Megan Elizabeth Laura Diana Follows, born on March 14, 1968, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a Canadian-American actress and director renowned for her captivating performances in both television and theater.
She hails from a prominent showbiz family, with her father, Ted Follows, a celebrated Canadian theater actor and director, and her mother, Dawn Greenhalgh, an accomplished actress.
Growing up in a household where the arts were a way of life, Megan began acting as a toddler, sharing the stage with her parents and siblings.
After her parents’ divorce when she was 11, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue schooling and acting, eventually becoming a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.
Siblings
Megan is the youngest of four siblings, all of whom have carved their own paths in the entertainment industry, reflecting the family’s deep-rooted passion for the arts.
Her eldest sister, Edwina Follows, is a writer and producer, contributing behind-the-scenes talent to the creative world.
Her brother, Laurence Follows, is a producer whose work supports the production side of show business.
Samantha Follows, Megan’s other sister, is an actress like Megan, known for her own performances and married to American actor Sean O’Bryan.
The Follows siblings grew up in a lively, theatrical household, often collaborating on projects—such as a two-part episode of The Littlest Hobo in the early 1980s and a production of Noël Coward’s Hay Fever directed by their father, Ted.
Career
Megan’s career took off at age nine with a Bell Canada commercial, where her impish charm shone through despite an unexpected twist—she made an adult gesture instead of the scripted tongue-stick-out.
She quickly found steady work in Canada, appearing in series like Matt and Jenny and The Baxters.
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Her breakthrough came in 1985 with the iconic role of Anne Shirley in CBC’s Anne of Green Gables, a miniseries that became Canada’s highest-rated drama, beating out 3,000 other girls for the part.
She reprised the role in Anne of Avonlea (1987) and Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000), cementing her status as a cultural icon.
Her versatility shone in films like Silver Bullet (1985) with Corey Haim and The Nutcracker Prince (1990) as Clara’s voice, alongside TV roles in The Outer Limits (1995) and Murder, She Wrote (1995).
From 2013 to 2017, she portrayed the formidable Catherine de’ Medici in The CW’s Reign, earning acclaim for her depiction of the cunning queen.
Megan’s theater credits are equally impressive, including Romeo and Juliet at the Stratford Festival (1992–1993) and multiple Soulpepper Theatre productions like Fool for Love (2005) and Top Girls (2007).
She has also stepped into directing, helming episodes of Reign and the 2024 film She Came Back, starring Amybeth McNulty.
Accolades
Follows won the Gemini Award for Best Actress in 1986 for Anne of Green Gables and again in 1988 for Anne of Avonlea, with a nomination in 2000 for The Continuing Story.
Her role in Reign earned three consecutive Canadian Screen Award nominations for Best Actress (2015–2017), reflecting her commanding presence.
She received a Genie Award nomination for her raw performance in Termini Station (1989) opposite Colleen Dewhurst. Critics have consistently praised her, with Variety noting her “extraordinary intelligence” in Lucy.
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