Sheila McCarthy

Sheila McCarthy 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.

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Known For

The Good Doctor

2017 • as Rose Babcock

Star Trek: Discovery

2017 • as All-Mother

The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents

1985 • as Debra (Sarah) Hollister

The Umbrella Academy

2019 • as Agnes

Little Mosque on the Prairie

2007 • as Sarah Hamoudi

Saving Hope

2012 • as Violet Devonshire

Filmography

2025

All the Lost Ones

as Dawn

Movie - Released: 4/18/2025

2022

Christmas in Rockwell

as Juniper

Movie - Released: 12/11/2022

Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 3

as Hologram Alien Scout

Movie - Released: 7/9/2022

Women Talking

as Greta

Movie - Released: 12/23/2022

2021

Stroke of Fate

as Shirley

Movie - Released: 7/15/2021

The Middle Man

as Mrs. Stout

Movie - Released: 9/17/2021

Like a House on Fire

as Katherine

Movie - Released: 3/26/2021

2020

Anything for Jackson

as Audrey Walsh

Movie - Released: 4/4/2020

Happy Place

as Joyce

Movie - Released: 9/27/2020

The Broken Hearts Gallery

as Cheryl Gulliver

Movie - Released: 9/11/2020

Nurses

as Phillis Bruner

TV - Released: 1/6/2020

2019

An Assortment of Christmas Tales in No Particular Order

as Ellen

Movie - Released: 11/1/2019

Isabelle

as Ann Pelway

Movie - Released: 5/24/2019

The Christmas Club

as Miss Maggie

Movie - Released: 11/27/2019

Christmas 9 to 5

as Rose Stark

Movie - Released: 11/24/2019

The Umbrella Academy

as Agnes

TV - Released: 2/15/2019

2018

Still/Born

as Sheila

Movie - Released: 2/9/2018

Level 16

as Mrs. Denison

Movie - Released: 2/20/2018

The Detail

as Helen Mailer

TV - Released: 3/25/2018

2017

Cardinals

as Valerie Walker

Movie - Released: 9/7/2017

Considering Love and Other Magic

as Veronica

Movie - Released: 11/17/2017

The Good Doctor

as Rose Babcock

TV - Released: 9/25/2017

Star Trek: Discovery

as All-Mother

TV - Released: 9/24/2017

2016

Brace for Impact

as Faradee Gilchrist

Movie - Released: 4/3/2016

Ice Girls

as Aunt Ginger

Movie - Released: 3/11/2016

Milton's Secret

as Luz

Movie - Released: 9/30/2016

Private Eyes

as Shirl Glinski

TV - Released: 5/26/2016

Conviction

as Dr. Jane Soto

TV - Released: 10/3/2016

2015

Whatever, Linda

as Sheila Hardy

TV - Released: 3/16/2015

2014

Algonquin

as Rita

Movie - Released: 4/11/2014

A Fighting Man

as Rose O'Connor

Movie - Released: 4/24/2014

Dear Viola

as Peggy

Movie - Released: 3/16/2014

2013

Orphan Black

as Connie Hendrix

TV - Released: 3/30/2013

Orphan Black

as Connie Hendrix (voice)

TV - Released: 3/30/2013

2012

Antiviral

as Dev Harvey

Movie - Released: 9/19/2012

Saving Hope

as Violet Devonshire

TV - Released: 6/7/2012

2010

Rookie Blue

as Leigh Senett

TV - Released: 6/24/2010

2009

Year of the Carnivore

as Mrs. Smalls

Movie - Released: 5/1/2009

2007

Breakfast with Scot

as Miss Patterson (uncredited)

Movie - Released: 11/16/2007

The Stone Angel

as Doris

Movie - Released: 9/12/2007

Little Mosque on the Prairie

as Sarah Hamoudi

TV - Released: 1/9/2007

2006

Cow Belles

as Fran Walker

Movie - Released: 3/24/2006

2005

Bailey's Billion$

as Peggy Delaney

Movie - Released: 8/5/2005

2004

Geraldine's Fortune

as Tina Larose

Movie - Released: 10/22/2004

Being Julia

as Grace Dexter

Movie - Released: 9/3/2004

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

as Mrs. Gerard

Movie - Released: 2/17/2004

Movie

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

as Polly Vandersma (archive footage)

Movie - Released: 1/1/2004

The Day After Tomorrow

as Judith

Movie - Released: 5/26/2004

This Is Wonderland

TV - Released: 1/12/2004

2003

Full-Court Miracle

as Mrs. Klein

Movie - Released: 11/21/2003

2002

The Rats

as Miss Paige

Movie - Released: 9/17/2002

Lathe of Heaven

as Penny

Movie - Released: 9/8/2002

Duct Tape Forever

as Easterbrook (uncredited)

Movie - Released: 4/12/2002

Puppets Who Kill

TV - Released: 10/4/2002

2001

I Was a Rat

as Mrs. Tapscrew

Movie - Released: 12/9/2001

Haven

as Eva

Movie - Released: 2/11/2001

Rare Birds

as Claire

Movie - Released: 9/9/2001

2000

Custody of the Heart

as Alice

Movie - Released: 8/28/2000

Virtual Mom

as Holly

Movie - Released: 1/1/2000

1999

You Know My Name

as Mrs. Lynn

Movie - Released: 8/22/1999

Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke

as Tammy

TV - Released: 2/21/1999

1998

Dead Husbands

as Jane Armitage

Movie - Released: 12/2/1998

Emily of New Moon

as Laura Murray

TV - Released: 1/4/1998

Bad Dog

TV - Released: 8/15/1998

More Tales of the City

as Mildred

TV - Released: 6/7/1998

1997

Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My Homework

as Jesse's Mom

Movie - Released: 1/1/1997

1996

House Arrest

as Gwenna Krupp

Movie - Released: 8/14/1996

The Care and Handling of Roses

as Carol Doster

Movie - Released: 10/8/1996

1995

The Awakening

as Nancy

Movie - Released: 11/4/1995

The Possession of Michael D.

as Jenny

Movie - Released: 5/2/1995

A Woman of Independent Means

as Totsie

TV - Released: 2/19/1995

1994

The Biggest Little Ticket

as The Troll

Movie - Released: 4/1/1994

Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills

as Jill Lansing

Movie - Released: 5/22/1994

1993

The Lotus Eaters

as Diana Kingswood

Movie - Released: 9/12/1993

Movie

Journey to the Planets

as Oracle (voice)

Movie - Released: 1/1/1993

1992

A Private Matter

as Diane Callaghan

Movie - Released: 6/20/1992

Liza Minnelli - Live from Radio City Music Hall

as Self

Movie - Released: 12/6/1992

Beethoven Lives Upstairs

as Sophie

Movie - Released: 9/30/1992

1991

Stepping Out

as Andy

Movie - Released: 10/11/1991

Paradise

as Sally Pike

Movie - Released: 9/18/1991

Movie

The Soulmates in the Gift of Light

as (voice)

Movie - Released: 1/1/1991

Montreal Stories

as Ann Stuart

Movie - Released: 11/8/1991

1990

Die Hard 2

as Samantha 'Sam' Coleman

Movie - Released: 7/3/1990

Pacific Heights

as Liz Hamilton

Movie - Released: 9/28/1990

White Room

as Zelda

Movie - Released: 9/6/1990

Beautiful Dreamers

as Molly Jessop

Movie - Released: 6/5/1990

Bright Angel

as Nina

Movie - Released: 11/1/1990

1989

George's Island

as Miss Birdwood

Movie - Released: 8/15/1989

Friends, Lovers, & Lunatics

as Kathy

Movie - Released: 11/10/1989

1988

Much Ado About Nothing

as Margaret

Movie - Released: 3/20/1988

1987

I've Heard the Mermaids Singing

as Polly Vandersma

Movie - Released: 9/11/1987

1986

The Marriage Bed

as Lynn Reailly

Movie - Released: 12/22/1986

Really Weird Tales

as Ellie Hutchins (segment "Cursed With Charisma")

Movie - Released: 10/4/1986

as Heather

Movie - Released: 9/6/1986

Four on the Floor

TV - Released: 6/13/1986

1985

Love and Larceny

as Mary Bigley

Movie - Released: 10/6/1985

The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Debra (Sarah) Hollister

TV - Released: 9/29/1985

The Ray Bradbury Theater

as Francine

TV - Released: 5/21/1985

Unknown

Movie

Love Is the Monster

Movie

The Well

as Gabriel

Movie

The Voices of Our Mother

as Harriet

Movie

Dancing on the Elephant

as Nora

Movie

Surfacing

as Dawn

Movie

Back to the Beanstalk

as Garbanza

Movie