Shelagh McLeod

Shelagh McLeod (born 7 May 1960 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) is a versatile British‑based Canadian actress whose career spans more than four decades across television, film and short‑form storytelling. Early life saw her relocate to the United Kingdom at the age of five, where she soon discovered a passion for performance. By fourteen she was enrolled at the Corona Stage Academy in London, receiving formal training that paved the way for her first screen credit as “Young Jean” in Dennis Potter’s Cream in My Coffee. After establishing a foothold in British television with guest spots on series such as Wish Me Luck and Agatha Christie’s Poirot, McLeod expanded her horizons to North America, appearing in iconic US shows like The A‑Team and Almost Grown during the late 1980s. A memorable 1990s Whiskas commercial further cemented her visibility, while a return to the UK in the new millennium brought recurring roles on long‑running dramas including Peak Practice (as Dr Kate Preston), The Bill (as Sally Campbell) and Doctors (as Jenny Clayton). Her portrayal of Matron Judith Marchant on Holby City from 2009 to early 2010 showcased her ability to anchor ensemble casts in emotionally resonant storylines. Transitioning behind the camera, McLeod wrote and directed the short film David Rose, earning a Royal Reel Award at the Canada International Film Festival in 2011, followed by the equally lauded Run in 2012, which collected additional Royal Reel honors and festival selections in Vancouver, San Luis Obispo and San Antonio. She continued to explore auteur‑driven projects with Astronaut, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Colm Feore, and NEXUS, selected for The Writers Lab sponsored by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman in 2018. Her upcoming feature‑length venture The Competition is currently in development, while she has announced further screenwriting work on The Visit and Violet. Personal life includes two marriages—first to American actor James Jordan, ending in divorce, and later to property developer Marek Pilkington Miksa, with whom she has a child. Balancing trans‑Atlantic careers, McLeod remains a dynamic presence in both acting and filmmaking, exemplifying the adaptability and creative endurance that define contemporary performers.