Sarah McVie (born March 21, 1978) is a Canadian actress and playwright.Isobel Grieve, "Workin’ Moms Sarah McVie Says A Heartfelt Goodbye". Toronto Guardian, December 26, 2022. She is most noted for her regular role as Valerie Szalinsky in Workin' Moms, for which she received three Canadian Screen Award nominations, for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021,Brent Furdyk, "Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations". ET Canada, March 30, 2021. and Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series at both the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023"Canadian Screen Awards 2023 nominations for CBC Comedy shows and where to watch (hint: they're on CBC Gem)". CBC Comedy, February 22, 2023. and the 12th Canadian Screen Awards in 2024."'Little Bird' leads nominations: The drama about the Sixties Scoop has a whopping 19 nominations; 'BlackBerry' sets film record with 17". Toronto Star, March 7, 2024.
Early career Born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, she attended Canterbury High School, later studying theatre at George Brown College in Toronto."Ottawa actress honoured". Ottawa Citizen, October 1, 2002. She joined the Stratford Festival company in 2001, becoming noted for her performances as Cordelia in the 2002 production of King Lear,Janice Kennedy, "A Cordelia from Canterbury: Performing arts grad Sarah McVie now walks the stage at Stratford". Ottawa Citizen, July 16, 2002. and Drina in its production of Peter Hinton's Swanne.Robert Reid, "Lovely Swanne has a slow death; Ambitious Hinton project comes across as a long, convoluted Upstairs, Downstairs". Waterloo Region Record, October 11, 2002. She won Stratford's John Hirsch Award for emerging young actors in 2002. Her later roles at Stratford included the Bawd in Pericles, Prince of Tyre,Robert Cushman, "This storm-tossed hero goes the extra distance". National Post, June 5, 2003. Maria in Love's Labour's Lost,Colin Hunter, "A youthful Shakespeare has fun with words". Waterloo Region Record, August 22, 2003. Lady Macduff in Macbeth,Jamie Portman, "Stratford's Macbeth a chilling success". Ottawa Citizen, June 8, 2004. and Vee Talbott in Orpheus Descending.Kamal Al-Solaylee, "Slow burn in a hellhole never looked so good". The Globe and Mail, June 25, 2005.
Her later stage roles with other theatre companies included productions of Ann-Marie MacDonald's Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) in 2008,Luke Hendry, "Stewart returns to roots; Former Cold Squad star to appear on stage in Picton". Belleville Intelligencer, June 21, 2008. Willy Russell's Educating Rita in 2010.Patrick Langston, "Rita passes the test; Sarah McVie nails role, balancing brashness with innocence". Ottawa Citizen, July 16, 2010. and Evelyne de la Chenelière's Strawberries in January in 2011.Patrick Langston, "Fact, fantasy & the search for love; Like imported strawberries in winter, this romantic drama is only mildly satisfying". Ottawa Citizen, January 29, 2011. She received a Rideau Award nomination for Outstanding Performance, Female in 2011, for Educating Rita.Patrick Langston, "A new age for Ottawa theatre; Industry thrives as latest nominations released". Ottawa Citizen, March 1, 2011.
The Public Servant In 2015, McVie, Jennifer Brewin, Haley McGee and Amy Rutherford premiered The Public Servant, a comedic play about a young woman joining the Canadian civil service, at the Great Canadian Theatre Company.Patrick Langston, "Grim vision of modern life ends with a bang". Ottawa Citizen, June 7, 2014. McVie appeared in the play as Lois, an officious and by-the-book middle manager.
The play later received a Toronto production at the Berkeley Street Theatre in 2016.J. Kelly Nestruck, "Bringing humour to the government". The Globe and Mail, March 19, 2016.
Film and television Through her career she also appeared in supporting and guest roles in film and television, until being cast as Val in Workin' Moms in 2017, appearing as a series regular until its conclusion in 2023.Debra Yeo, "Mothers, breasts, babies and bears: The cast reflects on seven seasons of shooting the CBC comedy series 'Workin' Moms'". Toronto Star, December 24, 2022.
During her time on Workin' Moms, she also had smaller supporting roles in Detention Adventure and The Handmaid's Tale."Local actress returns for season 2 of Detention Adventure". Toronto Star, October 7, 2020.
In 2026 she returned to the stage in Coal Mine Theatre's production of Jonathan Spector's Eureka Day.Shannon L. Campbell, "Review: ‘Eureka Day’ asserts debatable claims about belonging and community". Next, February 10, 2026.
Political activity In 2021 McVie moved to Toronto's flood-prone Rockcliffe–Smythe neighbourhood, becoming known as an activist and organizer with the Black Creek Flood Coalition after her own home was repeatedly flooded.Gabe Oatley, "‘Living in a horror show’: Toronto homeowners say sewers are flooding their basements". Village Report, June 11, 2025.
In May 2026, she announced her candidacy in the 2026 Toronto mayoral election.Tyreike Reid, "Sarah McVie made us laugh on TV, now she wants to lead Toronto as mayor". Now, May 11, 2026.
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