Last updated on: October 30, 2025
You know how some actors just sneak up on you? One day, you’ve barely heard their name, and the next, it feels like they’re everywhere—popping up on your Netflix feed, in your friends’ group chats, and even in Emmy highlight reels. Annie Murphy is exactly that kind of actor.
Her history is not the standard overnight sensation. She was not overnight famous, nor was she starring in blockbuster films. To be honest, she was actually struggling through little Canadian sitcoms, doing one-time spots, and fighting to get something that would stick. Then, boom—she is Alexis Rose in Schitt’s Creek, and all of a sudden, the world couldn’t get enough of her.
But what makes Annie Murphy special isn’t just her breakout role. It’s what she did after. She didn’t settle. She pivoted into darker dramas, experimental series, and even high-concept sci-fi. And today, we’re going to walk through her top five TV shows, ranked by IMDb ratings and fan love. Think of this as your ultimate Annie Murphy watchlist.
Annie Murphy’s Road to Fame
Picture this: it’s 2014, and Annie Murphy is living in Toronto, seriously considering quitting acting. The roles aren’t coming, the money’s not great, and she’s wondering if she chose the wrong path. We’ve all been there, right? That moment where you’re ready to give up on something you’ve been chasing for years.
But then Schitt’s Creek came along. The call for auditions turned everything on its head. Overnight, Annie moved from struggling to land a gig to starring in a sitcom that would blow up to an international sensation.
And since then, she hasn’t let up. She’s experimented with satire, science fiction, and even innovative storytelling. And that, my friends, is the Annie Murphy I adore discussing—the one who doesn’t like to remain in a box.
Annie Murphy’s Top 5 TV Shows
1. Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020)
If you’ve watched Schitt’s Creek, you’ve no doubt just smiled at the idea of Alexis Rose uttering the words, “Ew, David!” Annie Murphy made Alexis a lasting impression.
Early on, Alexis is the epitome of entitled rich girl—self-centered, vapid, sidesplittingly oblivious. But as the series goes along, something remarkable occurs: she matures. She becomes driven, self-sufficient, and, I’ll say it, relatable.
That’s where Annie shines. She took a character that could’ve been a one-note punchline and turned her into someone audiences rooted for. You laughed with Alexis, sometimes at her, but by the final season, you genuinely cared about her dreams.
The world took notice. Annie took home an Emmy in 2020 for her work, earning her a spot in TV history.
If you only watch one Annie Murphy series, make it Schitt’s Creek. It’s her masterpiece.
2. Black Mirror – “Joan Is Awful” (2023)
Okay, now let’s change gears. Wake up one morning to discover your life—every cringe-worthy moment, every fight, every late-night trip to the fridge—is live streaming on Netflix. And oh, by the way, Salma Hayek is you.
That’s the premise of Black Mirror’s episode “Joan Is Awful,” and Annie Murphy is Joan.
She gets it. She’s spunky, she’s sloppy, she’s disoriented, and ultimately, she’s powerful. You sense her panic when she realizes her life isn’t hers, and you root for her when she begins to fight back. It’s satire, science fiction, and social commentary packed into a neat little package.
This episode is not only excellent—it’s one of the most highly-rated Black Mirror episodes in years, And it provided Annie Murphy an opportunity to prove to the world that she’s more than Alexis Rose.
3. Russian Doll (Season 2, 2022)
If Schitt’s Creek was Annie’s sandbox for humor, then Russian Doll was her leap into something weirder and more surreal. She guest stars in Season 2 as the younger Ruth, the character firmly rooted in Nadia’s (Natasha Lyonne) narrative.
Russian Doll is all about time loops, identity, and life’s largest “what ifs.” It’s the type of show that sticks in your head after credits. Annie’s part wasn’t the largest, but it counted. She added vulnerability and warmth to a show that feeds on chaos and existential horror.
And although Murphy isn’t at the forefront like she is in many of her other ventures, she brings a depth of emotion that her own fanbase will certainly be pleased with.
4. Kevin Can F**k Himself (2021–2022)
Here’s where Annie surprised everybody. After all these years of comedy, she joined AMC’s Kevin Can F**k Himself, a show that’s half-sitcom spoof and half-gritty drama. It’s like channel surfing between Everybody Loves Raymond and Breaking Bad, but it’s the same story.
Murphy portrays Allison McRoberts, a wife trapped in a marriage to a self-centered, sitcom-husband type. On the sunny living room set with canned laughter, she’s the perfect wife. But in the sadder, single-camera scenes, you get to see her suffering, her fury, and her deep desire to be free.
It’s dense, it’s disturbing, and it’s genius. Annie shows she can carry a drama as well as she carries a comedy and the show wasn’t mainstream, perhaps, but it gained a dedicated fan base.
5. The Plateaus (2015)
Prior to the Emmys and the Netflix stardom, Annie Murphy wrote and acted in The Plateaus, a Canadian mockumentary concerning an indie band going through difficult times.
It’s offbeat, embarrassing, and plainly low-budget, but it reveals something significant: Annie’s willingness to be creatively adventurous.
Is it the best she ever did? No. With an IMDb rating of 5.4, it’s the weakest on this list. But in retrospect, you can glimpse hints of the comedic brilliance that would eventually become Alexis Rose.
It’s rough, it’s rough-around-the-edges, but it’s part of her history. And every great actress has those first projects that remind you overnight success isn’t a thing.
Honorable Mentions
Annie also appeared in Canadian TV mainstays such as Rookie Blue and Beauty & the Beast. They weren’t dramatic breakthroughs, but they provided her with quality experience. She’s also done voice work in animation, demonstrating that she’s versatile beyond live-action.
Why Annie Murphy’s Career Stands Out
My favorite part about Annie Murphy’s career is the way she defied typecasting. She could have coasted on the Schitt’s Creek train forever, repeating similar gigs for pay. But she went left. She opted for satire, science fiction, and experimental narrative. She chose danger over comfort.
Her acting is authentic. Whether she’s having you laugh at Alexis’s melodramatic hand gestures or shattering your heart as Allison in Kevin Can F**k Himself, she resonates on the human level. And that doesn’t happen often.
She’s still in the early stages of her career, but she’s already demonstrated that she’s not a one-horse wonder. She’s the sort of actress you tune in to not only because of what she’s done, but because of what you believe she’s going to do next.
Final Thoughts
So where are we? If you desire the complete Annie Murphy experience:
-
Begin with Schitt’s Creek (her star-making role).
-
Watch Black Mirror’s “Joan Is Awful” (a brain-twisting ride).
-
Catch up on Kevin Can F**k Himself (her dramatic showcase).
-
Add Russian Doll (for a sample of her range).
-
Watch The Plateaus (to see her scrappy roots).
Annie Murphy’s tale is something that reminds me of this: success is not linear. It’s complicated, it’s ambiguous, and sometimes it just about does not happen at all. But when it does, and when it happens to someone as gifted as Murphy, it is worth noting.
