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Meredith MacNeill

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Meredith MacNeill
Born (1975-06-19) 19 June 1975 (age 49)
EducationRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian
Children1[1]

Meredith MacNeill (born 1975) is a Canadian actress and comedian.[2] She appeared in both Canadian and British productions, notable starring in the BBC sketch show Man Stroke Woman (2005–07) and the comedy films Confetti (2006) and Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009). She co-created, produced and starred in the CBC sketch show Baroness von Sketch Show (2016–2021), winning eight Canadian Screen Awards and one Canadian Comedy Awards.[3][4] MacNeill later starred as Det. Sam Wazowski in the CBC police comedy-drama series, Pretty Hard Cases (2021–2023), for which she was nominated for a four Canadian Screen Awards.

Career

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MacNeill began her career appearing in British television and film.[1] She made her debut guest-starring in an episode of crime drama The Vice and later that year had a minor role in the comedy film, Blackball. In 2005, MacNeill appeared in series 3, episode 2 of Peep Show, playing the character of Mark and Jez's old friend from university, "Canadian" Merry. She promises Jez and Super Hans the disused pub she owns, and has a manic episode shortly afterwards.[5][6] From 2005 to 2007 she starred in the BBC sketch show Man Stroke Woman. She appears in the 2009 film Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel as a time traveller called Millie.[5] In 2009 she also appeared in production of Mary Stuart which played at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh and Linz in Austria.[7]

In 2010s, MacNeill, after becoming a newly single mother, returned to Canada and began writing screenplays.[1] After writing episodes of This Hour Has 22 Minutes,[8] MacNeill starred in the films Big News from Grand Rock (2014), North Mountain (2015), and Your Money or Your Wife (2015). She was awarded best actress at the 2015 Atlantic Film Festival for her role in Your Money or Your Wife.[9] In 2016 she co-created and went to star in the CBC Television comedy series Baroness von Sketch Show,[10] At the 5th Canadian Screen Awards in 2017, MacNeill and her Baroness von Sketch Show castmates Aurora Browne, Carolyn Taylor and Jennifer Whalen were nominated for Best Ensemble Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Series, and won the award for Best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Series; at the 6th Canadian Screen Awards in 2018, the troupe won the awards in both of the same categories.[11]

In 2021 MacNeill was cast as a police detective Sam Wazowski in the CBC comedy-drama series, Pretty Hard Cases opposite Adrienne C. Moore.[12] The series ended in 2023.

Personal life

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MacNeill is originally from Amherst, Nova Scotia.[2] She is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[8]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Blackball Suzi
2005 Festival Mary
2006 Confetti Isabelle
2007 The Good Night Tica
Pass It on: Coaching Skills for Managers Angie Video short
2009 Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel Millie
2014 Big News from Grand Rock Lucy
2015 North Mountain Mona
Your Money or Your Wife Annie Atlantic International Film Festival for Outstanding Performance by an Actress

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 The Vice Tina Season 5, episode 2: "The Gameboys"
Ultimate Force Jenny Lloyd Season 2, episode 3: "Wannabes"
2005 Peep Show Merry Season 3, episode 2: "Sectioning"
The Queen's Sister Sharman Douglas TV movie
My Family and Other Animals Silent Girlfriend TV movie
2005-2007 Man Stroke Woman Various 12 episodes
2011-2012 This Hour Has 22 Minutes Writer - 2 episodes
Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance, Sketch Comedy (Individual or Ensemble)
2015 The Book of Negroes Judith Palmer Miniseries
Episode 5
Haven Ona Fortuna Season 5, episode 19: "Perditus"
2016-2021 Baroness von Sketch Show Various 46 episodes
Writer
Director - 2 episodes
Producer
Canadian Screen Award for Best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series (2017—2021)
Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance, Sketch Comedy (Individual or Ensemble) (2018)
Canadian Screen Award for Best Sketch Comedy Program or Series (2018—2019)
Canadian Comedy Award for Best TV Show
Nominated — ACTRA Award for Outstanding Performance - Ensemble (2019)
Nominated — Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series (2021)
2021–2023 Pretty Hard Cases Det. Sam Wazowski 32 episodes
Nominated — Canadian Screen Award for Best Leading Performance in a Drama Series (2024)
Nominated — Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Actress, Comedy (2022)
Nominated — Canadian Screen Award for Best Leading Performance in a Comedy Series (2023)
Nominated — Canadian Screen Award for Best Ensemble Performance, Drama (2024)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Onstad, Katrina (July 28, 2017). "The Baronesses Are Coming! And Filling a Comedy Gender Gap" – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ^ a b "NS comedian looks to expand topical writing amid #MeToo, #TimesUp campaigns". Chronicle Herald, February 1, 2018.
  3. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/prettyhardcases/cast/meredith-macneill [bare URL]
  4. ^ "Meredith MacNeill - Awards". IMDb.
  5. ^ a b "Meredith MacNeill". IMDb. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  6. ^ Cooke, Stephen. "Pictou County's Meredith MacNeill is comedy's double dipper | The News". www.ngnews.ca. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  7. ^ "Meredith MacNeill | TVmaze".
  8. ^ a b "Meredith MacNeill". This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  9. ^ Nemetz, Andrea (September 20, 2015). "Undone Wins Best Atlantic Feature at Atlantic Film Festival Awards". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  10. ^ Dry, Jude (September 27, 2016). "'Baroness Von Sketch Show': The Best Comedy You've Never Seen | IndieWire". www.indiewire.com. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  11. ^ "Maudie leads the way at Canadian Screen Awards". Victoria Times-Colonist, March 13, 2018.
  12. ^ "CBC announces new buddy cop drama series Pretty Hard Cases". CBC News, February 11, 2020.
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