If you grew up in the eighties or nineties, you probably have a very specific image of a red-haired girl with a straw hat and a temper that could level a small building. That girl is Megan Follows. For most of us, she didn't just play Anne Shirley; she was Anne. Even now, decades after the 1985 miniseries first aired on CBC and PBS, it remains the gold standard for Lucy Maud Montgomery fans.
Honestly, it’s hard to overstate how massive this show was. It wasn’t just "good for a TV movie." It was a cultural juggernaut that ended up being the highest-rated drama in Canadian history.
People still talk about it. They still rewatch it every winter. But why? With all the high-budget remakes and gritty reboots we’ve seen lately, there’s something about the anne of green gables tv series megan follows starred in that just hits different. It feels real. It feels like home.
The Audition That Almost Didn’t Happen
You’d think casting Megan Follows was a no-brainer. It wasn't. Director Kevin Sullivan actually dismissed her after her first audition. He thought she was too old or just not quite right.
Imagine that. A world where someone else played Anne.
But Follows wasn’t about to let it go. She came back for a second audition after what was described as a pretty "turbulent" morning. She was frantic, raw, and full of that specific "Anne-energy." That’s when it clicked for Sullivan. She had the fire.
The chemistry she eventually shared with Jonathan Crombie (Gilbert Blythe) is the stuff of legend. It wasn't forced. It felt like two kids actually growing up and falling for each other in the middle of Prince Edward Island—even though a lot of it was actually filmed in Ontario.
💡 You might also like: Why Love Island Season 7 Episode 23 Still Feels Like a Fever Dream
Where Was It Really Filmed?
This is a fun bit of trivia that kind of breaks your heart if you’re a purist. While there are iconic shots of the red cliffs of PEI, a huge chunk of the production took place in Ontario.
Why? Logistics.
Kevin Sullivan needed a variety of locations and studio spaces that just weren't available on the island in 1984.
- Butternut Farm in Scarborough stood in for the exterior of Green Gables.
- The Jerseyville Railway Station became Bright River Station.
- Westfield Heritage Village was used for those charming street scenes.
Even though it wasn't all PEI, the production design was obsessive. Martha Mann, the costume designer, stayed incredibly faithful to the Edwardian era. Those puff sleeves? They weren't just a prop; they were a statement.
Dealing With the Sequels
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. The first two parts of the anne of green gables tv series megan follows led are masterpiece level. 1985's original and 1987’s The Sequel (often called Anne of Avonlea) followed the books relatively closely, though they smashed several novels together to make the timeline work.
Then came The Continuing Story in 2000.
📖 Related: When Was Kai Cenat Born? What You Didn't Know About His Early Life
Fans have feelings about this one. Strong ones.
Unlike the earlier films, this third installment completely abandoned Montgomery’s books. It threw Anne and Gilbert into the middle of World War I in New York and Europe. It was gritty. It was weird. It felt like a different show.
Some people love seeing the characters again no matter what. Others treat it like a fever dream that never happened. But regardless of the plot, Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie still gave it their all. Their reunion scene in that film is a genuine tear-jerker, mostly because of the history between the actors.
The Power of Colleen Dewhurst and Richard Farnsworth
You can't talk about the Megan Follows era without mentioning the "parents."
Colleen Dewhurst as Marilla Cuthbert was a stroke of genius. She played Marilla with a crusty exterior that slowly melted, showing a dry wit that most of us didn't appreciate until we were adults.
And Richard Farnsworth? He was the ultimate Matthew. He didn't have many lines, but he didn't need them. The way he looked at Anne with pure, quiet adoration—it’s enough to make anyone cry. He brought a gentleness to the role that has never been matched in any other adaptation.
👉 See also: Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family: What You Didn't Know About Morticia
Why We Still Watch It in 2026
Modern shows like Anne with an E are great in their own way. They’re dark and cinematic. But the 1985 series captures a specific kind of "storybook" magic. It doesn't try to be edgy. It just tries to be human.
It’s about being an outsider. It’s about the fear of not belonging and the absolute joy of finding "kindred spirits."
Megan Follows played Anne as someone who was genuinely difficult at times. She was arrogant, stubborn, and way too talkative. But she was also deeply vulnerable. That balance is what makes her performance so enduring.
Key Takeaways for the Ultimate Rewatch
If you’re planning on diving back into the series, here is how to get the most out of it:
- Watch the First Two First: Stick to the 1985 and 1987 films for the most "book-accurate" feel.
- Look for the Details: Pay attention to the background characters in Avonlea. Many of them, like Patricia Hamilton (Rachel Lynde), appear throughout the spin-off series Road to Avonlea.
- Appreciate the Silence: Notice how much Richard Farnsworth does without saying a word. It’s a masterclass in acting.
- Check Out the Audiobook: Recently, Megan Follows actually directed and narrated parts of a new Anne of Green Gables audiobook. Hearing her voice return to that world is a trip.
The legacy of this production isn't just about nostalgia. It’s about a specific moment in television where everything—the cast, the music by Hagood Hardy, the scenery—just lined up perfectly. It’s rare.
If you haven't seen it in a while, find a copy. Grab some raspberry cordial (the real kind, not the "accidental" wine). Sit down and let Megan Follows take you back to Avonlea. You won't regret it.
To truly immerse yourself in the world Kevin Sullivan built, your next step is to track down the remastered Blu-ray editions. They’ve done an incredible job cleaning up the original film grain, making those Ontario landscapes look more like Prince Edward Island than ever before. If you're a die-hard fan, look for the "Making of" documentaries included in the anniversary sets; they reveal just how much of a shoestring budget they were working with despite the epic scale of the final product.