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Martha Burns

Martha Burns

Actor, also director and producer · Born April 23, 1957 (69) · Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Born
April 23, 1957 (69)
From
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Works as
Actor, also director and producer
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 42 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 47% in 30 days

What are Martha Burns' films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
26%
Morality
24%
Bonds
19%
Ideas
16%
Survival
11%
Power
4%
Deception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 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 2 · Serious 3 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 7 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 5 · Intense 2

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 5

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 5 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4
Mentor
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
5
Tense
5
Warm
3
Contemplative
4
Bittersweet
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Thought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

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 Martha Burns' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Martha Burns' 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

42 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page.

  • The World Is A Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Anna

  • Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Agatha

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • We're All in This Together(2021)

    as Kate Parker

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Moon Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Anne

  • Alias Grace(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Parkinson

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Robin & Mark & Richard III(2016)

    Director · Producer

  • Boxing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Janet

  • Remedy(2014)

    Show 8 episodes · as Rebecca Baker

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • After All These Years(2013)

    as Phyllis

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Mad Ship(2013)

    as Judith

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Samaritan(2012)

    as Gretchen

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • French Immersion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Cathy

  • Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 12 episodes · as Jasmina Hart

  • A Wake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Sabina

  • Republic of Doyle(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Joyce

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Love & Savagery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Mother Superior

  • You Might as Well Live(2009)

    as Dr. Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Blindness(2008)

    as Woman with Insomnia

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Trojan Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mary Miller

  • Murdoch Mysteries(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Burgess

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Silk(2007)

    as Mme. Joncour

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

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

    as Miss Bradford

  • The Skulls III(2004)

    as Swim Coach

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Slings and Arrows(2003)

    Show 18 episodes · as Ellen Fanshaw

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Profoundly Normal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Dr. Maswell

  • Murder Most Likely(1999)

    as Alice Malinson

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Life Before This(1999)

    as Gwen Maclean

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Last 100 Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Storm of the Century(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Counselor

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • What Katy Did(1999)

    as Aunt Izzie

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Thanks of a Grateful Nation(1998)

    as Dr. Rosemary Dove

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Emily of New Moon(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Eve Kinch · as Eve Kinch Murray

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Marie Curie: More Than Meets the Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Lisette Boudreau

  • Long Day's Journey Into Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Cathleen

  • The Boys Next Door(1996)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Never Talk to Strangers(1995)

    as Maura

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • No Price Too High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 7 episodes · as Jean Partridge

  • Due South (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Caroline Fraser · as Nadia

  • Paint Cans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Melda

  • The Hidden Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Jane's Mother

  • The Last Best Year(1990)

    as Sally

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Cathleen

Career shape

Star power in the 77th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 42 titles from 1971 to 2026; peak year 1995.

Biggest box office

Silk (2007)

$8M worldwide

Highest rated

Slings and Arrows (2003)

Midcredits 94th

Film career

19712026

Peak 1995 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. 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.

  • 1995Screen debut· Never Talk to Strangers

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting41 of 42: 41 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score50thDirecting1 of 42: 1 only directing, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · acting1990s16 · acting2000s10 · acting2010s12 · 11 acting · 1 crew2020s3 · acting

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.

How do Martha Burns' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of the 15 of 16 with a score; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 31st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

23rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 23 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

You Might as Well Live (2009)

82nd percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Slings and Arrows (2003)

Midcredits 94th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 43. 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.

Who does Martha Burns work with?

People who share at least 2 of Martha Burns' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mark McKinney shares the most, 2.

Actors

Mixed roles