Maggie Castle Explained

Maggie Castle
Birth Date:7 August 1983
Birth Place:Montreal, Quebec
Nationality:Canadian
Occupation:Actress
Yearsactive:1990–present
Family:Aimée 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

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

Film

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

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

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990Vincent and MeCrystal Tetley Jo's Sister
1993Because Why[29] Jackie
1995Kids of the Round TableJenny
1996How the Toys Saved ChristmasPolly (English version, voice)Animated film
1997data-sort-value="Jackal, The" The JackalMaggie
1998Nico the UnicornSusie
1999BabelAmanda
2002Edgar and JaneJane[30] Short Film
2002Arthur: It's Only Rock 'n' RollMolly MacDonald (voice)Animated film
2003Fast Food HighMaya
2005data-sort-value="Perfect Man, The" The Perfect ManWichita Girl
2006data-sort-value="Woods, The" The WoodsTracy
2006data-sort-value="House, The" The HouseCindy
2007WeirdsvilleTreena
2007Dead MaryLily
2007data-sort-value="Mad, The" The MadAmy Hunt
2007I'm Not ThereAnother Girl
2008Hank and MikeLena
2009data-sort-value="Time Traveler's Wife, The" The Time Traveler's WifeAlicia Abshire
2010Flying LessonsShelly
2015TumbledownShannon[31]
2017Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the EndJenny Kolinsky (voice)Animated film
2017StrongerMom at Fenway
2017Professor Marston and the Wonder WomenDorothy Roubicek
2018Super Troopers 2Cassandra Anne Gacek
2018American WomanBrett's Wife[32]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992Heritage MinutesGirl[33] Season 2, episode 7: "Saguenay Fire"
1994Tales of the Wild (Original title Aventures dans le Grand Nord)Episode: L'honneur des grandes neiges
1994Million Dollar BabiesTherese Dionne, 10 yrs.TV mini series, 2 episodes
1996GoosebumpsAmy KramerSeason 1, episode 10: "Night of the Living Dummy II"
1997–2018 ArthurMolly MacDonaldAnimated TV series, 27 episodes
1998data-sort-value="Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, The" The Mystery Files of Shelby WooJosieSeason 4, episode 4: "The Itchy Shorts Mystery"
2000Are You Afraid of the Dark?SandraSeason 7, episode 4: "The Tale of the Stone Maiden"
2000Big Wolf on CampusToriSeason 2, episode 7: "Fear and Loathing in Pleasantville"
2000Jackie Bouvier Kennedy OnassisCaroline Kennedy, ages 15 & 16TV movie
2001Vampire HighSamanthaSeason 1, episode 2: "There's a New Vampire in Town"
2003StarhunterTaryn OrfordSeason 2, episode 3: "Bio Crime"
2004data-sort-value="Grid, The" The GridCathyTV mini series, 5 episodes
2005Beach GirlsYoung StevieTV mini series, 6 episodes
2006Flirting with DangerJane HeatonTV movie
2006Between Truth and LiesEmily ParkerTV movie
2010StarStruckSara OlsonTV movie
2010–2012Todd and the Book of Pure EvilJenny Kolinsky
2013Blast Vegas AKA Destruction: Las VegasOliveTV movie
2015Saving HopeRuthSeason 3, episode 14: "Trading Places"
2015Broad SquadAngelaTV movie

Awards and nominations

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]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.northernstars.ca/castle_maggie/ Maggie Castle's bio
  2. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/maggie_castle Maggie Castle
  3. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/movies/2010/04/06/dealing-emwith-theem-devil "Dealing with the devil"
  4. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Maggie-Castle/ Maggie Castle voice acting credits
  5. https://issuu.com/sandboxmagazine/docs/summer2010/18 "Prom Queens"
  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
  7. https://cultmtl.com/2015/07/the-jackal-made-in-mtl-montreal/ "Montreal metro action doesn’t save The Jackal"
  8. https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/the-house-2006 The House synopsis & credits
  9. https://playbackonline.ca/2004/06/07/features-20040607/ "Features - This old house"
  10. https://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/slamdance-unveils-lineup-1117955085/ "Slamdance unveils lineup"
  11. https://variety.com/2007/film/reviews/weirdsville-1200511065/ Weirdsville review
  12. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/weirdsville-158496/ Weirdsville review
  13. https://www.horrordna.com/movies/dead-mary Dead Mary DVD Review
  14. https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/4705/mad-the-dvd/ Mad, The (DVD) review
  15. https://variety.com/2008/scene/reviews/hank-and-mike-1200508852/ Hank and Mike review
  16. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2013/05/11/todd_the_book_of_pure_evil_raises_indiegogo_funds_for_animated_movie.html "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil raises Indiegogo funds for animated movie"
  17. https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/260390/todd-book-pure-evil-end-end-review-heavy-metal-massacre-cartoon-form/ "Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil: The End Of The End Review – A Heavy Metal Massacre In Cartoon"
  18. https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3485961/editorial-watch-todd-book-pure-evil/ "Why You Should Watch ‘Todd and the Book of Pure Evil’!"
  19. https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-2r8sh1/goosebumps-season-1/?episode=b-vxnowf Goosebumps: episode 10: Night of the Living Dummy II synopsis & credits
  20. https://diaboliquemagazine.com/viewer-beware-youre-scare-looking-back-goosebumps-television-series-1995-1998/ "Viewer Beware, You’re in for a Scare: Looking Back at the Goosebumps Television Series (1995-1998)"
  21. https://www.tv-eh.com/2010/03/08/todd-the-book-of-pure-evil-in-production-for-space/ "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil in production for Space"
  22. https://dailydead.com/retrospective-part-two-todd-the-book-of-pure-evil/ "Retrospective Part Two: TODD & THE BOOK OF PURE EVIL"
  23. https://www.tv-eh.com/2011/06/08/todd-the-book-of-pure-evil-season-2-in-production/ "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil season 2 in production"
  24. https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/28127/fearnet-confirms-a-second-season-of-todd-the-book-of-pure-evil/ "FEARnet Confirms a Second Season of Todd & the Book of Pure Evil"
  25. https://thespinningimage.co.uk/cultfilms/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=5192 Starstruck review
  26. http://www.girlslife.com/post/9982/the-girls-of-starstruck "On set with...the girls of StarStruck"
  27. https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/45668/destruction-las-vegas-renamed-blast-vegas-will-air-on-syfy-in-july/ "Destruction: Las Vegas Renamed Blast Vegas; Will Air on Syfy in July"
  28. https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38955/look-for-malcolm-in-the-middle-of-destruction-las-vegas/ "Look for Malcolm in the Middle of Destruction: Las Vegas"
  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
  30. https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-gg2lyp/edgar-and-jane/ Edgar and Jane synopsis & credits
  31. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tumbledown-2016 Tumbledown review
  32. "Fierce Miller center stage in 'Woman'" by Chuck Koplinski, News Gazette (1 Aug, 2019) Retrieved from
  33. https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/saguenay-fire Heritage Minutes "Saguenay Fire"
  34. https://torontolife.com/culture/26th-annual-gemini-nominations-announced/ "Gemini nominations announced: Flashpoint leads, once again, and controversial Kennedys miniseries gets some nods"
  35. https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3510402/10-best-todd-book-pure-evil-episodes/ "10 Best “Todd and the Book of Pure Evil” Episodes!"
  36. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2011/10/31/todd_and_the_book_of_pure_evil_proves_a_screaming_hit.html "Todd and the Book of Pure Evil proves a screaming hit"
  37. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220185456/http://www.academy.ca/About-the-Academy/Awards-Database?flow=titleYear&step=2&byp-award-v=0&byp-winners-v=False&byp-name-v=Alex+House&byty-award-v=0&byty-winners-v=False&byty-title-v=Todd+and+the+Book+of+Pure+Evil&byty-year-v=0 "Awards database"