If you’ve spent any amount of time in the sprawling, horse-filled world of Heartland, you know Jade Virani. She’s the rebellious, bronc-riding, occasionally blunt force of nature that shook up the Bartlett-Fleming ranch. But here is the thing: the actress behind the boots, Madison Cheeatow, has a career that stretches way beyond the fences of Hudson, Alberta.
Honestly, it is kind of wild how many people only know her from one show. You've probably seen her face in a dozen other places without even realizing it. From teen sleuth adventures to bloody slasher anthology series, Cheeatow has quietly built a filmography that proves she’s one of the most versatile Canadian talents working today.
The Heartland Legacy: More Than a One-Note Rebel
Madison Cheeatow joined the cast of Heartland back in Season 7. At first, Jade Virani was basically the "problem child." She was angry, lost, and had zero interest in being at the ranch.
But as the seasons ticked by—specifically through the lens of her friendship with Georgie—Jade became something else entirely. She became a professional bronc rider. Cheeatow has often talked about how she actually uses a mechanical "bucking" horse for those scenes, powered by a crew member pulling a lever, which sounds way less glamorous than it looks on screen. Still, her performance sold the grit.
Jade wasn't just a side character; she represented a specific kind of growth that Heartland fans love. She went from having no path to finding a purpose in the rodeo. Even though she’s appeared in fewer episodes in the most recent seasons, her impact on the show’s DNA is massive.
The Darker Side: Slasher and Beyond
If you think Cheeatow is all about wholesome family drama, you haven't seen Slasher.
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In the second season of the anthology series, titled Guilty Party, she played Keira. It was a total 180 from the ranch. Instead of worrying about cattle and stables, her character was trapped in a snowy wilderness at a former summer camp where a killer was picking people off one by one.
It was brutal. It was bloody. And it showed that Madison can handle high-stakes horror just as well as she handles a western saddle.
Why Slasher Changed Everything
- Genre-Flipping: It proved she wasn't "typecast" as the rural teen.
- Physicality: The role required intense emotional and physical endurance in harsh filming conditions.
- The "Final Girl" Energy: Even in an ensemble, she held her own against veteran horror actors.
Solving Crimes and Living the Indie Life
Long before she was a household name for CBC viewers, she was the title character in Ruby Skye P.I.. This was a digital-first series that eventually grew into several movies, including The Maltese Puppy and The Haunted Library.
Playing a teenage private investigator is basically a rite of passage for young actors, but Cheeatow brought a specific kind of charm to Ruby Skye that made the series a cult favorite. It’s light, it’s fun, and it’s arguably where she learned the technical ropes of leading a production.
Then you have her indie film work. Movies like Sadie's Last Days on Earth (2016) and the more recent We're All in This Together (2021) show her range in the comedy-drama space. In We're All in This Together, directed by Katie Boland, she plays Tanya. It’s a messy, honest look at a dysfunctional family, and it’s a far cry from the polished world of network TV.
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Madison Cheeatow Movies and TV Shows: A Quick Career Snapshot
I know you're probably looking for a specific list, so let's break down the "must-watches" if you're trying to see everything she’s done.
Television Highlights:
- Heartland (2013–Present): Her longest-running role as Jade Virani.
- Slasher: Guilty Party (2017): Playing the ill-fated Keira in a psychological horror setting.
- Hudson & Rex (2019): A guest spot as Allora Crawford.
- Private Eyes (2020): Appeared in the episode "Under Par-essure."
- Good Witch (2019): A two-episode arc in the "Forever Tree" storyline.
- Wingin' It (2013): One of her earliest roles as Amanda.
Film Credits:
- We're All in This Together (2021): A poignant family drama where she plays Tanya.
- Sadie's Last Days on Earth (2016): A quirky end-of-the-world comedy where she plays Dee.
- The Last Christmas (2021): A holiday-themed project that showcases her directing and acting skills.
- Ruby Skye P.I. Films: Multiple titles where she leads as the titular detective.
Directing and the Future
Something most people don't know? Madison isn't just in front of the camera. She’s been diving deep into directing and producing lately. She directed the short film The Last Christmas, which she also starred in.
It’s a smart move. In the Canadian film industry, being a "multi-hyphenate" is basically a superpower. By learning how to call the shots, she’s ensuring her career lasts way longer than any single TV contract.
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She’s also very vocal about her life in Toronto and her family, often sharing bits of her personal world on social media. It makes her feel accessible, sort of like that cool older sister you wish you had.
What to Watch Next
If you’re a die-hard Heartland fan who hasn’t explored her other work, start with Slasher. Just... maybe don't watch it with the kids. It’s a shock to the system to see Jade Virani in a horror movie, but it’s worth it to see her acting chops.
If you want something lighter, go back and find Ruby Skye P.I.. It’s nostalgic and shows exactly why she was a star from the beginning.
Madison Cheeatow isn't just a girl on a horse. She's a director, a horror survivor, a teen detective, and a staple of Canadian television. As we head further into 2026, keep an eye on her directorial projects. That’s likely where the next big chapter of her career is going to happen.
Actionable Insight: If you want to support independent Canadian film, look for We're All in This Together on streaming platforms like Amazon Prime or Apple TV. It’s one of her most "human" performances and a great example of the high-quality indie cinema coming out of Toronto.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the Slasher: Guilty Party season on Shudder or Netflix for a total change of pace.
- Follow her production updates to see when her next directorial effort drops.
- Rewatch Heartland Season 10 to see Jade’s peak bronc-riding arc.