You’ve heard us speak of the balanced 360-degree Notable life – all of our YPs strive to achieve a balance of professional, social, charity and living life. To feed your weekly guilty indulgence of both male and female eye candy, coupled with 360- degree inspiration, we profile a different celeb each week that we feel embodies this. This week features the multi-talented Canadian actress, model, host and activist Lisa Ray, who is inspirational in almost every way imaginable…
Professional
In case you are way out of the loop, Lisa Ray is an acclaimed Canadian actress, TV host, former model and activist. Raised in Toronto, Ray was discovered early on while on vacation in India and went on to become one of the most successful cover models and celebrities in India. This catapulted her into instant fame and her high-profile career quickly caught the attention Indian filmmakers, but she refused many offers until 2000’s Kasoor, which received a considerable amount of attention. She was then cast as the lead in Indian-Canadian director Deepa Mehta’s romantic comedy Bollywood/Hollywood in 2002, which was hugely successful in Canada. It was then time for Ray to move to London to study acting (and even miming) professionally and devote a serious career in the performing arts. Upon graduation, she reunited with Deepa Mehta in the critically acclaimed and Oscar nominated Water in 2005. She has appeared in an assortment of other TV and film projects since. Among other accolades, she was voted Star of the Future at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival and named one of the ‘ten most beautiful Indian women of the millennium’ by a Times of India poll. Just last night, she returned as the host of the second season of Top Chef. As a Canadian performer, she is considered highly successful and can soon add “author” to her list of accomplishments as she is currently working on her first book.
Social
Ray has always been a social fixture at Canadian functions and red carpet gatherings and has been known to host local TIFF parties. Even when she was undergoing treatment for a rare cancer, she didn’t coop herself up at home and hide from the world. In fact, she did the opposite. In 2009, just months after receiving the grim diagnosis and undergoing intense treatment, Ray graced the red carpet at the TIFF gala premiere of Cooking With Stella. The very next year, she hosted the annual Canadian Filmmakers party at Toronto’s Spoke Club alongside Ben Mulroney.
She discusses her love of food and sharing it with friends and family, and has said, “if you are denying yourself food, you are denying life,” and that “food brings people together.” She has lived in India, Italy and Paris and is vocal on her love of the social food cultures and gathering over a meal with wine, good company and good dialogue.
Ray has dated some of the city’s most respected men and has been linked to businessman Brett Wilson, fashion photographer Paolo Zambaldi and, last month, announced her engagement to management consultant Jason Dehni.
Charity
Ray is almost as known for her philanthropic work as she is for her acting career. Her involvement ranges from taking part in the on-air drive for SickKids Hospital, to acting as an Ambassador of Plan Canada’s ‘Because I Am A Girl’ campaign, a global movement that supports the rights of girls around the world. Ray was diagnosed with multiple myeloma on June 23rd, 2009, and is a passionate advocate for stem cell technology and outspoken on the cause. After a stem cell transplant in February 2010, in early 2011 she headlined the national ‘Make Myeloma Matter’ media campaign. Ray went on to help raise funds for the establishment of the first research chair for multiple myeloma at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. Recently, participated in the Heart and Truth Fashion Show last week in Toronto.
Living
Despite her grim diagnosis with multiple myeloma nearly three years ago, Ray remained determined to beat her illness and continued to live her life to its fullest.
When she was diagnosed, Ray decided to share her experiences with fans and other people living with the disease and started a blog, The Yellow Diaries, to share her cancer experiences, keeping the tone upbeat, optimistic and humerous. Her handling of the disease caught the attention and respect of people from all corners of the world, and resulted in her winning the ‘Voice Achievers Award, 2009’ and ‘The Hope Award, 2010’. In April 2010, she announced she was cancer-free following a stem cell transplant.
An advocate of a healthy and balanced lifestyle, Ray is a longtime yoga practitioner and last year became a partner to open Moksha Yoga Brampton. Lisa is well-cultured and though she has lived and travelled around the world, she has said that she loves getting away and coming home to Toronto when she is stressed.
