Tara Spencer-Nairn

Tara Spencer-Nairn

 Tara Spencer-Nairn, actor (born at Montréal 6 Jan 1978). Tara Spencer-Nairn was raised in Vancouver and graduated from Shawnigan Lake School. She was a competitive gymnast for 12 years before completing studies at the Vancouver Film School. Her antsy, restless quality as an actress has earned a number of important roles in Canadian film and television.

Her career began with a series of one-off guest appearances on Canadian dramas and American syndicated series such as Poltergeist: The Legacy, Breaker High and Cold Squad. Soon she was cast as Lou Benzoa in the Cape Breton feature New Waterford Girl (1999). The film is a gregarious coming-of-age story about a Maritime girl's chance friendship with a newcomer to Canada from the Bronx, New York City. It was an enormous success on the North American film festival circuit and accumulated numerous critical accolades culminating in 7 GENIE AWARD nominations. She followed that with a memorable role as Betty in Rub & Tug (2002) alongside Canadian heavyweight Don MCKELLAR. The story centred around 3 masseuses adjusting to the advances of their flustered and easily frustrated new manager. Spencer-Nairn was nominated for a CANADIAN COMEDY AWARD for her performance.

In 2004 she won the part of police constable Karen Pelly on Brent BUTT's phenomenally successful Corner Gas (2004-09) series about the eccentric local inhabitants of a fictional prairie town. Spencer-Nairn played an overeager Pelly, always prepared for an assignment more befitting a 1970s Hollywood cop drama, à la Dirty Harry. The character's fidgety self-consciousness and charming naiveté was an important component of the show's blockbuster success in North America. Along with fellow Corner Gas cast members, she was nominated for a GEMINI AWARD in 2004 and 2006 for best comedy ensemble performance, and won the award in 2007.

Tara Spencer-Nairn has continually sought and found work on distinctly Canadian film and television projects, including the films Waking Up Wally: The Walter Gretzky Story (2005), Final Draft (2007) and Cancel Christmas (2010). She has a recurring role as Nurse Sandy Wardwell in the series The Listener.