Show business looked more like ‘no-show’ business at the 2004 ACTRA Toronto Awards, when two of the three winners failed to appear. Brent Carver won best male performance for his turn as one of William Shakespeare’s sidekicks in Elizabeth Rex, but was stuck down in New York City with, fittingly, a production of King Lear. Rex scored again when Diane D’Aquila won for best female performance for her role as Elizabeth I. Sonja Smits – on hand to pick up her own award of excellence – accepted the trophy on D’Aquila’s behalf, praising her ‘very raw, very powerful’ performance as the Virgin Queen.

The Feb. 20 gala, held at the jampacked Carlu hall, was a quick, lively affair thanks to host Peter Keleghan. ‘We’re only giving out three awards?’ he joked at one point. ‘You’re kidding. I gave up my appointment with Michael Riley’s hair stylist for this?’