Niamh Wilson (; born March 9, 1997) is a Canadian film and television actress from Toronto, Ontario, known for her role as Lydia in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies as well as Jacqueline "Jack" Jones on Degrassi: The Next Generation during seasons 13 and 14. As a child actor, she played notable characters like Corbett in Saw III, reprised in Saw V; Little Claire and Rose in the Canadian horror film The Marsh (2006); and the title role in the Family Channel series Debra!
Wilson's career has spanned over two decades; working with multiple academy award winning filmmakers such as David Cronenberg, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and Forest Whitaker, as well as the likes of Helena Bonham-Carter, and Kyle Machlachlan.
Career Wilson began her career with a role in the Warner Brother's pilot Chasing Alice at the age of five. Although the TV Movie/pilot did not result in a series, she did meet Ralph Hemecker, who was to direct her in Haunting Sarah two years later. Her portrayal of Sarah Lewis garnered her a Young Artist Award in 2006. While in Los Angeles for the awards she and her mother created a CBC Radio radio documentary for the Outfront program called "Child Star Goes to Hollywood" about their road trip to Hollywood. Wilson was cast in Ice Planet as Commander Trager's (Michael Ironside) daughter. She has appeared in numerous films as well as episodic television, generally in dramatic adult-oriented vehicles; however, a comedic role eluded her until she was cast in the title role of Debra Delong in the Family Channel series Debra! produced by Cookie Jar Entertainment. The role was cast in 2010 when Wilson was only 12 years old. The pilot was shot in spring 2010; Family Channel picked up the series in summer 2010. and the first season was filmed in January - February 2011. The first episode premiered on Family Channel Saturday, June 4, 2011. Wilson won the Young Artist Award for Leading Actress in a TV Series for Debra! In May 2012, the series also won for Best Young Ensemble in a TV Series. This was the first time a TV series that was not aired in the United States had won these awards. They were also in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies as a character named Lydia.
Personal life Like her character on Degrassi, Jack Jones, Wilson is a dancer, practicing mainly in ballet, modern contemporary, and pointe. Wilson graduated from high school in June 2015 and attended George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario. She was accepted into their dance program for Technical and Performance Training in Ballet. As of 2018, Wilson was pursuing an anthropology major at the University of Toronto.
In 2023, she published a first-person piece in the Toronto Star about her journey as a queer person.Niamh Wilson, "As an actor, I’ve played queer characters on TV longer than I’ve been out — and TV was no help in finding myself". Toronto Star, May 28, 2023.
Niamh Wilson uses all pronouns.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes2005Aurora BorealisIsabelle2006Little Claire / RoseSaw III Corbett Denlon2007Saw IV2008Saw V2009Saw VI Uncredited cameo in director's cut; post-credits scene2013The Young and Prodigious T. S. SpivetGracieSkating to New YorkPage2014Maps to the StarsSam2018Giant Little OnesMouse2019All About Who You KnowHaleyRandom Acts of ViolenceAurora
Television Year Title Role Notes2003Chasing AliceYoung AliceTV film2005Plague City: SARS in TorontoLindsayTV filmHaunting SarahSarah LewisTV film2006Belinda GreeneTV film2006–2008RunawaySusieRecurring role; 7 episodes2007They Come BackMarley CharlesTV film2009FlashpointPetraEpisode: "Haunting the Barn"HeartlandTaylor KennedyEpisode: "Little Secrets"2011Falling SkiesMeganEpisodes: "Sanctuary: Part 1", "Eight Hours"HavenHadley ChambersEpisode: "Silent Night"2011–2012Debra!DebraLead role; 13 episodes2012FrenemiesBrittanyTV filmMy Babysitter's a VampireVal MudrapEpisode: "Village of the Darned"Warehouse 13AliceEpisode: "Fractures"Rookie BlueAliceEpisodes: "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life", "I Never"2013Hemlock GrovePretty ShelleyEpisodes: "Birth", "Catabasis", "What Peter Can Live Without"2014–2015Degrassi: The Next GenerationJacqueline "Jack" JonesMain role (Seasons 13–14); 23 Episodes2015Good WitchAmberEpisodes: "Starting Over...Again", "Do The Right Thing"BetweenLana3 Episodes2017Early ReleaseBianca ReynoldsTV film2021I Was Lorena BobbittTeriTV film2023Grease: Rise of the Pink LadiesLydiaRecurring Role
Music videos YearTitleArtistNotesReference2017Working for the Future in the InterlakeYes We MysticChoreographer
Awards
Year Award Category Work Result 2006 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a MOW - Supporting Young Actress Haunting Sarah 2007 Best Performance in a MOW - Supporting Young Actress The House Next Door 2008 Best Performance in a MOW - Leading Young Actress They Come Back 2012 Best Performance in a TV Series - Leading Young Actress Debra! Outstanding Young Ensemble In a TV Series 2016 Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet
References
External links