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Antoinette Bower's first job after finishing school in London was as a Field Language Supervisor for the International Refugee Organization in Germany, an experience that deeply shaped her worldview. Shortly after the IRO ceased operations, she joined her family in Canada and found work as a copywriter and disc jockey at a small-town radio station. This eventually led her to Toronto and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, where she worked in radio and live television, primarily with the CBC Public Affairs Department. Gradually, she was drawn into acting—starting with CBC live TV shows and then theatre. Despite her love for theatre and the rehearsal process, she feels she hasn't spent enough time on stage over the years, as she is a morning person and doesn't enjoy waiting all day to perform at night.
In 1960, while visiting friends in Los Angeles and making some industry rounds, she landed a guest role on TV. Another followed a few weeks later. Like many of her actor friends from Toronto and New York, she realized that commuting between coasts on short notice was nearly impossible. So, she decided to move to the West Coast, making LA her home base.
At that time, actors typically specialized either in television or feature films, with little crossover—something that has changed since then. Antoinette was primarily a TV actor during those years, with occasional theatre work. Considering herself a character actor rather than a leading lady, she was delighted when TV Guide described her as "too versatile for her own good."
Antoinette has maintained a fairly balanced life, enjoying the opportunity to work with many talented actors, occasionally working on location—a setting she has always loved—and experiencing diverse worlds through her work. During inevitable periods of unemployment, she enrolled in courses on construction technology, carpentry, and cabinet-making at Santa Monica College.
Her seasons on Neon Rider introduced her to a new world, especially through a great stunt double and ex-rodeo champion who mentored her and connected her with the renowned Lauder/Glass/Cosgrave family in Alberta. This experience gave her an insider's perspective she never would have gained otherwise. Ultimately, she filmed, wrote, and learned to edit—a student film that served as a tribute to the two- and four-legged friends she made over the years. Her ongoing passion for documentaries has now led her to work on a new project.
