“I got into film because I felt [that it] could be a platform for Indigenous empowerment.”
—Anna Lambe, interview with Stefan Chua, 2023
Fall is here, so I’m spending more time curled up on the couch watching a good movie or TV show. I’m drawn to media with strong female characters, and one actor whose work I’ve really been enjoying is Iqaluit-born Anna Lambe. Her first role was in The Grizzlies (2018), a sports drama film based on a true story. Since then she has gone on to act in feature films Dusk & Dawn (2025) and the upcoming Heart of the Beast—starring alongside Brad Pitt—as well as several TV shows, including Trickster (2020) and North of North (2025–ongoing).

Still of Anna Lambe as Siaja in the episode “Top of the World” of North of North (2025–ongoing) COURTESY CBC PHOTO JASPER SAVAGE
I first saw Lambe act in the comedy series North of North, which has been one of my favourite TV shows this year. In the first episode, “Top of the World,” we are introduced to Siaja, a quirky and optimistic young Inuk mother who decides to take control of her life and go after what she really wants for the first time. We see the messy parts, such as her arguments with her mother and her realization that she needs to leave her husband. One of my favourite scenes is Siaja stomping off and slamming the door after arguing with her mother, Neevee, only to fling it open a second later to ask, in the same loud, angry tone, if Neevee is still able to look after her daughter, Bun. Neevee responds in the same tone, “Of course!” This dynamic, while exaggerated here, is so relatable to me. 


Still of Anna Lambe as Siaja in the episode “No Freeloading" of North of North (2025–ongoing) COURTESY CBC PHOTO JASPER SAVAGE
In the third episode, “Dumpcano,” Siaja starts her new job at the community centre, full of excitement. However her first day is full of challenges and awkward moments, from being told she is the eighth executive assistant hired recently, to realizing she accidentally started a fire at the dump to learning that her estranged father is working closely with her boss. Through all this, the episode ends in celebration after Siaja receives news that Bun caught a tuktu, or caribou. I love how the show seamlessly weaves difficult issues with humour and manages to feel warm and light throughout. This wouldn’t be possible without a strong actor such as Lambe. In an interview with Bronwyn Szabo earlier this year, Lambe reflected that Siaja is “somebody that I feel like I’ve seen so many times amongst my own cousins, my mom, my grandma.” I think this personal connection is one of the ways Lambe has made Siaja so relatable to audiences. 

Still of Anna Lambe as Sarah in “Episode 1” of Trickster (2020)  COURTESY CBC
I appreciate the confidence within the characters Lambe tends to play. In the supernatural coming-of-age thriller drama, Trickster, Lambe plays Sarah, a headstrong teenager who is a fierce advocate for Indigenous rights. We first see Sarah in “Episode 1,” with just a glimpse of the back of her bright blue hair. When we’re fully introduced to her later in the episode, she’s sporting lilac hair. Sarah’s entrance is memorable, to say the least: she is carrying a large piece of spoiled moose meat, seemingly unbothered by blood staining her shirt, which is juxtaposed by the sparkly tiara she wears in her hair. When she meets the main character, Jared, she doesn’t hesitate to talk about the link between exploitation of land and violence against Indigenous women while flipping off honking pickup trucks as they drive by. It’s a short scene, but Lambe skillfully delivers Sarah’s personality and perspective.

Where Siaja is endearingly clumsy, somewhat naive and upbeat, Sarah is cool, self-assured and outspoken. I admire Lambe’s ability to play different Indigenous women and infuse them with the humour, complexity and care they deserve. I can’t wait to see what she does next. If you enjoyed learning about Lambe and her work, check out Zorga Qaunaq, from Ottawa, ON; Madeline Ivalu, based in Iglulik, NU; and Vinnie Karetak, from Arviat, NU.

This Artist Spotlight originally appeared in the October 2025 Inuit Art Quarterly newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter here and be the first to receive new spotlights!