Sheila McCarthy

Acting • 1956-01-01 • 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.

Known For

8.4

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Filmography

2026
YAGATV
Olena Yaha • 4 episodes
★ 7.4
2026
The Miniature WifeTV
★ 7.1
2026
The Voices of Our MotherFilm
Harriet
★ 6.3
2026
The Spirit of HalloweenFilm
Ghost Anna
★ 6.3
2026
SurfacingFilm
Dawn
★ 5.5
2026
The WellFilm
Gabriel
★ 3.6
2025
All the Lost OnesFilm
Dawn
★ 5.0
2025
Love Is the MonsterFilm
Margaret
★ 6.5
2025
Dancing on the ElephantFilm
Nora
2022
Women TalkingFilm
Greta
★ 6.8
2022
Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 3Film
Hologram Alien Scout
★ 7.3
2022
Christmas in RockwellFilm
Juniper
★ 5.5
2021
The Middle ManFilm
Mrs. Stout
★ 6.1
2021
Like a House on FireFilm
Katherine
★ 6.6
2021
Stroke of FateFilm
Shirley
2020
The Broken Hearts GalleryFilm
Cheryl Gulliver
★ 7.1
2020
Anything for JacksonFilm
Audrey Walsh
★ 6.7
2020
NursesTV
Phillis Bruner • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
2020
Happy PlaceFilm
Joyce
★ 5.0
2019
The Umbrella AcademyTV
Agnes • 11 episodes
★ 8.4
2019
IsabelleFilm
Ann Pelway
★ 5.1
2019
The Christmas ClubFilm
Miss Maggie
★ 6.3
2019
Christmas 9 to 5Film
Rose Stark
★ 6.7
2019
An Assortment of Christmas Tales in No Particular OrderFilm
Ellen
2018
Level 16Film
Mrs. Denison
★ 6.7
2018
Still/BornFilm
Sheila
★ 5.8
2018
The DetailTV
Helen Mailer • 3 episodes
★ 6.4
2017
The Good DoctorTV
Rose Babcock • 1 episodes
★ 8.5
2017
Star Trek: DiscoveryTV
All-Mother • 1 episodes
★ 6.9
2017
CardinalsFilm
Valerie Walker
★ 5.8
2017
Considering Love and Other MagicFilm
Veronica
★ 6.5
2016
Private EyesTV
Shirl Glinski • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
2016
ConvictionTV
Dr. Jane Soto • 1 episodes
★ 6.8
2016
Ice GirlsFilm
Aunt Ginger
★ 6.7
2016
Brace for ImpactFilm
Faradee Gilchrist
★ 5.5
2016
Milton's SecretFilm
Luz
★ 5.2
2015
Whatever, LindaTV
Sheila Hardy • 10 episodes
2015
The Curse of Clara: A Holiday TaleFilm
Narrator (voice)
2014
A Fighting ManFilm
Rose O'Connor
★ 5.5
2014
Dear ViolaFilm
Peggy
★ 6.8
2014
AlgonquinFilm
Rita
★ 7.0
2013
Orphan BlackTV
Connie Hendrix • 1 episodes
★ 7.8
2013
Orphan BlackTV
Connie Hendrix (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 7.8
2012
Saving HopeTV
Violet Devonshire • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
2012
AntiviralFilm
Dev Harvey
★ 5.9
2010
Rookie BlueTV
Leigh Senett • 1 episodes
★ 7.7
2009
Year of the CarnivoreFilm
Mrs. Smalls
★ 4.8
2007
Little Mosque on the PrairieTV
Sarah Hamoudi • 90 episodes
★ 6.6
2007
Breakfast with ScotFilm
Miss Patterson (uncredited)
★ 6.1
2007
The Stone AngelFilm
Doris
★ 5.4
2006
Cow BellesFilm
Fran Walker
★ 5.5
2005
Bailey's Billion$Film
Peggy Delaney
★ 5.9
2004
The Day After TomorrowFilm
Judith
★ 6.6
2004
Confessions of a Teenage Drama QueenFilm
Mrs. Gerard
★ 5.7
2004
Being JuliaFilm
Grace Dexter
★ 6.4
2004
This Is WonderlandTV
★ 8.0
2004
Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic PsycheFilm
Polly Vandersma (archive footage)
★ 6.0
2004
Geraldine's FortuneFilm
Tina Larose
★ 3.3
2003
Full-Court MiracleFilm
Mrs. Klein
★ 5.8
2002
The RatsFilm
Miss Paige
★ 5.4
2002
Lathe of HeavenFilm
Penny
★ 6.0
2002
Puppets Who KillTV
★ 6.6
2002
Duct Tape ForeverFilm
Easterbrook (uncredited)
★ 6.2
2001
Rare BirdsFilm
Claire
★ 5.3
2001
HavenFilm
Eva
★ 6.8
2001
I Was a RatFilm
Mrs. Tapscrew
★ 9.0
2001
HavenTV
Eva • 2 episodes
★ 7.0
2001
Super RupertTV
Aunt Rhonda • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
2000
Marvin the Tap-Dancing HorseTV
Elizabeth the Emotional Pig (voice) • 26 episodes
★ 7.2
2000
Custody of the HeartFilm
Alice
★ 5.4
2000
Virtual MomFilm
Holly
★ 6.0
1999
You Know My NameFilm
Mrs. Lynn
★ 4.8
1999
Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris DukeTV
Tammy • 4 episodes
★ 5.5
1998
More Tales of the CityTV
Mildred • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
1998
Emily of New MoonTV
Laura Murray • 46 episodes
★ 8.8
1998
Bad DogTV
(voice) • 80 episodes
★ 6.6
1998
Dead HusbandsFilm
Jane Armitage
★ 5.7
1997
Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My HomeworkFilm
Jesse's Mom
★ 5.8
1996
House ArrestFilm
Gwenna Krupp
★ 5.4
1996
The Care and Handling of RosesFilm
Carol Doster
★ 9.0
1995
A Woman of Independent MeansTV
Totsie • 3 episodes
★ 10.0
1995
The AwakeningFilm
Nancy
★ 4.8
1995
The Possession of Michael D.Film
Jenny
★ 5.4
1994
Menendez: A Killing in Beverly HillsFilm
Jill Lansing
★ 6.5
1994
The Biggest Little TicketFilm
The Troll
1993
The Lotus EatersFilm
Diana Kingswood
★ 8.5
1993
Journey to the PlanetsFilm
Oracle (voice)
★ 8.0
1992
Picket FencesTV
Sue Walsh • 4 episodes
★ 7.4
1992
Beethoven Lives UpstairsFilm
Sophie
★ 7.3
1992
Liza Minnelli - Live from Radio City Music HallFilm
Self
★ 7.3
1992
A Private MatterFilm
Diane Callaghan
★ 5.5
1991
ParadiseFilm
Sally Pike
★ 6.2
1991
Stepping OutFilm
Andy
★ 5.9
1991
Montreal StoriesFilm
Ann Stuart
★ 5.0
1991
The Hidden RoomTV
★ 6.0
1991
The Soulmates in the Gift of LightFilm
(voice)
★ 6.0
1990
Die Hard 2Film
Samantha 'Sam' Coleman
★ 7.0
1990
Pacific HeightsFilm
Liz Hamilton
★ 6.3
1990
Bright AngelFilm
Nina
★ 4.8
1990
White RoomFilm
Zelda
★ 5.7
1990
Beautiful DreamersFilm
Molly Jessop
★ 5.0
1990
Back to the BeanstalkFilm
Garbanza
★ 10.0
1989
George's IslandFilm
Miss Birdwood
★ 7.3
1989
Friends, Lovers, & LunaticsFilm
Kathy
★ 3.0
1988
Much Ado About NothingFilm
Margaret
★ 9.0
1987
I've Heard the Mermaids SingingFilm
Polly Vandersma
★ 5.7
1987
A Nest of Singing BirdsFilm
Anna
1986
Four on the FloorTV
★ 6.8
1986
Really Weird TalesFilm
Ellie Hutchins (segment "Cursed With Charisma")
★ 5.8
1986
The Marriage BedFilm
Lynn Reailly
★ 8.5
1986
Hot ShotsTV
Jenny • 1 episodes
★ 6.0
1986
9BFilm
Heather
★ 8.0
1985
The New Alfred Hitchcock PresentsTV
Debra (Sarah) Hollister • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
1985
The Ray Bradbury TheaterTV
Francine • 1 episodes
★ 6.9
1985
Love & LarcenyFilm
Mary Bigley
★ 7.0

Known For

The Umbrella Academy

Anything for Jackson

Antiviral

Cow Belles

Die Hard 2

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Fan Club

From Nerdspin

Filmography