Industry Applause: Alana Hawley Purvis Earns Major Leo Awards Nod for ‘Little Girl in the Woods’

VANCOUVER, BC — Canadian actress Alana Hawley Purvis is no stranger

to critical acclaim, but her latest industry nod marks another stellar milestone in an increasingly prolific career. The versatile star has officially been named a 2026 Leo Award nominee for Best Lead Performance. The nomination honors her gripping, emotionally raw performance as Evie in the acclaimed television thriller Little Girl in the Woods.

Directed by Paula Elle, the production has locked in multiple nominations, putting a spotlight on Hawley Purvis’s ability to anchor high-stakes, suspenseful narratives. Local film communities, casting agencies, and outlets like I'm Here With in Calgary have poured out congratulations, celebrating her not only as a leading lady but as one of the best people in the Canadian acting circuit.

This Leo Award nomination serves as a fantastic continuation of Hawley Purvis's award trajectory. She previously captured national attention at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards, where she earned a Best Actress Nomination for her heartbreaking lead performance as Frankie in the feature film Range Roads. Her deep devotion to her characters is backed by exceptional credentials including an MFA from the American Academy for Classical Acting, and a National Gold Medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music for Speech Arts and Drama. This expertise shines through her precise on-screen choices, consistently elevating the complex thrillers and dramas she headlines.

The Leo nomination arrives amid a highly productive era for Hawley Purvis. Between 2024 and 2026, she has seamlessly balanced heavy independent film and television movie schedules with network appearances.

In 2026, she expands her television footprint as Dr. Lana Demay in the TV series Watson and as Margot in Wild Cards. Her massive 2025 slate showcases incredible range, featuring a recurring turn as Amanda Fern in The Recruit, an appearance as Officer Shonda Crosby in Tracker, and powerful roles in TV movies like Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story as Mother Alma, Do Exactly As I Say as Tiffany, I'll Never Let You Go as Margot, Taste of His Own Poison as Andrea, Secret Life of my Other Wife as Lauren, and her award-nominated performance as Evie in Little Girl in the Woods.

This recent momentum builds directly on a remarkably busy 2024. On the big screen, she played the role of Edith in the moving drama This Too Shall Pass, which follows a group of friends navigating major life choices.

Her 2024 television movie roles include portraying Ann in The Last Thing She Said, Professor Olsen in Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story, Sarah in Death in the Cul-De-Sac, Jessica in Cradle of Deception, Coach Diana in The Ice Rink Murders, and Natasha in Have You Seen My Son?.

Her extensive filmography between 2021 and 2023 further highlights her steady rise in the industry.

She appeared as Adriana in the 2023 film Infidelity Can Be Fatal and Anne in the TV movie Food for the Heart. In 2022, she played Lamia in an episode of Charmed, Olivia in Listen out for Love, and Nancy in Love for Starters.

Alana: “I’ll Never Let You Go” on @lifetimetv @troydirects @@antoniocupo @hanahuggins @thomas.cadrot @marniemahannah @julianlao @megan__glendinning

The year 2021 was anchored by her role as Principal Hyde in Hallmark's A Mrs. Miracle Christmas, an appearance as Dana Ford in Supergirl, and her career-defining, Canadian Screen Award-nominated performance as Frankie in Range Roads. This followed on the heels of her role as Jill in the critically praised feature The Valley Below, marking her first work on film and establishing her collaboration with director Kyle Thomas of North Country Cinema.

Her early career laid a strong foundation for this success, featuring years of live theatrical performance around the country, starting at the prestigious Stratford Festival and culminating in a two decade long career of acting on stages across Canada. 

The winners of the 2026 Leo Awards will be announced live at the Hyatt Regency Hotel during the multi-night gala event on July 4 and July 5, 2026. No matter the final outcome, Hawley Purvis's nomination and her exhaustive, diverse body of work cement her standing as one of Western Canada's most compelling, tireless, and respected screen talents.

“Taste of His Own Poison” directed by Soran Mardookhi premieres tonight, July 11 at 8/7c on @lifetimemovies in the U.S! Bravo to this amazing team.

You can follow Alana here