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
TV
The Good Doctor
Rose Babcock
2017
TV
Orphan Black
Connie Hendrix
2013
TV
Orphan Black
Connie Hendrix (voice)
2013
TV
Star Trek: Discovery
All-Mother
2017
TV
The Umbrella Academy
Agnes
2019
TV
Saving Hope
Violet Devonshire
2012
TV
Rookie Blue
Leigh Senett
2010
TV
Private Eyes
Shirl Glinski
2016
TV
Picket Fences
Sue Walsh
1992
TV
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Debra (Sarah) Hollister
1985
TV
Nurses
Phillis Bruner
2020
TV
This Is Wonderland
2004
TV
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Francine
1985
Film
Die Hard 2
Samantha 'Sam' Coleman
1990
TV
Bad Dog
(voice)
1998
TV
Little Mosque on the Prairie
Sarah Hamoudi
2007
Film
The Day After Tomorrow
Judith
2004
TV
Conviction
Dr. Jane Soto
2016
TV
Puppets Who Kill
2002
Film
Women Talking
Greta
2022
Filmography
2026FilmThe Wellas Gabriel2025FilmLove Is the Monster2025FilmDancing on the Elephantas Nora2025FilmAll the Lost Onesas Dawn2022FilmWomen Talkingas Greta2022FilmChristmas in Rockwellas Juniper2022FilmZ-O-M-B-I-E-S 3as Hologram Alien Scout2021FilmThe Middle Manas Mrs. Stout2021FilmStroke of Fateas Shirley2021FilmLike a House on Fireas Katherine2020FilmHappy Placeas Joyce2020FilmThe Broken Hearts Galleryas Cheryl Gulliver2020FilmAnything for Jacksonas Audrey Walsh2020TVNursesas Phillis Bruner2019FilmThe Christmas Clubas Miss Maggie2019FilmChristmas 9 to 5as Rose Stark2019FilmAn Assortment of Christmas Tales in No Particular Orderas Ellen2019FilmIsabelleas Ann Pelway2019TVThe Umbrella Academyas Agnes2018TVThe Detailas Helen Mailer2018FilmLevel 16as Mrs. Denison2018FilmStill/Bornas Sheila2017FilmConsidering Love and Other Magicas Veronica2017TVThe Good Doctoras Rose Babcock2017TVStar Trek: Discoveryas All-Mother2017FilmCardinalsas Valerie Walker2016TVConvictionas Dr. Jane Soto2016FilmMilton's Secretas Luz2016TVPrivate Eyesas Shirl Glinski2016FilmBrace for Impactas Faradee Gilchrist2016FilmIce Girlsas Aunt Ginger2015TVWhatever, Lindaas Sheila Hardy2014FilmA Fighting Manas Rose O'Connor2014FilmAlgonquinas Rita2014FilmDear Violaas Peggy2013TVOrphan Blackas Connie Hendrix2012FilmAntiviralas Dev Harvey2012TVSaving Hopeas Violet Devonshire2010TVRookie Blueas Leigh Senett2009FilmYear of the Carnivoreas Mrs. Smalls2007FilmBreakfast with Scotas Miss Patterson (uncredited)2007FilmThe Stone Angelas Doris2007TVLittle Mosque on the Prairieas Sarah Hamoudi2006FilmCow Bellesas Fran Walker2005FilmBailey's Billion$as Peggy Delaney2004FilmGeraldine's Fortuneas Tina Larose2004FilmBeing Juliaas Grace Dexter2004FilmThe Day After Tomorrowas Judith2004FilmConfessions of a Teenage Drama Queenas Mrs. Gerard2004TVThis Is Wonderland2004FilmWeird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psycheas Polly Vandersma (archive footage)2003FilmFull-Court Miracleas Mrs. Klein2002TVPuppets Who Kill2002FilmThe Ratsas Miss Paige2002FilmLathe of Heavenas Penny2002FilmDuct Tape Foreveras Easterbrook (uncredited)2001FilmI Was a Ratas Mrs. Tapscrew2001FilmRare Birdsas Claire2001FilmHavenas Eva2000TVMarvin the Tap-Dancing Horseas Elizabeth the Emotional Pig (voice)2000FilmCustody of the Heartas Alice2000FilmVirtual Momas Holly1999FilmYou Know My Nameas Mrs. Lynn1999TVToo Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Dukeas Tammy1998FilmDead Husbandsas Jane Armitage1998TVBad Dogas (voice)1998TVMore Tales of the Cityas Mildred1998TVEmily of New Moonas Laura Murray1997FilmShadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My Homeworkas Jesse's Mom1996FilmThe Care and Handling of Rosesas Carol Doster1996FilmHouse Arrestas Gwenna Krupp1995FilmThe Awakeningas Nancy1995FilmThe Possession of Michael D.as Jenny1995TVA Woman of Independent Meansas Totsie1994FilmMenendez: A Killing in Beverly Hillsas Jill Lansing1994FilmThe Biggest Little Ticketas The Troll1993FilmThe Lotus Eatersas Diana Kingswood1993FilmJourney to the Planetsas Oracle (voice)1992FilmLiza Minnelli - Live from Radio City Music Hallas Self1992FilmBeethoven Lives Upstairsas Sophie1992TVPicket Fencesas Sue Walsh1992FilmA Private Matteras Diane Callaghan1991FilmMontreal Storiesas Ann Stuart1991FilmStepping Outas Andy1991FilmParadiseas Sally Pike1991FilmThe Soulmates in the Gift of Lightas (voice)1990FilmBack to the Beanstalkas Garbanza1990FilmBright Angelas Nina1990FilmPacific Heightsas Liz Hamilton1990FilmWhite Roomas Zelda1990FilmDie Hard 2as Samantha 'Sam' Coleman1990FilmBeautiful Dreamersas Molly Jessop1989FilmFriends, Lovers, & Lunaticsas Kathy1989FilmGeorge's Islandas Miss Birdwood1988FilmMuch Ado About Nothingas Margaret1987FilmI've Heard the Mermaids Singingas Polly Vandersma1986FilmThe Marriage Bedas Lynn Reailly1986FilmReally Weird Talesas Ellie Hutchins (segment "Cursed With Charisma")1986Film9Bas Heather1986TVFour on the Floor1985FilmLove & Larcenyas Mary Bigley1985TVThe New Alfred Hitchcock Presentsas Debra (Sarah) Hollister1985TVThe Ray Bradbury Theateras Francine—FilmThe Voices of Our Motheras Harriet—FilmSurfacingas Dawn