Annie Murphy

Anne Frances Murphy (born December 19, 1986) is a Canadian actress. She rose to prominence for her starring role as Alexis Rose in the sitcom Schitt's Creek (2015–2020), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award, as well as nominations for a Golden Globe Award and two Critics' Choice Television Awards.

Murphy has since starred in the comedy-drama series Kevin Can F**k Himself (2021–2022), Russian Doll (2022), and the episode "Joan Is Awful" of the anthology series Black Mirror (2023), with the lattermost winning her a Critics' Choice Super Award. She had a voice role in the animated film Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023).

Early life Murphy was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Both her parents were teachers. She attended high school at Elmwood School in Ottawa, where she performed in stage productions.

She moved to Los Angeles at age 22 to pursue an acting career.

Career

Murphy made her acting debut in the crime-thriller television film Lethal Obsession (2007). She continued to perform small and extra roles in various other Canadian films, such as Story of Jen (2008), Lick (2010), and A Windigo Tale (2010). She also appeared in several Canadian television series, including Good God (2012) and Rookie Blue (2012). She has said that, during this time, she was a "struggling actress" who "was begging to go in for comedies" but her resume had only drama.

Murphy was considering quitting acting as a career path when, in 2013, she auditioned for and landed the role of Alexis Rose on the CBC sitcom Schitt's Creek. She played the character for the series' run of six seasons, from January 2015 until April 2020.

After six years in Montreal, Murphy moved to Toronto, where she co-created and starred in The Plateaus, a 2015 web series about four insufferable musicians. Her performance in the show earned her a nomination at the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards for Best Performance in a Program or Series Produced for Digital Media.

In February 2020, she was cast as the lead in AMC's television dark comedy series Kevin Can F**k Himself. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, production of the show was delayed by several months, and resumed in September 2020.

In 2020, Murphy appeared in a holiday advertising campaign for Hudson's Bay department stores opposite her Schitt's Creek co-star Catherine O'Hara. She appeared in a series of ads for meal-kit company HelloFresh, including in a soap-opera style web series titled Hungry Hearts. In January 2021, she appeared in a commercial for Nintendo Switch, appearing in one scene opposite her real-life mother. In September 2021, she appeared in an advertising campaign for the contraceptive Phexxi.

In 2022, Murphy portrayed young Ruth Brenner in the Netflix comedy-drama series Russian Doll. In 2023, she appeared opposite Salma Hayek in an episode of the Netflix anthology series Black Mirror, titled "Joan Is Awful". Murphy also voiced the villainous Chelsea Van Der Zee/Queen Nerissa in the 2023 Universal Pictures and DreamWorks animated film Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.

In 2024 and 2025, Murphy starred as the Chief Flavor Officer in an advertising campaign for Talking Rain's Sparkling Ice.

Activism Murphy is an ambassador for the global relief agency Care Canada. In 2019, she visited Jordan to learn about Care's efforts to empower women and girls in the region. In January 2021, she donated proceeds from the auction of her first red carpet dress to Encampment Support Network, a not-for-profit that helps Toronto's homeless people.

Personal life Murphy married singer and musician Menno Versteeg, lead singer of the bands Hollerado and Anyway Gang, in August 2011. In 2013, a fire occurred at their home; the two were uninjured but lost most of their belongings.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2008 Story of Jen Ana 2010 Lick Jennifer A Windigo Tale Friend in Art Gallery 2012 Overwatch Clare Short film 2014 Saturday Night Special Charlotte Short film 2023 Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Chelsea Van Der Zee (voice) Fingernails Natasha TBA All That She Wants Emma Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2007 Lethal Obsession Sarah Television film 2007 The Business Lawyer Episode: "Lance-A-Lot" 2008 Picture This Kid on Phone Television film 2009 The Beautiful Life: TBL Sarah Episode: "Pilot" 2010 Blue Mountain State Jill 2 episodes 2011 Against the Wall Tanya Episode: "Memories We Fear" 2012 Beauty & the Beast Amy Episode: "Saturn Returns" 2012 Flashpoint Daycare Worker #2 Episode: "Keep the Peace (Part 1)" 2012 Good God Tara Episode: "The Naked Truth" 2012 Rookie Blue Angela Kehoe Episode: "Girls' Night Out" 2015 The Plateaus Morgan 10 episodes 2015–2020 Schitt's Creek Alexis Rose 80 episodes 2021–2022 Crank Yankers Angela (voice) 3 episodes 2021 American Dad! Klaus' Date (voice) Episode: "Flush After Reading" 2021 Robot Chicken Various voices Episode: "May Cause Immaculate Conception" 2021–2022 Kevin Can F**k Himself Allison McRoberts 16 episodes 2022 Murderville Herself Episode: "Murder by Soup" 2022 Russian Doll Ruth Brenner 5 episodes 2022 Fairfax Various voices Episode: "Career Day" 2023 Black Mirror Joan Tait / Herself Episode: "Joan Is Awful" 2023 Praise Petey Petra "Petey" St. Barts (voice) 10 episodes 2025 Nine Perfect Strangers Imogen 8 episodes (season 2) 2026Breaking BearTawny8 episodes

Music videos Year Title Role Artist 2011 "Good Day at the Races" Woman Hollerado 2014 "Desire 126" Woman 1 2018 "I Really Like You" Tom Little Junior 2020 "The Shining But Tropical" Woman Wild Pink

Discography

Singles TitleYearPeak positionsAlbumUSDanceDig. "Yng Luv" 2014 — "A Little Bit Alexis"201921

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result Juno Awards Recording Package of the Year White Paint 2016 Canadian Screen Awards Best Performance in a Program or Series Produced for Digital Media The Plateaus Best Actress in a Comedy Series Schitt's Creek 2019 Canadian Screen Awards Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Gracie Awards Best Actress in a Breakthrough Role Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2020 Canadian Screen Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Series Dorian Awards TV Musical Performance of the Year ("A Little Bit Alexis") Best TV Performance – Supporting Actress Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Comedic Performance Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series