- The youngest of five children.
- Both parents were actors.
- Had her first audition at age 5.
- Debuted in films at age 6 with ONE MAGIC CHRISTMAS.
- Dropped out of high school to become a political activist for Socialist groups.
- Lives with her writer boyfriend in Toronto.
- Was attacked by police at a political protest at Queens Park in 1995.
- In 1994 had surgery to correct scoliosis.
- Lost some back teeth at a rally, in a violent clash between police and protesters.
- When she was 12, during the gulf war, she attended a childrens awards show in Washington DC and was seated at a table with some representatives from Disney. They asked her to remove a peace symbol that she was wearing but she refused. Disney has blacklisted her ever since.
- Was originally considered for the character 'Penny Lane' in ALMOST FAMOUS (2000) -- the role eventually went to Kate Hudson.
- Bears a striking resemblance to a young Uma Thurman.
- Her mother died of cancer January 10, 1990, two days after Polley's 11th birthday
- Moved out of her parents' home into her own apartment at age 15.
Quotes- "The films I learned to act in always involved something ambiguous. In the AtomEgoyen films the unspoken is what's important - the words are mechanisms to talk around what you're really talking about. And now I feel a struggle sometimes when a piece of dialogue is exactly what it is.
- "I like to play people who have secrets, who have isolated themselves in some way. I do think of loneliness as the thing that I'm constantly running away from - but I don't think I'm the only person who feels that way."
- "When people ask me what I do, acting is usually the furthest thing from my mind. It's a lack of confidence, in a way. I've hidden my insecurities for so long...Still, for the first time, I'm really enjoying acting. It seems not such a bogus thing to do with your life."
Awards- Genie Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, MY LIFE WITHOUT ME (2004)
- Vancouver Film Critics Circle: Best Actress - Canadian Film, MY LIFE WITHOUT ME (2004)
- Genie Awards: Best Live Action Short Drama, I SHOUT LOVE (2003)
- Canadian Comedy Awards: Film - Performance Female, GO (2000)
- Gemini Awards: Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series, Straight Up (1998)
- National Board of Review: Best Ensemble Performance, THE SWEET HEREAFTER (1997)
- Boston Society of Film Critics Awards: Best Supporting Actress, THE SWEET HEREAFTER (1997)
- Gemini Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, LANTERN HILL (1992)
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