ACTOR
MJ was signed by an agent after a talent contest when she was 10 years old. Her first role was Margaret Thatcher on a CBC kids sketch show. She performed her last acting role 30 years later on a CBC sketch show, before she retired from acting in 2019.
MJ worked professionally in theatre, voice, film & TV for 30 years. She has been nominated for two Dora Mavor Moore awards and one BroadwayWorld Toronto Award for acting.
Performing and acting highlights include touring the country’s small and large theatres in many a Canadian play; playing Gracie Allen in the Canadian tour of “George & Gracie”; acting in 7 feminist Seventh Stage productions; ‘working’ as a Singer/Dancer on Celebrity cruise-ships; playing Sajuica in cartoon ‘Erky Perky’ for 3 seasons; playing Melanie for 4 seasons on “Hard Rock Medical”; hosting 2 seasons of cross-country cooking show “What’s Cooking”; and singing in funk band extravaganza ELASTOCITIZENS for almost a decade. Yeah, it was a good run.
In 2019 MJ retired from acting to focus on family and growing SOUL FUEL fitness.
ACTING REVIEWS
“As Kali, Shaw gives an astonishing performance. She is a seductive siren… radiates danger… and is positively frightening as the play carries onward.”
“Shaw gives a fearless performance as Kordic’s love Cindy.”
“Stella is the free-living, free-loving, hip-swinging tart with a heart of, well, silver – brought to perfect life by Melissa-Jane Shaw, who demonstrates that sensuality and sensitivity are not mutually exclusive.”
“Terrific performance by Shaw… at once charming and engaging in the physical aspect of the relationship, and almost possessed with rage as she becomes jealous of something both real and imagined.”
