Joanna Shimkus Poitier, a renowned Canadian film actress, was born on October 30, 1943, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her father, Joseph Shimkus, was of Lithuanian-Jewish descent, and her mother, Marie Petrie, was of Irish Catholic background. Joseph worked for the Royal Canadian Navy, and Joanna was raised in Montreal, Quebec, where she attended a convent school.
At the age of nineteen, Joanna moved to Paris, where she began her career as a fashion model. Her striking features and captivating charm soon caught the attention of movie professionals, who recognized her potential as a talented actress. She made her film debut in 1964, starring in Jean Aurel's "De l'amour".
Joanna's early success led to her being noticed by prominent film directors, including Robert Enrico, who cast her in three of his films: "Les aventuriers" (1967),opposite Alain Delon and Lino Ventura, "Tante Zita" (1968),and "Ho!" (1968). She also appeared in Joseph Losey's "Boom!" (1968),alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and "The Lost Man" (1969),co-starring Sidney Poitier.
Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Joanna continued to build her film career, taking on roles in "L'Invitée" (1969),"The Virgin and the Gypsy" (1970),"The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker" (1971),and "A Time for Loving" (1972). In 1976, she married Sidney Poitier, with whom she had two daughters, Anika and Sydney Tamiia, who is also an accomplished actress.
Joanna has three grandchildren, two from Anika and one from Sydney Tamiia. Her husband, Sidney Poitier, passed away on January 6, 2022, at the age of 94.
