Nina Dobrev as Mae in REDEEMING LOVE. Photography courtesy of Nthibah Pictures, Mission Pictures, Pinnacle Peak Pictures and Universal Pictures
Including a new Marvel star you probably haven’t heard of (yet).
By Zainab Damji
Date January 26, 2022
Arguably, the best part about a new year is all the movies and TV shows you can look forward to watching. As someone who tends to work a lot, the fictional on-screen world is my favourite form of escapism — and over the years, I’ve become quite the film and TV buff. I love to watch movies in the theatre, stay updated on all the latest releases and, most importantly, discover new Canadian actors (or continue obsessing over my current favourites).
If you’re anything like me but just can’t find the time to stay up to date on what’s cool right now, allow me to help out. Here’s a round-up of Canadian women to look out for on the small and big screen this year. With some fan-favourite faces and some making their first debut, there’s a little bit of everything to look forward to in this roundup of Canadian actors.
Nina Dobrev in Redeeming Love
The Vampire Diaries alum returned to the big screen for her first movie of the year this month in Redeeming Love, based on the historical romance novel by Francine Rivers. Set in the 1850s, the film follows the life of Angel, a young girl who suffers through the worst life has to offer, constantly being betrayed and left to fend for herself. Nina Dobrev, who plays Angel’s mother, loves her daughter unconditionally but struggles to provide a stable life for her. This movie about love, lust and lies hit the big screen on January 21, 2022.
Neve Campbell in Scream
The poster child for Canadian actors, Neve Campbell has reprised her role as teenage horror heroine Sidney Prescott in the Scream series 11 years after it first premiered. Having played the role since 1996, it’s no secret that Campbell is a treat to watch. In this newest installment, she plays a mother with a family of her own. From heart-throbbing jumpscares to thinking quick on her feet, we’re excited to see what Campbell’s character and the infamous Ghostface bring to the table. Scream is in theatres everywhere since January 14, 2022.
Kim Cattrall in How I Met Your Father
While Kim Cattrall didn’t join in on the And Just Like That… revival, lucky for us, we’re still seeing (or hearing) her on our screens this year. Cattrall is the narrating voice in Hulu’s How I Met Your Father, a spin-off of the ever-famous How I Met Your Mother. In the year 2050, Cattrall narrates the story of how she, the protagonist, met her son’s father. The series premiered on January 18, 2022.
Iman Vellani in Ms. Marvel
Making her first debut with none other than a Marvel series on Disney+, this 19-year-old is taking the world by storm. In Ms. Marvel, Iman Vellani was cast as protagonist Kamala Khan, a Muslim Pakistani-American living in New Jersey who pens superhero fanfic only to find out she has special powers herself. The series is set to be released in mid-2022 and will comprise six episodes.
Sandra Oh in Turning Red
This one is for all the Pixar fans. If you enjoyed Inside Out, Turning Red will be right up your alley. Set in Toronto, Meilin “Mei” Lee is an assertive, dorky 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian with an overbearing, vigilant mother voiced by none other than Sandra Oh. Mei finds herself inoculated with an ancestral gift that seems to encroach on her everyday life Watch as this mother-daughter duo traverse through the tricky waters together. In theatres March 11, 2022.
Cobie Smulders in Secret Invasion
Another one for the Marvel fans, this mini-series, which follows the infiltration of Earth by aliens, is set to be released in late 2022. Former FASHION cover star Cobie Smulders is one of three main protagonists and plays Maria Hill, the former deputy director of S.H.I.E.L.D, who works closely with Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)-favourite, Nick Fury.
