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Photo of Sarah Polley, Acting
Actor

Sarah Polley

Acting

Career Snapshot

Explained

These indicators come from TMDB. They are relative signals, not review ratings.

Acting credits

63

Established

Large and steady acting portfolio.

TMDB popularity

3.2

Moderate attention

TMDB internal trend index. Higher usually means more searches and page activity now.

Movies: 59Series: 15Crew credits: 12

TMDB ID: 98

IMDb ID: nm0001631

Known for: Acting

Born: January 8, 1979

Age: 47

Place of birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Gender: Female

Adult content flag: No

Career span: 1944 - 2026

Years active: 83

Average TMDB rating: 6.43

Wikidata: Q234212

Also known as

Sara Polley

Other jobs

Director (3)Executive Producer (3)Screenplay (3)Producer (2)Thanks (1)

Biography

Sarah Ellen Polley OC (born January 8, 1979) is a Canadian filmmaker, political activist and retired actress. She first garnered attention as a child actress for her role as Ramona Quimby in the television series Ramona, based on Beverly Cleary's books. This subsequently led to her role as Sara Stanley in the Canadian television series Road to Avonlea (1990–1996). She has starred in many feature films, including The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), Exotica (1994), The Sweet Hereafter (1997), Guinevere (1999), Go (1999), The Weight of Water (2000), No Such Thing (2001), My Life Without Me (2003), Dawn of the Dead (2004), Splice (2009), and Mr. Nobody (2009). Polley made her feature film directorial debut with Away from Her (2006), for which she won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Director and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Polley's second film, Take This Waltz (2011), premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, followed by her first documentary film, Stories We Tell (2012). She also wrote the miniseries Alias Grace, based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood. In 2022, Polley wrote and directed the film Women Talking, based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Miriam Toews, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Photos

Photo of Sarah Polley from the Latest Netflix gallery
Photo of Sarah Polley from the Latest Netflix gallery
Photo of Sarah Polley from the Latest Netflix gallery
Photo of Sarah Polley from the Latest Netflix gallery
Photo of Sarah Polley from the Latest Netflix gallery
Photo of Sarah Polley from the Latest Netflix gallery

Movies

Movies

Movie credits linked with Sarah Polley.

Movie poster for & Sons (2026)

& Sons

Screenplay

2026 Movie
Movie poster for Seven Veils (2025)

Seven Veils

Thanks

2025 Movie
Movie poster for Beethoven's Nine: Ode to Humanity (2024)

Beethoven's Nine: Ode to Humanity

Executive Producer

2024 Movie
Movie poster for Women Talking (2022)

Women Talking

Screenplay

2022 Movie
Movie poster for Margaret Atwood: A Word After a Word After a Word Is Power (2019)

Margaret Atwood: A Word After a Word After a Word Is Power

as Self - Filmmaker

2019 Movie
Movie poster for The Secret Path (2016)

The Secret Path

Executive Producer

2016 Movie
Movie poster for Reel Herstory: The Real Story of Reel Women (2014)

Reel Herstory: The Real Story of Reel Women

as Self

2014 Movie
Movie poster for Stories We Tell (2012)

Stories We Tell

as Self (uncredited)

2012 Movie
Movie poster for Take This Waltz (2011)

Take This Waltz

Producer

2011 Movie
Movie poster for Trigger (2010)

Trigger

as Hillary

2010 Movie
Movie poster for Splice (2010)

Splice

as Elsa

2010 Movie
Movie poster for Mr. Nobody (2009)

Mr. Nobody

as Adult Elise

2009 Movie
Movie poster for The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen (2008)

The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen

as Self - 'Sally Salt'

2008 Movie
Movie poster for Wrath of Gods (2007)

Wrath of Gods

as Self

2007 Movie
Movie poster for Away from Her (2007)

Away from Her

Director

2007 Movie
Movie poster for The Secret Life of Words (2005)

The Secret Life of Words

as Hanna

2005 Movie
Movie poster for Beowulf & Grendel (2005)

Beowulf & Grendel

as Selma

2005 Movie
Movie poster for Don't Come Knocking (2005)

Don't Come Knocking

as Sky

2005 Movie
Movie poster for Siblings (2004)

Siblings

as Tabby

2004 Movie
Movie poster for Sugar (2004)

Sugar

as Pregnant Girl

2004 Movie
Movie poster for Luck (2004)

Luck

as Margaret

2004 Movie
Movie poster for The I Inside (2004)

The I Inside

as Clair

2004 Movie
Movie poster for Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Dawn of the Dead

as Ana

2004 Movie
Movie poster for My Life Without Me (2003)

My Life Without Me

as Ann

2003 Movie

Series

Series

Series credits linked with Sarah Polley.

Series poster for The Studio (2025)

The Studio

as Sarah Polley • 1 eps

2025 Series
Series poster for Directors on Directors (2021)

Directors on Directors

as Self • 1 eps

2021 Series
Series poster for Hey Lady! (2020)

Hey Lady!

Executive Producer • 8 eps

2020 Series
Series poster for Alias Grace (2017)

Alias Grace

Producer • 6 eps

2017 Series
Series poster for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015)

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

as Self • 1 eps

2015 Series
Series poster for John Adams (2008)

John Adams

as Abigail Adams Smith • 7 eps

2008 Series
Series poster for Slings & Arrows (2003)

Slings & Arrows

as Sophie • 6 eps

2003 Series
Series poster for Teen Choice Awards (1999)

Teen Choice Awards

as Self • 1 eps

1999 Series
Series poster for The Hidden Room (1991)

The Hidden Room

as Alice • 1 eps

1991 Series
Series poster for Road to Avonlea (1990)

Road to Avonlea

as Sara Stanley • 91 eps

1990 Series
Series poster for Ramona (1988)

Ramona

as Ramona • 10 eps

1988 Series
Series poster for Friday the 13th: The Series (1987)

Friday the 13th: The Series

as Mary • 1 eps

1987 Series
Series poster for Screen Two (1985)

Screen Two

as Becky Hawthorne • 1 eps

1985 Series
Series poster for The Oscars (1953)

The Oscars

as Self • 1 eps

1953 Series
Series poster for Golden Globe Awards (1944)

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Nominee • 1 eps

1944 Series