“We are thrilled to introduce the new Outstanding Performance Non-Binary/Gender Non-conforming category for the 23rd ACTRA Awards in Toronto. This new category is a demonstration of the union’s commitment to inclusion. In 2025, we will applaud our members’ outstanding performances in everything from short and feature films to television series.”
Kate Ziegler, ACTRA Toronto President
(11-minute read)
Outstanding Performance – Female
Beverly-Jean in Village Keeper (Smallaxx Motion Pictures)
Oluniké Adeliyi, a celebrated actress, writer and producer, known for powerful performances in film, television and theatre.
Oluniké has built an impressive television resume, appearing in shows such as American Gods (2019 – 2021), Little Dog (2019), Coroner (2020), Working Moms (2017-2021), Revenge of the Black Best Friend (2022), Emmy Nominated series The Porter (2022), and Hulu’s Iron Mike (2023).
Her film credits include Boost (2018), The Prodigy (2019), She Never Died (2019), and Chaos Walking (2025).
Oluniké was nominated for “Best Supporting Actress” at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards for her role in Boost. For her work in Revenge of the Black Best Friend, Oluniké won “Best Lead Performance, Web Program or Series,” at the 2023 Canadian Screen Awards.
In 2024 Oluniké starred in Village Keeper, where she played the lead character and The Fire Inside, alongside Brian Tyree Henry (Causeway, Atlanta) and Ryan Destiny (Star).
Sahar in One Must Wash Eyes
Pegah Ghafoori is an Iranian-Canadian actress, born in Tehran, Iran. Ghafoori moved to Canada at the age of nine, where she studied drama and later emergency telecommunications. She began her acting career in 2011 with student films, eventually progressing to more prominent roles in various film and TV projects. Ghafoori can currently be seen as part of the ensemble series regular cast in the critically acclaimed horror series FROM for Epix (S1) and MGM+ (S2 & 3). Ghafoori also played the lead role in the award-winning indie feature One Must Wash Eyes, inspired by the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran, which premiered at the Oakville International Film Festival and Vancouver’s GEMFest to great reviews. Ghafoori won the award for Best Actress at the Luleå International Film Festival, and was nominated for Best Actress at the Beaufort International Film Festival for her work on the film. Ghafoori divides her time between Toronto and Halifax.
Allie in The Heirloom
Grace Glowicki is an actor and filmmaker with a focus on expressive dramatic comedies. She has starred in numerous indie films, including Her Friend Adam (Sundance ’16), Raf (TIFF ’19), Strawberry Mansion (Sundance ’21), Until Branches Bend (TIFF ’22), Booger (Fantasia ’23), and Honey Bunch (Berlin ’25). Glowicki broke out as a fearless directorial voice with her debut feature Tito, which she wrote, directed and starred in. The film premiered at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival, where it won the Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award. Dead Lover is her sophomore feature. The film premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and then went on to play at SXSW, where it received the Neon Auteur Award.
Emily in The Players
Stefani Kimber is an actress, singer-songwriter and caregiver. Seeing herself as a lifelong student of life, she views every role and every melody as an ever-evolving expression of those discoveries. With a deep love and curiosity for storytelling, Stefani has been performing in film and television since the age of eight, appearing in films such as Remember and All the Lost Ones, and television series including Schitt’s Creek and Rookie Blue. The Players marks her first leading role in a feature film.
Bibi in Bibi’s Dog is Dead
Bryn McAuley implores anyone reading her bio to get involved with ACTRA! The past three years have been SO HARD on our union & our members, and we will only get through this by coming together and getting organized.
How to get involved: Observe the monthly ACTRA Toronto council meetings (you will learn a lot), or join a committee. Read your ACTRA emails, attend the town halls when you can, and ask questions to our leadership. They are here to work for the members! If this is all noise to you, and you don’t know what I’m talking about, dm me @brynmcauley, and let’s get into it. Congrats to my fellow nominees!
Outstanding Performance – Male
Martin Thibodeau in Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, “The Sound of Silence”
Born in Toronto, Sergio Di Zio has been a member of ACTRA for almost three decades. His varied career include TV series: Flashpoint, Rogue, This is Wonderland, and The Queen’s Gambit; films: The Lookout, Cinderella Man, Miss Sloane, Luck and The Walk; animated series: Wishfart, Grojband, Wayside School and Babar: The Adventures of Badou; and the live-action short-form series: I Will Bury You, which he also co-produced and is presently nominated for a Rockie at this year’s Banff New Media Festival. He was also the spokesperson for Bell Canada for several years that included the advent of home Wi-Fi. He can next be seen in the FX series Adults, the Amazon Prime series Motorheads, and Apple TV’s Murderbot. Sergio has been nominated for many awards and has won both a Gemini and a Dora. This is his first ACTRA nomination. He is proud of the resilience of our union, of his country, and of his fellow performers; particularly through these challenging years. He is delighted to be here tonight.
Adam in DADA
James Gilbert is an actor, writer, and producer, who has been active in both Canadian and international TV, film and theatre for the last two decades. His acting credits include Moonshine (CBC) The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu), Suits (USA), The Girlfriend Experience (Starz), Salvation, (CBS) and The Tudors (Showtime). In addition to DADA, he can also be seen in the upcoming feature films Monica’s News and A Breed Apart, amongst others.
James was born and raised on Nova Scotia’s South Shore and now makes his home in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto with his wife Samantha.
Lugh in We Forgot To Break Up
Born in Toronto, Daniel Gravelle is a dynamic presence in film and television, recognized for his distinct voice and versatility across genres. As a multidisciplinary storyteller, his creativity extends to various roles in filmmaking as well as through music. Recent roles include portraying Lugh in Karen Knox’s We Forgot to Break Up (2024), and Ari for Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk’s horror/comedy Hell of a Summer (2025). Select past credits includes appearances in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022), Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019).
Freddie in The Light Before the Sun
Rick Roberts has been a stage and screen actor, a playwright and director for over three decades.
Roberts has been nominated twice for an ACTRA Award. Once for the CBC series Fortunate Son, and for the CBC movie Jack where he won for playing the title role of the late Jack Layton. He starred in the series This Life for the CBC and appeared in Transplant (CTV/ NBC) and numerous other films and TV series.
He recently appeared at the Stratford Festival in Cymbeline and Edward Albee’s The Goat, and directed a workshop of his own play JELLY, starring Tom Rooney, at The Mulespinner in Hamilton. He is currently appearing in Tarragon Theatre’s production of Feast, written by Guillermo Verdecchia, which runs until April 27.
Outstanding Performance – Non-Binary/Gender Non-conforming
Ian McKay in We Three Queens, “Losing Bodies”
Danya Chichagov (he/they) is a Russian-Canadian, Queer Actor and Filmmaker. Born in Ottawa, they discovered acting at the age of 17, instantly falling in love with the art form. They’ve studied for over a decade at LS&Co. Studios with their longtime acting mentor Michèle Lonsdale•Smith, are an Ensemble member of the Gracemoon Arts Company and a graduate of Concordia University’s Theatre Performance Program.
They star as Ian McKay in We Three Queens (OutTV) and have appeared in shows across major networks like The Recruit (Netflix/Doug Liman), Station Eleven (HBO Max), The Expanse (Prime Video) and Murdoch Mysteries (CBC).
On stage, they played Mr. Marks in Intimate Apparel at Gracemoon Theatre in Bushwick, Louis Ironson in Angels in America by Tony Kushner at Concordia University and Matt in Red Light Winter by Adam Rapp with Lifelong Productions.
Caroline in Fellow Travelers, “Bullet Proof”
Gabbi Kosmidis is a gender-fluid and queer, multidisciplinary performer, actor, minstrel, and clown. They feel grateful to work in all mediums including film, TV, voice-over and theatre. Some recent credits include: Gracie in Night of the Zoopocalypse, in theatres North America-wide, Isabel in Unicorn Academy (Netflix), Caroline Stewart in Fellow Travelers (Paramount+/Showtime), Makira in Assassin’s Creed: Mirage (Ubisoft), and Billy/Puppeteer in The Last Mammoth (Good Old Neon). Gabbi grew up in Saronida, Greece, running wild and scabby kneed by the sea and they are always trying to get back to that place of freedom and play. They enjoy outdoor adventures, fish tacos, the ocean, figs, mischief, foolin’ around and boogying down. Gabbi is always looking to collaborate and create new work, so if you’re into that… hit up @gabbikosmidis Special thanks to my family, my sweet Sapphires and dogs…all of them. ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ
Zubaira Baqri in Bad Accountant
Rabiya Mansoor (she/they) is an actor, screenwriter, producer and recovering lawyer. They’re nominated for Best Supporting at the 2025 LA Web Fest for Get Up, Aisha and are thrilled to be nominated for an ACTRA Award for Bad Accountant, a short film she co-created. On stage, they have performed in Don Valley Girls (Why Not Theatre RISER Festival) and What the Elf?! (Second City Family Company). Beyond acting, she brings stories to life as a writer on Dino Ranch (Disney Jr./CBC Kids), Stawberry Shortcake: Berry in the City (Netflix), and their co-created dramedy series Get Up, Aisha (CBC Gem, 3x Canadian Screen Awards nominee, Writers Guild of Canada Award nominee). A Producer to Watch at Series Mania 2024, they also volunteer on the boards of Breakthroughs Film Festival and Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival.
Alfred in Aberdeen
After a gentle prod from Gary Farmer, Billy enrolled in the Native Theatre Summer School in 1983, which led to an invite from Monique Mojica to join Native Earth Performing Arts Inc. where he began his diverse career in many Native Earth Productions, including the landmark production of: Dry Lips Oughtta Move to Kapuskasing by Tomson Highway and, in Billy’s own play, Fireweed.
Billy joined ACTRA in 1988 through an American TV production of MOW Red Earth/White Earth, where he played the love interest of a woman portrayed by Genevieve Bujold. Some of his numerous film and TV credits include: the title characters in the CBC/NFB production of Justice Denied, the Donald Marshall Story, and in the CTV production Elijah (the Elijah Harper Story). Billy also inspired the 2 Spirited Character of Nathan who he eventually played in the CBC/L.Schuler/Kit Hood-produced TV series Liberty Street for two years.
Billy is now celebrating 42 years in show business… with the CTV Comedy Channel/Bell Media/Kistikan Pictures/Buffalo Gals-produced TV series ACTING GOOD where he plays the endearing character of Roger Laughingstick… AND… being nominated by ACTRA Toronto for Outstanding Performance for the role of Alfred in the poignant Winnipeg film, Aberdeen, which was produced by Far Point Films. Billy was also a recipient of the Order of the Buffalo Hunt (The Order of Manitoba) in 2010.
Spencer in My Old Ass
Carter Trozzolo (he/they) ignited their acting career at the tender age of nine, securing a role in the acclaimed series Washington Black with their very first audition. Since then, they’ve continued to shine, most recently portraying Spencer in the feature film My Old Ass.
At just twelve, this non-binary dynamo is a proud ACTRA member whose artistic pursuits transcend traditional boundaries. Carter’s repertoire spans film, voiceover, circus arts, and stand-up comedy, each showcasing their profound emotional depth and fearless versatility. Their innate comedic timing and infectious humour have captivated audiences everywhere—from on-set antics and improv stages to school halls and a memorable appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Beyond the arts, Carter is deeply committed to advocacy and community engagement. As a 2024 Pride Ambassador for outACTRAto, they actively participate in rallies, marches, and industry forums, championing inclusivity and representation within the entertainment landscape.
With a burgeoning portfolio and an unwavering passion for storytelling, Carter Trozzolo is undoubtedly a rising star whose journey is as inspiring as it is entertaining.
