Amybeth McNulty is an Irish-Canadian actress best known for her breakout role as Anne Shirley-Cuthbert in the CBC/Netflix series “Anne with an E.” Her natural acting style, thoughtful approach to interviews, and ability to connect with audiences have defined her career since she began performing as a child.
What distinguishes her work isn’t just technical skill but an emotional authenticity that resonates particularly with younger viewers. She has built a career on choosing roles carefully rather than chasing every opportunity, a discipline unusual for someone who achieved significant fame in her mid-teens.
Her journey from community theater in rural Ireland to international streaming platforms demonstrates how talent, timing, and genuine dedication can create sustainable success in an unpredictable industry.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Amybeth McNulty |
| Date of Birth | November 7, 2001 |
| Age | 24 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Current Residence | London, England |
| Nationality | Irish-Canadian (dual citizenship) |
| Profession | Actress |
| Known For | Anne Shirley in “Anne with an E,” Vickie in “Stranger Things” |
| Height | Approximately 5 feet 4 inches (162 cm) |
| Education | Homeschooled |
| Training | An Grianán Theatre Youth Programme (acting and ballet) |
| Awards | Canadian Screen Award (2019), ACTRA Award (2019) |
Background and Early Influences
Amybeth McNulty was born on November 7, 2001, in Letterkenny General Hospital and was raised in Milford, a small town in County Donegal in the northernmost part of Ireland. She is the only daughter of an Irish father and a Canadian mother named Siobhan McNulty.
Her mixed heritage gave her dual Irish-Canadian citizenship, which would later prove significant for her career opportunities. She has also mentioned having Scottish ancestry through her family line, reflecting the complex cultural background common in the region.
She was homeschooled throughout her childhood and teenage years, never attending traditional school. This educational approach allowed her to pursue acting more flexibly while maintaining academic progress on her own schedule.
Her mother Siobhan tragically passed away in November 2021, a loss that McNulty acknowledged publicly on social media. She acknowledged the loss publicly and later returned to work while maintaining privacy around the grieving process.
Discovering Acting at a Young Age
McNulty’s introduction to performance came through An Grianán Theatre’s Youth Theatre program in Letterkenny, where she trained in both acting and ballet. The theater provided structured training that developed her confidence and stage presence from a young age.
Her early stage work included amateur productions of musicals like “The Little Mermaid” and “The Sound of Music,” where she played roles that required singing, dancing, and character development. These experiences built foundational skills that would serve her throughout her career.
At age thirteen, she made her screen debut in the 2014 short film “A Risky Undertaking.” That same year, she was cast as Young Agatha in the television series “Agatha Raisin,” her first professional television role.
She continued building experience with appearances in “Clean Break” (2014), where she played Jenny Rane, and “The Sparticle Mystery” (2015), where she portrayed a character named Sputnik. These early roles demonstrated her range and caught the attention of casting directors.
Becoming Known Through Anne with an E
In October 2016, it was announced that McNulty had been cast as Anne Shirley-Cuthbert in “Anne with an E,” a new adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic novel “Anne of Green Gables.” She was selected from over 1,800 actresses who auditioned for the role.
According to information from her IMDb, her audition consisted of unconventional tasks like talking to trees, chatting with flowers, and building thrones out of twigs. These exercises tested her ability to deliver the character’s imaginative dialogue convincingly.
The series premiered in March 2017 on CBC in Canada before streaming globally on Netflix. Her performance received critical acclaim immediately. The A.V. Club praised her “absolute possession” of Anne, while The New York Times described her portrayal as “wonderfully ebullient and eminently likable.”
The role earned her the Canadian Screen Award for Best Television Actress in 2019 and the ACTRA Award for Best Performance – Female. The recognition marked an important moment in her early career.
The series ran for three seasons from 2017 to 2019 before being canceled due to conflicts between CBC and Netflix. Despite fan campaigns supported by celebrities including Ryan Reynolds and Sam Smith, the show was not renewed for a fourth season.
Work Beyond Her Breakout Role
Following “Anne with an E,” McNulty took on more challenging and diverse roles. In 2020, she starred in “Black Medicine,” portraying an alcoholic and drug-addicted Irish teenager. The role demonstrated her willingness to tackle difficult material.
She also filmed “She Came Back” (originally titled “Maternal”) in early 2020, an indie thriller marking the feature directorial debut of actress Megan Follows, who had played Anne Shirley in the 1985 adaptation. The film was released in 2024.
In December 2020, she was cast in director Michael McGowan’s film adaptation of “All My Puny Sorrows,” based on Canadian author Miriam Toews’ novel. The project allowed her to work on literary adaptation again, though in a very different context.
Her most commercially significant post-Anne role came in June 2021 when she was cast as Vickie in the fourth season of Netflix’s “Stranger Things.” The character was described as a “cool, fast-talking band nerd” and appeared in the show’s fourth season in 2022.
Education, Growth, and Personal Development
Balancing homeschooling with a professional acting career required significant discipline. She completed her education online while filming “Anne with an E,” managing academic work between takes and during downtime on set.
Once she turned eighteen, she no longer received designated school time during productions, requiring her to manage studies independently alongside full shooting schedules. This transition tested her time management and self-motivation.
At age nineteen, she moved from her family home in County Donegal to London, England. The relocation represented both personal independence and career strategy, placing her closer to more film and television opportunities.
Beyond acting, she is a trained singer and has professional theater experience in the UK. She can produce authentic Donegal, Irish, Scottish, and British accents, a versatility that expands her casting possibilities.
She is vegetarian and has spoken about the challenges of finding good vegetarian options while filming, even in Canada, which she considers her second home. Her dietary choices reflect broader ethical commitments.
Personal Life
In June 2020, during Pride Month, McNulty publicly came out as bisexual. She has used her platform to support LGBTQ+ youth and discussed the importance of visibility for young people navigating their identities.
She dated actor Louis Hynes from approximately 2020 to 2022. The relationship was acknowledged publicly but kept relatively private, with both choosing not to share extensive personal details about their time together.
As of 2025, she is reportedly single and focusing on her career. She maintains clear boundaries about what aspects of her personal life she shares publicly versus what remains private.
She has said in interviews that she avoids projects that conflict with her ethical values, including the use of real animal fur. This aligns with values she has mentioned publicly in interviews.
She has not spoken publicly about her religious beliefs in verified interviews and appears to keep such matters private.
Public Presence and Physical Appearance
McNulty stands approximately 5 feet 4 inches (162 cm) tall with a slender build. Her natural hair color is light brown or blonde, though she wore red wigs for her role as Anne Shirley since the character is famously red-haired.
Her public style tends toward understated and casual rather than glamorous or attention-seeking. This aesthetic matches her preference for letting her work speak for itself rather than building a persona around celebrity culture.
She maintains a large social media following, which she uses selectively to share work and advocacy. Her posts showcase her acting projects, occasional personal moments, and causes she supports, though she uses the platform thoughtfully.
Her interviews and public appearances are often described as thoughtful and measured. She discusses mental health, sexuality, ethical choices, and personal loss with honesty that connects with audiences seeking substance over superficiality.
Net Worth and Professional Earnings
Estimating McNulty’s net worth involves considerable uncertainty, as most sources rely on calculations rather than confirmed financial disclosures. Estimates vary by source, and there is no official public disclosure of her net worth.
Her primary income comes from acting work in television and film. “Anne with an E” provided steady income across three seasons, though specific salary figures for the production have not been publicly disclosed.
Her role in “Stranger Things” likely commands compensation reflective of the show’s massive global audience and Netflix’s substantial production budgets. Exact earnings are not public, and all income figures are estimates based on general industry patterns.
Film work including “Black Medicine,” “She Came Back,” and “All My Puny Sorrows” contributes additional income, though independent films typically pay less than major studio productions or streaming series.
She may also earn income from brand partnerships and social media, though she does not appear to pursue commercial endorsements as aggressively as some peers with similar follower counts.
It’s essential to note that all net worth figures represent estimates based on publicly available information about typical acting salaries and social media monetization. Her actual wealth depends on numerous private factors including taxes, living expenses, savings, and investments.
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