# Lenore Zann

Lenore Zann (born November 22, 1959) is a Canadian actress and politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Cumberland—Colchester in the House of Commons of Canada as a member of the Liberal Party. Before entering federal politics, she represented the electoral district of Truro-Bible Hill in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 2009 until 2019 as a member of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party and from June 9, 2019, until September 12, 2019, as an independent.
As an actress, Zann is known for providing the voice of Rogue in various X-Men series and games.

## Life and career

Zann was born on November 22, 1959, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, the daughter of Janice, a high school teacher, and Paul Zann, a professor. Her great-grandfather, named Zaninovich (Zaninović), came to Australia from Croatia.
She emigrated with her parents to Canada in 1968, first to Regina, Saskatchewan, then to Truro, Nova Scotia, and later graduated from Cobequid Educational Centre, a high school in Truro, which was noted for its student musical productions. She attended York University in Toronto where she studied drama, fine arts and political science.
Zann worked as a screen, television, stage, and voice actress, and appeared in numerous television shows, films, radio, and animated series. As an actor, she is best known for providing the voice of Rogue in X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997), as well as the video games X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (1998), and Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000). Zann reprised the role in X-Men '97, the Disney+ revival of The Animated Series.
After living in Halifax, Toronto, London, Stockholm, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and New York City, Zann returned to Truro in 2008.
That fall she started a community campaign to restore a historic former academic building in downtown Truro, Provincial Normal College, into a cultural centre. She raised $62,000 for a feasibility study following which the four-story, 24,000-square-foot provincially designated Victorian brick building was repurposed to become the centre point of downtown Truro – the town's new Central Colchester Regional Library, with a skating rink in front during winter months.
During her first four years as a backbencher in the first NDP government in Nova Scotia Zann was appointed ministerial assistant for three positions: culture & heritage, environment & climate change, and deputy premier – unsuccessfully working to reinstate the Nova Scotia Arts Council and improve the film tax credit for the film and TV industry.
As a first-time opposition member Zann has been NDP spokesperson for education, environment, status of women, Human Rights Commission, Aboriginal affairs & truth & reconciliation, agriculture, advanced education, African NS affairs, and Gaelic affairs.
During her ten years as MLA, she introduced two successful bills. Bill 90 amended the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Commission Act to increase the size of the board of directors to ten. Bill 74 changed the name of the new electoral district of Truro–Bible Hill to Truro–Bible Hill–Millbrook–Salmon River.

## Political career

On April 8, 2009, Zann successfully ran for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party nomination in the riding of Truro-Bible Hill. On the same day, an employee of the Liberal Party leaked a topless photo of her to the media from her appearance in The L Word. Zann was elected in the 2009 provincial election and served as the ministerial assistant for the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Heritage. She was subsequently re-elected in the 2013 provincial election to represent the reconfigured electoral district, now called Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River.
In that election the NDP was reduced to seven seats in the legislature and third-party status. Zann served as the NDP critic for Aboriginal affairs, community culture and heritage, community services, education, Human Rights Commission / status of women, and seniors and disabled.
Zann introduced bill 111, the Environmental Racism Prevention Act, addressing the issue of environmental racism in Nova Scotia. The bill was not considered by the house.
On June 12, 2015, Zann announced her bid for the leadership of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. On February 27, 2016, Zann was defeated in her leadership bid, losing to Gary Burrill on the second ballot.
On June 9, 2019, Zann announced she would seek the Liberal nomination to succeed retiring Liberal MP Bill Casey in Cumberland—Colchester for the 2019 federal election. She chose to leave the NDP for the Liberals because she believed the Liberals stood a better chance of winning. She sat as an independent member in Nova Scotia's legislature as she sought the nomination. Zann won the federal Liberal nomination on July 27, 2019, defeating three other candidates including Casey's constituency assistant. She resigned her seat on September 12.
During the 43rd Canadian Parliament, she introduced one private member bill, Bill C-230, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to redress environmental racism which sought to require the Minister of the Environment to develop a national strategy which would examine the link between race, socio-economic status and environmental risk. It was brought to a vote on March 24, 2021, and advanced to committee stage with Liberal, NDP and Green Party members voting in favour. However, the parliament ended before the bill could be considered for third reading.
In the 2021 federal election Zann lost her seat to Conservative candidate Stephen Ellis.

## Electoral record
### Federal

vte2021 Canadian federal election: Cumberland—Colchester :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Stephen Ellis | 18,601 | 46.02 | +10.34 | $74,420.53 |
| | Liberal | Lenore Zann | 13,822 | 34.20 | -2.49 | $83,751.17 |
| | New Democratic | Daniel Osborne | 4,984 | 12.33 | +0.34 | $3,375.10 |
| | People's | Bill Archer | 1,687 | 4.17 | +2.83 | $1,941.16 |
| | Green | Jillian Foster | 1,045 | 2.58 | -10.66 | $813.26 |
| | Independent | Jody O'Blenis | 278 | 0.69 | +0.37 | none listed |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 40,417 | 99.31 | +0.28 | $109,531.81 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 279 | 0.69 | -0.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,696 | 60.13 | -8.40 |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | 67,675 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +6.45 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vte2019 Canadian federal election: Cumberland—Colchester :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Lenore Zann | 16,672 | 36.68 | −27.05 | $91,456.57 |
| | Conservative | Scott Armstrong | 16,219 | 35.69 | +9.23 | none listed |
| | Green | Jason Blanch | 6,015 | 13.23 | +9.67 | $9,366.06 |
| | New Democratic | Larry Duchesne | 5,451 | 11.99 | +6.28 | $3,860.15 |
| | People's | William Archer | 608 | 1.34 | New | none listed |
| | Independent | Matthew V. Rushton | 232 | 0.51 | New | none listed |
| | Veterans Coalition | Jody O'Blenis | 144 | 0.32 | New | none listed |
| | National Citizens Alliance | Stephen J. Garvey | 109 | 0.24 | New | none listed |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 45,450 | 99.03 | | $104,050.86 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 447 | 0.97 | +0.59 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,897 | 68.54 | −2.51 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 66,967 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | −18.14 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||

### Provincial

2017 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| New Democratic Party | Lenore Zann | 3,455 | 43.95 |
| Progressive Conservative | Keltie Jones | 2,512 | 31.96 |
| Liberal | Craig Johnson | 1,894 | 24.09 |
2013 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| New Democratic Party | Lenore Zann | 3,165 | 38.10 |
| Liberal | Barry J. Mellish | 2,682 | 32.20 |
| Progressive Conservative | Charles Cox | 2,470 | 29.70 |
2009 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| New Democratic Party | Lenore Zann | 4,147 | 48.40 | |
| Progressive Conservative | Hughie MacIsaac | 2,607 | 30.42 | |
| Liberal | Bob Hagell | 1,651 | 19.27 | |
| Green | Kaleigh Brinkhurst | 164 | 1.91 | – |

## Filmography
### Film (live-action)

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1980 | Hounds of Notre Dame | Lila Petrie | |
| 1981 | Happy Birthday to Me | Maggie | |
| 1981 | Black Mirror | Julie | |
| 1982 | Visiting Hours | Lisa | |
| 1982 | Murder by Phone | Connie Lawson | |
| 1983 | American Nightmare | Tina | |
| 1984 | That's My Baby! | Sally | |
| 1985 | Def-Con 4 | J.J. | |
| 1985 | Return | Susan | |
| 1986 | One Night Only | Anne McGraw | |
| 1987 | Prettykill | Carrie | |
| 1987 | The Girl | Viveka | |
| 1988 | Something About Love | Sylvia | |
| 1989 | The Amityville Curse | Unknown | Direct-to-video |
| 1990 | Back Stab | Unknown | |
| 1993 | Change of Heart | Carmen | |
| 1994 | Boozecan | Sunny | |
| 1994 | Cold Sweat | Ghost | |
| 1995 | Johnston... Johnston | Queen Bee | Short film |
| 1996 | Natural Enemy | Gina Knox | Direct-to-video |
| 1998 | Babyface | Margaret | |
| 2007 | Dirty Laundry | Linda | Short film |
| 2008 | Favorite Son | Unknown | |
| 2010 | Trigger | Beebee | |
| 2014 | Becoming Marilyn! | Herself | Documentary |
| 2020 | Stage Mother | Bevette | |

### Film (animated)

| Year | Title | Role | Note |
| 1991 | Tooth Fairy, Where Are You? | Dottie | Television film |
| 1999 | Makai Tenshô: The Armageddon | Queen Kasuga | |
| 2003 | Rescue Heroes: The Movie | Wendy Waters | |
| 2005 | My Little Pony: Friends are Never Far Away | Star Catcher | Direct-to-video |
| 2005 | My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas | Star Catcher | Short film |
| 2012 | Bratz: Desert Jewelz | Alia | |

### Television (live action)

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1982 | Something's Afoot | Hope | Television film |
| 1986 | Mania: The Intruder | Julie Somers | Television film |
| 1989 | Rin Tin Tin: K-9 Cop | Unknown | Episode: "Jail Bait" |
| 1989 | Love and Hate: The Story of Colin and JoAnn Thatcher | Lynne | Television film |
| 1989 | Last Train Home | Lily Manse | Television film |
| 1990 | On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story | Unknown | Television film |
| 1991 | Conspiracy of Silence | Soap Actress #1 | Miniseries |
| 1992 | Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story | Betty | Television film |
| 1992 | Beyond Reality | Diane | Episode: "Theatre of the Absurd" |
| 1993 | Gross Misconduct: The Life of Brian Spencer | Diane Delana | Television film |
| 1993 | The Hidden Room | Amy | Episode: "Transfigured Night" |
| 1990-1993 | Street Legal | Nina Pascaras / Jean Rhomer | Recurring role; 8 episodes |
| 1994 | Forever Knight | Amber | Episode: "Capital Offence" |
| 1995 | Rent-a-Kid | Elaine Loman | Television film |
| 1996 | Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice | Angie | Television film |
| 1996 | Millennium | Ruthie Bangs | Episode: "The Well-Worn Lock" |
| 1997 | Police Academy: The Series | Bonnie | Episode: "Shopping with the Enemy" |
| 1999 | Lexx | The Dark Lady | Episode: "Woz" |
| 1999 | Pit Pony | L.B. Collins | Episode: "Famous" |
| 2000 | Personally Yours | Josie | TV movie |
| 2001 | Cold Squad | Laurie Peters | Episode: "The Box" |
| 2001 | Mysterious Ways | Beverly Wilcox | Episode: "A Time to Every Purpose" |
| 2003 | Andromeda | Senator Bayliss | Episode: "The Risk-All Point" |
| 2004 | Law & Order | Tina | Episode: "Veteran's Day" |
| 2004 | Kingdom Hospital | Harriet | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | The Chris Isaak Show | Sharon Nesbick | Episode: "Suspicion" |
| 2006 | 'Til Death Do Us Part | Nancy Seaman | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2007 | Love Notes | Merry | Television film |
| 2008 | The L Word | Jackie | Episode: "Look Out, Here They Come!" |

### Television (animated)

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1992–1997 | X-Men: The Animated Series | Rogue | Main role; 68 episodes |
| 1993 | Stunt Dawgs | Sizzle | |
| 1993–1994 | Cadillacs and Dinosaurs | Mikla | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 1994 | RoboCop: The Series | Willa | Episode: "Sisters in Crime" |
| 1995 | Spider-Man | Rogue | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Vor-Tech: Undercover Conversion Squad | Unknown | Credited as Lenore Zahn |
| 1998 | Salty's Lighthouse | Aurora / Sunshine / Little Ditcher | |
| 1998 | Mythic Warriors | Persephone | Episode: "Persephone and the Winter Seeds" |
| 1999 | Arc the Lad | Announcer / Kids | |
| 1999–2000 | Avengers: United They Stand | Tigra | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 1999–2002 | Rescue Heroes | Wendy Waters | Main role; 32 episodes |
| 1999 | Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure | Alice Sharome | Recurring role |
| 1999 | Magic Knight Rayearth | Caldina | Recurring role; English dub |
| 2000 | Gate Keepers | Satoko Takanashi | |
| 2000 | Dinozaurs | Dino Ptera | Recurring role |
| 2000 | Capertown Cops | Unknown | Recurring role; credited as Lenore Zahn |
| 2000 | Turtle Island | Ingrid and Wormy | |
| 2001 | Outlaw Star | Aisha Clan-Clan | English dub |
| 2001 | Mobile Suit Gundam | Crowley Hamon | English dub |
| 2001 | Alienators: Evolution Continues | Additional Voices | |
| 2001–2002 | Mary-Kate & Ashley in Action! | Renee La Rouge | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
| 2001–2005 | Dragon Tales | Lorca | 2 episodes |
| 2003–2004 | MegaMan: NT Warrior | Roll | Recurring role |
| 2003 | The Mummy | Anck Su Namun | 4 episodes |
| 2004–2006 | Dragon Booster | Kitt Wonn, Spynn | Recurring role; 39 episodes |
| 2006–2008 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Chikara Shisho | Recurring role; 10 episodes |
| 2007 | Serial Experiments Lain | Reika | |
| 2007–2009 | Storm Hawks | Master Cyclonis, Oracle, Lark, Statue, Marge | Recurring role; 8 episodes |
| 2008–2011 | Animal Mechanicals | Island Owl | Recurring role; 73 episodes |
| 2009–2011 | WordWorld | Kangaroo, Owl, and Tiger | Main role |
| 2024 | X-Men '97 | Rogue | Main role; 8 episodes |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
| 1996 | X-Men vs. Street Fighter | Rogue / Birdy | |
| 1998 | Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes | Rogue | |
| 2000 | The Misadventures of Tron Bonne | Digger | |
| 2000 | Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes | Rogue / Birdy | Uncredited |
| 2004 | The Fairly OddParents: Shadow Showdown | Titania | |