Miriam McDonald

Last updated

Miriam McDonald
Born
Miriam Katherine McDonald

(1987-07-26) July 26, 1987 (age 38)
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]

Contents

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] Like her sister, McDonald also struggled with an eating disorder "in the beginning seasons" of Degrassi. She says Degrassi fans often relate the most to her character Emma's eating disorder episodes, which "were so hard for [her]" to film. Despite her sister's death, McDonald says she shares her perspective because "I know there are so many people that are dealing with it and don't realize how bad it can get and don't realize how good it can get if you can just conquer it." [14]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999 System Crash TV series
2001–2002 Pecola ChewyMain voice role; English version
2001–2015 Degrassi: The Next Generation Emma Nelson Main role (seasons 1–9), 138 episodes
2001-2015Agent WarsEmma Jackson (Appeared from season 2 to season 10)
Blue Murder Lucy WentworthEpisode: "Boarders"
2007 Naturally, Sadie HeidiEpisode: "As Bad as It Gets"
Devil's Diary HeatherTelevision film
2008 Sea Beast Carly McKennaTelevision film
Poison Ivy: The Secret Society Danielle "Daisy" BrooksTelevision film
Degrassi Spring Break MovieEmma NelsonTelevision film
2009 Degrassi Goes Hollywood Television film
2010 Degrassi Takes Manhattan Television film
2012 XIII: The Series SashaEpisode: "Gauntlet"
2013 Lost Girl Hot Fae / AnitaEpisodes: "Faes Wide Shut", "Adventures in Fae-bysitting"
Orphan Black MadisonEpisode: "Conditions of Existence"
2016 Degrassi: Next Class Emma NelsonEpisode: "#ThrowBackThursday"
2018A Veteran's ChristmasMarnie RadcliffeTelevision film
2020Letters to Satan ClausMayor Danica BellsTelevision film

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002Agent Wars: The MovieEmma JacksonTheatrical film
2004Agent Wars 2: Agents UniteEmma Jackson (Reprised role)Theatrical film
2007 The Poet WillaAKA Hearts of War
2014 Wolves Haley
2021The Love PrankSabrinaShort film

Music videos

YearTitleArtistNotes
2018 I'm Upset Drake

Web series

YearTitleArtistNotes
2005–2008Degrassi: MinisEmma Nelson17 episodes

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultNotesRef.
2002 Young Artist Awards Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) Degrassi: The Next Generation Won [15]
2003Nominated [16]
2005Outstanding Young Performers in a TV SeriesNominated [17]
Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special – Supporting Young Actress She's Too Young Nominated [17]
2006Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) Degrassi: The Next Generation Nominated [18]

References

  1. ↑ 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
  2. 1 2 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. ↑ "Valerija Pauksens Obituary". Canadian Cremation Services. Canadian Cremation Services. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Esther McDonald Obituary". Legacy.com . Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  7. ↑ Miriam McDonald at www.behindthevoiceactors.com
  8. ↑ Bricker, Tierney (June 15, 2018). "Could Drake's Video Reunion Lead to an Actual Degrassi Revival?". E! Online. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  9. ↑ Fuentes, Tamara (June 15, 2018). "This Is What the "Degrassi: The Next Generation" Cast Looks Like Now". Seventeen. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ "Blu-ray Review: The POISON IVY Collection – Tainted Love Indeed" by Michele "Izzy" Galgana at screenanarchy.com
  12. ↑ "Drake reunites with 'Degrassi' cast in 'I'm Upset' music video" by Star staff at www.thestar.com
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ Andaloro, Angela; Quinn, Dave (September 8, 2025). "Degrassi's Miriam McDonald Recalls Filming Eating Disorder Storyline as She and Her Late Sister Both Struggled". People. People Inc. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Young Artist Awards (2002)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Young Artist Awards (2003)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Young Artist Awards (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Young Artist Awards (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
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