Haitian-born performer Djennie Laguerre is widely recognized for her dynamic work in theatre, film, and television. She relocated to Canada at the age of four and quickly developed a passion for performance, captivating audiences through acting, dance, and oral storytelling. Djennie honed her artistic abilities at De La Salle High School, where she specialized in visual arts and theatre, before continuing her studies in theatre and French literature at the University of Ottawa.
A defining moment in her artistic journey came when she was admitted to the renowned Stella Adler Acting Conservatory in New York City. Following two years of intensive training, she gained further experience performing in well-received independent theatre productions throughout Manhattan and Harlem. After the events of September 11, Djennie returned to Canada, where Toronto became the launching point for her professional career in both stage and screen. Fluent in both French and English, she has since built a diverse and thriving body of work.
Her stage performances include notable productions such as Les Zinspirés and Les Zinspirés: Puissance Trois at Théâtre français de Toronto—earning Dora Award nominations for ensemble and individual performances—along with roles in Espoir/Espwa, The Imaginary Invalid by Molière, Rez Sisters (Factory Theatre), Rendez-vous Lakay, Des fraises en janvier, Seventeen (Anonymous) Women in Montreal, Les Contes urbains de Toronto, GRIMGRIM, and Cric, Crac at the SummerWorks Festival. Her screen credits include appearances on Mini TFO/TVO as Madame Bonheur, as well as Flashpoint and Degrassi: The Next Generation. Djennie has also appeared in national commercials for brands such as Leon’s, BMO, WestJet, Subway, and Interac.
In 2008, Djennie expanded her creative practice by stepping into playwriting. She wrote and performed her solo show Rendez-vous with Home (French version: Rendez-vous Lakay), which toured several major theatre and storytelling festivals, including Le Loup de Lafontaine Festival, Festival des Contes Nomades at the National Arts Centre, Théâtre français de Toronto, MAI, and SummerWorks. The production earned her the 2008 SummerWorks Spotlight Award. She is also a founding member of the writing collective Les Héritières de Toto B., which debuted their original play Espoir/Espwa at Théâtre français de Toronto in 2016.
Following the strong reception of Espoir/Espwa, Théâtre français de Toronto is preparing a national and international tour of the production. Djennie is currently developing Rendez-vous with Home: Deux, a new chapter in her storytelling journey—this time inviting audiences to a wedding in Haiti, following the funeral depicted in the original work.
Beyond performance, Djennie has dedicated over a decade as a teaching artist with the Ontario Arts Council and has also worked with Young People’s Theatre. She creates dance, movement, and theatre projects with students from grades 1 to 12, exploring themes such as community building, nonviolence, environmental awareness, hope, and love.
Inspired by motherhood, Djennie has also brought her Afro-Haitian storytelling into schools, libraries, and community spaces. She continues to develop youth-focused work and has been preparing a children’s tour titled Madame Great Adventures!. Until then, young audiences can enjoy her infectious energy and warmth as Madame Bonheur—also known as Miss Happiness—on MiniTFO’s television and YouTube platforms.