Annie Murphy
Murphy in 2017
Born
Anne Frances Murphy

(1986-12-19) December 19, 1986 (age 37)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Occupation
  • Actress
Years active2007–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2011)​

Anne Frances Murphy (born December 19, 1986) is a Canadian actress. She rose to universal stardom for her starring role as Alexis Rose in the sitcom Schitt's Creek (2015–2020), for which she garnered worldwide acclaim and won a Primetime Emmy Award and a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. She has since starred in the dark comedy series Kevin Can F**k Himself (2021–2022), the second season of the comedy-drama series Russian Doll (2022), and the episode "Joan Is Awful" of the anthology series Black Mirror (2023), and also voiced Chelsea the mermaid in the DreamWorks Animation film Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023).

Early life

Murphy was born in Ottawa, Ontario,[1][2] on December 19, 1986.[3] Both her parents were teachers.[2] She attended high school at Elmwood School in Ottawa, where she performed in stage productions.[4]

Murphy enrolled at Queen's University for one year before transferring and receiving a degree in theatre performance at Concordia University.[2] She then trained at the Canadian Film Centre Actors' Conservatory.[4]

She moved to Los Angeles at age 22 to pursue an acting career.[5]

Career

Murphy in February 2015

Murphy made her acting debut in the crime-thriller television film Lethal Obsession (2007). She continued to perform small and extra roles in various other Canadian films, such as Story of Jen (2008),[6] Lick (2010),[7] and A Windigo Tale (2010).[8] She also appeared in several Canadian television series, including Good God (2012) and Rookie Blue (2012).[9] She has said that, during this time, she was a "struggling actress" who "was begging to go in for comedies" but her resume had only drama.[8]

She also appeared in numerous American television series, including The Beautiful Life: TBL (2009), Blue Mountain State (2010), Against the Wall (2011), and Beauty & the Beast (2012).[9][10]

Murphy was considering quitting acting as a career path[11] when, in 2013, she auditioned for and got the role of Alexis Rose on the CBC sitcom Schitt's Creek.[5] She recalled in 2020, "My house had just burnt down, I had like, $3 in my bank account, I hadn't worked in close to two years. And I had just blown my very first screen test—like blown it, blown it, blown it… I found myself crying in the Pacific Ocean, a very snotty cry, and the universe was like, 'Don't do this anymore. This is not for you!' But then, two days later, I got the audition for Schitt's Creek."[12] She played the character for the series' entire run of six seasons, from January 2015 until April 2020.[13][14][15][16]

After six years in Montreal, Murphy moved to Toronto, where she co-created and starred in The Plateaus, a 2015 web series about four insufferable musicians.[2][17] Her performance in the show earned her a nomination at the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards for Best Performance in a Program or Series Produced for Digital Media.[18] At the same ceremony, Murphy was nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in Schitt's Creek.[18] She earned the same nomination for this performance in 2018,[19] 2019,[20] and 2020.[21] It also brought her nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 2019 Critics' Choice Television Awards,[22] Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards,[23] and Best Actress in a Breakthrough Role at the 2019 Gracie Awards, the latter of which she won.[24] In September 2020, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in the final season of Schitt's Creek.[25]

In February 2020, she was cast as the lead in AMC's television dark comedy series Kevin Can F**k Himself.[26] Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, production of the show was delayed by several months, but resumed in September 2020.[27][28]

In 2020, Murphy appeared in a holiday advertising campaign for Hudson's Bay department stores opposite her Schitt's Creek co-star Catherine O'Hara.[29] She also appeared in a series of ads for meal-kit company HelloFresh, including in a soap-opera style web series titled Hungry Hearts.[30] In January 2021, she appeared in a commercial for Nintendo Switch, appearing in one scene opposite her real-life mother. In September 2021, she appeared in an advertising campaign for the contraceptive Phexxi.[31]

In 2022, Murphy portrayed young Ruth Brenner in the Netflix comedy-drama series Russian Doll. In 2023, she appeared opposite Salma Hayek in an episode of the Netflix anthology series Black Mirror, titled "Joan Is Awful".

Activism

Murphy is an ambassador for the global relief agency Care Canada. In 2019, she visited Jordan to learn about Care's efforts to empower women and girls in the region.[32] In January 2021, she donated proceeds from the auction of her first red carpet dress to Encampment Support Network, a not-for-profit that helps Toronto's homeless people.[33]

Personal life

Murphy married singer and musician Menno Versteeg, lead singer of the bands Hollerado and Anyway Gang, in August 2011.[34][35][36] In 2013, a fire occurred at their home; the two were uninjured but lost most of their belongings.[1]

Murphy has a tattoo of James Stewart's silhouette on her wrist, citing his "heartbreaking, sweet, and funny" performance in Harvey as one of her influences.[37]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Story of Jen Ana
2010 Lick Jennifer
A Windigo Tale Friend in Art Gallery
2012 Overwatch Clare Short film
2014 Saturday Night Special Charlotte Short film
2023 Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Chelsea (voice)
Fingernails Natasha

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Lethal Obsession Sarah Television film
2007 The Business Lawyer Episode: "Lance-A-Lot"
2008 Picture This Kid on Phone Television film
2009 The Beautiful Life: TBL Sarah Episode: "Pilot"
2010 Blue Mountain State Jill 2 episodes
2011 Against the Wall Tanya Episode: "Memories We Fear"
2012 Beauty & the Beast Amy Episode: "Saturn Returns"
2012 Flashpoint Daycare Worker #2 Episode: "Keep the Peace (Part 1)"
2012 Good God Tara Episode: "The Naked Truth"
2012 Rookie Blue Angela Kehoe Episode: "Girls' Night Out"
2015 The Plateaus Morgan 10 episodes
2015–2020 Schitt's Creek Alexis Rose 80 episodes
2021–2022 Crank Yankers Angela (voice) 3 episodes
2021 American Dad! Klaus' Date (voice) Episode: "Flush After Reading"
2021 Robot Chicken Various voices Episode: "May Cause Immaculate Conception"
2021–2022 Kevin Can F**k Himself Allison McRoberts 16 episodes
2022 Murderville Herself Episode: "Murder by Soup"
2022 Russian Doll Ruth Brenner 5 episodes
2022 Fairfax Various voices Episode: "Career Day"
2023 Black Mirror Joan Tait / Herself Episode: "Joan Is Awful"
2023 Praise Petey Petra "Petey" St. Barts (voice) Lead role
2024 Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2[38]

Music videos

Year Title Role Artist
2011 "Good Day at the Races" Woman Hollerado
2014 "Desire 126" Woman 1
2018 "I Really Like You" Tom Little Junior
2020 "The Shining But Tropical" Woman Wild Pink

Discography

Singles

Title Year Peak positions Album
US
Dance
Dig.
[39]
"Yng Luv" (as part of The Plateaus) 2014 — Non-album single
"A Little Bit Alexis" 2019 21 Non-album single

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
2014
 Juno Awards Recording Package of the Year White Paint Nominated [40]
2016 Canadian Screen Awards Best Performance in a Program or Series Produced for Digital Media The Plateaus Nominated [18]
Best Actress in a Comedy Series Schitt's Creek Nominated [18]
2018
 Canadian Screen Awards Nominated [19]
2019 Canadian Screen Awards Nominated [20]
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [22]
Gracie Awards Best Actress in a Breakthrough Role Won [24]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated [23]
2020 Canadian Screen Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [21]
Dorian Awards TV Musical Performance of the Year ("A Little Bit Alexis") Nominated [41]
Best TV Performance – Supporting Actress Won [42]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Won [25]
2021 Canadian Screen Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [43]
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [44]
Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated [45]
MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Comedic Performance Nominated [46]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated [47]
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won [47]

References

  1. ^ a b Amodio, Joseph V. (January 10, 2019). "'Schitt's Creek' star Annie Murphy talks new season, losing her home, more". Newsday. New York City / Long Island. ISSN 0278-5587. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Bains, Pahull (January 7, 2020). "Annie Murphy on Life After Schitt's Creek, Her 'Biggest Heartbreak' and Dan and Eugene Levy". Fashion. Ontario: St. Joseph Communications. ISSN 1714-9835. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  3. ^ "Annie Murphy". AlloCiné (in French). Archived from the original on January 17, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020. Naissance 19 décembre 1986 / Born 19 December 1986
  4. ^ a b Langston, Patrick (November 27, 2015). "Schitt's Creek Annie Murphy looking forward to a second season on CBC-TV". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Aurthur, Kate (April 6, 2020). "Annie Murphy on How 'Schitt's Creek' Changed Her Life". Variety. ISSN 0042-2738. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  6. ^ Bennett, Ray (August 17, 2008). "Story of Jen". The Hollywood Reporter. Locarno. ISSN 0018-3660. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
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  9. ^ a b Perez, Lexy; Drury, Sharareh (July 28, 2020). "Emmys: Zendaya, Paul Mescal, Cate Blanchett and More Among This Year's First-Time Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  10. ^ "Annie Murphy List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  11. ^ Lloyd, Robert (July 28, 2020). "Before 'Schitt's Creek,' Annie Murphy nearly quit acting. Now she's an Emmy nominee". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 2165-1736. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  12. ^ Corinthios, Aurelie (January 30, 2020). "Annie Murphy Says She Had $3 in Her Bank Account Before Landing Schitt's Creek: 'Quite Bleak'". People. ISSN 0093-7673. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "Schitt's Creek Cast: Annie Murphy". CBC. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  14. ^ Sarti, Doug (March 29, 2016). "Annie Murphy is up Schitt's Creek and loving it". The Georgia Straight. Canada: Vancouver Free Press. ISSN 1485-1318. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  15. ^ Cupido, Erica (January 13, 2016). "Schitt's Creek star Annie Murphy dishes dating advice for her character and more". Hello! Canada. ISSN 1911-3110. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  16. ^ Teixeira, Bianca (January 25, 2016). "Annie Murphy is TV's Sexiest Goofball". Sharp. Contempo Media. ISSN 1917-585X. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  17. ^ "'The Plateaus' webseries pokes fun at precious indie bands". CBC Radio. September 10, 2015. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d Furdyk, Brent (January 19, 2016). "2016 Canadian Screen Awards Nominees Announced". Entertainment Tonight. Canada. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  19. ^ a b Wray, Meaghan (January 16, 2018). "Canadian Screen Awards 2018: See the list of nominees". Hello! Canada. ISSN 1911-3110. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  20. ^ a b Furdyk, Brent (April 1, 2019). "2019 Canadian Screen Awards: Complete list of winners from TV gala". Canada: Global News. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  21. ^ a b Wallis, Adam (February 18, 2020). "2020 Canadian Screen Awards: List of TV, movie nominees in the major categories". Canada: Global News. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  22. ^ a b Turchiano, Danielle (December 8, 2019). "'When They See Us,' 'This Is Us,' 'Schitt's Creek' Lead 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards TV Noms". Variety. ISSN 0042-2738. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  23. ^ a b "Nominations Announced for the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. December 11, 2019. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
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  31. ^ Inc, Evofem Biosciences. "Emmy® Award Winner Annie Murphy Partners with Evofem Biosciences to Talk Sex, Contraception, and Why She Chose Phexxi®". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021. ((cite press release)): |last= has generic name (help)
  32. ^ @carecanada (September 2, 2019). "CARE Canada is proud to officially announce Annie Murphy as CARE Canada Ambassador!" (Tweet). Retrieved September 3, 2019 – via Twitter. "@annefrances is now visiting #Jordan"
  33. ^ Miller, Mira (January 25, 2021). "Schitt's Creek star sells dress and donates proceeds to Toronto encampments". blogTO.com. Freshdaily Inc. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  34. ^ "Happy belated anniversary, @mennovers". Annie Murphy verified Instagram account. August 21, 2018. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2020. I looked it up, and 7 years isn't actually copper and wool
  35. ^ "Four years and counting with this bad bitch...@mennovers". Annie Murphy verified Instagram account. August 20, 2015. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  36. ^ Porter, Ryan (September 5, 2014). "5 Up-and-Coming Canadian Actors in Gorgeous Gowns". Flare. Rogers Communications. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  37. ^ Grundy, Mercedes; Mercanti, March; Candido, Romeo (March 29, 2019). "Schitt's Creek star Annie Murphy loves this actor so much she got him tattooed on her arm". CBC. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  38. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 14, 2023). "'Nine Perfect Strangers': Annie Murphy & Christine Baranski Among Season 2 Cast Additions". Deadline. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  39. ^ "Annie Murphy Chart History (Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  40. ^ "2014 Juno Nominee List" (PDF). Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  41. ^ "Wilde Artist of the Decade – 'Parasite,' 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire,' 'Pain and Glory' Lead Dorian Award Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. January 3, 2020. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  42. ^ "'Schitt's Creek' Wins Best Comedy, LGBTQ Show, and More at Dorians TV Toast". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  43. ^ "2021 Canadian Screen Awards Nominees". Academy.ca. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  44. ^ Schneider, Michael (January 18, 2021). "'Ozark,' 'The Crown' and Netflix Lead 26th Annual Critics' Choice Awards TV Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  45. ^ "2021 Golden Globes Nominations: Full List of Nominees – Variety". February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  46. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (April 19, 2021). "MTV Movie & TV Awards Nominations: 'Emily In Paris', 'WandaVision' & 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Deadline. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  47. ^ a b "27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Celebrate Outstanding Film and Television Performances". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Screen Actors Guild. April 6, 2021. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.

External links

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
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