Acting · Toronto, Ontario, Canada · Born January 1, 1956
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.
MovieThe Voices of Our Mother
2026
as Harriet
TVThe Miniature Wife
2026
MovieSurfacing
2026
as Dawn
MovieThe Well
2026
as Gabriel
MovieLove Is the Monster
2025
as Margaret
MovieDancing on the Elephant
2025
as Nora
MovieAll the Lost Ones
2025
as Dawn
MovieWomen Talking
2022
as Greta
MovieChristmas in Rockwell
2022
as Juniper
MovieZ-O-M-B-I-E-S 3
2022
as Hologram Alien Scout
MovieThe Middle Man
2021
as Mrs. Stout
MovieStroke of Fate
2021
as Shirley
MovieLike a House on Fire
2021
as Katherine
MovieHappy Place
2020
as Joyce
MovieThe Broken Hearts Gallery
2020
as Cheryl Gulliver
MovieAnything for Jackson
2020
as Audrey Walsh
TVNurses
2020
as Phillis Bruner
MovieThe Christmas Club
2019
as Miss Maggie
MovieChristmas 9 to 5
2019
as Rose Stark
MovieAn Assortment of Christmas Tales in No Particular Order
2019
as Ellen
MovieIsabelle
2019
as Ann Pelway
TVThe Umbrella Academy
2019
as Agnes
TVThe Detail
2018
as Helen Mailer
MovieLevel 16
2018
as Mrs. Denison
MovieStill/Born
2018
as Sheila
MovieConsidering Love and Other Magic
2017
as Veronica
TVThe Good Doctor
2017
as Rose Babcock
TVStar Trek: Discovery
2017
as All-Mother
MovieCardinals
2017
as Valerie Walker
TVConviction
2016
as Dr. Jane Soto
MovieMilton's Secret
2016
as Luz
TVPrivate Eyes
2016
as Shirl Glinski
MovieBrace for Impact
2016
as Faradee Gilchrist
MovieIce Girls
2016
as Aunt Ginger
Whatever, Linda
2015
as Sheila Hardy
MovieA Fighting Man
2014
as Rose O'Connor
MovieAlgonquin
2014
as Rita
MovieDear Viola
2014
as Peggy
TVOrphan Black
2013
as Connie Hendrix
MovieAntiviral
2012
as Dev Harvey
TVSaving Hope
2012
as Violet Devonshire
TVRookie Blue
2010
as Leigh Senett
MovieYear of the Carnivore
2009
as Mrs. Smalls
MovieBreakfast with Scot
2007
as Miss Patterson (uncredited)
MovieThe Stone Angel
2007
as Doris
TVLittle Mosque on the Prairie
2007
as Sarah Hamoudi
MovieCow Belles
2006
as Fran Walker
MovieBailey's Billion$
2005
as Peggy Delaney
MovieGeraldine's Fortune
2004
as Tina Larose
MovieBeing Julia
2004
as Grace Dexter
MovieThe Day After Tomorrow
2004
as Judith
MovieConfessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
2004
as Mrs. Gerard
TVThis Is Wonderland
2004
MovieWeird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche
2004
as Polly Vandersma (archive footage)
MovieFull-Court Miracle
2003
as Mrs. Klein
TVPuppets Who Kill
2002
MovieThe Rats
2002
as Miss Paige
MovieLathe of Heaven
2002
as Penny
MovieDuct Tape Forever
2002
as Easterbrook (uncredited)
MovieI Was a Rat
2001
as Mrs. Tapscrew
MovieRare Birds
2001
as Claire
MovieHaven
2001
as Eva
TVHaven
2001
as Eva
TVSuper Rupert
2001
as Aunt Rhonda
TVMarvin the Tap-Dancing Horse
2000
as Elizabeth the Emotional Pig (voice)
MovieCustody of the Heart
2000
as Alice
MovieVirtual Mom
2000
as Holly
MovieYou Know My Name
1999
as Mrs. Lynn
TVToo Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke
1999
as Tammy
MovieDead Husbands
1998
as Jane Armitage
TVBad Dog
1998
as (voice)
TVMore Tales of the City
1998
as Mildred
TVEmily of New Moon
1998
as Laura Murray
MovieShadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My Homework
1997
as Jesse's Mom
MovieThe Care and Handling of Roses
1996
as Carol Doster
MovieHouse Arrest
1996
as Gwenna Krupp
MovieThe Awakening
1995
as Nancy
MovieThe Possession of Michael D.
1995
as Jenny
TVA Woman of Independent Means
1995
as Totsie
MovieMenendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills
1994
as Jill Lansing
MovieThe Biggest Little Ticket
1994
as The Troll
MovieThe Lotus Eaters
1993
as Diana Kingswood
Journey to the Planets
1993
as Oracle (voice)
MovieLiza Minnelli - Live from Radio City Music Hall
1992
as Self
MovieBeethoven Lives Upstairs
1992
as Sophie
TVPicket Fences
1992
as Sue Walsh
MovieA Private Matter
1992
as Diane Callaghan
MovieMontreal Stories
1991
as Ann Stuart
MovieStepping Out
1991
as Andy
MovieParadise
1991
as Sally Pike
TVThe Hidden Room
1991
The Soulmates in the Gift of Light
1991
as (voice)
Back to the Beanstalk
1990
as Garbanza
MovieBright Angel
1990
as Nina
MoviePacific Heights
1990
as Liz Hamilton
MovieWhite Room
1990
as Zelda
MovieDie Hard 2
1990
as Samantha 'Sam' Coleman
MovieBeautiful Dreamers
1990
as Molly Jessop
MovieFriends, Lovers, & Lunatics
1989
as Kathy
MovieGeorge's Island
1989
as Miss Birdwood
MovieMuch Ado About Nothing
1988
as Margaret
MovieI've Heard the Mermaids Singing
1987
as Polly Vandersma
MovieA Nest of Singing Birds
1987
as Anna
MovieThe Marriage Bed
1986
as Lynn Reailly
MovieReally Weird Tales
1986
as Ellie Hutchins (segment "Cursed With Charisma")
Movie9B
1986
as Heather
TVFour on the Floor
1986
MovieLove & Larceny
1985
as Mary Bigley
TVThe New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1985
as Debra (Sarah) Hollister
TVThe Ray Bradbury Theater
1985
as Francine
