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.
Known For
The Well
Gabriel
2025
All the Lost Ones
Dawn
2025
Christmas in Rockwell
Juniper
2022
Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 3
Hologram Alien Scout
2022
The Middle Man
Mrs. Stout
2021
Stroke of Fate
Shirley
2021
An Assortment of Christmas Tales in No Particular Order
Ellen
2019
Isabelle
Ann Pelway
2019
Still/Born
Sheila
2018
Cardinals
Valerie Walker
2017
Milton's Secret
Luz
2016
Brace for Impact
Faradee Gilchrist
2016
A Fighting Man
Rose O'Connor
2014
Algonquin
Rita
2014
Dear Viola
Peggy
2014
Antiviral
Dev Harvey
2012
Cow Belles
Fran Walker
2006
Geraldine's Fortune
Tina Larose
2004
Being Julia
Grace Dexter
2004
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Mrs. Gerard
2004
Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche
Polly Vandersma (archive footage)
2004
The Rats
Miss Paige
2002
Lathe of Heaven
Penny
2002
I Was a Rat
Mrs. Tapscrew
2001
Haven
Eva
2001
Custody of the Heart
Alice
2000
You Know My Name
Mrs. Lynn
1999
Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My Homework
Jesse's Mom
1997
House Arrest
Gwenna Krupp
1996
The Awakening
Nancy
1995
The Possession of Michael D.
Jenny
1995
The Biggest Little Ticket
The Troll
1994
The Lotus Eaters
Diana Kingswood
1993
Journey to the Planets
Oracle (voice)
1993
Beethoven Lives Upstairs
Sophie
1992
A Private Matter
Diane Callaghan
1992
Stepping Out
Andy
1991
Paradise
Sally Pike
1991
The Soulmates in the Gift of Light
(voice)
1991
Bright Angel
Nina
1990
Pacific Heights
Liz Hamilton
1990
White Room
Zelda
1990
Die Hard 2
Samantha 'Sam' Coleman
1990
Friends, Lovers, & Lunatics
Kathy
1989
George's Island
Miss Birdwood
1989
I've Heard the Mermaids Singing
Polly Vandersma
1987
Love Is the Monster
The Voices of Our Mother
Harriet
Dancing on the Elephant
Nora
Beautiful Dreamers
Molly Jessop
1990
The Marriage Bed
Lynn Reailly
1986
Surfacing
Dawn
Women Talking
Greta
2022
Like a House on Fire
Katherine
2021
Happy Place
Joyce
2020
The Broken Hearts Gallery
Cheryl Gulliver
2020
Anything for Jackson
Audrey Walsh
2020
Nurses
Phillis Bruner · (1 episode)
2020
The Christmas Club
Miss Maggie
2019
Christmas 9 to 5
Rose Stark
2019
The Umbrella Academy
Agnes · (11 episodes)
2019
The Detail
Helen Mailer · (3 episodes)
2018
Level 16
Mrs. Denison
2018
Considering Love and Other Magic
Veronica
2017
The Good Doctor
Rose Babcock · (1 episode)
2017
Star Trek: Discovery
All-Mother · (1 episode)
2017
Conviction
Dr. Jane Soto · (1 episode)
2016
Private Eyes
Shirl Glinski · (1 episode)
2016
Ice Girls
Aunt Ginger
2016
Whatever, Linda
Sheila Hardy · (10 episodes)
2015
Orphan Black
Connie Hendrix · (1 episode)
2013
Orphan Black
Connie Hendrix (voice) · (1 episode)
2013
Saving Hope
Violet Devonshire · (1 episode)
2012
Rookie Blue
Leigh Senett · (1 episode)
2010
Year of the Carnivore
Mrs. Smalls
2009
Breakfast with Scot
Miss Patterson (uncredited)
2007
The Stone Angel
Doris
2007
Little Mosque on the Prairie
Sarah Hamoudi · (90 episodes)
2007
Bailey's Billion$
Peggy Delaney
2005
The Day After Tomorrow
Judith
2004
This Is Wonderland
(1 episode)
2004
Full-Court Miracle
Mrs. Klein
2003
Puppets Who Kill
(1 episode)
2002
Duct Tape Forever
Easterbrook (uncredited)
2002
Rare Birds
Claire
2001
Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse
Elizabeth the Emotional Pig (voice) · (26 episodes)
2000
Virtual Mom
Holly
2000
Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke
Tammy · (4 episodes)
1999
Dead Husbands
Jane Armitage
1998
Bad Dog
(80 episodes)
1998
More Tales of the City
Mildred · (1 episode)
1998
Emily of New Moon
Laura Murray · (46 episodes)
1998
The Care and Handling of Roses
Carol Doster
1996
A Woman of Independent Means
Totsie · (3 episodes)
1995
Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills
Jill Lansing
1994
Liza Minnelli - Live from Radio City Music Hall
Self
1992
Montreal Stories
Ann Stuart
1991
Back to the Beanstalk
Garbanza
1990
Much Ado About Nothing
Margaret
1988
Really Weird Tales
Ellie Hutchins (segment "Cursed With Charisma")
1986
9B
Heather
1986
Four on the Floor
(13 episodes)
1986
Love and Larceny
Mary Bigley
1985
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Debra (Sarah) Hollister · (1 episode)
1985
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Francine · (1 episode)
1985