Sheila McCarthy (born January 1, 1956) 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 (film), two Gemini Awards (television), an ACTRA Award, and two Dora Awards (theatre), along with multiple nominations.
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 (1988), 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 (film), two Gemini Awards (television), and two Dora Awards (theatre) along with multiple nominations.
She played Sarah Hamoudi in the Canadian television series Little Mosque on the Prairie (2007–2012), 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 (producer of Whatever, Linda and Orphan Black).
McCarthy is a spokesperson for The Quilt Project, a support group for families affected by breast cancer, and Canadian Feed the Children.
Filmography
+Film Year Title Role Notes 1987I've Heard the Mermaids SingingPolly Vandersmawon the Genie Award for Best Actress1988GandaharCouncil Spokeswoman (voice)1989Friends, Lovers, & LunaticsKathyGeorge's IslandMiss Birdwood1990Beautiful DreamersMolly JessopDie Hard 2Samantha 'Sam' ColemanPacific HeightsLiz HamiltonBright AngelNina1991White RoomZeldaParadiseSally PikeStepping OutAndyMontréal vu par...Ann Stuartsegment: "Desperanto"1993Journey to the PlanetsOracle (voice)short filmDiane Kingswoodwon the Genie Award for Best Actress1994 The Biggest Little Ticket The Troll1996House ArrestGwenna Krupp1997Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My HomeworkMrs. Hackett2001Rare BirdsClaire2002Duct Tape ForeverEasterbrook (uncredited)2004Confessions of a Teenage Drama QueenMrs. GerardJudithBeing JuliaGrace DexterGeraldine's FortuneTina Larose2005Bailey's Billion$Peggy DelaneyHannah Maynardshort film2006Small AvalanchesNancy's Mothershort film2007Breakfast with ScotMiss PattersonDoris Shipley2009Year of the CarnivoreMrs. Smalls2012AntiviralDev Harvey 2014 A Fighting Man Rose 2016 Considering Love and Other Magic Veronica Guest Milton's Secret 2017 Cardinals Valerie Walker 2018 Level 16 Mrs. Denison (cameo) 2020 Stroke of Fate Shirley short film Happy Place Joyce Anything for Jackson Audrey 2021 Like a House on Fire Katherine The Middle Man Mrs. Stout 2022 Christmas in Rockwell Juniper Women Talking Greta Loewen2024All the Lost OnesDawn 2025The WellGabriel Premiere at the 29th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 21, 2025 for its World Premiere.Dancing on the ElephantNora 2026 The Voices of Our Mother Harriet TBALove is the MonsterMargaretFilming
Television
+Television Year Title Role Notes1982Hangin' Inepisode: "The Princess and the Pea"1983Today's SpecialSourpuss Salepisode: "Smiles"1984Murielleepisode: "Three Monkeys of Bah Roghar: Part 1"episode: "Three Monkeys of Bah Roghar: Part 2"1985Love and LarcenyMary BigleyTV movieTucker and the Horse ThiefTV movie19869BHeatherTV movieLynn ReillyTV movieHot ShotsJennyepisode: "Cut Off in His Prime" The Frantics: Four on the FloorVarious Characters6 episodesReally Weird TalesEllie Hutchinsepisode: "Cursed with Charisma"Check It Out!Sonjaepisode: "Dog Day After Dark"1987Much Ado About NothingMargaretTV movie1988Mount RoyalLuise Blaikieepisode: "Still Life"Anna1989Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSarah Hollisterepisode: "For Art's Sake"Trying TimesJenny Amberepisode: "A Good Life"1990Labour of LoveTV movieE.N.G.Carol Bartonepisode: "Till Death Us Do Part"Back to the BeanstalkGarbanzaTV movieSteel MagnoliasAnnelle Dupuy-DesotoTV pilot (unsold)Street LegalStephanie Colemanepisode: "The Psychic"1991(voice)TV movieRupertAdditional Voices13 episodes The Hidden Roomepisode: "Rogue in the Bathroom"1992Beethoven Lives UpstairsSophieTV movieDiane CallaghanTV movieFrancineepisode: "The Lonely One"1994Free WillyAnnieTV seriesDan Redican Comedy HourVariousTV movieMenendez: A Killing in Beverly HillsJill LansingTV movie1995TotsieTV movieNancyTV movie1995–1996Picket FencesSue Walsh4 episodes1996Road to AvonleaBetty Blaineepisode: "King of the Great White Way"Carol DosterTV movie1997The Adventures of Dudley the DragonGabby TreeTV series1998Bad DogMrs. PotanskiTV seriesMore Tales of the CityMildredTV miniseriesDead HusbandsJane ArmitageTV movie1998–2000Emily of New MoonLaura Murray46 episodes1999You Know My NameMrs. LynnTV movieToo Rich: The Secret Life of Doris DukeTammyTV movieMythic WarriorsClotho (voice)episode: "Damon and Pythias"2000Virtual MomHollyTV movie, also writerSuper RupertAunt RhondaTV seriesMarvin the Tap-Dancing HorseElizabeth the Emotional Pig (voice)2001HavenEvaTV movieAnne of Green Gables: The Animated SeriesMrs. King (voice)episode: "Oh, Brother!"Royal Canadian Air FarceAnne Robinson/Dr. Joy Thomasepisode: "9.2"I Was a RatMrs. TapscrewTV movieVariousTV series2002Lathe of HeavenPennyTV movieMiss PaigeTV movie2003Custody of the HeartAliceTV movieFull-Court MiracleMrs. KleinTV movie2004 The Shields StoriesHazelepisode: "Hazel"2005Puppets Who KillMiss Wickhamepisode: "Cuddles the Artist"MissingDr. Eleanor Reeseepisode: "Analysis"2006RoxanaAmyTV movieCow BellesFran WalkerTV movie2007–2012Little Mosque on the PrairieSarah Hamoudi80+ episodes2009episode: "1.5"2010Love LettersMelissaTV movie2013Murdoch Mysteries Felicity Dawesepisode: "Lovers in a Murderous Time"2014Saving HopeVioletepisode: "Breathless"Dear ViolaPeggyTV movie2015Orphan BlackConnie Hendrixepisode: "Community of Dreadful Fear and Hate"2016Ice GirlsAuntie GingerTV movieBrace for ImpactFaradee GilchristTV movie2018 The DetailHelen Mailer3 episodes2019Star Trek: DiscoveryAmeshaepisode: "New Eden"Anne with an EMrs. Blackmoreepisode: "The Better Feelings of My Heart" 2019; 2024 The Umbrella AcademyAgnesRecurring role (season 1); guest role (season 4)2020NursesPhillis Brunerepisode: "Friday Night Legend"2021 The Good DoctorRose Babcockepisode: "Lim"2022Zombies 3Grandma Angie/Alien ScoutTV movie2025The Copenhagen TestKate2 episodes
Discography 2006: "All Good Now" – from the movie Cow Belles
Awards and nominations
This section needs to be expanded to include further awards and nominations.
YearNominated workOrganizationAwardResult1983Really RosieDora Mavor Moore AwardOutstanding performance in a revue or musical1985Little Shop of HorrorsDora Mavor Moore AwardFemale performance1988I've Heard the Mermaids Singing9th Genie AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleA Nest of Singing Birds3rd Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-SeriesMount Royal3rd Gemini AwardsBest Guest Performance in a Series by an Actor or Actress1992Bright AngelIndependent Spirit AwardsBest Supporting Female1993The Lotus Eaters14th Genie AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role1998Emily of New Moon13th Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role1999Emily of New Moon14th Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role2000Sesame Park15th Gemini AwardsBest Performance in a Pre-School Program or SeriesThe City15th Gemini AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role Dramatic Series2018CardinalsACTRA Toronto AwardOutstanding Performance, Female2023Women TalkingScreen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Notes
References
External links