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Shiri Appleby

Shiri Appleby

Actor and director, also producer · Born December 7, 1978 (47) · Los Angeles, California, USA

Shiri Freda Appleby (born December 7, 1978) is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her leading role as Liz Parker in the television series Roswell. Her film credits include A Time for Dancing, where she was one of the two female main characters; Swimfan; Havoc with Anne Hathaway; and Charlie Wilson's War with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. In 2008, Appleby joined the cast of the final season of ER, playing an intern named Daria Wade, before starring as Cate Cassidy in the CW drama Life Unexpected that ran for two seasons. In the summer of 2012, she starred as Lucy in the comedy Dating Rules from My Future Self.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 7, 1978 (47)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Actor and director, also producer
Titles
61 on MovieCove · 85 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 30% in 30 days

What are Shiri Appleby's films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
Morality
26%
Bonds
25%
Self
21%
Survival
11%
Society
10%
Power
6%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 13 · Serious 6 · Dark 3

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 8 · Intense 6

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

A split, not a type: Steady 13 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 13 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

18 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 8 of 18 analyzed roles.

Hero
8 of 18
Ally
4 of 18
Herald
3 of 18
Shapeshifter
1 of 18
Trickster
1 of 18
Mentor
1 of 18
Show the 18 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Warm
10
Absurd
8
Melancholic
9
Dread
6
Other
34

How their films linger

Hopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous9

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 Shiri Appleby's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 39 of their 61 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Shiri Appleby'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

85 credits, 61 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Hawk(2026)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Unprisoned(2023)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Your Place or Mine(2023)

    as Vanessa Morgan

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Maggie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Minx(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Wonder Years(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Mixed-ish(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists(2019)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Roswell, New Mexico(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · as Allie

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • What Just Happened??!(2019)

    Show as Lisa

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Light as a Feather(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • New Amsterdam(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • 9-1-1(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Grown-ish(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Young Sheldon(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Lemon(2017)

    as Ruthie

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Devil's Candy(2015)

    as Astrid

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Meddler(2015)

    as TV Daughter

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • An Entanglement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Code Black(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Carla Niven

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • UnREAL(2015)

    Show 38 episodes · Director · as Rachel Goldberg

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Kristin's Christmas Past(2013)

    as Kristin

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • All American Christmas Carol(2013)

    as Pam

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Skin Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Carla

  • Drunk History(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret Howe Lovett

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Seven Minutes to Save the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Caroline

  • Chicago Fire(2012)

    Show 7 episodes · as Clarice

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Dalit Zirin

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Girls(2012)

    Show as Natalia

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Dating Rules from My Future Self(2012)

    Show 9 episodes · Director · Producer · as Lucy Lambert

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Whole Day Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Moon

  • Franklin & Bash(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Emily Adams

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Life Unexpected(2010)

    Show 26 episodes · as Catherine "Cate" Cassidy

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Unstable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Megan Walker

  • To Love and Die(2008)

    as Hildy Young

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • To Love and Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Hildy Young

  • Fear Itself: Community (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Tracy

  • Fear Itself(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Tracy

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Welcome to the Captain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Heather

  • Charlie Wilson's War(2007)

    as Jailbait - Charlie's Angels

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • I'm Reed Fish(2006)

    as Jill Cavanaugh

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Killing Floor(2007)

    as Rebecca Fay

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • What Love Is(2007)

    as Debbie

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Carjacking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Cary

  • Thrill of the Kill(2006)

    as Kelly Holden

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Six Degrees(2006)

    Show 6 episodes · as Anya

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • When Do We Eat?(2005)

    as Nikki

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • I-See-You.com(2006)

    as Randi Sommers

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Havoc(2005)

    as Amanda

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Pizza My Heart(2005)

    as Gina Prestolani

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • 1/4life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Love Surreal(2005)

    as Abby Morrison

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Undertow(2004)

    as Violet

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Darklight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Lilith / Elle

  • The Battle of Shaker Heights(2003)

    as Sarah

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • A Time for Dancing(2002)

    as Samantha 'Sam' Russell

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Swimfan(2002)

    as Amy Miller

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Deal of a Lifetime(1999)

    as Laurie Petler

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Roswell(1999)

    Show 61 episodes · as Liz Parker

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Amelia Albers · as Kitty Bennett

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Thirteenth Floor(1999)

    as Bridget Manilla

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Other Sister(1999)

    as Free Sample Girl

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Batman Beyond(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Cynthia (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • 7th Heaven(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Karen

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Brotherly Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Fairy #1

  • Xena: Warrior Princess(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tara

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 9 episodes · as Daria Wade · as Ms. Murphy

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Against the Grain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire

  • Family Prayers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Nina

  • Perfect Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Steff

  • Sunday Dinner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 6 episodes · as Rachel Berenson

  • Beverly Hills, 90210(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as René

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • I Love You to Death(1990)

    as Millie

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Doogie Howser, M.D.(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Molly Harris

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Knight & Daye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 7 episodes · as Amy Escobar

  • Curse II: The Bite(1989)

    as Grace

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Baywatch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Jennie

  • Go Toward the Light(1988)

    as Jessica

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Mystery Magical Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Shiri

  • Freddy's Nightmares (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Marsha (Age 10)

  • The Killing Time(1987)

    as Annie Winslow

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • thirtysomething (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Little Hope

  • The New Gidget (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Little Girl

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mary Frances (Age 10)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Wouldn’t It Be Nice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 84 titles, 83 of them dated from 1979 to 2026; peak year 2006.

Biggest box office

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

$119M worldwide

Highest rated

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

Midcredits 79th

Most popular right now

Roswell (1999)

Film career

19792026

Peak 2006 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 7 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
Acting71 of 84: 69 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting15 of 84: 13 only directing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score49th

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s10 · acting1990s15 · acting2000s25 · acting2010s26 · 19 acting · 9 crew2020s6 · 1 acting · 5 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 17% of 23 roles
8707

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 Shiri Appleby's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 30th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 61 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 61 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed23

Most divisive · director

The Wonder Years (2021)

93rd percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Go Toward the Light (1988)

Midcredits 90th · 77% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 37. 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 Shiri Appleby's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles36–63 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles32–68 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles44–88 · median 75 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles31–74 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles40–78 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

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 Shiri Appleby work with?

People who share at least 2 of Shiri Appleby's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ricardo Jacques Gale shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers