Skip to content
MovieCove
Barbara Niven

Barbara Niven

Actor, also producer · Born February 26, 1953 (73) · Portland, Oregon, USA

Barbara Niven is an American actress, writer and producer, best known for her performances in Hallmark and Lifetime movies, and for television roles and independent films. She is also a motivational speaker, media trainer, and animal rights activist and spokesperson as a National Ambassador for American Humane.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 26, 1953 (73)
From
Portland, Oregon, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
74 on MovieCove · 98 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 9% in 30 days

What are Barbara Niven's films like?

Across their 60 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Crime21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Mystery4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Mystery movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 7th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Romance3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Romance movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 8th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
40%
Morality
22%
Self
15%
Survival
10%
Society
9%
Power
4%
Ideas
0%
Romantic love21 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds22 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice19 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 56 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 39 · Serious 8 · Dark 9

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 49 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 32 · Charged 18 · Intense 6

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 41 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 35 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 37 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 40 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 49 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

26 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 8 of 26 analyzed roles.

Mentor
8 of 26
Ally
7 of 26
Hero
4 of 26
Herald
3 of 26
Shadow
1 of 26
Threshold guardian
1 of 26
Shapeshifter
1 of 26
Trickster
1 of 26
Show the 26 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
37
Tense
30
Hopeful
19
Romantic
13
Contemplative
14
Other
47

How their films linger

Feel-good40 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy45
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Barbara Niven's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 60 of their 74 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hallmark+ (37).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Barbara Niven's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

98 credits, 74 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Paris Is Always A Good Idea(2026)

    Show 6 episodes · as Sherrie

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery(2026)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery(2026)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Christmas Baby(2025)

    as Betty Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Pie to Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery(2025)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery(2025)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Leah's Perfect Gift(2024)

    as Barbara

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • A Sprinkle of Deceit(2024)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery(2024)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Last Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Jillian Harper

  • Ms. Christmas Comes to Town(2023)

    as Gayle

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery(2023)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery(2023)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Christmas at the Golden Dragon(2022)

    as Jane

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • North to Home(2022)

    as Suzanne

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Christmas Contest(2021)

    as Donna

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen Mystery(2021)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Crossword Mysteries: Riddle Me Dead(2021)

    as Candace

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent(2021)

    as Aunt Candace

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing(2020)

    as Carol Shaw

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • USS Christmas(2020)

    as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Crossword Mysteries: Abracadaver(2019)

    as Aunt Candace

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy(2019)

    as Carol Shaw

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Crossword Mysteries: Proposing Murder(2019)

    as Aunt Candace

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Love Takes Flight(2019)

    as Virginia Beauman

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Crossword Mysteries: A Puzzle to Die For(2019)

    as Aunt Candace

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Love on the Menu(2019)

    as Andrea

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa(2018)

    as Carol Shaw

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Christmas in Evergreen(2017)

    as Carol

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts(2017)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Campfire Kiss(2017)

    as Beverly

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Chesapeake Shores(2016)

    Show 55 episodes · as Megan O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Murder, She Baked: A Deadly Recipe(2016)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery(2016)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Hamlet's Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Sarah Goodman

  • A Christmas Detour(2015)

    as Susan Collins

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery(2015)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery(2015)

    as Delores Swensen

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Suburban Gothic(2014)

    as Eve

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Being Us(2013)

    as Julie

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Meth Head(2013)

    as Madelaine

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Cedar Cove(2013)

    Show as Peggy Beldon

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Home Invasion(2012)

    as Tricia Patterson

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • A Perfect Ending(2012)

    Producer · as Rebecca Westridge

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • My Mother's Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Evelyn Wells

  • Gabe the Cupid Dog(2012)

    as Ms. Andrews

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Accused at 17 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Claire Werner

  • Summer's Moon(2009)

    as Gaia Hoxey

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Parks and Recreation(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as June Hartwell

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Heat Wave(2009)

    as Gouverneur Carol Quinlan

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Black Widow(2008)

    as Tiffany Collins

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Moonlight & Mistletoe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Ginny

  • Short Track (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Audrey Beckett

  • Dead at 17(2008)

    as Alyssa Harris

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Eli Stone(2008)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ellen Wethersby

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Redline(2007)

    as Sally Martin

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • A Valentine Carol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Jackie Marley

  • McBride: Semper Fi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Claire Whitman

  • All You've Got(2006)

    as Peggy McDonald

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Murder in My House(2006)

    as Lauren Kessler

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Mystery Woman: Wild West Mystery(2006)

    as Annie

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Double Cross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Suzanne Debson

  • The Rival(2006)

    as Linda Zeller

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Neighbor(2005)

    as Donna Germaine

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Stranger in My Bed(2005)

    as Christine Goudet

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Back to You and Me(2005)

    as Connie Murray

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Chasing Ghosts(2005)

    as Patricia King

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Drone Virus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Dr. Sloan

  • Tiger Cruise(2004)

    as Kate Dolan

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • A Carol Christmas(2003)

    as Sexy TV Star

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Elaine Burns

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Las Vegas(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice Gold

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Alone with a Stranger(2000)

    as Sandy Kennington

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • I Married a Monster(1998)

    as Linda

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Charmed(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Helen Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Rat Pack(1998)

    as Marilyn Monroe

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Serial Killing 101 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Donna Noland

  • Breast Men(1997)

    as Cindy

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Pensacola: Wings of Gold(1997)

    Show 44 episodes · as Kate

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Born Bad(1997)

    as Brian's Mother

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Doublecross on Costa's Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Veronica

  • Forest Warrior(1996)

    as Stacy Franklin

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Humanoids from the Deep(1996)

    as Fran Taylor

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Foxfire(1996)

    as Goldie's Stepmother

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Depraved (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Monica Stienman

  • Lone Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Jane Costello

  • The Sister-in-Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Ashley Hawkins

  • Under Lock and Key (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Tina Lam

  • Taken Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Veronica

  • Psycho Cop Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Sharon

  • Illegal Entry: Formula for Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Pamela Raby

  • Hired to Kill(1990)

    as Sheila

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Wings(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Susan

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Fatal Encounter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Laura Hart

  • My Two Dads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Veronica Miles

  • Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Joan

  • Cooked to Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Delores Swensen

  • It Happened at Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 95 titles, 93 of them dated from 1986 to 2026; peak year 2020.

Biggest box office

Redline (2007)

$8.3M worldwide

Highest rated

Love Takes Flight (2019)

Midcredits 82nd

Most popular right now

Chesapeake Shores (2016)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19862026

Peak 2020 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 21 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting95 of 95: 95 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1980s2 · acting1990s20 · acting2000s26 · acting2010s23 · acting2020s22 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 3% of 34 roles
90001020

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Barbara Niven's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 64; across their 56 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 56

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 56

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 56

Midcredits score across 74 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th32
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th16

Shape of the crowd

34 of their 74 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic9
  • Crowd Pleaser34
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · actor

All You've Got (2006)

95th percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Love Takes Flight (2019)

Midcredits 82nd · 71% liked

Reviewers score the acting 58/100 in their films, across 55 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 33. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Barbara Niven's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity6 titles23–58 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Barbara Niven work with?

People who share at least 2 of Barbara Niven's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Shepard shares the most, 23.

Directors

Writers

  • Joanne Fluke14 titles    See newest 12 of 14 shared titles with Joanne Fluke
  • Alison Sweeney14 titles · 5 as writer    See newest 12 of 14 shared titles with Alison Sweeney
  • Brian Sawyer5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Brian Sawyer
  • Gregg Rossen5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Gregg Rossen

Actors

  • Juliana Wimbles12 titles    See all 12 shared titles with Juliana Wimbles
  • Gabriel Hogan9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Gabriel Hogan
  • Lisa Durupt9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Lisa Durupt
  • Tess Atkins8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Tess Atkins

Composers, cinematographers and editors

  • David Pelletier7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with David Pelletier
  • Matthew Rogers7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Matthew Rogers
  • Kelly Herron6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Kelly Herron
  • Garry M.B. Smith4 titles    See all 4 shared titles with Garry M.B. Smith

Producers

  • Michael Shepard23 titles    See newest 12 of 23 shared titles with Michael Shepard
  • Brad Krevoy12 titles    See all 12 shared titles with Brad Krevoy
  • Susie Belzberg12 titles    See all 12 shared titles with Susie Belzberg
  • John J. Fluke10 titles    See all 10 shared titles with John J. Fluke

Mixed roles