Phyllis Ellis

Ellis was born in Oakville, Ontario and grew up in the Greater Toronto Area. In high school, she performed in musical theatre and later obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in classical theatre. As a child, she wanted to be an olympian, an actor and a director. She was married to a professional hockey player and has two children.

She was part of the Canadian field hockey team in the 1984 Summer Olympics. The team finished fifth out of six.

In 1985, Ellis was hired as the women's coordinator for the Best Ever Ontario program as part of Ontario Ministry of Tourism. Under Ellis's leadership, the Female Athletes Motivating Excellence (FAME) program was initiated to promote increased female participation in sports programs. This initiative features high-profile female athletes, such as gold medalist Linda Thom, who visit schools and events to inspire girls and challenge stereotypes.

She founded a women's theatre company in Minneapolis, where she lived during her then-husband's hockey tenure.

She co-created the 2009 TV spinoff series Three Chords from the Truth. The series unfolds the adventures of Helena, portrayed by Ellis, as she navigates a struggling country music TV network, despite her limited knowledge of country music. Category: Woman is a documentary directed by Ellis that explores the question of gender identity and the controversial practice of sex testing in international sports and its impacts on female athletes.

Awards

Filmography