If you’ve been watching Netflix lately or caught the third season of that gritty martial arts drama everyone keeps talking about, you’ve definitely seen her. Chelsea Muirhead. She’s one of those actors who seems to have appeared out of nowhere, but when you look at her credits, she’s actually been grinding in the Canadian indie scene for years. Honestly, her career trajectory is a wild ride from Toronto theater schools to high-stakes medical dramas in Miami.
You might know her as Yan Mi. Or maybe Dr. Sophie Chan. Basically, she’s become the go-to for characters who are way smarter than the people around them.
The Warrior Breakout: Yan Mi and the Printing Press
Let’s be real, most people discovered her through Warrior. Joining a show that has a cult following like that is a massive gamble, especially in its third season. She stepped in as Yan Mi, the daughter of a local print shop owner in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Unlike the rest of the cast who spend half their time kicking people through walls, Yan Mi was different. She wasn't a fighter. She was the brains. She was the one forging currency and trying to navigate the debt her father owed to the Hop Wei. It’s kinda refreshing to see a character in a martial arts show who survives on pure wit and a printing press rather than a flying sidekick.
Muirhead brought a groundedness to the 1870s setting. You really felt the weight of her choice to help Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), knowing full well it could get her entire family killed.
👉 See also: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
From Indie Horror to Netflix Medical Drama
Before the big HBO/Max and Netflix checks started rolling in, Muirhead was doing the heavy lifting in Canadian indies. If you’re a horror fan, you’ve probably stumbled across Spare Parts (2020). It’s a cult-favorite "junkyard" horror movie where she plays Jill. It’s messy, it’s low-budget, and it’s surprisingly fun.
But then everything changed with Pulse.
Netflix’s first original medical procedural, which hit screens in early 2025, put her front and center as Sophie Chan. This wasn't just another Grey’s Anatomy clone. The show focused on a Level 1 trauma center in Miami during a hurricane. Chelsea played an overworked surgical intern, a role she told CBC Arts she felt prepared for because she spent years working late-night bartending shifts in Toronto while trying to make it as an actor.
"Early morning call times are nothing when you've spent years closing a bar at 3:00 AM," she joked in a recent interview.
✨ Don't miss: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
Sadly, Netflix pulled the plug on Pulse after one season in July 2025. It’s a bummer, but the show did exactly what it needed to do—it proved she can lead a massive production.
Chelsea Muirhead Movies and TV Shows: The Full Rundown
If you're looking to binge her work, here is the list of where she actually shows up. Don't expect a 50-item list; she’s quality over quantity right now.
- Pulse (2025) – Plays Sophie Chan. It’s a 10-episode stint on Netflix. If you like high-stress hospital vibes, start here.
- Warrior (2023) – Season 3. She’s Yan Mi. This is her best work to date, hands down.
- Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent (2024) – She popped up in the episode "The Sound of Silence" as Rachel Flowers. Very "hometown hero" moment for a Toronto native.
- A Chef’s Deadly Revenge (2024) – A TV movie where she plays Megan. It's exactly what the title suggests. Pure popcorn entertainment.
- Slo Pitch (2020-2022) – She was a series regular as Sasha. It’s a web series about a beer-league softball team. It’s hilarious and shows off her comedic timing, which people often forget she has because she does so much drama.
- Adult Adoption (2022) – She plays Nola in this indie feature.
- Spare Parts (2020) – Jill. Chainsaws, punk rock vibes, and plenty of gore. Not for everyone, but great if you like 80s-style practical effects.
- Meet Me in New York (2022) – Emma. This is her foray into the "feel-good" holiday/romance genre.
Why the "Filipino-Scottish" Heritage Matters
You’ve probably seen it mentioned in her bio, but Chelsea is Filipino-Scottish. She grew up in Mississauga and trained at the Ryerson School of Performance (now TMU). She’s been very vocal about how representation in shows like Warrior felt personal. For a long time, Canadian actors of color were relegated to "Best Friend #2" or "Background Doctor." Seeing her move into roles where her heritage is either central to the plot (like in Warrior) or just a natural part of her identity (like in Pulse) is a big deal for the Toronto film scene.
She’s part of a new wave of Canadian talent—alongside folks like Simu Liu or Maitreyi Ramakrishnan—who aren't just moving to LA and disappearing. She still talks about her dog Mowgli and taking him to the Toronto Islands.
🔗 Read more: Why American Beauty by the Grateful Dead is Still the Gold Standard of Americana
What’s Next for Chelsea?
While Pulse getting canceled was a hit, her stock has never been higher. By early 2026, the industry buzz is that she’s looking at more feature-length projects. She has a background in Shakespeare (she played Regan in King Lear in college), so don't be surprised if she ends up in a prestige period drama or a big-budget thriller soon.
If you want to support her work, the best thing to do is actually watch Warrior on Max. Even though the show was officially canceled, the viewership numbers on streaming are what determine if these actors get their next big contract.
Your Next Steps:
- Watch Warrior Season 3: It’s her most complex performance.
- Check out Slo Pitch: It’s free on certain platforms and shows she isn't just a "serious" actor.
- Follow her socials: She’s pretty active about her Toronto roots and behind-the-scenes life on set.
The era of Chelsea Muirhead is just getting started. Keep an eye on her; she's about one big movie role away from becoming a household name.