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Polly Shannon

Polly Shannon

Actor · Born September 1, 1973 (53) · Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Polly Shannon (born 1 September 1973) is a Canadian actress. Shannon was born in Kingston, Ontario, and raised in Aylmer, Quebec. She is best known for her portrayal of Margaret Trudeau in the 2002 miniseries Trudeau, a film about the late Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau. In 1999, she appeared as Jen in an episode of the Canadian horror series, The Hunger. She attended Philemon Wright High School in Gatineau. She has a younger brother Micah and a half-sister Kaitlin. Description above from the Wikipedia article Polly Shannon, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 1, 1973 (53)
From
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Works as
Actor
Titles
38 on Motif · 47 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 10% in 30 days

What are Polly Shannon's films like?

Across their 21 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their Motif 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
26%
Morality
26%
Survival
19%
Bonds
16%
Power
9%
Society
3%
Ideas
2%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 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 8 · Serious 3 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 14 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 10 · Intense 7

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 0

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

A split, not a type: Casual 12 · Engaged 8 · 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 8 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 8
Shapeshifter
2 of 8
Hero
2 of 8
Herald
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Melancholic
8
Absurd
4
Warm
4
Dread
3
Other
19

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet11
  • 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 Polly Shannon's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 38 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Polly Shannon's titles on Motif; 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

47 credits, 38 with a Motif page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Defining Moments(2021)

    as Marina

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Performance(2023)

    as Stacey

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Concrete Canyons(2010)

    as Det. Susan Kincaid

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Rookie Blue(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Tori

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Hydra(2009)

    as Dr. Valerie Cammon

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Hide(2008)

    as Jenny

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Victor(2008)

    as Donna Clavel

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Jesse Stone: Night Passage(2006)

    as City Atty. Abby Taylor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Lie with Me(2005)

    as Victoria

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Jesse Stone: Stone Cold(2005)

    as Abby Taylor

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Direct Action(2004)

    as Billie Ross

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Ham & Cheese(2004)

    as Lucy (MOW Detective) · as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Cold Case (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Honey Sugar

  • Do or Die(2003)

    as Ruth Hennessey

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye(2002)

    Show 6 episodes · as Darcy D'Angelo

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Puppets Who Kill(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Allison Grady

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Men with Brooms(2002)

    as Joanne

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Street Time (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 5 episodes · as Danielle

  • Trudeau (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Margaret Trudeau

  • The Triangle(2001)

    as Julia Lee

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Harvard Man(2001)

    as Juliet

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Leap Years (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 5 episodes · as Valerie

  • Doc(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Dana Everson

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • The Stalking of Laurie Show(2000)

    as Christine

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Daydream Believers: The Monkees Story(2000)

    as Phyllis Nesmith

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Sheldon Kennedy Story(1999)

    as Jana

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Girl Next Door(1998)

    as Fiona Winters

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Twice in a Lifetime (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Vicki Sue

  • Highlander: The Raven(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Young Lucy Becker

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • Dirty Work(1998)

    as Toni-Ann

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • My Date with the President's Daughter(1998)

    as Cashier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Hard to Forget(1998)

    as Sandra/Nick Applewhite

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • End of Summer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Maid

  • The Hunger(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Jennifer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Snowboard Academy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Tori

  • La Femme Nikita(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · as Michelle

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Frankenstein and Me(1996)

    as Elizabeth (Earl's fantasy girl)

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • No Greater Love(1995)

    as Helen Horowitz

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Human Operator of Starfighter-88

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • No Contest(1994)

    as Candice 'Candy' Wilson, Miss U.S.A.

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Judy Cates

  • Love and Human Remains(1993)

    as The Second Victim

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Are You Afraid of the Dark?(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Sophie

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Forever Knight(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Counter Girl

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 47 titles from 1991 to 2021; peak year 2005.

Biggest box office

Dirty Work (1998)

$10M worldwide

Highest rated

Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006)

Midcredits 86th

Most popular right now

Lie with Me (2005)

Film career

19912021

Peak 2005 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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
Acting47 of 47: 47 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score41st

By decade

1990s21 · acting2000s22 · acting2010s3 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
9404

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 Motif, 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 Polly Shannon's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 37th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 24th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 38 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Mixed20

Most divisive · actor

The Performance (2023)

99th percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006)

Midcredits 86th · 80% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 34. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif 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 Polly Shannon's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 Motif titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity5 titles43–69 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 57 · moderateMedian of all films: 36

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 Polly Shannon work with?

People who share at least 2 of Polly Shannon's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Stephen Wallis shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers