Heather grew up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and was a member of the Young Canadians School of Performing Arts for several years. Known as "Hollywood" to her family and friends, she was determined to pursue a career in performing arts. Her powerful singing voice, endurance in wearing prosthetics, and lithe body work in motion capture have made her a standout in the industry.
Heather began her professional career in 1985, playing the role of Little Orphan Annie in Canada's first professional theatre production of Annie. After graduating from high school, she moved to Vancouver to attend the University of British Columbia, where she earned an undergraduate degree in psychology and became a professional fitness instructor.
Heather then moved to New York City to continue her acting, singing, and dancing training at AMDA and the New York Conservatory of Arts. She appeared in several Off-Broadway productions, including "Christmas From The Heart" with Kenny Rogers, and toured the United States in productions of "Pippi Longstocking" and "Christmas From The Heart." Heather remained close friends with the Kenny Rogers family.
After three years in New York, Heather returned to Vancouver, where she has had a successful career in theatre, film, and television. Her notable roles include "Falsettos," "The Rocky Horror Show," "Red Rock Diner," and "Ruthless," for which she was nominated for a Jessie Richardson Theatre Award for Best Actress.
Heather is also known for her talent in playing monsters and wearing prosthetics. She was a pioneer of full creature suits in Vancouver, working with specialists like Howard Berger, Bill Terezakis, and Ryan Nicholson. She wore prosthetics and played creatures in productions such as "Masters of Horror," "Dead Like Me," "Scary Movie 3," and "Beneath."
As a motion capture artist, Heather has had success in animated series like "Action Man" and "Heavy Gears," as well as in James Bond video games and Barbie films.
In addition to her performing career, Heather is an ACE certified fitness specialist and has taught spin classes at various gyms in New York and Vancouver. She currently teaches spin classes.
In 2012, Heather created a one-woman musical theatre cabaret show called Brackendale Broadway, which has been well-received and has been performed seven times. The show features Heather singing 18-21 different solo songs from various shows, connecting them to tell a logical musical story.
