Take home this pane of 6 Permanent™ domestic rate stamps honouring the life and career of francophone actress Monique Mercure.

Good to know

Pane of 6 Permanent™ domestic rate stamps
In honour of acclaimed Canadian actress Monique Mercure
Permanent™ stamps are always worth the going postage rate. Buy today and use anytime in the future

About the Monique Mercure issue

This stamp celebrates Monique Mercure (née Émond), a renowned Canadian actress. Canada Post has a tradition of honouring actors, from Hollywood legends like Fay Wray to comedic stars like Jim Carrey. Mercure, known for her versatility with numerous theatre and film roles, received prestigious accolades, including the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award. She was also the first Canadian actress to win Best Actress at Cannes.

About Monique Mercure

Known as Quebec's grande dame of stage and screen, Monique Mercure (1930-2020) was one of Canada's most admired and acclaimed francophone actresses. She was known for her fiery spirit, versatility and powerful performances.

Mercure began acting as a struggling single mother in her late 20s. Her rise to fame was meteoric, and she went on to appear in more than 100 theatrical productions in North America and Europe, as well as dozens of movies and television series.

Mercure's most memorable films include Mon oncle Antoine (1971), J.A. Martin photographe (1977) – which earned her Canada's first Festival de Cannes award for best actress – Naked Lunch (1991) and The Red Violin (1998). She was also a regular in the TV dramas Providence (2005-11) and Mémoires vives (2013-16).

A Companion of the Order of Canada and recipient of numerous prestigious awards and accolades over her 60-year career, Mercure also inspired a new generation of performers during her decade as director and then artistic director of the National Theatre School of Canada.

About the design

This stamp features an illustrated black-and-white portrait by Oriana Fenwick that captures Mercure's striking beauty and expressive eyes, caught in a sidelong glance. The illustration is based on a photograph of Mercure taken in 1963 by Henri Paul (Radio-Canada Archives). Emblazoned in a vibrant shade of red, the name "Monique Mercure" frames the portrait. The years "1930-2020" appear in a dark golden hue. The monochromatic palette of the portrait contrasts sharply with the bold red typography, creating a harmonious balance.

The booklet cover features an illustration of Mercure by Oriana Fenwick based on a still from the 1977 movie J.A. Martin photographe (J.A. Martin Photographer, National Film Board of Canada). She is earing a wide-brimmed hat and looking thoughtfully into the distance.

Product # 404215107

Monique Mercure: Permanent™ domestic rate stamps - pane of 6