Canadian actress Linda Malo has earned a Best Supporting Actress in a Drama nomination at the upcoming Gémeaux Awards, scheduled for September 13, 2026, for her role as Guylène Bien-Aimé in the series Empathie. The nomination marks a poignant career milestone following years away from the screen and highlights changing industry opportunities for mature actresses.
The Bottom Line
- The Recognition: Linda Malo received a 2026 Gémeaux Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for her performance in Empathie, created by Florence Longpré.
- The Industry Context: Malo shares the category with fellow Empathie cast members Brigitte Lafleur and Josée Deschênes, highlighting the show’s strong ensemble presence.
- The Career Arc: After a prolific run on television through the late 1990s and 2000s—including iconic roles in series like Jasmine—Malo stepped back from regular television work due to industry shifts and single-parent responsibilities before returning via Les perles and now Empathie.
Navigating the Evolving Television Landscape
The path to the 2026 Gémeaux Awards has been anything but linear for Malo. After a steady stream of high-profile credits from 1996 to 2010—spanning major television projects like Diva, Réseaux, and Les poupées russes—the work slowed down. As a single mother raising her son, economic realities forced her to pivot behind the scenes, producing corporate videos to maintain financial stability while keeping her creative footing.
Breaking Ground and Sustaining Longevity
Long before her current nomination, Malo helped break barriers on French-language television. When director Jean-Claude Lord cast her in the 1996 series Jasmine, cultural diversity on Quebec screens was sparse. Reflecting on that era, Malo notes the lasting impact she hears from younger cultural community professionals who watched the show growing up.
| Era | Key Projects | Industry Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–2010 | Jasmine, Diva, Réseaux, Les poupées russes | Consistent television roles and hosting contracts during a high-volume broadcast era. |
| 2010–2020s | Corporate video production, 30 vies, Les perles | Career slowdown coinciding with single parenthood; behind-the-scenes pivot before returning to television. |
| 2026 | Empathie, Farador | Gémeaux Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama; return to prominent television series work. |
Looking Ahead to the Gémeaux Ceremony
When the Gémeaux Awards ceremony convenes on September 13, Malo will step onto the red carpet not just as a nominee, but as a testament to staying power. Competing alongside her Empathie co-stars Brigitte Lafleur and Josée Deschênes in the supporting actress category, she views the nod as an unexpected validation from her peers.
What started as a long, quiet detour away from the spotlight has ultimately positioned her at the heart of contemporary television conversation—proving that resilience, much like good television, is all about the long game.
