The CBC Actors Conservatory is recognized thoughout the industry as a vital hub for spotting and supporting exciting and original on-screen talent. This full-time creative and professional experience, which is programmed by the Canadian Film Centre, has launched close to 100 actors since it began and allows actors to expand their skills while empowering them to navigate career and marketplace opportunities. Each "CLOSE UP" showcases actors in a dramatic, character-driven scene. All CLOSE UPs are professionally produced and edited for a Canadian Film Centre Industry Showcase in the spring.

Wah gwan! Chelsea Russell was born in Barbados, raised in Jamaica, and at the tender age of 16 she came to Toronto alone. Chelsea studied at the Acting Conservatory at York University and she has been working professionally as an actor in theatre, TV and film since. Specifically, Afro centric, politically disruptive and arthouse work interests her. Storytelling through acting, constantly asks us to discuss humanity and it provides a mirror to audiences so they can feel emotions that may not be readily available to them, that’s what she loves about it. Honesty, a sense of humour, curiosity and confidence are paramount to her in her work and her life.

Chelsea has been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Performance, Web Program or series for 21 BLACK FUTURES, a DORA - Best Production for DA KINK IN MY HAIR and an ACTRA Award for Outstanding Performance - Gender Non-Conforming or Female for WOMEN MEETS GIRL. Some of her credits include: Showtime’s FELLOW TRAVELLERS, Paramount +’s SKYMED, CBC Gem’s REBIRTH OF THE AFRONAUTS, Netflix’s TINY PRETTY THINGS, Apple TV+’s SEE, and the upcoming season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Chelsea’s theatre credits include: Beyonsea in “Beyonsea and The Mothers” at Green Light Arts (2025), “Fairview” (2023) at Canadian Stage and Soulpepper’s “Pipeline” (2022). Chelsea is honoured to be a part of the 2025-2026 Acting Conservatory at the Canadian Film Centre. She hopes that some of her insights align with yours and that she can work with you on something fabulous!

Dominique, a stressed, intimidated and under performing office worker is hired on as a favour by an old high school peer, Jareth to who is her HR Manager. In this snippet we discover that she has a deep seated malice and jealousy for Jareth, simply for him being her superior. She acts on her hatred for him by secretly stealing his food everyday at work in an effort to undermine him and exercise her power. Within this scene we learn that he has trapped the culprit by a clever trick of lacing his food with laxatives. What was an Employee Assessment meeting quickly turns into an attack on Dominique's bowels as she tries to cover up for her actions but ultimately is found out by an unadulterated rage attack against Jareth and her body betraying her.