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Sheila McCarthy

Sheila McCarthy

Actor, also producer · Born January 1, 1956 (70) · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 1, 1956 (70)
From
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
70 on MovieCove · 115 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 65 days to Oct 28Up 13% in 30 days

What are Sheila McCarthy's films like?

Across their 48 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
Self
29%
Bonds
24%
Survival
15%
Morality
12%
Society
12%
Power
6%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 44 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 21 · Serious 6 · Dark 17

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

Grounded 35 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 17 · Charged 17 · Intense 10

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

Steady 27 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 0

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 4

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 23 · Even-paced 21 · Relentless 0

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

A split, not a type: Casual 20 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 3

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 19 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 18

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

Resolved 28 · Open-ended 14 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 7 of 16 analyzed roles.

Ally
7 of 16
Hero
3 of 16
Threshold guardian
3 of 16
Shadow
2 of 16
Mentor
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Warm
18
Hopeful
19
Melancholic
17
Joyful
13
Other
40

How their films linger

Hopeful22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet18
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous10

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 Sheila McCarthy's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 46 of their 70 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sheila McCarthy'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

115 credits, 70 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Spirit of Halloween(2026)

    as Ghost Anna

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Voices of Our Mother(2026)

    as Harriet

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Miniature Wife(2026)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Surfacing(2026)

    as Dawn

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Well(2025)

    Producer · as Gabriel

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Love Is the Monster(2025)

    as Margaret

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Dancing on the Elephant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Nora

  • All the Lost Ones(2024)

    as Dawn

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Women Talking(2022)

    as Greta

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Christmas in Rockwell(2022)

    as Juniper

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Zombies 3(2022)

    as Hologram Alien Scout

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Middle Man(2021)

    as Mrs. Stout

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Stroke of Fate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Shirley

  • Like a House on Fire(2020)

    as Katherine

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Happy Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Joyce

  • The Broken Hearts Gallery(2020)

    as Cheryl Gulliver

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Anything for Jackson(2020)

    as Audrey Walsh

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Nurses(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Phillis Bruner

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Christmas Club(2019)

    as Miss Maggie

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Christmas 9 to 5(2019)

    as Rose Stark

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • An Assortment of Christmas Tales in No Particular Order (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Ellen

  • Isabelle(2018)

    as Ann Pelway

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Umbrella Academy(2019)

    Show 11 episodes · as Agnes

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Detail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · as Helen Mailer

  • Level 16(2018)

    as Mrs. Denison

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Still/Born(2017)

    as Sheila

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Considering Love and Other Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Veronica

  • The Good Doctor(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Rose Babcock

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Discovery(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as All-Mother

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Cardinals(2017)

    Producer · as Valerie Walker

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Definites(2017)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Russet Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director

  • Conviction(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Jane Soto

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Milton's Secret(2016)

    as Luz

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Private Eyes(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Shirl Glinski

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Final Destiny(2016)

    as Faradee Gilchrist

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Ice Girls(2016)

    as Aunt Ginger

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Curse of Clara: A Holiday Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Whatever, Linda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Sheila Hardy

  • A Fighting Man(2014)

    as Rose O'Connor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Algonquin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Rita

  • Dear Viola(2014)

    as Peggy

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Orphan Black(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Connie Hendrix · as Connie Hendrix (voice)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Antiviral(2012)

    as Dev Harvey

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Saving Hope(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Violet Devonshire

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Rookie Blue(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Leigh Senett

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Year of the Carnivore(2009)

    as Mrs. Smalls

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Breakfast with Scot(2007)

    as Miss Patterson (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Stone Angel(2007)

    as Doris

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Little Mosque on the Prairie(2007)

    Show 90 episodes · as Sarah Hamoudi

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Cow Belles(2006)

    as Fran Walker

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Bailey's Billion$(2005)

    as Peggy Delaney

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Geraldine's Fortune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Tina Larose

  • Being Julia(2004)

    as Grace Dexter

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Day After Tomorrow(2004)

    as Judith

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen(2004)

    as Mrs. Gerard

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • This Is Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche(2004)

    as Polly Vandersma (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Full-Court Miracle(2003)

    as Mrs. Klein

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Puppets Who Kill(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • The Rats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Miss Paige

  • Lathe of Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Penny

  • Duct Tape Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Easterbrook (uncredited)

  • I Was a Rat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Mrs. Tapscrew

  • Rare Birds(2001)

    as Claire

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Haven(2001)

    as Eva

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Haven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Eva

  • Super Rupert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Aunt Rhonda

  • Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 26 episodes · as Elizabeth the Emotional Pig (voice)

  • Custody of the Heart(2000)

    as Alice

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Virtual Mom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Executive Producer · Teleplay · as Holly

  • You Know My Name(1999)

    as Mrs. Lynn

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Tammy

  • Dead Husbands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Jane Armitage

  • Bad Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 80 episodes · as (voice)

  • More Tales of the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Mildred

  • Emily of New Moon(1998)

    Show 46 episodes · as Laura Murray

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My Homework(1997)

    as Jesse's Mom

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Care and Handling of Roses(1996)

    as Carol Doster

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • House Arrest(1996)

    as Gwenna Krupp

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Awakening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Nancy

  • The Possession of Michael D.(1995)

    as Jenny

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • A Woman of Independent Means(1995)

    Show 3 episodes · as Totsie

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills(1994)

    as Jill Lansing

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Biggest Little Ticket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as The Troll

  • Free Willy(1994)

    Show as Annie

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • The Lotus Eaters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Diana Kingswood

  • Journey to the Planets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Oracle (voice)

  • Beethoven Lives Upstairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Sophie

  • Picket Fences(1992)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sue Walsh

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • A Private Matter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Diane Callaghan

  • Montreal Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Ann Stuart

  • Stepping Out(1991)

    as Andy

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Paradise(1991)

    as Sally Pike

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Soulmates in the Gift of Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as (voice)

  • Back to the Beanstalk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Garbanza

  • Bright Angel(1990)

    as Nina

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Pacific Heights(1990)

    as Liz Hamilton

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • White Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Zelda

  • Die Hard 2(1990)

    as Samantha 'Sam' Coleman

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Beautiful Dreamers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Molly Jessop

  • Friends, Lovers, & Lunatics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Kathy

  • George's Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Miss Birdwood

  • Much Ado About Nothing(1988)

    as Margaret

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • I've Heard the Mermaids Singing(1987)

    as Polly Vandersma

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Nest of Singing Birds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Anna

  • The Marriage Bed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Lynn Reailly

  • Really Weird Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Ellie Hutchins (segment "Cursed With Charisma")

  • Hot Shots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Jenny

  • 9B (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Heather

  • Four on the Floor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Love & Larceny(1985)

    as Mary Bigley

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Debra (Sarah) Hollister

  • The Ray Bradbury Theater(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Francine

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 114 titles from 1985 to 2026; peak year 2019.

Biggest box office

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)

$33M worldwide

Highest rated

Women Talking (2022)

Midcredits 87th

Most popular right now

Little Mosque on the Prairie (2007)

Film career

19852026

Peak 2019 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 10 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
Acting112 of 114: 111 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score47thDirecting1 of 114: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleWriting1 of 114: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 114: 1 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s13 · acting1990s30 · acting2000s25 · 25 acting · 1 crew2010s28 · 26 acting · 2 crew2020s18 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 7% of 29 roles
87970717

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 Sheila McCarthy's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 53; across their 44 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Approval · how many liked their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Midcredits score across 70 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th24
  • 25th to 49th25
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

33 of their 70 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed33

Most divisive · actor

Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004)

92nd percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Women Talking (2022)

Midcredits 87th · 80% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 39 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 39. 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 Sheila McCarthy's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 3 of the 5 categories sit near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 63 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles18–51 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles19–63 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles16–51 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 73 · intenseMedian 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 Sheila McCarthy work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sheila McCarthy's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John McCarthy shares the most, 4.

Directors

Actors

Composers

Producers

Mixed roles