{{short description|Canadian field hockey player}} '''Phyllis Ellis''' (born 11 November 1959) is a Canadian hockey player, actor and director.
== Personal life == Ellis was born in Oakville, Ontario and grew up in the Greater Toronto Area. In high school, she performed in musical theatre and later obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in classical theatre. As a child, she wanted to be an olympian, an actor and a director. She was married to a professional hockey player and has two children.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ellis |first=Phyllis |date=June 26, 2022 |title=Who Is a Woman, and Who Gets to Decide |url=https://www.cbc.ca/playersvoice/entry/category-woman |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=CBC News}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Zekas |first=Rita |date=January 10, 2009 |title=Starring in the role of a 'hot mess'; Eccentric chic suits her and TV star Phyllis Ellis shops east, and west, for her award-winning look |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/439545837 |access-date=October 13, 2023 |website=Toronto Star |id={{ProQuest|439545837}}}}</ref>
== Sports == She was part of the Canadian field hockey team in the 1984 Summer Olympics. The team finished fifth out of six.<ref name="sref">{{cite Sports-Reference|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/el/phyllis-ellis-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418044252/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/el/phyllis-ellis-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 April 2020|accessdate=25 May 2012}}</ref>
In 1985, Ellis was hired as the women's coordinator for the ''Best Ever Ontario'' program as part of Ontario Ministry of Tourism. Under Ellis's leadership, the ''Female Athletes Motivating Excellence'' (FAME) program was initiated to promote increased female participation in sports programs. This initiative features high-profile female athletes, such as gold medalist Linda Thom, who visit schools and events to inspire girls and challenge stereotypes.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Sokol |first=Al |date=1986 |title=Female Athletes Get Role Models |url=https://ocul-crl.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?&context=PC&vid=01OCUL_CRL:CRL_DEFAULT&search_scope=NewDiscoveryNetwork&tab=OCULDiscoveryNetworkNew&docid=cdi_proquest_newspapers_435402730 |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=Toronto Star}}</ref>
== Film and theatre == She founded a women's theatre company in Minneapolis, where she lived during her then-husband's hockey tenure.{{When|date=August 2024}}
She co-created the 2009 TV spinoff series ''Three Chords from the Truth''. The series unfolds the adventures of Helena, portrayed by Ellis, as she navigates a struggling country music TV network, despite her limited knowledge of country music.<ref name=":1" /> ''Category: Woman'' is a documentary directed by Ellis that explores the question of gender identity and the controversial practice of sex testing in international sports and its impacts on female athletes.<ref name=":0" />
=== Awards === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Work |- |2009 |Gemini |Best Individual Performance in a Comedy Series |The Wilkinsons<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-10-28 |title=Slings & Arrows victorious with big wins at Gemini gala |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/slings-arrows-victorious-with-big-wins-at-gemini-gala-1.658246 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=cbc.ca}}</ref> |- |2013 |Donald Brittain Award |Best Social-Political Documentary |About Her<ref name="nstars">{{cite web |author=Directors |date= |title=Phyllis Ellis |url=https://www.northernstars.ca/phyllis-ellis/ |accessdate=21 April 2020 |publisher=Northern Stars}}</ref> |- |2019 |Calgary International Film Festival |DGC Best Canadian Documentary Award |Toxic Beauty<ref name="ciff">{{cite web |author= |date=2019 |title=TOXIC BEAUTY |url=https://www.calgaryfilm.com/films/2019/toxic-beauty/ |accessdate=20 April 2020 |publisher=Calgary International Film Festival}}</ref> |}
=== Filmography === {| class="wikitable" |+As director<ref name="nstars" /> !Year !Title |- |2010 |''About Her'' |- |2015 |''Painted Land: In Search of the Group of Seven'' |- |2015 |''Girls Night Out'' |- |2019 |''Toxic Beauty'' |- |2022 |''Category: Woman'' |} {| class="wikitable" |+As actor<ref name="nstars" /> !Year !Title |- |2006-2007 |''The Wilkinsons'' |- |2009 |''Three Chords from the Truth'' |- |2010 |''Call Me Fitz'' (guest appearance) |- |2011 |''The Listener'' (guest appearance) |- |2011 |''Murdoch Mysteries'' |- |2013 |''Lost Girl'' (guest appearance) |- |2013 |''It Was You Charlie'' (guest appearance) |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{sports links}}
{{Canada FHW Squad 1984 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Phyllis}} Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian women's field hockey players Category:Olympic field hockey players for Canada Category:Field hockey players at the 1984 Summer Olympics Category:Sportspeople from Oakville, Ontario Category:21st-century Canadian screenwriters Category:Canadian documentary film directors Category:Canadian film actresses Category:Canadian documentary film producers Category:Canadian women film directors Category:Canadian television directors Category:Canadian women film producers Category:Canadian women screenwriters Category:Canadian women television directors Category:Canadian women documentary filmmakers Category:Canadian Screen Award winning writers Category:20th-century Canadian sportswomen Category:Canadian Screen Award winning directors