| Birth name | Miriam Katherine McDonald |
|---|---|
| Birth date | July 26, 1987 (age 39) |
| Birth place | 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] 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
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Poet | Willa | AKA Hearts of War |
| 2014 | Wolves | Haley | |
| 2021 | The Love Prank | Sabrina | Short film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | System Crash | TV series | |
| 2001–2002 | Pecola | Chewy | Main voice role; English version |
| 2001–2009 | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Emma Nelson | Main role (seasons 1–9), 138 episodes |
| 2004 | 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 |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | [15] | ||
| 2003 | [16] | |||||
| 2005 | Outstanding Young Performers in a TV Series | [17] | ||||
| Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special – Supporting Young Actress | She's Too Young | [17] | ||||
| 2006 | Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | Degrassi: The Next Generation | [18] |
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
- ^ Reilly, Kaitlin (2015-06-19). "Where Is Emma From 'Degrassi' Today? Miriam McDonald Is Not A Rapper". Bustle. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ "Degrassi: Where Are They Now?". E!. Archived January 21, 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
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 (2018-06-15). "Could Drake's Video Reunion Lead to an Actual Degrassi Revival?". E! Online. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ Fuentes, Tamara (2018-06-15). "This Is What the "Degrassi: The Next Generation" Cast Looks Like Now". Seventeen. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ Zupkus, Lauren (21 March 2019). "Lifetime's She's Too Young Was a Sex Ed Cult Classic That Deserves More Respect". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ "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 March 28, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
- ^ 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 14 September 2025.
- ^ "Young Artist Awards (2002)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ "Young Artist Awards (2003)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ "Young Artist Awards (2005)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ "Young Artist Awards (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
External links
- Miriam McDonald at IMDb