Joanna Gaskell
- Actress
- Director
- Editor
Joanna Gaskell attended East 15 Acting School in London, UK, graduating with her M.A. in Acting with distinction in 2007. She stayed on in the UK for a short time, working in independent film and travelling pantomime, until returning to Canada in 2008. In Vancouver, Joanna entered the professional film and theatre scene, quickly making a name for herself as a versatile performer.
In 2021, Joanna starred in feature film Who Am I Now? by writer/director Louise Lathey, which garnered international attention for its honest and realistic portrayal of the identity struggles of a pair of women struggling with their sexuality. It was picked up for distribution by Gravitas Ventures, and achieved worldwide release in July of 2021. Joanna also portrayed Candy in the the 2014 cult favourite web mini-series Humans & Households, and guest starred in 2015 fantasy series One Hit Die.
In 2016, Joanna performed as the lead in the Canadian premiere of the one-woman show Grounded, by George Brant, as part of the Vancouver Fringe Festival, and received very positive reviews. Critics specifically praised Joanna's balance of "toughness and aggression with an intense vulnerability" (Meghan Bell, Room Magazine), "intensity and passion" (Kit Martens, Plank Magazine) and "exquisite" attention to detail (Darren Barefoot, Vancouver Observer). Joanna also found a place performing alongside emerging comedy writer/director Jacqueline Korb as a part of Little Basket Theatre, and in early days with East Vancouver's alternative late-night science-fiction and horror production house, Spectral Theatre.
In 2012, Joanna joined what would become a Vancouver comedy installation, The Critical Hit Show, a long-form improv show that continues to draw crowds to the Rio Theatre - one of the last independent movie houses in the city. As part of a team of talented comedy writers and performers, Joanna performs once a month in this ongoing story based on role-playing games. The show was created by Vancouver comedian Eric Fell, features regular performers such as writer Ian Boothby, actor Barbara Beall and comedy improviser Allen Morrison, and has featured guest performers Billy Campbell, Brian Anderson and Edwin Perez.
In 2010, Joanna launched into producing and writing with creation of the independent comedy-fantasy webseries Standard Action, which became a huge success at gaming conventions, film festivals, and online. Joanna stars in the series as Edda, the Elf Barbarian, who (along with three equally hapless adventurers) decides to save their kidnapped friends... and also the world. Standard Action ran for three seasons, funded by the fan base, and ended in 2015 with a total of 42 episodes. Because of her role in Standard Action, Joanna was invited to host the board game review series, Starlit Citadel Reviews, alongside Kaja Sadowski. As the series progressed, Joanna took on directing and editing the series as well as hosting, and at its close the show boasted 140 episodes over four seasons.
As a voice actor, Joanna has leant her voice to many productions in Vancouver and elsewhere - the highlights being thriller/horror audiodrama series The Big Loop - created and directed by Paul Bae - and animated TV series Animism from Zeros 2 Heros Media, in which she plays the sassy villain Tokala. Her voice can also be heard in a number of other popular releases, including the audiodrama Tanis, popular rogue-like video game Sword of the Stars, and podcast Less is Morgue.
Joanna launched her own production company, Mightyjoanna Productions, to create content focussed on music, comedy and human connection. She has produced and directed a number of projects since 2016, including live music mini-series The Murder Room Sessions, comedy short films RED: The Story Behind the Scandal and Nature Calls, and the music video for alternative rock band Owlface's single, "Science." Joanna also co-created live music videography company Wood Box Films with business partner Kersten Tennert to focus on creating live, session, and official music videos for local Vancouver bands. Through Wood Box Films, Joanna directed, shot and edited the music video for the 2022 single "Voice Leading" by Vancouver synth-pop icon Kellarissa.
Joanna is represented by Lissa Lloyd with Lloyd Talent.
In 2021, Joanna starred in feature film Who Am I Now? by writer/director Louise Lathey, which garnered international attention for its honest and realistic portrayal of the identity struggles of a pair of women struggling with their sexuality. It was picked up for distribution by Gravitas Ventures, and achieved worldwide release in July of 2021. Joanna also portrayed Candy in the the 2014 cult favourite web mini-series Humans & Households, and guest starred in 2015 fantasy series One Hit Die.
In 2016, Joanna performed as the lead in the Canadian premiere of the one-woman show Grounded, by George Brant, as part of the Vancouver Fringe Festival, and received very positive reviews. Critics specifically praised Joanna's balance of "toughness and aggression with an intense vulnerability" (Meghan Bell, Room Magazine), "intensity and passion" (Kit Martens, Plank Magazine) and "exquisite" attention to detail (Darren Barefoot, Vancouver Observer). Joanna also found a place performing alongside emerging comedy writer/director Jacqueline Korb as a part of Little Basket Theatre, and in early days with East Vancouver's alternative late-night science-fiction and horror production house, Spectral Theatre.
In 2012, Joanna joined what would become a Vancouver comedy installation, The Critical Hit Show, a long-form improv show that continues to draw crowds to the Rio Theatre - one of the last independent movie houses in the city. As part of a team of talented comedy writers and performers, Joanna performs once a month in this ongoing story based on role-playing games. The show was created by Vancouver comedian Eric Fell, features regular performers such as writer Ian Boothby, actor Barbara Beall and comedy improviser Allen Morrison, and has featured guest performers Billy Campbell, Brian Anderson and Edwin Perez.
In 2010, Joanna launched into producing and writing with creation of the independent comedy-fantasy webseries Standard Action, which became a huge success at gaming conventions, film festivals, and online. Joanna stars in the series as Edda, the Elf Barbarian, who (along with three equally hapless adventurers) decides to save their kidnapped friends... and also the world. Standard Action ran for three seasons, funded by the fan base, and ended in 2015 with a total of 42 episodes. Because of her role in Standard Action, Joanna was invited to host the board game review series, Starlit Citadel Reviews, alongside Kaja Sadowski. As the series progressed, Joanna took on directing and editing the series as well as hosting, and at its close the show boasted 140 episodes over four seasons.
As a voice actor, Joanna has leant her voice to many productions in Vancouver and elsewhere - the highlights being thriller/horror audiodrama series The Big Loop - created and directed by Paul Bae - and animated TV series Animism from Zeros 2 Heros Media, in which she plays the sassy villain Tokala. Her voice can also be heard in a number of other popular releases, including the audiodrama Tanis, popular rogue-like video game Sword of the Stars, and podcast Less is Morgue.
Joanna launched her own production company, Mightyjoanna Productions, to create content focussed on music, comedy and human connection. She has produced and directed a number of projects since 2016, including live music mini-series The Murder Room Sessions, comedy short films RED: The Story Behind the Scandal and Nature Calls, and the music video for alternative rock band Owlface's single, "Science." Joanna also co-created live music videography company Wood Box Films with business partner Kersten Tennert to focus on creating live, session, and official music videos for local Vancouver bands. Through Wood Box Films, Joanna directed, shot and edited the music video for the 2022 single "Voice Leading" by Vancouver synth-pop icon Kellarissa.
Joanna is represented by Lissa Lloyd with Lloyd Talent.
