Miriam McDonald
Miriam McDonald | |
|---|---|
| Born | Miriam Katherine McDonald July 26, 1987 Oakville, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1998–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]
Early life
McDonald was born in Oakville, Ontario to Silvia (née Pauksens), who is of Latvian descent and John McDonald.[5] She had an older sister Esther, who died from an eating disorder in 2013.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8] 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. She was also cast as Emma Jackson in the successful CTV show, Agent Wars, alongside Christopher .J. Alexander, Who played the main character, Christian. [9]
In 2004, she played Dawn Gensler in the Lifetime made-for-television movie She's Too Young.[10] 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.[11]
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.[12]
Personal life
McDonald is also a dancer and yoga instructor, and has worked as a real estate agent.[13]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | System Crash | TV series | |
| 2001–2002 | Pecola | Chewy | Main voice role; English version |
| 2001–2015 | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Emma Nelson | Main role (seasons 1–9), 138 episodes |
| 2001-2015 | Agent Wars | Emma Jackson (Appeared from season 2 to season 10) | |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Agent Wars: The Movie | Emma Jackson | Theatrical film |
| 2004 | Agent Wars 2: Agents Unite | Emma Jackson (Reprised role) | Theatrical 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 | [14] | |
| 2003 | Nominated | [15] | ||||
| 2005 | Outstanding Young Performers in a TV Series | Nominated | [16] | |||
| Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special – Supporting Young Actress | She's Too Young | Nominated | [16] | |||
| 2006 | Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated | [17] |
References
- ^ McDonald, Miriam (May 30, 2005). "Miriam McDonald Exclusive Interview". Archived from the original on January 6, 2011.
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
- ^ a b Reilly, Kaitlin (June 19, 2015). "Where Is Emma From 'Degrassi' Today? Miriam McDonald Is Not A Rapper". Bustle. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "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
- ^ "Celebrities: Miriam McDonald". TV Guide.
- ^ "Valerija Pauksens Obituary". Canadian Cremation Services. Canadian Cremation Services. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
- ^ "Esther McDonald Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
- ^ Miriam McDonald at www.behindthevoiceactors.com
- ^ Bricker, Tierney (June 15, 2018). "Could Drake's Video Reunion Lead to an Actual Degrassi Revival?". E! Online. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Fuentes, Tamara (June 15, 2018). "This Is What the "Degrassi: The Next Generation" Cast Looks Like Now". Seventeen. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Blu-ray Review: The POISON IVY Collection – Tainted Love Indeed" by Michele "Izzy" Galgana at screenanarchy.com
- ^ "Drake reunites with 'Degrassi' cast in 'I'm Upset' music video" by Star staff at www.thestar.com
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Young Artist Awards (2002)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "Young Artist Awards (2003)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ a b "Young Artist Awards (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "Young Artist Awards (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.