Early life

Ray was born in Toronto to a Bengali father and a Polish mother and grew up in the suburb of Etobicoke. She spent some time of her childhood at Shyambazar (Kolkata) in the Indian state of West Bengal. She excelled academically, doing five years of high school in four, while attending three different high schools: Etobicoke Collegiate Institute, Richview Collegiate Institute, and Silverthorn Collegiate Institute.

She spoke Polish to her maternal grandmother and watched movies of Federico Fellini and Satyajit Ray with her cinephile dad.

Career

1987-2000

Ray came to public attention when she appeared in an advertisement for Bombay Dyeing wearing a high-cut black swimsuit in the 1990s, opposite Karan Kapoor. Subsequently, she returned to Canada to attend university to study journalism, but a car accident that injured her mother derailed those plans. Instead, she returned to India, where she appeared on the cover of Glad Rags wearing a red Baywatch-style swimsuit. The sensation that caused led to more magazine covers, spokesperson deals, and a job as host of her own show-business program. A Times of India poll named her the "ninth most beautiful woman of the millennium," the only model in the top ten. She also anchored the TV show Star Biz on Star Movies, with actor/model Kelly Dorji.Lisa also appeared a music video for the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Aafreen Aafreen, and then took an assignment to anchor a TV show.

2001-2009

After turning down a number of roles, Ray made her Indian Film Industry debut in 2001 with the Hindi film Kasoor, opposite Aftab Shivdasani, in which her voice was dubbed by Divya Dutta, because she could not speak Hindi. Interestingly, actress Divya Dutta also starred in the same film, but because she had already given her voice to Lisa Ray, Dutta's voice was dubbed by another artist—just to make her own character believable. Her work in that film caught the eye of Deepa Mehta, who cast Ray in the romantic Indian-Canadian romp Bollywood/Hollywood, in 2002.

Realizing that acting was something that she wanted to pursue more seriously, Ray moved to London to concentrate on a career in the performing arts. While there, Ray studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama, The London Centre for Theatre Studies, The Desmond Jones school of Physical Theatre, and BADA. She graduated from the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA), in 2004, with a post-graduate degree in acting.

While studying, Ray made a conscious effort to not accept any film offers until she had graduated. However, while still at ALRA, she received another call from Deepa Mehta, who made her an offer she simply could not refuse—the lead role of Kalyani in Mehta's highly controversial and much-anticipated feature Water.

In 2005, Ray worked again with Mehta, in the Oscar-nominated film Water, in which she spoke her lines in Hindi, although her voice was dubbed in the final cut. Since then, Ray has worked in productions from Canada, Europe, and the United States. Past roles include a farm girl in All Hat, a school teacher in A Stone's Throw, a housewife in 1950s-apartheid South Africa in The World Unseen, and an Arab lesbian in the humorously titled I Can't Think Straight, directed by Shamim Sarif. "I think every film that I’ve done so far has been a turning point because I experimented with each one and grew professionally. The movies I chose, dealt with a lot of thought-provoking subjects."

After graduation, Ray based herself out of Milan, Paris, and New York from 2004-2008, returning to Toronto when her mother died in late 2008.

In 2007, Ray completed filming for Kill Kill Faster Faster, which is a contemporary film noir inspired by the critically acclaimed novel of the same name, by Joel Rose. She appeared in a few uninhibited sex scenes, "something unheard of for an artist from India."

Ray guest-starred in the USA Network series Psych, directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, which aired on 30 November 2009. She also appeared in a guest role of a reporter, Dominique Ball, in the recent Woody Harrelson movie Defendor.

Ray attended the Toronto International Film Festival in support of her work in Cooking with Stella. At this event, Ray revealed that she had incurable cancer, and she shared the diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma with the media and the public. At the same time, Ray started an acclaimed blog, The Yellow Diaries, chronicling her cancer experience.

"I believe it can be cured," Ray wrote on her blog. "That's the Dirty Realist in me... I'm getting better. My prognosis, given my 'junior' status and stage of disease, is very good. I'm aiming for full remission."

Ray went on to help raise funds for the establishment of the first research chair for Multiple Myeloma at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. Also, she took part in Plan Canada’s Because I am a Girl campaign, a global movement that fights for the rights of girls around the world who face discrimination because of their gender and age.

On Christmas in 2009, Ray received a stem cell transplant to treat her rare cancer.

2010

In April 2010, Ray announced that she was cancer-free, after a stem cell transplant. Ray gave a candid interview on her personal cancer trauma and surviving it, appearing on the cover of the 2010 anniversary issue of the Indian men's luxury magazine The Man.

Ray was seen in UniGlobe Entertainment's cancer docu-drama titled 1 a Minute, scheduled for release in 2010. The documentary was made by Namrata Singh Gujral and featured cancer survivors Olivia Newton-John, Diahann Carroll, Melissa Etheridge, Mumtaz, and Jaclyn Smith, as well as William Baldwin, Daniel Baldwin, and Priya Dutt, whose lives have been touched by cancer. The feature was narrated by Kelly McGillis. It also starred Bárbara Mori, Deepak Chopra, and Morgan Brittany.

Ray has since become an outspoken advocate for stem cell technology, recording a PSA for the McEwan Centre for Regenerative Medicine. Also, she completed a national media tour in Canada for Multiple Myeloma called Making Myeloma Matter, in early 2011, to raise public awareness.

In 2011, Ray acted in the acclaimed stage play Taj, opposite Kabir Bedi in Luminato. Also, Ray was at the Taj Mahal and the Estee Lauder Breast Cancer event to spread awareness about breast cancer.

On 5 July 2010, Ray was honored to be a host of the informal lunch for Queen Elizabeth's visit to Toronto. Ray also hosted the 2011 International Indian Film Academy IIFA Rocks fashion and music event and was a presenter at the IIFA Awards and the 2011 Giller Prize.

A strong advocate of stem cell research and a long-time yoga practitioner, Ray partnered with co-owners Paris and Annette, in 2011, to open Moksha Yoga Brampton.

On 15 November 2011, Ray announced that she had been named to host season two of Top Chef Canada, which is Food Network Canada's top-rated series. The show premiered in March 2012.

Ray had one TV series Endgame and one film Patch Town released in 2011. Also, Ray guest-starred in the Canadian-television drama series Murdoch Mysteries, which aired on 12 April 2011.

On 18 May 2012, Craig Goodwill announced that Ray would star in his Boy Toy, a fantasy drama that is based on Goodwill’s short film Patch Town. Boy Toy begins shooting in Toronto in November 2012.

In September 2012, Ray was named ambassador for the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign in Canada. Pantene Beautiful Lengths is a charity campaign that asks people to grow and donate their hair to make real-hair wigs for women battling cancer.

In 2015, Insight Vacations announced Ray as their new Global Brand Ambassador for the Exotics and Gold Collections.

Personal life

On 23 June 2009, Ray was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the white blood cells known as plasma cells, which produce antibodies. It is a rare disease. In April 2010, she announced that she was cancer-free, after a stem cell transplant. As multiple myeloma is an incurable disease, Ray is not completely cured of the disease. In February 2012, Ray announced her engagement to management consultant Jason Dehni. On 20 October 2012, Ray and Dehni (then a banking executive and philanthropist) were married in the Napa Valley, in California.

In an interview with Times of India, Ray has said that most of her diet consists of juices, smoothies, and other vegetarian food. She has also cut down on dairy intake.

Humanitarian work

In 2009, Ray publicly announced about her diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma at the Toronto Film Festival. Since then she has been involved in bringing the attention of the people towards the rights of girls around the world. She has initiated a number of fundraisers and campaigns for Multiple Myeloma such as the "Because I'm a Girl" campaign. In February 2010, she underwent a stem cell transplant that helped cure her cancer.

After her recovery, Ray launched "Make Myeloma Matter" media campaign, which helped raise awareness about the disease world-wide. She also actively advocated the stem cell technology and its benefits. In the same year she became the face of Hillberg & Berk Jewellery, a part of the proceeds of which went to Multiple Myeloma Canada.

Raising Funds with Satya Paul

In 2012, Ray initiated an effort to fund the Indian Innovation Research Centre (IIRC). The IIRC is a non-profit cancer research body that began with the 'Living With Cancer' program that was initiated by Ray the same year. Their mandate is to promote convergence of fundamental as well as translational cancer in India, it had also played an instrumental role in helping Lisa fight Multiple Myeloma and overcome a trying phase of her life. She partnered with Satya Paul to create a range of exclusive sarees for the wedding season. These sarees (that were worn by Lisa) were then auctioned online with 100% of the proceeds going to IIRC for the development of their cancer research.

The Run 5K Walk

After being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, Ray launched The Princess Margret Run 5k Walk, an initiative to raise funds for MM patients. Multiple Myeloma although treatable has no cure, the walk was an event with a purpose to fund research at Bloom Share for Multiple Myeloma Research at the Princess Margret Hospital. The research would help develop drugs that could help MM patients stabilize their condition till the cure can be developed. The walk was a success pooling in money from across the county to help the cause.

Greeniche

In 2015, Ray partnered with Canadian Health and Wellness brand Greeniche, a natural healthcare product brand with pure vegetarian formulas, managed by healthcare professionals. At the launch of the brand she commented "I'm honored to launch into a special role as wellness guru for Greeniche Naturals. As a cancer survivor, I have healed myself through nutrition, healthy choices and wellness techniques and now I can support others in living their life to the fullest by sharing tips online and through special videos. Hopefully these will help fuel your Passion for life."

Beauty Gives Back

Ray joined the Beauty Gives Back campaign, which launched in Canada in 2015. The campaign addresses the cancer blues- the emotional fallout from cancer and its treatment. While launching the campaign Ray commented, "The beauty gives back campaign helps and motivates women to overcome the shackles of cancer and the process of its treatment. It seeks to give them their lost confidence back so that they continue their fight against the deadly disease with a new belief and dignity. It was an absolute honor to be the part of such a worthy cause which works towards giving face value to the emotional fallout from cancer."

Awards

• Voted Star of the Future at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival,
• Top Ten most Beautiful Indian Woman of the Millenium by the Times of India
• Won the Best Actress in a Canadian film for Water by the Vancouver Critics Circle
• Won 'Voice Achievers Award for 2009' for outstanding contribution in fields of film, trade, literature and sports
• Named one of Canada's 50 Most Beautiful Stars in Hello Canada's May 2009 issue.
• Honored with Fortis Lisa Ray Award for Conquering Cancer in 2010
• Honored with a Special Achievement Award at Miss India-Canada 2011
• Named one of Canada's 50 Most Beautiful Stars in Hello Canada's May 2012 issue.
• Honored with People's Choice Award at the 'Light of India' Awards 2012 in Arts & Entertainment section.
• Named one of Canada's 50 Most Beautiful Stars in Hello Canada's 2013 issue.
• Honored with the prestigious 'Diamond Jubilee Medal' in May 2013.
• Awarded the 'Facing Cancer Together' Look Good, Feel Better award in September 2012
• Won Anokhi Prestige award in 2013 in the category of Canadian Actor of the Decade for movie Water.
• Awarded prestigious 2014 Women of Action Honoree by Israel Cancer Research Fund.
• Awarded Medscape award for Most Inspirational Fighter of India 2015

Philanthropy

• 2009 : 5K Your Way Walk/Run, MMWalk for the Cure
• 2009 : Plan Canada’s ‘Because I Am A Girl’ campaign
• 2010 : Plan Canada’s ‘Because I Am A Girl’ campaign
• 2010 : "1 a Minute", to inspire women and give them hope
• 2010 : Estee Lauder Breast Cancer Awareness
• 2011 : ‘Make Myeloma Matter’ media campaign
• 2011 : Artbound, in support of Free The Children
• 2011 : GIRL 20 SUMMIT
• 2012 : BE FAIR 2 RARE
• 2012 : Wellspring Cancer 'Graduate' Fashion show
• 2012 : “Rhythm and Soul”-THE SPARK GALA 2012, to Ignite A Child's Potential
• 2012 : Run or Walk, MM5K
• 2012 : Plan Canada’s ‘Because I Am A Girl’ campaign
• 2012 : Ambassador for Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign in Canada

Filmography

Film and TV series

All are English language films unless otherwise noted.

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1994	Hanste Khelte	Rekha	Hindi film Special appearance in song
1996	Nethaji	Priya	Tamil film
2001	Kasoor	Simran Bhargav	Hindi film
2002	Takkari Donga	Bhuvana	Telugu film
2002	Bollywood/Hollywood	Sue (Sunita) Singh
2004	Ball & Chain	Saima
2004	Yuvaraja	Lovely	Kannada film
2005	Water	Kalyani
2005	Seeking Fear	Nina Atwal
2006	The Flowerman	Louise
2006	Quarter Life Crisis	Angel
2006	A Stone's Throw	Lia
2007	Blood Ties	Elena	Blood Ties TV Series, Season 1, Episode 9, Stone Cold
2007	The World Unseen	Miriam
2007	All Hat	Etta Parr
2008	I Can't Think Straight	Tala
2008	Kill Kill Faster Faster	Fleur
2008	Toronto Stories	Beth
2008	The Summit	Rebecca Downy	The Summit TV Mini-Series
2009	Somnolence	Jeany Rodriguez
2009	Defendor	Dominique Ball
2009	Cooking with Stella	Maya Chopra
2009	Let the Game Begin	Eva
2009	Psych	Sita	Psych TV Series, Season 4 Episode 6 "Bollywood Homicide"
2010	Trader Games	Sarah
2010	1 a Minute	Star
2011	Murdoch Mysteries	Mirala	Season 4, Episode 9, The Black Hand
2011	Endgame	Rosemary Venturi	Endgame TV series
2011	Patch Town	Bethany Franks
2015	Ishq Forever		Hindi film
2015	Zahhak		Hindi film
2016	Veerappan	Shreya	Hindi film

TV show

Year	Show	Role	Notes
2005	The Standard	Bollywood Actress	TV series
2010	Great Canadian Books	Herself	TV series documentary,Season 1, Episode 7, Late Nights on Air
2011	The Marilyn Denis Show	Herself	TV series, Episode #1.57
2011	Oh My Gold	Herself	TV Show of TLC Channel
2012	The Hour	Herself	TV series, Episode #8.122, #8.123
2012	Top Chef Canada	Herself	TV series, Season 2, Episode 1-13

Theatre

Year	Film	Role	Notes
2011	Taj	Princess Jahanara

Magazine cover photo

Year	Magazine	Issue	Notes
2002	Anokhi Vibe (Canada)	Winter issue
2002	Take One (Canada)	September issue
2002	Elm Street (Canada)	November issue
2006	RIVAAJ Magazine	May issue
2006	Toronto Life (Canada)	August issue
2007	NIRVANA Woman	2007
2007	Chatelaine (Canada)	September issue
2007	Glow (Canada)	December issue
2009	Asian woman(Canada)	April issue
2009	M Magazine (Canada)	June issue
2009	Harper's Bazaar India	June issue
2009	Hi! Blitz (Canada)	July issue
2010	Time (India)	February issue
2010	People (India)	May issue
2010	Mega Modelz (India)	August issue
2010	Vogue (India)	August issue
2010	Elle (India)	October issue
2010	Prevention (India)	November issue
2010	The Man (India)	December issue
2011	City Life (Canada)	June/July issue
2011	ANOKHI (Canada)	July/August issue
2011	Fusia Magazine (Canada)	No. 2 issue
2011	More Magazine (Canada)	February/March issue
2012	Jewellery Business Magazine	June issue

MV

Year	Song	Singer	Notes
1996	Afreen Afreen	Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
1999	Har Taraf Tera Jalwa	Daler Mehndi

Ambassador

• Brand ambassador of Rado (watches) in India
• Lisa named Ambassador for 'Pantene Beautiful Lengths' Campaign

[ Source: Wikipedia ]