Ferrell in 'Lorne Michael's Superstar (1999) as well as Jon Voight, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Dianne Wiest, and Carrie-Anne Moss, to name a few. Later she gave gritty performances in Pony (2002) and Dying Like Ophelia (2002)(Bravo! Network) by two time Governor General Award-winning playwright, Judith Thompson. Karyn played to sold out audiences opposite, R.H. Thompson, in Exercises In Depravity. She played Juliet in Native Earth's Romeo and Juliet, Sooze in Eric Bogosian's Suburbia, wrote and starred in her one woman show Bad Girls at The Rivoli, and played Phoebe in As You Like It for the internationally acclaimed theater festival DuMaurier World Stage opposite Albert Schultz. The oldest of five siblings, Karyn lost her father to cancer when she was 9 and later her brother died at the age of 24. Before returning to her acting career, she devoted several years advocating programs to fight her brother's illness. In 2006 she was voted one of the Top Ten Hottest Canadians as well as one of the Top Ten Hottest Redheads in the World. She resides in Los Angeles.

IMDb Mini Biography By: John Williams

Trade Mark

Redhead

Trivia

Better Than Chocolate was ranked 31st in Hollywood Reporter's top 200 independent films that year and is one of Canada's top grossing English speaking films.

Won a scholarship to study journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa but chose to study theatre at George Brown in Toronto.

Interests include going to the cottage, swimming, jogging, pilates, yoga, current events, reading, music, improv and comedy.

Bruce McCulloch asked her take out her belly piercing for Superstar because he felt Catholic school girls shouldn't have belly piercing. In real life, Karyn attended Holy Heart of Mary Regional High, St. Michael's, St. Kevin's, St. Gerrard's, and Immaculate Conception.

Volunteers once a week at a telephone helpline.

Played a junkie prostitute in "Exercises in Depravity", opposite R.H. Thomson, staged in the bathroom of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Only 12 audience members were allowed per night. One night, during Dwyer's monologue when her character burns out her own eyes, an audience member fainted and had to be carried out. Other audience members assumed it was part of the show.

In DuMaurier World Stage's production of "As You Like It", she played Phoebe opposite Albert Schultz and Seana McKenna The actors had no rehearsal and were given cue scripts with only their own lines and three words of the line before, which was their cue to speak.

Played Ophelia in The Bravo! Network's award winning short film "Dying Like Ophelia" as well as "A Taste of Shakespeare", played Juliet in Native Earth's "Romeo and Juliet", played Speed in "Two Gentlemen of Verona", played Phoebe in "As you Like It" at the internationally renowned DuMaurier World Stage Festival.

The product of an Irish Catholic Newfoundland family, Karyn is the oldest of 5 children. Her father died at the age of 38. Her brother died at the age of 24.

In 2006 she was listed as one of the top ten hottest redheads in the world, along with Lindsay Lohan, Laura Prepon, Isla Fisher, Julianne Moore, Allison Smith, Alyson Hannigan, Alicia Witt, Angie Everhart, and Nicole Kidman.

On March 22, 2006 The Hottest Canadian featured Karyn Dwyer as their hottest Canadian. Other actresses that have been featured include: Rachel McAdams, Mia Kirshner, Sandra Oh, Molly Parker, Elisha Cuthbert and Evangeline Lilly.

Gained 20lbs to play the part of Amy in The Right Way.

Was voted one of the Top Ten Hottest Actresses of 2006 by The Hottest Canadian.

Personal Quotes

Your favorite role is always the one you're working on at that moment, but I will never forget the experience of working on "Better Than Chocolate". A lot of people write to me saying they could really relate to Maggie and that it had a really positive impact on their self-esteem and relationship with their mothers.

All my brothers were named after the Boston Bruins. Brad (Park), Barry (Beck), Paul (Hurley). I'm surprised they didn't call me Bobby.

I knew I wanted to do Better Than Chocolate before I even read the script. When I heard Anne Wheeler was directing it, I knew it was going to be special.

I never played dolls or house when I was growing up. I had 4 younger siblings so, naturally, I was busy staging musicals.

The other day a woman asked me, "Were you queer before you did 'Better Than Chocolate', or did you become queer for the part?" It's flattering that nobody believes I'm straight anymore. It tells me I must have done something right. But I am considering "coming out" as a straight woman.

Growing up, I was always doing theater. But for a short time I almost convinced myself I wanted to be a journalist...right after I saw Holly Hunter in "Broadcast News". Then I considered the FBI...right after I saw Jodi Foster in "Silence of the Lambs". When I finally told Mom I wanted to pursue acting as a career she didn't bat an eyelash. She just gave me a look that said, "Really? What was your first clue?"

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