Janet Bailey's life and career are a testament to her dedication to the arts. Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, she began her professional journey after studying dance with Jacques Fosier and later drama with Reva Stern and Rose Dubin.
In 1984, Bailey pursued further education at The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, where she honed her craft under the guidance of Sandford Meisner, graduating in 1985. Her film career began in 1986 with the movie "Race to Freedom," and she continued to refine her skills by studying with Carol Rosenfeld, Kurt Reis, and Neil Freeman at C.A.S.T., as well as Jim Wilson in Los Angeles.
Throughout her career, Bailey has received numerous accolades for her work in theatre, television, and film. Her performance as Sarah in the television movie "Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad," which co-starred Courtney B. Vance, earned her a Best Actress Gemini Nomination. The production also screened at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, where Bailey was introduced as "one of Canada's best kept secrets."
Bailey's work on the series "Traders," in the role of Susannah Marks, brought her two more nominations for Best Supporting Actress. In Deepa Mehta's screen version of "The Republic of Love," she played the quirky ex-wife of Bruce Greenwood's Tom Avery. That same year, she appeared opposite Greg Kinear in the feature film "Godsend," starring Robert De Niro.
In the final season of the critically acclaimed series "Slings and Arrows," Bailey played soap opera diva Barbara Gorman, which she followed with the role of straight-talking lawyer Susan Aimes on NBC's "Beautiful People." Her portrayal of Velma Fontaine, a sweet but streetwise prostitute, in the television movie "Spencer Ceremony," earned her praise from New York Magazine, which declared her "meriting a movie of her own."
Bailey's fourth Gemini nomination, this time for Best Actress in a Guest Role, came for her portrayal of Harriet in an episode of Global Television's "Blue Murder." In addition to her work on stage and screen, Bailey is also an active teacher, sharing her expertise with others in the theatre community.
