Amybeth McNulty: Parents, Hair, Anne with an E & Stranger Things

Amybeth McNulty walked into her Anne with an E audition with something no costume department could fake: natural red hair that made her a dead ringer for the literary character. But the resemblance ran deeper than genetics — like Anne, she carried loss that shaped who she became.

Born: March 19, 2001 ·
Nationality: Irish-Canadian ·
Known for: Anne Shirley in Anne with an E ·
Years active: 2016–present ·
Birthplace: Donegal, Ireland ·
Instagram: @amybethmcnulty (1.2M followers)

Seven key facts, one takeaway: Amybeth McNulty’s life and career are marked by early tragedy, natural talent, and a rapid rise in the industry.

What happened to Amybeth McNulty’s parents?

This is the question fans ask most often — and the answer is heavier than most expect. McNulty lost both parents in the span of two years: her mother died in November 2021 after battling cancer, and her father died in December 2023, according to Wikipedia. The BBC News reported that in January 2026, McNulty said on The Late Late Show that Stranger Things was the last audition her parents knew she had done before they died, adding that they had “a good feeling” about it.

What is Amybeth McNulty’s age?

Amybeth McNulty was born on March 19, 2001, which makes her 23 years old as of early 2025, per TV Insider.

Where was Amybeth McNulty raised?

She grew up in Milford and Letterkenny in County Donegal, Ireland, with her Irish father and Canadian mother, reports BBC News. At age 14, she moved to Canada to film Anne with an E, and her parents moved with her, living in Toronto during production. Before acting, she trained in ballet and performed in local plays and musicals, according to BBC News. She also participated in An Grianán’s Youth Theatre, per IMDb.

The implication: Loss shaped her early adulthood just as her career was taking off, creating a parallel to the orphaned character she played.

Is Amybeth McNulty Irish?

Yes — and Canadian, too. She holds dual Irish-Canadian nationality, a fact that comes directly from her parentage.

What is Amybeth McNulty’s nationality?

McNulty is Irish-Canadian. She was born in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland, to an Irish father and a Canadian mother, as Hot Press confirms. The magazine described her as “an exceptionally bright teenager from Donegal” whose father is Irish and mother is Canadian.

Does Amybeth McNulty have Canadian citizenship?

Yes. Because her mother is Canadian, McNulty holds Canadian citizenship. She moved to Canada at age 14 and lived in Toronto while filming Anne with an E, according to BBC News. She now splits time between Canada and Ireland.

What this means: Her ability to work in both countries increases her opportunities in an industry that often values geographic flexibility.

Is Amybeth McNulty a real redhead?

This question follows her everywhere, largely because her red hair was so central to her casting as Anne Shirley. The answer is straightforward.

Is Amybeth McNulty’s hair naturally red?

Yes. In a 2017 interview with Reader’s Digest Canada, McNulty said she really likes her red hair and noted that “people often want what they do not have” when discussing hair color. The magazine framed her as the new Anne of Green Gables, and her natural hair color was a key part of the casting.

Did Amybeth McNulty fix her teeth?

There is no credible source confirming any orthodontic work. Her teeth alignment appears natural in photographs from her early career onward. This remains speculation without confirmation from McNulty or a dental professional.

The pattern: Her physical authenticity as Anne Shirley (natural hair, natural teeth) reinforced the casting’s believability and fan approval.

Are Amybeth McNulty and Lucas Jade Zumann friends?

The two co-starred in Anne with an E — he played Gilbert Blythe to her Anne Shirley — and their on-screen chemistry translated into a real-world friendship.

Does Amybeth McNulty have a partner?

McNulty is not publicly known to be in a serious relationship or married. She came out as bisexual in June 2020, according to Wikipedia, but has not publicly named a partner. Her social media posts focus on friends, family, and work rather than romance.

Who is Amybeth McNulty married to?

She is not married. No credible source reports a spouse or engagement.

The catch: Her biographical gaps create room for speculation, but also protect her personal boundaries in a hyper‑visible industry.

Why was ‘Anne with an E’ canceled?

Netflix canceled Anne with an E after three seasons in November 2019. The decision disappointed a passionate fan base that launched campaigns to save it.

Why did Netflix cancel Anne with an E?

The show was canceled due to low viewership relative to its production costs, according to reporting at the time by Deadline (entertainment news outlet). Despite critical acclaim and a dedicated global fan base, the numbers didn’t justify a fourth season for Netflix.

Is Amybeth McNulty in Stranger Things?

Yes. She joined the cast of Stranger Things in season 4 (2022) as Vickie, a supporting character. The BBC News reported that McNulty described the experience as “a weird couple of years” given the personal losses she experienced during production.

What is Amybeth McNulty best known for?

Her defining role remains Anne Shirley in Anne with an E, the CBC and Netflix adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic novel. She was cast at age 14 and starred in all three seasons from 2017 to 2019, as Hot Press notes. Her role as Vickie in Stranger Things has introduced her to a new generation of viewers.

What is Amybeth McNulty’s Instagram username?

Her Instagram handle is @amybethmcnulty, where she has 1.2 million followers. She posts behind-the-scenes photos, personal updates, and glimpses of her life in Canada and Ireland.

The implication: A canceled series didn’t stop her – it redirected her toward a bigger streaming platform.

Timeline

• 2001 (March 19): Born in Donegal, Ireland
• 2013: Moved to Canada with family
• 2016: First acting role in short film The Barge
• 2017–2019: Starred as Anne Shirley in Anne with an E
• 2019 (November): Netflix cancels Anne with an E after 3 seasons
• 2021 (November): Mother dies after battling cancer (Wikipedia)
• 2022: Cast as Vickie in Stranger Things season 4 (BBC News)
• 2023: Lead role in film Ballistic (IMDb)
• 2023 (December): Father dies (Wikipedia)
• 2025 (January): BBC interview about “weird couple of years” in Stranger Things (BBC News)

The pattern: Resilience in the face of loss is a recurring theme in her story, one that echoes the character who made her famous.

The implication: The gaps in public knowledge about McNulty’s life are as telling as the facts – they reveal what she chooses to keep private.

Key voices on Amybeth McNulty

“It was a weird couple of years.”

— Amybeth McNulty, describing her time on Stranger Things to BBC News (January 2026)

“She is an exceptionally bright teenager from Donegal whose father is from Ireland and mother is Canadian.”

— Hot Press (Irish music and culture magazine), profiling McNulty during Anne with an E

“People often want what they do not have.”

— Amybeth McNulty, on reactions to her natural red hair, to Reader’s Digest Canada (2017)

“Stranger Things was the last audition her parents knew she had done before they died.”

— BBC News (UK public service broadcaster), reporting on McNulty’s Late Late Show appearance (January 2026)

The thread that runs through these voices is a young woman carrying heavy personal loss while stepping into the spotlight. For McNulty, the roles she plays — orphaned Anne Shirley, comic-relief Vickie — echo her life more than most viewers realize. For the Irish-Canadian entertainment industry, she represents a rare crossover talent with roots in both countries. The decision she faces next is which direction to take a career that already survived the unthinkable: losing both parents before turning 23. For McNulty, the path forward means choosing between Hollywood blockbusters, intimate indie films, or a return to the stage in Ireland — and whichever she picks, the audience will be watching.

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For those seeking a comprehensive overview, a detailed biography of Amybeth McNulty covers her career milestones and personal background.

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