Sheila McCarthy


Sheila McCarthy is a Canadian actress and singer. She has worked in film, television, and on stage. McCarthy is one of Canada's most honoured actors, having won two Genie Awards, two Gemini Awards, an ACTRA Award, and two Dora Awards, along with multiple nominations.
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Early life

McCarthy was born in Toronto, Ontario on January 1, 1956. She attended Thornlea Secondary School in Thornhill in her youth. Her first appearance on stage was at Toronto's Elgin Theatre in Peter Pan when she was age six. She later attended the University of Victoria and spent a year studying with Uta Hagen at her HB Studio in New York City, and also workshopped with the Second City troupe in Toronto.

Career

After several years of television work under her belt, McCarthy secured a role in the made-for-television movie A Nest of Singing Birds, receiving early recognition for her talent with a Gemini Award nomination for Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Dramatic Program. That year, she made her first notable impression on the Canadian movie scene as Polly, the quirky, "organizationally impaired girl" in Patricia Rozema's I've Heard the Mermaids Singing. For this role, McCarthy won the Genie Award for Best Actress. The film became wildly popular in Canada, earning many international and domestic awards and critical acclaim.
McCarthy has since become one of Canada's more honoured actors, having won two Genie Awards, two Gemini Awards, and two Dora Awards along with multiple nominations.
She played Sarah Hamoudi in the Canadian television series Little Mosque on the Prairie, a role for which she was nominated for a Gemini award. One of her more recognized big-screen roles is Samantha, the news reporter in the movie Die Hard 2 with Bruce Willis. Her most recent roles are Connie Hendrix, mother of the clone Alison in series Orphan Black and Agnes Rofa in the series The Umbrella Academy.
She is also an accomplished voice-over actress, having performed characters voices in Free Willy, Mythic Warriors: Guardians of the Legend, The Busy World of Richard Scarry, The Neverending Story, Bad Dog and Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse.
On stage, McCarthy has appeared in Little Shop of Horrors, Hamlet, Cabaret, Guys and Dolls, Anything Goes, and Love Letters.

Personal life

McCarthy was married to actor Peter Donaldson from 1986 until his death in 2011. They have two daughters: Drew and Mackenzie Donaldson, who is also in show business.
McCarthy is a spokesperson for The Quilt Project, a support group for families affected by breast cancer, and Canadian Feed the Children.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987I've Heard the Mermaids SingingPolly Vandersmawon the Genie Award for Best Actress
1988GandaharCouncil Spokeswoman
1989Friends, Lovers, & LunaticsKathy
1989George's IslandMiss Birdwood
1990Beautiful DreamersMolly Jessop
1990Die Hard 2Samantha 'Sam' Coleman
1990Pacific HeightsLiz Hamilton
1990Bright AngelNina
1991White RoomZelda
1991ParadiseSally Pike
1991Stepping OutAndy
1991Montréal vu par...Ann Stuartsegment: "Desperanto"
1993Journey to the PlanetsOracle short film
1993'Diane Kingswoodwon the Genie Award for Best Actress
1994The Biggest Little TicketThe Troll
1996House ArrestGwenna Krupp
1997Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My HomeworkMrs. Hackett
2001Rare BirdsClaire
2002Duct Tape ForeverEasterbrook
2004Confessions of a Teenage Drama QueenMrs. Gerard
2004'Judith
2004Being JuliaGrace Dexter
2004Geraldine's FortuneTina Larose
2005Bailey's Billion$Peggy Delaney
2005'Hannah Maynardshort film
2006Small AvalanchesNancy's Mothershort film
2007Breakfast with ScotMiss Patterson
2007'Doris Shipley
2009Year of the CarnivoreMrs. Smalls
2012AntiviralDev Harvey
2014A Fighting ManRose
2016Considering Love and Other MagicVeronica Guest
2016Milton's Secret
2017CardinalsValerie Walker
2018Level 16Mrs. Denison
2020Stroke of FateShirleyshort film
2020Happy PlaceJoyce
2020Anything for JacksonAudrey
2021Like a House on FireKatherine
2021The Middle ManMrs. Stout
2022Christmas in RockwellJuniper
2022Women TalkingGreta Loewen
2024All the Lost OnesDawn
2025The WellGabrielPremiere at the 29th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 21, 2025 for its World Premiere.
2025Dancing on the ElephantNora
TBALove is the MonsterMargaretFilming

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982Hangin' Inepisode: "The Princess and the Pea"
1983Today's SpecialSourpuss Salepisode: "Smiles"
1984'Murielleepisode: "Three Monkeys of Bah Roghar: Part 1"
episode: "Three Monkeys of Bah Roghar: Part 2"
1985Love and LarcenyMary BigleyTV movie
1985Tucker and the Horse ThiefTV movie
19869BHeatherTV movie
1986'Lynn ReillyTV movie
1986Hot ShotsJennyepisode: "Cut Off in His Prime"
1986The Frantics: Four on the FloorVarious Characters6 episodes
1986Really Weird TalesEllie Hutchinsepisode: "Cursed with Charisma"
1986Check It Out!Sonjaepisode: "Dog Day After Dark"
1987Much Ado About NothingMargaretTV movie
1988Mount RoyalLuise Blaikieepisode: "Still Life"
1988'Anna
1989Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSarah Hollisterepisode: "For Art's Sake"
1989Trying TimesJenny Amberepisode: "A Good Life"
1990Labour of LoveTV movie
1990E.N.G.Carol Bartonepisode: "Till Death Us Do Part"
1990Back to the BeanstalkGarbanzaTV movie
1990Steel MagnoliasAnnelle Dupuy-DesotoTV pilot
1990Street LegalStephanie Colemanepisode: "The Psychic"
1991'TV movie
1991RupertAdditional Voices13 episodes
1991The Hidden Roomepisode: "Rogue in the Bathroom"
1992Beethoven Lives UpstairsSophieTV movie
1992'Diane CallaghanTV movie
1992'Francineepisode: "The Lonely One"
1994Free WillyAnnieTV series
1994Dan Redican Comedy HourVariousTV movie
1994Menendez: A Killing in Beverly HillsJill LansingTV movie
1995'TotsieTV movie
1995'NancyTV movie
1995–1996Picket FencesSue Walsh4 episodes
1996Road to AvonleaBetty Blaineepisode: "King of the Great White Way"
1996'Carol DosterTV movie
1998Bad DogTV series
1998More Tales of the CityMildredTV miniseries
1998Dead HusbandsJane ArmitageTV movie
1998–2000Emily of New MoonLaura Murray46 episodes
1999You Know My NameMrs. LynnTV movie
1999Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris DukeTammyTV movie
1999Mythic WarriorsClotho episode: "Damon and Pythias"
2000Virtual MomHollyTV movie, also writer
2000Super RupertAunt RhondaTV series
2000Marvin the Tap-Dancing HorseElizabeth the Emotional Pig
2001HavenEvaTV movie
2001Anne of Green Gables: The Animated SeriesMrs. King episode: "Oh, Brother!"
2001Royal Canadian Air FarceAnne Robinson/Dr. Joy Thomasepisode: "9.2"
2001I Was a RatMrs. TapscrewTV movie
2001'VariousTV series
2002Lathe of HeavenPennyTV movie
2002'Miss PaigeTV movie
2003Custody of the HeartAliceTV movie
2003Full-Court MiracleMrs. KleinTV movie
2004The Shields StoriesHazelepisode: "Hazel"
2005Puppets Who KillMiss Wickhamepisode: "Cuddles the Artist"
2005MissingDr. Eleanor Reeseepisode: "Analysis"
2006RoxanaAmyTV movie
2006Cow BellesFran WalkerTV movie
2007–2012Little Mosque on the PrairieSarah Hamoudi80+ episodes
2009'episode: "1.5"
2010Love LettersMelissaTV movie
2013Murdoch MysteriesFelicity Dawesepisode: "Lovers in a Murderous Time"
2014Saving HopeVioletepisode: "Breathless"
2014Dear ViolaPeggyTV movie
2015Orphan BlackConnie Hendrixepisode: "Community of Dreadful Fear and Hate"
2016Ice GirlsAuntie GingerTV movie
2016Brace for ImpactFaradee GilchristTV movie
2018The DetailHelen Mailer3 episodes
2019Star Trek: DiscoveryAmeshaepisode: "New Eden"
2019Anne with an EMrs. Blackmoreepisode: "The Better Feelings of My Heart"
2019; 2024The Umbrella AcademyAgnesRecurring role ; guest role
2020NursesPhillis Brunerepisode: "Friday Night Legend"
2021The Good DoctorRose Babcockepisode: "Lim"
2022Zombies 3Grandma Angie/Alien ScoutTV movie
2025The Copenhagen TestKate2 episodes

Discography

  • 2006: "All Good Now" – from the movie ''Cow Belles''

Awards and nominations

YearNominated workOrganizationAwardResult
1983Really RosieDora Mavor Moore AwardOutstanding performance in a revue or musicalWon
1985Little Shop of HorrorsDora Mavor Moore AwardFemale performanceWon
1988I've Heard the Mermaids Singing9th Genie AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleWon
1988A Nest of Singing Birds3rd Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesNomitated
1988Mount Royal3rd Gemini AwardsBest Guest Performance in a Series by an Actor or ActressNomitated
1992Bright AngelIndependent Spirit AwardsBest Supporting FemaleNomitated
1993The Lotus Eaters14th Genie AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleWon
1998Emily of New Moon13th Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic RoleWon
1999Emily of New Moon14th Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic RoleNomitated
2000Sesame Park15th Gemini AwardsBest Performance in a Pre-School Program or SeriesWon
2000The City15th Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role Dramatic SeriesNomitated
2018CardinalsACTRA Toronto AwardOutstanding Performance, FemaleWon
2023Women TalkingScreen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNomitated