Marnie McPhail

Marnie McPhail
Born
Occupations
  • Actress
  • musician
Years active1981–present
Spouse
(m. 2004)

Marnie McPhail-Diamond is a Canadian actress and musician. She began her career starring as Annie Edison in the CBC Television children's series The Edison Twins (1984–1986).[1] She later moved to the United States to star in the daytime soap operas Generations and Days of Our Lives, guest-starred in a number of prime time series, made-for-television movies and feature films most notably playing Lieutenant Eiger in Star Trek: First Contact (1996). She later starred in the Canadian legal drama The Associates (2001–02) and the animated sitcoms Braceface (2001–04) and JoJo's Circus (2003–06).

Early life

McPhail was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, U.S. Later, she moved to Toronto, Ontario, where she attended the Etobicoke School of the Arts.[2]

Career

At age 14, she was cast in her first major role as Annie Edison in the children's television series The Edison Twins (1982).[2] She later began guest-starring in episodes of both Canadian and American television series T and T, Night Heat, L.A. Law, Dragnet, Tequila and Bonetti and Street Legal. She was a regular cast member in the daytime soap operas Generations as Carla Meyers in 1989, and Days of Our Lives as Hayley Monahan in 1992. In 1993 she made her big screen debut playing the leading role of Toronto blues singer and pianist in the drama film The Circle Game, directed by Brigitte Berman.[3] The film premiered at the 1994 Toronto International Film Festival.[4]

McPhail appeared in a number of made-for-television movies, notably Without Warning (1994), Body Language (1995), Evidence of Blood (1998), Dirty Pictures (2000), Haven (2001), A Town Without Christmas (2001), Tagged: The Jonathan Wamback Story (2002), and RFK (2002) playing Ethel Kennedy. She played Lieutenant Eiger in the science fiction film Star Trek: First Contact (1996) and appeared in films Grizzly Falls (1999), The Last Producer (2000), Sugar (2004) and The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005). On television, she also guest-starred on Murder One, Space: Above and Beyond, Star Trek: Voyager, ER, Silk Stalkings, The X Files, Sliders, Soul Food and Queer as Folk. She starred in the Canadian legal drama The Associates (2001–02) and the British political thriller The State Within (2006).

After starring in the 2007 made-for-television movie Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming, McPhail took a break from acting. She returned to screen in 2021 with appearances in Hallmark Channel movies. In 2023 she appeared in the black comedy film Dream Scenario and had a recurring role in the science fiction thriller Orphan Black: Echoes. Also in 2023 she began appearing in a recurring role in the Hallmark Channel drama series, The Way Home.[5]

Personal life

In 2004, McPhail married actor Reed Diamond, whom she met in 2002 on the set of Lifetime television movie Scared Silent. They have one daughter.[6]

Filmography

This list of movies, shows, and games is incomplete. You can help by adding to the list.
Year Work Role Notes
1984–1986 The Edison TwinsAnnie Edison Debut; children's TV series
1991 Deadly MedicineHelen McKay
1993 Kiss of a KillerBetty
1994 The Circle GameMonika
1994 Without WarningDonna Hastings
1995 Renegade Julie Seaton Episode: "Liar's Poker"
1996 Star Trek: BorgAnastastia Targus Video game
1996 Star Trek: VoyagerAlcia Live-action TV
1996 Star Trek: First ContactInge Eiger Live-action film
1996 The UninvitedHalley
1997 Blood EvidenceEdna Mae Kinley Live-action film
1997 Born BadLoan officer
1997 Freaky StoriesNarrator Segment: "The Babysitter"
1997 Nights Below Station StreetMyhrra
1998 Evidence of BloodEdna Mae Kinley
1998 Mind GamesCora
1998 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (Segment: "The Bucket") Maggie Live-action TV series
1999 Grizzly FallsMother [7]
2000 Dirty PicturesReising
2000 One True LoveLucy Pearl
2001 A Town Without ChristmasIsabel Live-action film[1]
2001 Stolen MiracleKaren Lewis [1][8]
2001 The AssociatesCindy Baxter Live-action TV
2001–2004 BracefaceMaria Wong (voice) Animated series
2002 Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary KayBrooke
2002 RFKEthel KennedyLive-action film[9]
2002 Scared SilentLynn Jordan
2003 Blue MurderRoseanne Svoboda
2003 Wild CardBarb Miller
2003 The Piano Man's DaughterYoung Lily Kilworth [10][11]
2003 I Want a Dog(voice) Animated short
2003–2006 JoJo's CircusPeaches (voice) Animated series
2003–2004 Queer as FolkRita Montgomery
2004 SugarMadge [12]
2005 The Greatest Game Ever PlayedMary Ouimet Live-action film[13]
2005–2008 Delilah & Julius(voice) Animated series
2006 The State WithinGeorge Blake TV mini-series[14][15]
2007 StandoffSarah
2007 Stir of Echoes: The HomecomingMolly Cogan Live-action film
2022 Murdoch MysteriesDaisy Stewart
2023 Dream ScenarioClaire [16]
2023 Orphan Black: EchoesDr. Pam Teller 3 episodes
2023 Beacon 23Kaneddy
2023–present The Way HomeRita Richards Live-action TV
2024 LongingPost-Production
2024 TrapJody's Mom Completed

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Title of work Result Ref.
1986 Gemini AwardBest Performance by a Lead Actress in a Continuing Dramatic Series The Edison TwinsWon [17]
2001 Gemini AwardBest Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series The Associates (for episode #1.11: "Killing the Rat") Nominated
2002 Gemini AwardBest Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series The AssociatesNominated

References

  1. ^ abc"Movie based on real baby snatching" by Tony Atherton, Ottawa Citizen (18 Dec, 2001) [Final Edition] Retrieved from ProQuest 240516146
  2. ^ ab"'Tis the season to be Marnie, fa la la la la" by Rita Zekas, Toronto Star (21 Dec, 2001) [Ontario Edition] Retrieved from ProQuest 438374459
  3. ^McCarthy, Todd (December 12, 1994). "The Circle Game".
  4. ^Catherine Dunphy, "Friends pulled together to make The Circle Game: Relationship saga mines depth of Canadian talent". Toronto Star, September 11, 1994.
  5. ^Moser, Zachary (March 31, 2024). "The Way Home Cast & Character Guide: Who Plays Who In The 2023 Hallmark Channel Show". ScreenRant.
  6. ^Stutsman, Samantha (October 10, 2025). "Meet the Real-Life Loves of "The Way Home" Cast (Including 1 Star's Opera Singer Boyfriend!)". People – via Yahoo! News.
  7. ^Grizzly Falls review by Robert Koehler at variety.com
  8. ^"Portfolio goes prime time with Stolen Miracle for CTV" at playbackonline.ca
  9. ^RFK review by Michael Speier at variety.com
  10. ^"On set: Piano Man’s Daughter" at playbackonline.ca
  11. ^"‘Piano’ fine-tunes cast" by Brendan Kelly at variety.com
  12. ^Sugar review by Dennis Harvey at variety.com
  13. ^The Greatest Game Ever Played review by John Anderson at variety.com
  14. ^The State Within review by Ray Richmond at www.hollywoodreporter.com
  15. ^"‘State Within’: It’s fun (if you can follow)" by Robert Lloyd at www.latimes.com
  16. ^"A Man of Your Dreams, Like It or Not" by Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times (10 Nov, 2023) Retrieved from ProQuest 2887805855
  17. ^"Green Gables big Gemini awards winner" at the Windsor Star (5 Dec, 1986) [Final Edition] Retrieved from ProQuest 253704480