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Patricia Zentilli is a versatile and captivating performer who has worked in film, television and theatre across Canada.

Born in Kingston, Ontario but raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Patricia was bitten by the acting bug in Grade Six when she was cast as “Dorothy” in her school’s production of The Wizard of Oz. 

Patricia’s first formal training as an actor was to study clowning at The Dmitri Theatre School in Verscio, Switzerland.

After graduating from high school, Patricia lived in Togo - a small country in West Africa - as part of a Canada World Youth programme.

Upon her return to Canada, Patricia earned a B.A. in theatre at Dalhousie University in Halifax and then did further studies with “Shakespeare and Company” in Bennington, Vermont.

Coming home to Nova Scotia, Patricia was cast in a number of productions with Neptune Theatre in roles that included “Shy Girl” in Sincerely, A Friend, “Frankie” in The Member of the Wedding with Jackie Richardson “Marty” in Grease, “Ophelia” in Hamlet, “Geraldine” in What the Butler Saw and “Curley’s Wife” in Of Mice and Men.

In 1999 Patricia landed a principle role in the successful Canadian film, New Waterford Girl, which went on to win awards at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Around the same time, Patricia landed a recurring role as “Bunny” on the cult Sci-fi television series, Lexx, for which she still has a loyal fan following.

Patricia has made numerous guest appearances on television series that include The Chris Isaak Show, The Sean Cullen Show, Angela’s Eyes, Naked Josh, This is Wonderland, Wonderfalls, Blue Murder, The Gavin Crawford Show, Made in Canada and The Rick Mercer Report.

In 2003 she played “Lynn” in Scott Simpson and Michael Melski’s film Touch & Go.

Patricia made her Canadian Stage Company (Toronto) debut playing the role of “Little Becky Two Shoes” in their production of Urinetown.

In 2005, she starred as “Cathy” in Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years at the Manitoba Theatre Centre (Winnipeg) opposite

Adam Brazier.

Patricia returned to Nova Scotia to play “Brooke”/”Vicki” in the Atlantic Theatre Festival’s production of Noises Off

for which she won the 2007 Robert Merritt Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress.

In 2006/2007 Patricia was seen once again on television as “Susan” in Global’s The Jane Show,

a television series that was

co-written, produced and starred Teresa Pavlinek.

In November of 2007, Patricia was invited back by CanStage to star in their production of

Little Shop of Horrors.

Ron Pederson played “Seymour”, and Ted Dykstra directed.

Patricia’s portrayal of “Audrey”- the bruised flower shop girl with a heart of gold - garnered numerous accolades from esteemed theatre critics across Toronto and she was nominated for a Dora award for her performance.

Patricia loves performing as a singer and has she sung jazz, cabaret, folk and musical theatre in venues in both Toronto and Halifax.

She performs regularly with pianist Patti Loach and together,

Patti with an ‘i’ & Patty with a ‘y’ headlined in the TD CANADA TRUST Toronto Jazz Festival’s Cabaret Series in June and their show drew the largest audience for that series.

When Patricia is not working in television, film or theatre, she paints whimsical paintings called “pattyzees”.

For more information about Patricia’s artwork, please visit www.pattyzee.com.

by Amanda Campbell , 04/11/08

Photo by Chris Nicholls/Lorca Moore

Dress by Rosemarie Umetsu