By Toglenn – Wikimedia

Top 10 Famous Canadian actresses


 

Any performance on stage takes a lot of courage and confidence. Acting in itself is rewarding and fun at the same time.

Getting to Hollywood may not be easy but those that have gotten there, have proven how great a talent they are.

It takes a lot of commitment and discipline to spend time doing auditions, rehearsals, and being on set. Remembering lines and embodying a character is no easy task.

And for that reason, we are going to look at some of the most famous actresses from Canada. They have graced our screens and entertained us for years.

Let’s now look at the top 10 famous Canadian actresses.

1. Anna Paquin

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Anna Paquin was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, they moved to Wellington, New Zealand, where she grew up.

Later, she and her mother moved to Los Angeles. Anna went to Columbia University in New York but left shortly after to pursue acting.

She started as a child actor while they were still in New Zealand. Anna was the main act in the movie Piano directed by Jane Champion.

At 11 years old, Anna won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She was the 2nd youngest person to win that award.

The most popular films and television series are Jane Eyre, True Blood and X-Men.

2. Rachel McAdams

Rachel is famously known for her roles in romantic and comedy-based films. She rose to fame in the early 2000s and has been part of great and popular films.

Her first break was in 2002 when she appeared in the movie Hot Chick. In 2004, she got a role in Mean Girls and the Note Book.

She was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Rising Star. Rachel took a short break from acting and was back in 2009 where she got roles in the movie State of Play and time Traveller’s Wife.

Other films that Rachel has had leading roles in include Doctor Strange (2016), Disobedience (2017), Game Night (2018), and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020).

3. Sandra Oh

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Sandra was born in Nepean, Ontario. She is famously known for her role in Grey’s Anatomy as Dr Christina Yang.

This role got her five Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, two Screen Actors Guild awards, as well as a Golden Globe.

Her first role on the silver screen however was in 1994 in the movie Double Happiness. That same year, she also got a role in The Diary of Evelyn Lau.

Sandra has also done voice roles in animated series like American Dad, The Proud Family, the Princesses of Power and Jake Long.

She became the first Asian woman to host 76th Golden Globe Awards in 2019.

4. Cobie Smulders

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Cobie Smulders is well known for her role in the comedy series, How I Met Your Mother.

She grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia and was an active member of the Girl Guides of Canada. One episode even paid tribute to her Canadian roots.

Before pursuing acting, Cobie was a model. She did not model for long but used the experience in her acting career.   

5. Catherine O’Hara

Catherine Anne O’Hara is another amazing Canadian-American actress. She wears several hats and has had such a successful career as a comedian, writer, and singer.

Her career started in 1974 when she joined the Second City improvisational comedy troupe in Toronto. The first television role she got was in a sitcom Coming Up Rosie that ran from 1975 to 1978.

Catherine has also received several awards such as the Genie Award, Golden Globe Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and five Canadian Screen Awards.

In 2018, Catherine was selected as an Officer of the Order of Canada.

6. Pamela Anderson

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Pamela is a Canadian-American from British Columbia. She has been on Baywatch and V.I.P. She was also featured repeatedly as a Playmate of the month For Playboy magazine.

The Nanny and Home Improvement are some of the sitcoms that Pamela acted in the early 90s. Her role as Lisa in the award-winning show Home Improvement catapulted her to fame.

Other films that Pamela has appeared in include Raw Justice (1994), Barb Wire (1996), Superhero Movie (2008), Blonde and Blonder (2008), Dancing on Ice (2013), and Danse Avec Les stars (2018).

Pamela was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2006.   She is a prominent activist for the animal rights movement.

7. Tamara Taylor

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Tamara Taylor was born and raised in Toronto. She has appeared in several shows such as Dawson’s Creek, Party of Five, NCIS, CSI: Miami and Numbers.

Her other roles have been in the medical drama 3lbs and Sex, Love and Secrets. These two shows were discontinued.

Tamara’s role in Bones as Dr Camille Saroyan saw her go from being a guest star to one of the leading stars. Fans loved her character so much so the writers had to rewrite her script.

8. Evangeline Lilly

Evangeline had a leading role in the ABC series Lost. Her other famous film was the Hobbit, Ant-Man and the Wasp and Avengers: Endgame.

Before going to Hollywood, Evangeline grew up in Saskatchewan in Alberta.  

She got nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in Lost.

Other than acting, Evangeline is also an author of children’s books. 

9.  Neve Campbell

Neve started her acting career as a kid star. She was featured in several Canadian kids shows such as Are You Afraid of The Dark? And Party of Five.

These roles earned her a Golden Globe for the Best Drama in 1996. She has also been featured in the political drama series House of Cards.

10. Shay Mitchell

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Shay Mitchell is not only a Canadian actress but also an entrepreneur, model, and author. Her debut in the film world was from her role in Pretty Little Liars.

She has featured in a comedy film. Mother’s Day, musical drama Dreamland, and a thriller Hanna Grace.

Shay is a philanthropist who gives her time and money to organizations such as WE Charity, NOH8 Campaign and Somaly Man Foundation.