ACTRA Toronto has unveiled the nominees for its annual awards, nodding to both Gordon Pinsent and Kristen Thomson for their roles in Away from Her and to the stars of Atomic Betty in a new category for best voice performance.

Pinsent, whose performance in Sarah Polley’s Away from Her was lauded by fest-goers at Sundance, is nominated as best actor, up against Chris Bolton (Rent-A-Goalie), William Hutt (Slings & Arrows), Don McKellar (Monkey Warfare) and Michael Therriault (Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story).

Thomson, meanwhile, will face fellow female contenders Martha Burns (Slings & Arrows), Maria del Mar (Terminal City), Deborah Grover (11 Cameras) and Martha Henry (At the Hotel).

The animated series Atomic Betty received two nominations in the new voice performance category, for Len Carlson and Tajja Isen. Also nom’ed are Ellen-Ray Hennessy of Di-Gata Defenders, Ron Rubin for Erky Perky and Adrian Truss of Jane and the Dragon.

The awards will be handed out Feb. 23 in Toronto and, as previously announced, will present Wendy Crewson with the ACTRA award of excellence for her ‘continuing contributions to the film and television industry.’

‘It will come as no surprise. [She is] an award-winning actor and a star who graciously leads the fight for our culture,’ says union president Karl Pruner.

Crewson was recently seen in the CBC MOW The Robber Bride and is a regular on the sci-fi series ReGenesis.