St. John’s, NL (March 8, 2026) ACTRA Newfoundland and Labrador is thrilled to honour DOREEN REARDIGAN for International Women’s Day 2026
“Doreen Reardigan’s legacy is woven into the fabric of the NL film community. Her decades of work, her spirit, and her generosity have shaped the culture we all step into today. She’s a reminder of the strength and heart that built this industry long before it had national attention. Celebrating her is celebrating where we come from.”
Harve Heath, ACTRA Member
Doreen first appeared on TV in The Minstrel Show at CBC on Water Street West in 1965. Years later, urged on by her daughter, Kathee, a set dresser, as a means of rounding out an already busy nursing career, Doreen began doing background work regularly and has gone on to appear in 48 productions. From Violet, Dooley Gardens, and Extraordinary Visitor in the 1990s to the more recent Departure, Saint Pierre, Hudson and Rex and Son of a Critch, Doreen in a fixture in the NL film and television industry. A Role on Republic of Doyle lead to her joining ACTRA as an apprentice member in 2003. She followed that with roles in local commercials, tourism ads, and most recently in the Untitled NL Netflix Production. She became a full member in January of 2026 at the age of 94.
Today she reads every BG call that goes out, looking for the 65+ age requirement and puts her name in. It doesn’t matter the size production, how many days she is getting, or what the rate of pay. She shows up. Even if it means getting up at 3 am to catch a shuttle that will take her an hour away to sit outdoors for 16 hrs in whatever weather Mother Nature decides to bestow on our fair island. She never complains and, in turn, those around her have taken their cues from her and find their own endurance of a long day in her strength. She finds joy in being on set and is, in herself, a joy to have on set.
“A reason for loving my BG work is the anticipation of wondering where locations will be taking me today, what old or new building that I have never been and always wanted to see inside or what little town or community that I had never visited …. All so exciting.”
Doreen is also an accomplished musician playing the banjo, fiddle, accordion, and guitar. She co-founded an accordion group, The Sweet Forget Me Knots, in 2009 which plays at nursing homes, festivals, concerts, and cruise ships and which was featured on Land and Sea in 2016. The group continues to boast a packed schedule. One of their first ever performances was for the Avalon Dragons, a dragon boating association of breast cancer survivors. An association which Doreen is a proud member of.
Doreen is our oldest member and tells her friends she will continue to work as long as she is able.
“I love the hustle and bustle – to see how movies are made. It keeps me active and takes my mind off all my ailments. It gives me an opportunely to spend time with my daughter, Heather, who also enjoys working on set. The Netflix series was so exciting and all the people I worked with became like family. They would save my seat up front on the bus and carry my bags and during one of my acting days the room was moved to tears when I was carried into the community centre sick bay by Larry Barry and it was a moment I will never forget!”
With Heather by her side, you’ll find Doreen at every single ACTRA event and meeting and supporting every production with professionalism, enthusiasm, and especially joy. To call Doreen inspiring is an understatement. She is the true embodiment of the kind of woman we honour for International Women’s Day. Please join me in congratulating her.