Miriam McDonald

Miriam McDonald
Born
Miriam Katherine McDonald

(1987-07-26) July 26, 1987 (age 37)
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActress
Years active1998–present

Miriam Katherine McDonald (born July 26, 1987[1]) is a Canadian actress best known for playing the lead role Emma Nelson on the Canadian television series Degrassi: The Next Generation.[2][3][4]

Career

McDonald focused on acting, playing a role in the series, System Crash, in 1999. McDonald found a job as a voiceover actress, after she was cast in 2001 in John Kricfalusi's series The Ripping Friends.[5] She has done a total of 39 characters.

In 2001, she was cast as Emma Nelson, daughter of Christine 'Spike' Nelson, in the CTV/The N drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, a spin-off of the successful Degrassi series.[6] She starred in the first nine series and three Degrassi television films. In 2016, she reprised the role for an episode in Degrassi: Next Class.[7]

In 2004, she played Dawn Gensler in the Lifetime made-for-television movie She's Too Young.[8] She also had a guest role on the Family Channel show Naturally, Sadie as Heidi.

In 2008, she played Danielle "Daisy" Brooks in the made-for-TV erotic-thriller movie, Poison Ivy: The Secret Society.[9]

In 2013, she played two roles in Lost Girl and also made an appearance in Orphan Black.[2]

In 2018, McDonald appeared in Drake's music video for "I'm Upset", which took place during a Degrassi reunion.[10]

Personal life

McDonald is also a dancer and yoga instructor, and has worked as a real estate agent.[11]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 System Crash TV series
2001–2002 Pecola Chewy Main voice role; English version
2001–2010 Degrassi: The Next Generation Emma Nelson Main role (seasons 1–9), 138 episodes
2002 The Ripping Friends Voice role; Episode: "The Infernal Wedding"
2004 She's Too Young Dawn Gensler Television film
Blue Murder Lucy Wentworth Episode: "Boarders"
2007 Naturally, Sadie Heidi Episode: "As Bad as It Gets"
Devil's Diary Heather Television film
2008 Sea Beast Carly McKenna Television film
Poison Ivy: The Secret Society Danielle "Daisy" Brooks Television film
Degrassi Spring Break Movie Emma Nelson Television film
2009 Degrassi Goes Hollywood Television film
2010 Degrassi Takes Manhattan Television film
2012 XIII: The Series Sasha Episode: "Gauntlet"
2013 Lost Girl Hot Fae / Anita Episodes: "Faes Wide Shut", "Adventures in Fae-bysitting"
Orphan Black Madison Episode: "Conditions of Existence"
2016 Degrassi: Next Class Emma Nelson Episode: "#ThrowBackThursday"
2018 A Veteran's Christmas Marnie Radcliffe Television film
2020 Letters to Satan Claus Mayor Danica Bells Television film

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Karma Samantha Direct-to-video film
2007 The Poet Willa AKA Hearts of War
2014 Wolves Haley
2021 The Love Prank Sabrina Short film

Music videos

Year Title Artist Notes
2018 I'm Upset Drake

Web series

Year Title Artist Notes
2005–2008 Degrassi: Minis Emma Nelson 17 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Notes Ref.
2002 Young Artist Awards Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) Degrassi: The Next Generation Won [12]
2003 Nominated [13]
2005 Outstanding Young Performers in a TV Series Nominated [14]
Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special – Supporting Young Actress She's Too Young Nominated [14]
2006 Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) Degrassi: The Next Generation Nominated [15]

References

  1. ^ McDonald, Miriam (May 30, 2005). "Miriam McDonald Exclusive Interview". Now the whole Degrassi empire if I can call it that, has been around for 25 years, but because I was born in '87, I missed a lot of those years
  2. ^ a b Reilly, Kaitlin (June 19, 2015). "Where Is Emma From 'Degrassi' Today? Miriam McDonald Is Not A Rapper". Bustle. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  3. ^ "Degrassi: Where Are They Now?". E!. Archived from the original on January 21, 2014. Nelson was the reboot's female lead as she was the child of the original series' fan favorite, Spike
  4. ^ "Celebrities: Miriam McDonald". TV Guide.
  5. ^ Miriam McDonald at www.behindthevoiceactors.com
  6. ^ Bricker, Tierney (June 15, 2018). "Could Drake's Video Reunion Lead to an Actual Degrassi Revival?". E! Online. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ Fuentes, Tamara (June 15, 2018). "This Is What the "Degrassi: The Next Generation" Cast Looks Like Now". Seventeen. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ^ Zupkus, Lauren (March 21, 2019). "Lifetime's She's Too Young Was a Sex Ed Cult Classic That Deserves More Respect". TVGuide.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  9. ^ "Blu-ray Review: The POISON IVY Collection – Tainted Love Indeed" by Michele "Izzy" Galgana at screenanarchy.com
  10. ^ "Drake reunites with 'Degrassi' cast in 'I'm Upset' music video" by Star staff at www.thestar.com
  11. ^ Waters, Laura (March 31, 2022). "Where The Cast of Degrassi: The Next Generation Is Now". www.suggest.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  12. ^ "Young Artist Awards (2002)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  13. ^ "Young Artist Awards (2003)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Young Artist Awards (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  15. ^ "Young Artist Awards (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.