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.

Early life

McCarthy was born in Toronto, Ontario. She attended Thornlea Secondary School in Thornhill in her youth. Her first appearance on stage was at Toronto's Elgin Theatre in Peter Pan at 6 years old. She later attended the University of Victoria and spent a year studying with the influential acting teacher 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 challenged girl" in Patricia Rozema's I've Heard the Mermaids Singing. For this role, McCarthy won the Genie Award for Best Actress. The film went on to become wildly popular in Canada, earning many international and domestic awards and critical acclaim, with some critics dubbing it an instant Canadian classic.
McCarthy has since become one of Canada's most 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 most recognized big-screen roles is as 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 the BBC America series Orphan Black, and Agnes Rofa in the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy.
She is also an accomplished voice-over actress, having performed characters voices in Free Willy, , The Busy World of Richard Scarry, The Neverending Story, Rolie Polie Olie, 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 among other shows.

Personal life

McCarthy was married to actor Peter Donaldson, who died January 8, 2011 two years after being diagnosed with cancer. Together they had two daughters, Drew and Mackenzie Donaldson, who is also in show business.
Sheila McCarthy is active as a spokesperson for The Quilt Project, a support group for families affected by breast cancer, and Canadian Feed the Children.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987'Anna
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 Ticket
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
2014A Fighting ManRose
2016Considering Love and Other MagicVeronica Guest
2016Milton's Secret
2017Cardinals
2020Stroke of FateShirleyShort film

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 & LarcenyMary BigleyTV movie
1985Tucker and the Horse ThiefTV movie
19869BHeatherTV movie
1986'Lynn ReaillyTV movie
1986Hot ShotsJennyEpisode: "Cut Off in His Prime"
1987Much Ado About NothingMargaretTV movie
1987Really Weird TalesEllie HutchinsEpisode: "Cursed with Charisma"
1988Mount RoyalLuise BlaikieEpisode: "Still Life"
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
1991'Episode: "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
1999'TammyTV 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
2001'Mrs. 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 Detail
2019'AmeshaEpisode: "New Eden"
2019NursesTV series
2019The Umbrella AcademyAgnesRecurring role

Discography

YearNominated WorkOrganizationAwardResult
1983Really RosieDora Mavor Moore AwardOutstanding performance in a revue or musical
1985Little Shop of HorrorsDora Mavor Moore AwardFemale performance
1988I've Heard the Mermaids Singing9th Genie AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
1988A Nest of Singing Birds3rd Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
1988Mount Royal3rd Gemini AwardsBest Guest Performance in a Series by an Actor or Actress
1992Bright AngelIndependent Spirit AwardsBest Supporting Female
1993The Lotus Eaters14th Genie AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
1998Emily of New Moon13th Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
1999Emily of New Moon14th Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
2000Sesame Park15th Gemini AwardsBest Performance in a Pre-School Program or Series
2000The City15th Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role Dramatic Series
2018CardinalsACTRA Toronto AwardOutstanding Performance, Female