Maggie Castle

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Maggie Castle
Born (1983-08-07) August 7, 1983 (age 40)
Montreal, Quebec
NationalityCanadian
OccupationActress
Years active1990–present
FamilyAimée Castle (sister)

Maggie Castle (born August 7, 1983) is a Canadian actress[1][2] best known for her role as Jenny Kolinsky in cult horror comedy series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.[3] She was also the little girl, Amy Kramer, that battles the evil ventriloquist's dummy Slappy in the Goosebumps television series and voiced Molly MacDonald in the animated series Arthur.[4] She's appeared in various other series such as Vampire High, The Grid and Beach Girls. Film roles include Weirdsville, Hank and Mike, The Time Traveler's Wife and Tumbledown.

Early life[edit]

Maggie Castle was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[5] She studied radio and television production at Ryerson University.[6] Castle's older sister is actress Aimée Castle, both appeared in Big Wolf on Campus.

Career[edit]

Film[edit]

Castle made her film debut as a child actor in a small role in Vincent and Me (1990) (original title Vincent et moi).

Castle had a role in The 1997 thriller The Jackal, as the terrified child Maggie held at gun point by the film's titular assassin (Bruce Willis) in his climatic subway showdown with Declan Mulqueen (Richard Gere).[7]

Released in 2006 was comedy drama The House with Castle playing Cindy, a member of a group of outcasts & misfits squatting in an old house. Directed by David Krae, shot in Toronto and Hamilton.[8][9]

Weirdsville (2007) has Castle playing Treena, a member of a satanic cult that menaces the stoner protagonists of the dark comedy drama.[10] Her and Greg Bryk's devil worshiping characters were noted as a standouts among the supporting cast in reviews.[11][12] Supernatural slasher Dead Mary (2007), Castle plays Lily the younger girlfriend of one of a group of former college friends that reunite to spend a weekend at a lakeside cabin. When some of the party unintentionally summon the spirit of a witch by reciting her name three times in front of a mirror, possession and terror ensue.[13] In the comedy horror film The Mad (2007) Castle plays Amy Hunt who's traveling with her father on a road trip when they encounter locals poisoned by tainted beef that causes an outbreak of zombie like symptoms in those infected.[14]

2008's surreal comedy Hank and Mike followed the struggles of two Easter Bunnies after they are fired from their jobs, one of whom (Mike played by Paolo Mancini) has a crush on their co-worker Lena played by Castle. Though Mike is socially awkward and his fumbling attempts at a relationship with Lena are initially disastrous.[15]

2009's romantic science fiction drama The Time Traveler's Wife Castle played Alicia Abshire the sister of Clare Abshire (played by Rachel McAdams).

After a successful Indiegogo campaign[16] an animated feature film Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End (2017) was created with Castle and her fellow cast-mates all returning to provide the voices.[17] The animated feature provides a sort of third season the series never got and an ending to the cliffhanger it had gone out on.[18]

Television[edit]

In the Goosebumps season one episode "Night of the Living Dummy II" (1996) she plays Amy Kramer, a young girl gifted a ventriloquist's dummy by her father.[19] The doll, called Slappy, turns out to have a life of its own with evil intent and initial pranks escalate into it terrorising Amy and her family.[20]

From 1997 to 2018 Castle provided the voice for tough, cut-off jean jacket wearing fourth grader Molly MacDonald on children's animated series Arthur.

2010 would see Castle in the role she is best known for, that of tough high schooler Jenny Kolinsky who, together with her three friends, fights supernatural evil in the cult horror comedy series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.[21] Castle was initially hesitant to audition for the role of Jenny Kolinsky when the series was casting because she was reluctant to play a high schooler while being in her twenties at the time, her initial indifference at the audition actually helped as it fit Jenny's character.[22] Castle would return the next year when the show was renewed for a second season.[23][24] In Disney Channel's romantic comedy Starstruck (2010) Castle plays Sara Olson, an obsessed fan of a teen pop idol Christopher Wilde (Sterling Knight), who drags her uninterested little sister Jessica Olson (Danielle Campbell) along to gatecrash a performance by him. This leads the younger sister and pop idol to cross paths and spend time with each other, eventually falling in love.[25][26]

In the 2013 made for TV disaster movie Blast Vegas (AKA Destruction: Las Vegas[27]) Castle played Olive who, together with Nelson (Frankie Muniz), find themselves fighting an ancient curse that's threatening to engulf Las Vegas in a destructive sandstorm.[28]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Vincent and Me Crystal Tetley Jo's Sister
1993 Because Why[29] Jackie
1995 Kids of the Round Table Jenny
1996 How the Toys Saved Christmas Polly (English version, voice) Animated film
1997 The Jackal Maggie
1998 Nico the Unicorn Susie
1999 Babel Amanda
2002 Edgar and Jane Jane[30] Short Film
2002 Arthur: It's Only Rock 'n' Roll Molly MacDonald (voice) Animated film
2003 Fast Food High Maya
2005 The Perfect Man Wichita Girl
2006 The Woods Tracy
2006 The House Cindy
2007 Weirdsville Treena
2007 Dead Mary Lily
2007 The Mad Amy Hunt
2007 I'm Not There Another Girl
2008 Hank and Mike Lena
2009 The Time Traveler's Wife Alicia Abshire
2010 Flying Lessons Shelly
2015 Tumbledown Shannon [31]
2017 Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End Jenny Kolinsky (voice) Animated film
2017 Stronger Mom at Fenway
2017 Professor Marston and the Wonder Women Dorothy Roubicek
2018 Super Troopers 2 Cassandra Anne Gacek
2018 American Woman Brett's Wife [32]

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Heritage Minutes Girl[33] Season 2, episode 7: "Saguenay Fire"
1994 Tales of the Wild (Original title Aventures dans le Grand Nord) Episode: L'honneur des grandes neiges
1994 Million Dollar Babies Therese Dionne, 10 yrs. TV mini series, 2 episodes
1996 Goosebumps Amy Kramer Season 1, episode 10: "Night of the Living Dummy II"
1997–2018 Arthur Molly MacDonald Animated TV series, 27 episodes
1998 The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo Josie Season 4, episode 4: "The Itchy Shorts Mystery"
2000 Are You Afraid of the Dark? Sandra Season 7, episode 4: "The Tale of the Stone Maiden"
2000 Big Wolf on Campus Tori Season 2, episode 7: "Fear and Loathing in Pleasantville"
2000 Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Caroline Kennedy, ages 15 & 16 TV movie
2001 Vampire High Samantha Season 1, episode 2: "There's a New Vampire in Town"
2003 Starhunter Taryn Orford Season 2, episode 3: "Bio Crime"
2004 The Grid Cathy TV mini series, 5 episodes
2005 Beach Girls Young Stevie TV mini series, 6 episodes
2006 Flirting with Danger Jane Heaton TV movie
2006 Between Truth and Lies Emily Parker TV movie
2010 StarStruck Sara Olson TV movie
2010–2012 Todd and the Book of Pure Evil Jenny Kolinsky
2013 Blast Vegas AKA Destruction: Las Vegas Olive TV movie
2015 Saving Hope Ruth Season 3, episode 14: "Trading Places"
2015 Broad Squad Angela TV movie

Awards and nominations[edit]

Castle together with her fellow lead cast members of Todd and the Book of Pure Evil were nominated[34] for Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series for the highly rated[35] musical episode "The Phantom of Crowley High" at the 2011 Gemini Awards, which they went on to win.[36][37]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Maggie Castle's bio at www.northernstars.ca
  2. ^ Maggie Castle at www.rottentomatoes.com
  3. ^ "Dealing with the devil" by Randall King at www.winnipegfreepress.com
  4. ^ Maggie Castle voice acting credits at www.behindthevoiceactors.com
  5. ^ "Prom Queens" by Brenlee Coates, Sandbox magazine Summer 2010 issue, page 18
  6. ^ "Canada's newest scream queen has braved zombies opposite Billy Zane and demonic possession alongside Dominique Swain" The city: [toronto edition]. (2007, Feb 27). National Post, Retrieved from ProQuest 330713699
  7. ^ "Montreal metro action doesn’t save The Jackal" by Alex Rose at cultmtl.com
  8. ^ The House synopsis & credits at www.avclub.com
  9. ^ "Features - This old house" at playbackonline.ca
  10. ^ "Slamdance unveils lineup" by Dave McNary at variety.com
  11. ^ Weirdsville review by Joe Leydon at variety.com
  12. ^ Weirdsville review by Stephen Farber at www.hollywoodreporter.com
  13. ^ Dead Mary DVD Review by Eric Strauss at horrordna.com
  14. ^ Mad, The (DVD) review by Johnny Butane at www.dreadcentral.com
  15. ^ Hank and Mike review by Robert Koehler at variety.com
  16. ^ "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil raises Indiegogo funds for animated movie" by Debra Yeo at www.thestar.com
  17. ^ "Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil: The End Of The End Review – A Heavy Metal Massacre In Cartoon" by Matt Donato at www.dreadcentral.com
  18. ^ "Why You Should Watch ‘Todd and the Book of Pure Evil’!" by Luiz H. C. at bloody-disgusting.com
  19. ^ Goosebumps: episode 10: Night of the Living Dummy II synopsis & credits at www.radiotimes.com
  20. ^ "Viewer Beware, You’re in for a Scare: Looking Back at the Goosebumps Television Series (1995-1998)" by Cody Noble at diaboliquemagazine.com
  21. ^ "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil in production for Space" by Diane Wild at www.tv-eh.com
  22. ^ "Retrospective Part Two: TODD & THE BOOK OF PURE EVIL" by Derek Anderson at dailydead.com (Originally appeared in the January 2015 issue of DEADLY Magazine)
  23. ^ "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil season 2 in production" by Diane Wild at www.tv-eh.com
  24. ^ "FEARnet Confirms a Second Season of Todd & the Book of Pure Evil" by Steve Barton at www.dreadcentral.com
  25. ^ Starstruck review by Andrew Pragasam at thespinningimage.co.uk
  26. ^ "On set with...the girls of StarStruck" by Patricia McNamara at www.girlslife.com
  27. ^ "Destruction: Las Vegas Renamed Blast Vegas; Will Air on Syfy in July" by Steve Barton at www.dreadcentral.com
  28. ^ "Look for Malcolm in the Middle of Destruction: Las Vegas" by Steve Barton at www.dreadcentral.com
  29. ^ "Because why? answer is obvious; young montrealer Arto Paragamian redefines family in first feature" by John Griffin at The Gazette (Jan 29, 1994) Retrieved from ProQuest 432554671
  30. ^ Edgar and Jane synopsis & credits at www.radiotimes.com
  31. ^ Tumbledown review by Sheila O'Malley at www.rogerebert.com
  32. ^ "Fierce Miller center stage in 'Woman'" by Chuck Koplinski, News Gazette (1 Aug, 2019) Retrieved from ProQuest 2268792741
  33. ^ Heritage Minutes "Saguenay Fire" at www.historicacanada.ca
  34. ^ "Gemini nominations announced: Flashpoint leads, once again, and controversial Kennedys miniseries gets some nods" by Mishki Vaccaro at torontolife.com
  35. ^ "10 Best “Todd and the Book of Pure Evil” Episodes!" by Matt Donato at bloody-disgusting.com
  36. ^ "Todd and the Book of Pure Evil proves a screaming hit" by Bill Brioux at www.thestar.com
  37. ^ "Awards database" www.academy.ca via web.archive.org

External links[edit]