Canadian sitcomNorth of Northhas arrived on Netflix, bringing with it a whole new perspective on life in the Arctic Circle. The show boasts some of Canada’s best up-and-coming actors in its cast, most of whom are of Indigenous Inuk heritage.North of Northtakes place in a small fictional towncalled Ice Cove, located in the real Canadian territory of Nunavut, which is mostly inside the Arctic Circle. Its central character is Siaja, played by Anna Lambe, who struggles to raise a young daughter having recently split from her husband.
Siaja’s story is sweet and warm-hearted despite the freezing temperatures of its setting and should take its rightful place alongside some of thebest North American Indigenous moviesas one of the truest screen representations of an Inuk community.North of Northseason 1 spans 10 episodes in which we get to meet thevarious characters populating Siaja’s life and Ice Cove more broadly, many of whom are the source of the show’s highly relatable comedy moments.
Anna Lambe as Siaja
Born on Jun 27, 2025
Actor:Anna Lambe is a Nunavut native, having been born in the territory’s capital, Iqaluit, at the turn of the century. Shelanded her first screen role as a teenager in the Canadian sports movieThe Grizzlies.Since then, she’s made her name as a recurring cast member in various TV shows, most notably playingthe character Kayla Prior inTrue Detectiveseason 4. She’s also been confirmed in the cast of Brad Pitt’s upcoming action movieHeart of the Beast.
Heart of the Beast
TBC
Character:North of Northrevolves around Siaja’s struggles to raise her daughter, Bun, following her separation from Bun’s father Ting, who was her high school sweetheart. Ting’s popularity in Ice Cove doesn’t make things any easier for Siaja, nor do the irresponsible decisions of her parents Neevee and Alistair.
Mary Lynn Rajskub as Helen
Born on July 07, 2025
Actor:Mary Lynn Rajskub was born in Trenton, Michigan in 1971.She’s the biggest established star inNorth of North, having featured in the moviesPunch-Drunk Love,Little Miss Sunshine, andSafety Not Guaranteed, as well as an array of sitcoms includingModern Family,Arrested Development, andBrooklyn Nine-Nine. However, her best-known role is as Jack Bauer’s ally Chloe O’Brien in24.
24
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Genevieve Mirren-Carter
Character:Rajskub playsIce Cove’s self-centered town manager, Helen, who pushes back against Siaja’s plans for more cultural events to be held in the town’s community all year round. Helen is an outsider appointed to run the town, and Rajskub portrays her as showing the kind of condescension you’d expect of a know-it-all bureaucrat riding rough over the wants and needs of locals.
Maika Harper as Neevee
Born in 1986
Actor:Like Anna Lambe, Maika Harper was born in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and has been acting since her teenage years. She had to wait until the age of 24 to land her first onscreen role, though, playingAnna in the comedy-drama seriesMohawk Girls. Over the past nine years, she’s made guest appearances in numerous Canadian comedy and drama shows, including the sitcom Kim’s Convenience, and as a detective in thecast ofLaw & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.
Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.
Detective Shina May
Character:Neevee isSiaja’s supportive but difficult single mother, a recovering alcoholic who has her own business to take care of, and doesn’t have time to spare anyone’s feelings. On the other hand, she does have time for flings with younger men, on whom Siaja repeatedly plays a hilarious prank.
Jay Ryan as Alistair
Born on June 17, 2025
Actor:Another seasoned TV star, Jay Ryan was born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1981, andinitially made his name on the Australian soap operaNeighbours. Since then, he’s moved into North American movies and TV, with his most prominent roles coming in the movieIt Chapter Two, in which he plays Ben Hanscom, and as Ben Wesley in therecent medical dramaMary Kills People.
Territory
Campbell Miller
Character: Ryan plays Siaja’s absent father, Alistair, who only learns about his daughter in an early episode of the show, under problematic circumstances, to say the least. Alistair’s ambiguous situation with Neevee then becomes a running subplot across the rest ofNorth of North’s first season.
Braeden Clarke as Kuuk
Born on June 03, 2025
Actor:Braeden Clarke was born in Alberta, Canada in 1988, and is also of indigenous heritage, belonging to Alberta’s Mikisew Cree First Nation. After several minor TV roles, his role as Leo in the acclaimed Canadian limited series Little Bird made him a rising star before he got the part of Jeremy Wood in thecast of medical seriesSkyMed.
SkyMed
Jeremy Wood
Character:Kuuk isAlistair’s devoted assistant in his job as a contracted environmental researcherin Ice Cove. He’s the son of two indigenous leaders famous in Nunavut, and Helen insists on calling him The Little Prince, accordingly.
North Of North Supporting Cast And Characters
Kelly William as Ting -Siaja’s ex-husband and the father of her daughter, with whom she breaks up at the start of the show.
Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds as Elisapee -A coworker of Siaja’s at Helen’s Ice Cove office.
Tanya Tagaq as Nuliajuk -The Inuk goddess of sea mammals, who appears to Siaja in apparitions.
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Zorga Qaunaq as Millie -One of Siaga’s best friends.
Bailey Poching as Colin -Siaga’s other best friend who runs Ice Cove’s local radio station.
