# Miriam McDonald

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

## 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. 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. 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.
In 2004, she played Dawn Gensler in the Lifetime made-for-television movie She's Too Young. 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.
In 2013, she played two roles in Lost Girl and also made an appearance in Orphan Black.
In 2018, McDonald appeared in Drake's music video for "I'm Upset", which took place during a Degrassi reunion.

## Personal life

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

## 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 |
| 2004 | Blue Murder | Lucy Wentworth | Episode: "Boarders" |
| 2007 | Naturally, Sadie | Heidi | Episode: "As Bad as It Gets" |
| 2007 | Devil's Diary | Heather | Television film |
| 2008 | Sea Beast | Carly McKenna | Television film |
| 2008 | Poison Ivy: The Secret Society | Danielle "Daisy" Brooks | Television film |
| 2008 | Degrassi Spring Break Movie | Emma Nelson | Television film |
| 2009 | Degrassi Goes Hollywood | Emma Nelson | Television film |
| 2010 | Degrassi Takes Manhattan | Emma Nelson | Television film |
| 2012 | XIII: The Series | Sasha | Episode: "Gauntlet" |
| 2013 | Lost Girl | Hot Fae / Anita | Episodes: "Faes Wide Shut", "Adventures in Fae-bysitting" |
| 2013 | 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 |
| 2002 | Young Artist Awards | Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Won |
| 2003 | Young Artist Awards | Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2005 | Young Artist Awards | Outstanding Young Performers in a TV Series | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |
| 2005 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special – Supporting Young Actress | She's Too Young | Nominated |
| 2006 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Nominated |