From television, to films, to music, several Canadian celebrities had a very successful year in 2021, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Here¡¯s a look at some Canadian celebrities who made headlines this year.
SIMU LIU
Chinese-Canadian actor Simu Liu starred in the Marvel Studios film ¡°Shang-Chi¡± which was released over the U.S. Labor Day day weekend breaking the existing record with an estimated US$71.4 million in ticket sales.
Liu -- an actor and a stuntman -- was born in China and immigrated to Canada at the age of five. Liu is also known for his role as Jung Kim on the popular Canadian television series ¡°Kim¡¯s Convenience.¡±
¡°Shang-Chi¡± was well received by film critics and Marvel fans, garnering a 91 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film also made history as the first in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to feature an Asian lead, and a mostly Asian cast.
Liu starred alongside actors Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina and Tony Leung in the action film.
On Monday, it was announced a sequel to Shang-Chi is in the works.
¡°Flopped so hard we got a sequel!!¡± Liu wrote on Twitter.
DRAKE
Toronto-born rapper Drake dropped his long-anticipated album ¡°Certified Lover Boy¡± on Sept. 3.
The album broke Apple Music and Spotify 2021 records for biggest streaming debut in a single day.
¡°Certified Lover Boy¡± opened at number one on Billboard¡¯s chart, and opened with the equivalent of 613,000 sales in the U.S., marking the biggest debut week album of 2021.
The album received two Grammy nominations. ¡°Certified Lover Boy¡± received a nomination for Best Rap Album, while the song ¡°Way 2 Sexy¡± was nominated for Best Rap Performance.
However, Drake has since withdrawn his album from the nominations.
DENIS VILLENEUVE
French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve fulfilled many science-fiction fans¡¯ wishes in 2021, with the release of the film adaptation of Frank Herbert¡¯s 1965 book ¡°Dune.¡±
The long-awaited film, released in Canada in October, adapts the first half of Herbert¡¯s epic, and stars actors Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya and Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin and Jason Momoa.
¡°Dune¡± was released in a hybrid manner amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and debuted with US$40.1 million in ticket sales in North America.
The film was well received by sci-fi film fans and fans of the book. Villeneuve¡¯s adaptation has been given an 83 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.
What¡¯s more, a sequel titled ¡°Dune: Part II,¡± is set to be released in 2023.
RYAN REYNOLDS
Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds was given the Governor General¡¯s Performing Arts award in 2021.
In a video posted to social media, former Barenaked Ladies band member Steven Page performed an original song titled ¡®Canada Love You Back,¡¯ to thank the ¡°Deadpool¡± actor for his work supporting Canadian charities and causes.
Reynolds, originally from Vancouver, B.C., could be seen tearing up in a response video posted to social media.
In a tweet, Reynolds thanked Page and Governor General Mary Simon, saying he was ¡°so beyond touched¡± after receiving the award, adding that he is a ¡°wreck.¡±
CATHERINE O¡¯HARA
Canadian actress Catherine O¡¯Hara was also given the Governor General¡¯s Performing Arts award in 2021.
In a video posted to social media, Noah Reid performed a piano cover of the song ¡°A Case of You¡± by Joni Mitchell.
In the video, Reid donned several colourful wigs as an ode to O¡¯Hara¡¯s character on the hit television show ¡°Schitt¡¯s Creek.¡±
In the video reacting to the award, O¡¯Hara can be seen crying, and laughing.
¡°Wow, beautiful,¡± O¡¯Hara can be heard saying in the video. ¡°Thank you.¡±
DAN AND EUGENE LEVY
O¡¯Hara¡¯s Canadian co-stars from the hit comedy series ¡°Schitt¡¯s Creek,¡± also had a big year in 2021.
Actor, writer, director and comedian, Dan Levy, made headlines after hosting Saturday Night Live in February.
What¡¯s more, Dan, alongside his father and fellow Canadian actor Eugene Levy, also co-authored a book in 2021 detailing their time creating and starring on ¡°Schitt¡¯s Creek.¡±
The coffee table book titled ¡°Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: The Story of Schitt¡¯s Creek,¡± was released in October, and is described as a ¡°celebration¡± of the comedy series which captured the attention of millions over it¡¯s six season run.
SANDRA OH
Canadian-American actress Sandra Oh was named one of People Magazine¡¯s ¡°People of the Year¡± in 2021.
Oh was born near Ottawa, in Nepean, Ont. Her parents are Korean immigrants.
The ¡°Killing Eve¡± star told People that being asked to be on the cover is a ¡°great privilege.¡±
¡°Because it normalizes things for my nephews and nieces,¡± she told the publication. ¡°Hopefully they¡¯re not missing something that I feel like I was always missing.¡±
She is best known for her role on the television series ¡°Grey¡¯s Anatomy,¡± on which she played Dr. Christina Yang.
Oh will appear on the cover of People Magazine on Dec. 13.
