Meredith MacNeill

Early Career in the United Kingdom

Meredith MacNeill launched her professional acting career in the United Kingdom after graduating from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. A significant early television role came in 2005 when she appeared in the cult British sitcom Peep Show, playing Merry, a Canadian friend of the main characters. This period established her comedic presence in the UK, leading to her most prominent British role on the BBC sketch comedy series Man Stroke Woman from 2005 to 2007. Her film work during this time included the 2006 mockumentary Confetti and the 2009 sci-fi comedy Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel, where she played a time traveller named Millie. Beyond screen work, she also performed on stage, appearing in a 2009 production of Mary Stuart at Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre and in Linz, Austria. In 2005, MacNeill appeared in an episode of Peep Show, playing a character named Merry. From 2005 to 2007 she starred in the BBC sketch show Man Stroke Woman. She began her career appearing in British television and film, making her debut guest-starring in an episode of crime drama The Vice and later that year had a minor role in the comedy film, Blackball.

Return to Canada and Breakthrough Success

In the 2010s, MacNeill, after becoming a newly single mother, returned to Canada and began writing screenplays. After writing episodes of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, MacNeill starred in the films Big News from Grand Rock (2014), North Mountain (2015), and Your Money or Your Wife (2015). She was awarded best actress at the 2015 Atlantic Film Festival for her role in Your Money or Your Wife. This period set the stage for her major breakthrough with a new sketch comedy project.

Her major breakthrough came in 2016 when she co-created, produced, and starred in the CBC sketch series Baroness von Sketch Show alongside Aurora Browne, Carolyn Taylor, and Jennifer Whalen. The show, celebrated for its sharp, feminist humour and relatable sketches about modern life, became a critical and awards darling. At the 5th Canadian Screen Awards in 2017, the cast was nominated for Best Ensemble Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Series and won the award for Best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Series. The following year, at the 6th Canadian Screen Awards, the troupe won both awards, confirming the show's high quality and popular success with both audiences and industry peers.

Awards and Recognition for Baroness von Sketch Show

In 2016 she co-created and went to star in the CBC Television comedy series Baroness von Sketch Show. At the 5th Canadian Screen Awards in 2017, MacNeill and her Baroness von Sketch Show castmates Aurora Browne, Carolyn Taylor and Jennifer Whalen were nominated for Best Ensemble Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Series, and won the award for Best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Series. At the 6th Canadian Screen Awards in 2018, the troupe won the awards in both of the same categories. The show ran from 2016 to 2021, winning eight Canadian Screen Awards and one Canadian Comedy Award.

• 2017 Canadian Screen Awards: Won Best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Series. Nominated for Best Ensemble Performance.
• 2018 Canadian Screen Awards: Won both Best Writing and Best Ensemble Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Series.
• Additional Canadian Screen Award wins across subsequent seasons brought the total for MacNeill and the team to eight awards.
• The series also earned a Canadian Comedy Award, further cementing its reputation for outstanding comedy and writing.

This consistent recognition was a direct result of the show's successful formula and the strong collaborative chemistry between MacNeill and her co-stars. The awards track record remains a central part of MacNeill's professional achievements. She co-created, produced and starred in the CBC sketch show Baroness von Sketch Show (2016 to 2021). The show's success is a key marker of its influence within the Canadian television industry during its five-year broadcast.

Leading Role in Pretty Hard Cases

In 2021 MacNeill was cast as a police detective Sam Wazowski in the CBC comedy-drama series, Pretty Hard Cases opposite Adrienne C. Moore. She later starred as Det. Sam Wazowski in the CBC police comedy-drama series, Pretty Hard Cases (2021 to 2023). Her performance earned her four Canadian Screen Award nominations for her work on the series. The series demonstrated her ability to transition from sketch comedy to a sustained dramatic comedic role over multiple seasons.

Pretty Hard Cases ran for three seasons, concluding its story in 2023. The series ended in 2023. It added another successful, award-nominated project to MacNeill's diverse television portfolio. The series allowed her to explore a longer-form narrative and a different type of character. It contributed to her stature within Canadian television as a versatile lead actor capable of carrying a prime-time network series.

Filmography Highlights

Meredith MacNeill has built a substantial body of work across film and television in both Canada and the UK. Her filmography reflects her range, from small independent films to major network television series. It illustrates the evolution of her career from supporting roles in British productions to being a driving creative force and lead actor in Canadian television. She has appeared in both Canadian and British productions. Her career began with appearances in British television and film before she returned to Canada in the 2010s.

Her work on Baroness von Sketch Show and Pretty Hard Cases forms the core of her most recognizable and celebrated contributions to Canadian television. This is supported by her earlier experiences in the UK film and television industry. Her UK work provided a diverse foundation for her later success as a writer and performer in her home country. She co-created, produced and starred in Baroness von Sketch Show and starred in Pretty Hard Cases.

Questions about Meredith MacNeill

What is Meredith MacNeill best known for?

Meredith MacNeill is best known for co-creating, producing and starring in the CBC sketch show Baroness von Sketch Show (2016 to 2021), winning eight Canadian Screen Awards and one Canadian Comedy Awards. She is also known for starring as Det. Sam Wazowski in the CBC police comedy-drama series, Pretty Hard Cases (2021 to 2023), for which she was nominated for four Canadian Screen Awards. She has also appeared in British productions, notably starring in the BBC sketch show Man Stroke Woman (2005-07).

What was Meredith MacNeill's role on Pretty Hard Cases?

On the CBC series Pretty Hard Cases, Meredith MacNeill starred as Detective Sam Wazowski. She was cast as a police detective Sam Wazowski in the CBC comedy-drama series, Pretty Hard Cases opposite Adrienne C. Moore. She later starred as Det. Sam Wazowski in the CBC police comedy-drama series, Pretty Hard Cases (2021 to 2023). Her performance earned her four Canadian Screen Award nominations.

Did Meredith MacNeill work on British television?

Yes, Meredith MacNeill began her career appearing in British television and film. She made her debut guest-starring in an episode of crime drama The Vice. In 2005, MacNeill appeared in series 3, episode 2 of Peep Show, playing the character of Mark and Jez's old friend from university, 'Canadian' Merry. From 2005 to 2007 she starred in the BBC sketch show Man Stroke Woman.

Where is Meredith MacNeill from in Canada?

Meredith MacNeill is originally from Amherst, Nova Scotia. She is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, which provided her formal training. She launched her career in the United Kingdom, appearing in British television and film productions. In the 2010s, after becoming a newly single mother, she returned to Canada. This return marked a significant shift in her career as she began writing screenplays and later co creating Canadian television content.

What awards has Meredith MacNeill won?

Meredith MacNeill has won eight Canadian Screen Awards and one Canadian Comedy Award for her work on Baroness von Sketch Show. Specifically, at the 5th Canadian Screen Awards in 2017, she and her castmates won the award for Best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Series. At the 6th Canadian Screen Awards in 2018, the troupe again won awards for Best Writing and Best Ensemble Performance. She was awarded best actress at the 2015 Atlantic Film Festival for her role in the film Your Money or Your Wife.

What did Meredith MacNeill do before Baroness von Sketch Show?

Before Baroness von Sketch Show, Meredith MacNeill acted in British television and film. Her early work included starring in the BBC sketch show Man Stroke Woman from 2005 to 2007 and appearing in the 2009 film Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel. After returning to Canada in the 2010s, she wrote episodes for the series This Hour Has 22 Minutes. She also starred in several Canadian films including Big News from Grand Rock in 2014, North Mountain in 2015, and Your Money or Your Wife in 2015, for which she won a best actress award.

Sources and further reading

• Meredith MacNeill (Wikipedia)
• Speaker Meredith MacNeill, Banff World Media Festival 2025 (banffmediafestival.playbackonline.ca)
• Meredith MacNeill on Being So Lucky (cbc.ca)
• Recall: Meredith MacNeill (jannardenpod.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-07.