Sheila McCarthy

Biography

Sheila McCarthy (born January 1, 1956) is a Canadian stage, film and television actress, singer and dancer, best known for playing Polly Vandersma in the feature film I've Heard the Mermaids Singing, as well as supporting character Sarah Hamoudi (Cunningham) in the television series Little Mosque on the Prairie. She's a graduate in Theatre and Art History from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. In her career, she's won 2 Genie Awards (film), 2 Gemini Awards (television), and 2 Dora Awards (theater), along with multiple nominations.

Known For

The Good Doctor

Star Trek: Discovery

The Umbrella Academy

Rookie Blue

Orphan Black

Orphan Black

Private Eyes

The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents

All Movies (82)

• The Voices of Our Mother2026 · as Harriet
• The Well2026 · as Gabriel
• Love Is the Monster2025
• Dancing on the Elephant2025 · as Nora
• All the Lost Ones2025 · as Dawn
• Women Talking2022 · as Greta
• Christmas in Rockwell2022 · as Juniper
• Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 32022 · as Hologram Alien Scout
• The Middle Man2021 · as Mrs. Stout
• Stroke of Fate2021 · as Shirley
• Like a House on Fire2021 · as Katherine
• Happy Place2020 · as Joyce
• The Broken Hearts Gallery2020 · as Cheryl Gulliver
• Anything for Jackson2020 · as Audrey Walsh
• The Christmas Club2019 · as Miss Maggie
• Christmas 9 to 52019 · as Rose Stark
• An Assortment of Christmas Tales in No Particular Order2019 · as Ellen
• Isabelle2019 · as Ann Pelway
• Level 162018 · as Mrs. Denison
• Still/Born2018 · as Sheila
• Considering Love and Other Magic2017 · as Veronica
• Cardinals2017 · as Valerie Walker
• Milton's Secret2016 · as Luz
• Brace for Impact2016 · as Faradee Gilchrist
• Ice Girls2016 · as Aunt Ginger
• A Fighting Man2014 · as Rose O'Connor
• Algonquin2014 · as Rita
• Dear Viola2014 · as Peggy
• Antiviral2012 · as Dev Harvey
• Year of the Carnivore2009 · as Mrs. Smalls
• Breakfast with Scot2007 · as Miss Patterson (uncredited)
• The Stone Angel2007 · as Doris
• Cow Belles2006 · as Fran Walker
• Bailey's Billion$2005 · as Peggy Delaney
• Geraldine's Fortune2004 · as Tina Larose
• Being Julia2004 · as Grace Dexter
• The Day After Tomorrow2004 · as Judith
• Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen2004 · as Mrs. Gerard
• Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche2004 · as Polly Vandersma (archive footage)
• Full-Court Miracle2003 · as Mrs. Klein
• The Rats2002 · as Miss Paige
• Lathe of Heaven2002 · as Penny
• Duct Tape Forever2002 · as Easterbrook (uncredited)
• I Was a Rat2001 · as Mrs. Tapscrew
• Rare Birds2001 · as Claire
• Haven2001 · as Eva
• Custody of the Heart2000 · as Alice
• Virtual Mom2000 · as Holly
• You Know My Name1999 · as Mrs. Lynn
• Dead Husbands1998 · as Jane Armitage
• Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My Homework1997 · as Jesse's Mom
• The Care and Handling of Roses1996 · as Carol Doster
• House Arrest1996 · as Gwenna Krupp
• The Awakening1995 · as Nancy
• The Possession of Michael D.1995 · as Jenny
• Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills1994 · as Jill Lansing
• The Biggest Little Ticket1994 · as The Troll
• The Lotus Eaters1993 · as Diana Kingswood
• Journey to the Planets1993 · as Oracle (voice)
• Liza Minnelli - Live from Radio City Music Hall1992 · as Self
• Beethoven Lives Upstairs1992 · as Sophie
• A Private Matter1992 · as Diane Callaghan
• Montreal Stories1991 · as Ann Stuart
• Stepping Out1991 · as Andy
• Paradise1991 · as Sally Pike
• The Soulmates in the Gift of Light1991 · as (voice)
• Back to the Beanstalk1990 · as Garbanza
• Bright Angel1990 · as Nina
• Pacific Heights1990 · as Liz Hamilton
• White Room1990 · as Zelda
• Die Hard 21990 · as Samantha 'Sam' Coleman
• Beautiful Dreamers1990 · as Molly Jessop
• Friends, Lovers, & Lunatics1989 · as Kathy
• George's Island1989 · as Miss Birdwood
• Much Ado About Nothing1988 · as Margaret
• I've Heard the Mermaids Singing1987 · as Polly Vandersma
• A Nest of Singing Birds1987 · as Anna
• The Marriage Bed1986 · as Lynn Reailly
• Really Weird Tales1986 · as Ellie Hutchins (segment "Cursed With Charisma")
• 9B1986 · as Heather
• Love & Larceny1985 · as Mary Bigley
• Surfacing— · as Dawn

All TV Shows (27)

• The Miniature Wife2026
• Nurses2020 · as Phillis Bruner
• The Umbrella Academy2019 · as Agnes
• The Detail2018 · as Helen Mailer
• The Good Doctor2017 · as Rose Babcock
• Star Trek: Discovery2017 · as All-Mother
• Conviction2016 · as Dr. Jane Soto
• Private Eyes2016 · as Shirl Glinski
• Whatever, Linda2015 · as Sheila Hardy
• Orphan Black2013 · as Connie Hendrix
• Orphan Black2013 · as Connie Hendrix (voice)
• Saving Hope2012 · as Violet Devonshire
• Rookie Blue2010 · as Leigh Senett
• Little Mosque on the Prairie2007 · as Sarah Hamoudi
• This Is Wonderland2004
• Puppets Who Kill2002
• Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse2000 · as Elizabeth the Emotional Pig (voice)
• Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke1999 · as Tammy
• Bad Dog1998 · as (voice)
• More Tales of the City1998 · as Mildred
• Emily of New Moon1998 · as Laura Murray
• A Woman of Independent Means1995 · as Totsie
• Picket Fences1992 · as Sue Walsh
• The Hidden Room1991
• Four on the Floor1986
• The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents1985 · as Debra (Sarah) Hollister
• The Ray Bradbury Theater1985 · as Francine