Famous Canadian Actresses

Best known for her comedic and romantic film roles, Canadian actress Rachel McAdams is a very popular figure in Hollywood. Rising to fame in the 2000s, she has worked in many critically acclaimed movies. A socially responsible person, she believes in leading a lifestyle that is eco-friendly and sustainable. She is actively involved with several charities.

Nina Dobrev is one of the most popular Canadian actresses. Apart from her acting career, she is also known for her activism and charity work. She uses her fame to support several charitable causes, such as Puma’s Project Pink. Also an enthusiastic volunteer, Dobrev takes part in social movements like WE movement, Me to We, and We Day.

Cobie Smulders is one of the most recognized celebrities across the world, thanks to her role as Robin Scherbatsky in one of the most popular TV series of all time - How I Met Your Mother. She also serves as an inspiration to people suffering from cancer as she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was 25 years old.

Primetime Emmy-winning Canadian-American actor and comedian Catherine O'Hara soared to fame with the sketch-comedy show SCTV. She is known for her frequent appearances in the films of Tim Burton and Christopher Guest. She is the sister of singer Mary Margaret O'Hara and is herself a fairly decent singer.

A Canadian-American actress of Asian descent, Sandra Oh became the first Asian actress to win two Golden Globe awards and the first Asian woman to host the award ceremony. She is also the third actress of Asian origin to host the TV show, Saturday Night Live. In 2019, she was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list.

Evangeline Lilly is a Canadian actress who has played prominent roles in films like Ant-Man and the Wasp. Also a well-known humanitarian, Lilly has made numerous trips to Rwanda, where she has touched the lives of many, as part of her charity work. She has also worked with nonprofit organizations like GO Campaign and supports Task Brasil and Sierra Club.

Shay Mitchell is a Canadian actress, entrepreneur, model, and author. She came into prominence after portraying Emily Fields in the teen drama TV series Pretty Little Liars. Also a philanthropist, Mitchell was an ardent supporter of the Somaly Mam Foundation until the non-profit organization ended its operations in 2014. She also works closely with organizations, such as The Trevor Project.

Anna Paquin is a New Zealand-Canadian actress. She started her career as a child actress and became the second-youngest winner in the history of the Academy Awards when she won an Oscar at the age of 11 under the Best Supporting Actress category for her performance as Flora McGrath in Jane Campion's 1993 period drama film The Piano.

Canadian actor Katheryn Winnick is best known for her multiple award-nominated performance as Lagertha in Vikings. Fans also loved her as Hannah Burley in Bones and as Christine "C.G." Gavin in Wu Assassins. She has guest-starred in numerous projects and has also appeared in many short films.

Neve Campbell impressed fans with her performance as Sidney in the Scream franchise. She is also known for her roles in the series Party of Five and House of Cards and the film Wild Things. A trained ballerina, Neve is mostly seen in films of the thriller or horror genre.

Emily VanCamp is a Canadian actress best known for playing Sharon Carter / Agent 13 in superhero films like Captain America. Trained in tap dance, ballet, jazz, and hip-hop, VanCamp believes that she would have continued dancing had she not gone into acting. She also credits her training in dance with helping her through her action sequences in films.

Popular as Samantha Jones from the hit series Sex and the City, Golden Globe-winning actor Kim Cattrall found it difficult to recreate the same magic on screen, barring her performance in the 2014 comedy Sensitive Skin. Her comeback with the Fox series Filthy Rich in 2020 was commendable.

Kristin Kreuk is one of the most popular actresses from Canada. After establishing herself as a successful actress in both American and Canadian entertainment industries, Kristin Kreuk was made the spokesmodel for Neutrogena's new worldwide advertising campaign.

Jennifer Tilly is an American actress whose performance as Tiffany Valentine in the popular horror slasher film series, Child's Play, established her as an icon within the horror film community. Also a popular poker player, Jennifer Tilly became the first celebrity to triumph in a World Series when she won the World Series of Poker bracelet.

Stana Katic is a Canadian-American actress known for playing Kate Beckett on the crime-comedy-drama TV series Castle. Apart from acting in films and TV series, Katic also works toward protecting the environment; in 2010, she established the Alternative Travel Project, which encourages people to abandon personal vehicles for a day to reduce the impact of personal vehicles on the environment.

Margot Kidder is best remembered for her roles as Lois Lane in the Superman movie franchise and as Kathy Lutz in The Amityville Horror. Fans also loved her in the hit Broadway play The Vagina Monologues. She was a vocal anti-war and pro-environment activist. She eventually died by suicide.

Emmanuelle Chriqui is a Canadian model and actress. She is known for portraying important roles in films like You Don't Mess with the Zohan. Also known for her good looks, Emmanuelle Chriqui was voted the Most Desirable Women of 2010 in a poll conducted by a free online men's web portal called AskMen.

Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany began her career as a child star and continued acting throughout high school. By the time she turned 20, she already had a decade of acting experience and found it easy to bag good roles in major TV shows. She also acts in films but is more popular as a TV actress.

A.J. Cook is a Canadian actress best known for playing Jennifer Jareau in the popular crime drama TV series, Criminal Minds. A multi-talented personality, Cook is also a tap dancer. Also known for her good looks, Cook became a spokeswoman for the popular skin-care brand, Proactiv, in 2013 and was named in the Maxim Hot 100 list in 2014.

Canadian-American actress, dancer, and singer, Yvonne De Carlo, was an internationally known Hollywood film star in the 1940s and 1950s. Born to an ambitious mother, she was groomed for a career in the show business from her childhood. She began her career as a dancer and eventually started acting. She had an extensive career spanning over five decades.

Emily Hampshire is one of the most popular actresses from Canada. During Telefilm Canada's maiden Tribute To Canadian Talent event in 2012, Emily was honored with the first Birks Canadian Diamond award. Identifying herself as pansexual, Emily Hampshire got engaged to transwoman Teddy Geiger, only to end their engagement after seven months. In 2014, she became a naturalized US citizen.

Actress and model, Pamela Anderson, is known as a sex symbol. She featured regularly in the Playboy magazine and acted in television series Home Improvement, Baywatch and VIP. Baywatch was hugely popular and gave her international recognition. Pamela Anderson has also acted in several films. She is an active member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the animal rights organisation.

Canadian actor Italia Ricci is best known for her Golden Maple Award-nominated performance as April Carver in the series Chasing Life. Fans also loved her as Emily Rhodes in the political drama Designated Survivor and as Maggie Winnock in Unnatural History. She has also appeared in many Hallmark TV movies.

Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan initially worked at a restaurant to support her education and then stepped into open mic and comedy nights. She has performed across Canada and the UK and even at the LA-based Comedy Store. Now an actor, too, she is also a 2-time skin cancer survivor.

Mackenzie Davis is a Canadian actress who made headlines after being cast in the popular science-fiction film Terminator: Dark Fate. In the film, she played a super soldier from the future. Mackenzie Davis serves as an inspiration to many young aspiring actors and actresses from Canada.

Academy Award-winning Canadian-American actor Gladys Marie Smith, better known by her pseudonym, Mary Pickford, was also one of the co-founders of Pickford–Fairbanks Studios and United Artists. She and 35 others co-founded the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She was also known as "America's Sweetheart" of silent films.

Molly Parker is a Canadian actress, director, and writer. A trained ballerina, Parker started acting at the age of 14 and garnered attention for playing a necrophiliac medical student in the 1996 erotic thriller film Kissed. Over the course of her career, Molly Parker has won several prestigious awards, such as Genie Awards and Leo Award.

Tricia Helfer is a Canadian actress and model. She gained international fame after portraying the enigmatic Cylon model Number Six in the Battlestar Galactica TV series. She began her career as a model and won the Ford Models' Supermodel of the World contest in 1992. Later on, she quit modeling to pursue a full-time acting career. 

Amy Jo Johnson is an American-Canadian filmmaker, actress, singer, and songwriter. Over the years, Johnson has been honored at several important film festivals including Long Island Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. A multi-talented personality, Amy Jo Johnson has also directed a couple of films like Tammy's Always Dying and The Space Between.

Dorothy Stratten was a Canadian model, actress, and Playboy Playmate. Renowned for her beauty, Stratten was adjudged the Playboy Playmate of the Year in 1980 before she was killed by her estranged husband Paul Snider at the age of 20. Her relationship with Snider and her death inspired films, such as Death of a Centerfold and Star 80.

Hilary Farr is a British-Canadian businesswoman, television host, designer, and former actress. Over the years, she has played an important role as a designer, renovating homes for celebrities like Jennifer Hudson and Jenna Elfman. In 2017, Hilary Farr co-founded a real estate investment seminar program called Rules of Renovation, which helps aspiring investors across North America.

Canadian actress Jessica Parker Kennedy is best known for playing Melissa Glaser in the CW series The Secret Circle. She began her acting career when she was in her late teens and played a few minor roles in TV shows during her initial years as an actress. She gained widespread popularity following her role in The Secret Circle.