Biography

Annika Irving is a creative born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, determined to bring the stories of those often ignored to light. Growing up in a film family, she got her start in acting at the age of five and has built a dynamic career across film, television, and theatre, both in and behind the scenes. She first collaborated with acclaimed filmmaker Danishka Esterhazy on the pilot for The Bad Guys, portraying Abby Jerrod, the daughter of a murdered drug dealer. She later reunited with Esterhazy for the music video Call for Paris to Kyiv before being cast as the male lead in the feature film H&G. H&G premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival and screened at festivals throughout North America, including Los Angeles, Toronto, Miami, and WorldFest- Houston International Film Festival, where it received a Silver Remi Award. Annika's performance also earned her a nomination for a Joey Award. She has also appeared in the short films Pillows and Boy Toys, both of which screened at festivals across North America, received Audience Choice awards, and competed on CBC's Short Film Face Off. On television, Annika held a recurring role in the comedy series Sunnyside, with one episode earning a Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series. For her portrayal of Briony McGovern in the short film Hard Way Girl, Annika won a Joey Award for Best Actress and received nominations for both a MIC Award and an ACTRA Award. The film screened internationally, including at the LA Shorts International Film Festival, the Amsterdam Lift-Off Film Festival, and the Toronto International Short Film Festival, among others. Annika later appeared opposite Ben Kingsley in the thriller Night Hunter and portrayed Sadie Williams in the acclaimed horror anthology series Channel Zero. In addition to acting, Annika has trained extensively in performance and movement. Her background includes stunt training with Sean Skene, on-camera acting with casting director Carmen Kotyk, and improvisation studies at The Second City in both Los Angeles and Chicago, where she was a member of the Second City Chicago Youth Company. She also trained with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Kickit, earning gold medals in provincial and national dance competitions, and studied vocal performance with Melanie Whyte. She has also been very active in strengthening other performers, mentoring those from all levels of experience, and being a founding member of The Collective, a collaborative group of emerging actors and creatives dedicated to developing new work, refining performance skills, and creating original content. In April 2026, Annika graduated with a degree in Film Production from Vancouver Film School. As of early 2026, she is in post-production for her short film Semi-Alive Max, which she directed, about a young Ukrainian child who ends up trapped in an abandoned minefield, and is in development for multiple writing and directorial projects to be shot in the near future.
- IMDb mini biography by: Annika Irving