At only 11 years old, Vernon-born and raised actress Lilah Fitzgerald now has a Leo award to add to her mantel.
Fitzgerald, who lives in Vancouver with her family, won the award for best lead performance by a female in a television movie.
The award, which was presented at a ceremony in Vancouver Sunday and celebrates excellence in B.C. film and television, came for Fitzgerald’s role in Polka-Dot and Luey (also known as A Girl’s Best Friend), which came out in January and also stars James Denton, of Desperate Housewives fame.
“I really did not expect to win because I’m only 11,” said Fitzgerald, when contacted by The Morning Star.
“When I heard them call my name, I was completely shocked and shouted ‘what?’. I heard a cheer erupt from the Polka-Dot and Luey table. I walked up to the stage, repeating over and over that same ‘what?’.
“When I got up on the stage and was faced with the lights and the too-high microphone, I had a little flashback to when I first said to my mom ‘I wanna be an actor. Can you help me do that?’ And then I realized ‘I’m doing it.’”
In her speech, Fitzgerald thanked the film’s director Terry Ingram and producer Christian Bruyère and made reference to Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Polka-Dot and Luey is said to be a throwback to Huck Finn, and includes a few monologues from the book).
“I will be forever grateful to each and every person and dog I had the pleasure of meeting on the Polka-Dot and Luey set, for making it that free and easy and comfortable raft for me. It’s lovely to live on a raft,” said Fitzgerald in her speech.
In the film, Fitzgerald stars as Penelope, better known as Polka-Dot, a spunky young girl who has a knack for helping people, particularly her ailing mother.
While out looking for a part-time job, she befriends a hard-nosed police officer (played by Denton) and his tracking dog, Luey. When Polka-Dot’s mother’s condition worsens, Luey helps Polka-Dot find the strength and faith inside to help her move forward.
This is Fitzgerald’s second leading role. Her first was in the 2011 biographical television film, The Pastor’s Wife, based on the story of Mary Winkler.
She also had a co-starring role in the made-for TV film Strange Magic, which told the life story of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. Other appearances include short film The Stolen and the full-length feature Seventh Son, starring Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges.
Fitzgerald begins shooting season two of the TV series Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce in July. She has a recurring role as Anouk, the daughter of Phoebe (played by Beau Garrett), one of the four leading women in the show.
