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Chelah Horsdal

Chelah Horsdal

Actor · Born June 19, 1973 (53) · Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Chelah Horsdal is a Canadian actress. She is known for her regular roles in the television series Hell on Wheels, When Calls the Heart, and The Man in the High Castle, recurring roles on Stargate SG-1, Level Up, Arrow, and Star Trek: Discovery, and for her roles in the films Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Horsdal was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She says she "was born to hippie parents while surrounded by friends and family on the 'farm' Headacres." She is the daughter of mother Lindsay and folksinger father Valdy. She grew up with her mother in Kitsilano and attended Bayview Elementary followed by Lord Byng Secondary. She began modelling in locally shot TV shows and commercials at 18, and then lived in the Caribbean for a year. Horsdal began her acting career in 2002. She has since appeared in more than 75 commercials as well as in films and on television. She has played lead and supporting roles on Hell on Wheels, The Man In the High Castle, When Calls the Heart, Candiland, Patterson's Wager, Three Weeks, Three Kids, On Strike For Christmas, Marley & Me: The Puppy Years, and Lifetime's The Client List. She had lead roles in Lying To Be Perfect and Mrs. Miracle. Additional credits include leads on the feature Burning Mussolini, Nickelodeon's Gym Teacher: The Movie, co-starring Christopher Meloni and Amy Sedaris, Flirting with Forty with Heather Locklear and the FOX TV pilot The Virgin of Akron, Ohio. Supporting leads include Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem for 20th Century Fox and Possession alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, as well as Elegy with Ben Kingsley and Penélope Cruz and Rise of the Planet of the Apes with John Lithgow and James Franco. Her performances in the short films Dark Room (2006) and The Hostage (2010) both earned Leo nominations for Best Performance. Recurring roles include Battlestar Galactica, Exes & Ohs, The L Word, Stargate: SG1, Saved, DaVinci's Inquest, Whistler, Blackstone, Clue and Cartoon Network's Level Up. The Hostage, for which Horsdal was nominated for Best Actress at the 2011 Leos, co-starred and was produced by Tahmoh Penikett and Aleks Paunovic. Horsdal was nominated for four more Leo Awards for her guest starring turn on Arctic Air (2013), for Hell on Wheels and When Calls the Heart, and for Patterson's Wager.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 19, 1973 (53)
From
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Works as
Actor
Titles
74 on MovieCove · 102 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 30% in 30 days

What are Chelah Horsdal's films like?

Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th 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
27%
Self
25%
Survival
17%
Morality
16%
Power
7%
Society
5%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 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 14 · Serious 1 · Dark 14

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

Grounded 26 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 11 · Charged 11 · Intense 7

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

Steady 19 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 15 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 2

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 12 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 18 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 5 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 5
Shapeshifter
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Hopeful
16
Warm
11
Dread
9
Melancholic
11
Other
22

How their films linger

Hopeful17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous8

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 Chelah Horsdal's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 52 of their 74 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (21).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Chelah Horsdal'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

102 credits, 74 with a MovieCove page.

  • Off Campus(2026)

    Show 3 episodes · as Carrie Wells

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Sheriff Country(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Merry MacRae

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Prom Pact(2023)

    as Mrs. Lansing

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Firefly Lane(2021)

    Show 17 episodes · as Margie

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Spontaneous(2020)

    as Denise

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Noelle(2019)

    as Shelley Sussman

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Ash(2019)

    as Gail Hurst

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Last Stand to Nowhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Wylona Earp

  • Boundaries(2018)

    as Therapist

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Good Doctor(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Tessa

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Discovery(2017)

    Show 12 episodes · as UFP President Laira Rillak

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • The Show(2017)

    as Elliot's Mom

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Pretty Little Addict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Donna Phillips

  • Candiland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Tess/The Queen

  • Even Lambs Have Teeth(2015)

    as Abby

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • UnREAL(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Louise

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Returned(2015)

    Show 5 episodes · as Kris

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Patterson's Wager(2015)

    as Audrey

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Gord's Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Amanda

  • The Man in the High Castle(2015)

    Show 36 episodes · as Helen Smith

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • When Calls the Heart: A Telling Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Cat Montgomery

  • When Calls the Heart: The Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Cat Montgomery

  • If I Stay(2014)

    as Liddy

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Clue: A Movie Mystery Adventure(2014)

    as Headmistress Kroger

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The 100(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Simone Lightbourne

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Grim Sleeper(2014)

    as Livi Vazquez

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • When Calls the Heart(2014)

    Show 9 episodes · as Cat Montgomery

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Sole Custody(2014)

    as Ann

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Hunting Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Nancy

  • Midnight Stallion(2013)

    as Rita Shephard

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Kill for Me(2013)

    as Maria Klein

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Motive(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Deana Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • It's Christmas, Carol!(2012)

    as Tanya

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Emily Owens, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Marian Kramden

  • Arrow(2012)

    Show 5 episodes · as Kate Spencer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The Cabin in the Woods(2011)

    as Demo Girl

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Level Up(2012)

    Show 11 episodes · as Barbara

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • Hell on Wheels(2011)

    Show 8 episodes · as Margaret Palmer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Rise of the Planet of the Apes(2011)

    as Irena - Charles' Nurse

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Marley & Me: The Puppy Years(2011)

    as Carol Grogan

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Three Weeks, Three Kids(2011)

    as Mandy Norton

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Fairly Legal(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Brooke Keller

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Iron Golem(2011)

    as Deputy Jenny

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • R.L. Stine's the Haunting Hour(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Chris' Mom

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Altitude(2010)

    as Mrs. Taylor

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Client List(2010)

    as Doreen

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Tortured(2010)

    as Liane Strader

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Lying to Be Perfect(2010)

    as Nancy

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Betwixt(2010)

    as Vanessa

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Life Unexpected(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Prosecutor

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • On Strike for Christmas(2010)

    as Sharon

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Miracle(2009)

    as Kate Preston

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Helen(2009)

    as Kara

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Possession(2009)

    as Miranda

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Come Dance at My Wedding(2009)

    as Nancy Reed

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Alien Trespass(2009)

    as Betsy's Mother

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Burning Mussolini (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Cheryll Witherspoon

  • Flirting with Forty(2008)

    as Anne

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Passengers(2008)

    as Janice

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Gym Teacher(2008)

    as Winnie

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Elegy(2008)

    as Susan Reese

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Vice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Woman in Elevator

  • Past Lies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Danielle

  • The Guard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem(2007)

    as Darcy

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Exes & Ohs(2007)

    Show 14 episodes · as Lauren Brooks

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Bionic Woman(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Suicidal Woman

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Perfect Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Jen

  • Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness(2007)

    as Cindy

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Ashes Fall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Joanna

  • A Decent Proposal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Cynthia Lewis

  • Men in Trees (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Pretty Redhead

  • Fallen(2006)

    as Lori Corbett

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Eureka(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary-Beth Curtis

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Psych(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Beth

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • X-Men: The Last Stand(2006)

    as Minivan Mother

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Hollow Man II(2006)

    as Blind Secretary

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • The Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Pink Panther(2006)

    as Security Guard

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Dreams in the Witch House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Frances Elwood

  • Masters of Horror(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Frances Elwood

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Heather Woodland

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Supernatural(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Bobby's Mother · as Cute Librarian

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Exorcism of Emily Rose(2005)

    as Asst. DA #3

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Robson Arms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Pursued(2004)

    as Sharon

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Battlestar Galactica(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Didi Cassidy

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Stargate: Atlantis(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Erran

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The 4400 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeanine

  • Paycheck(2003)

    as Young Mother

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Tru Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Admissions Officer

  • The Dead Zone(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Janet Miller

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Smallville(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. McCann

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Andromeda(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Misabo Ahm

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Stargate SG-1(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lt. Catherine Womack · as Lt. Womack

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Hat Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Young Woman

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Cindy

  • Never Use Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Ramona

  • Sundowning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Ambassador (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Mrs. Spencer

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 100 titles, 97 of them dated from 1951 to 2026; peak year 2009.

Biggest box office

Elegy (2008)

$15M worldwide

Highest rated

The Man in the High Castle (2015)

Midcredits 86th

Film career

19512026

Peak 2009 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting100 of 100: 100 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1990s2 · acting2000s45 · acting2010s44 · acting2020s5 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 30 roles
040914

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 Chelah Horsdal's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 39th percentile, the median of all 44; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 33rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Approval · how many liked their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 74 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th22
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 74 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed28

Most divisive · actor

Betwixt (2010)

98th percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Stargate SG-1 (1997)

Midcredits 96th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 56/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles; fans 72, 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 Chelah Horsdal's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 51 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles31–61 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 62 · intenseMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 53 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian 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 Chelah Horsdal work with?

People who share at least 2 of Chelah Horsdal's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Garry Chalk shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers