If you’ve spent any time on the Hallmark Channel or lost yourself in the forest of Storybrooke, you know exactly who Meghan Ory is. But honestly, most people just think of her as the girl in the red cape or the woman dealing with family drama on a scenic coastline. There is so much more to her career than just those two massive pillars.
She’s been a vampire. She’s been a cyberpunk rebel. She’s even faced off against zombies in a mall. Basically, her filmography is a wild ride through 2000s cult TV and modern comfort watches.
The Breakout: Once Upon a Time and the Ruby Factor
Let's get the big one out of the way. When we talk about meghan ory movies and shows, Once Upon a Time is the elephant in the room—a very stylish, red-velvet-wearing elephant.
Ory played Ruby, also known as Red Riding Hood. What made her performance stand out wasn't just the iconic outfit; it was the twist that she was actually the Big Bad Wolf herself. That duality gave her a chance to play someone vulnerable yet dangerous. It’s a shame, really, that she left the main cast after Season 2 to lead her own show, Intelligence. While she popped back for guest spots later, fans still argue that the show lost some of its grit when Ruby stopped being a series regular.
Moving Beyond Storybrooke: Intelligence and Chesapeake Shores
After the fantasy world, Ory swapped the cape for a gun and a high-tech earpiece in Intelligence. She played Riley Neal, a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting a guy who had a supercomputer in his brain.
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It was a complete 180 from the fairytale vibe.
The show didn’t last as long as it should have, but it proved she could carry a procedural drama. Not long after, she landed the role that would define the next decade of her life: Abby O’Brien in Chesapeake Shores.
If you haven’t seen it, it’s basically the ultimate "starting over" story. For six seasons, Ory anchored the O’Brien family. It’s soft, it’s emotional, and it’s the reason she’s now considered Hallmark royalty. Unlike some actors who shy away from the "cozy" genre, Ory leans into it with a sincerity that makes the O’Brien family feel like people you actually know.
The Deep Cuts: Vampire High and Cult Horror
Before the big hits, Meghan Ory was a staple of Canadian-produced teen TV. Anyone remember Vampire High?
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It was peak 2001. She played Sherry Woods, and the show has since become a bit of a cult classic for people who miss the Buffy era. She also did a lot of "scream queen" work in the mid-2000s. You can find her in movies like Decoys—a weirdly fun sci-fi horror about alien women—and Dark House.
Then there’s Dead Rising: Watchtower. If you’re a gamer, you know the franchise. Ory played Crystal O'Rourke, and she was surprisingly badass in it. It’s a gritty, zombie-slaying flick that feels worlds away from the sunny docks of Maryland.
Notable Guest Spots You Probably Missed
- Smallville: She played Megan Calder in the episode "Hereafter."
- Supernatural: Remember the episode "Adventures in Babysitting"? She was Sally.
- Psych: She had a fun guest role as Josie in the episode "Viagra Falls."
- Dark Angel: Early in her career, she appeared alongside Jessica Alba in this James Cameron-produced series.
Recent Work: 2024 and 2025 Projects
Meghan isn't slowing down. In 2024, she joined the cast of Sullivan's Crossing as Sedona Jones. It’s another heavy-hitting drama that fits perfectly into her wheelhouse of complex, character-driven stories.
She's also staying loyal to the holiday season. Her recent Hallmark films like Believe in Christmas (2024) and the upcoming A Christmas Angel Match (2025)—which she actually helped write—show that she’s taking more creative control behind the camera too. It’s cool to see an actor transition into the writer’s chair, especially in a genre they’ve dominated for years.
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How to Watch the Best of Meghan Ory
If you want to catch up on her best work, here is the roadmap:
- For the Fantasy Fan: Watch Once Upon a Time (specifically Seasons 1 and 2).
- For the Binge-Watcher: Dive into Chesapeake Shores on Hallmark or various streaming platforms.
- For the Cult TV Lover: Hunt down Vampire High or Merlin's Apprentice.
- For the Action Junkie: Check out Intelligence or Dead Rising: Watchtower.
Ory has this weirdly specific ability to fit into any genre. She can be the girl next door or the wolf in the woods, and you’ll believe her either way. Whether she’s writing new scripts for 2026 or appearing in the next big drama, she’s definitely established herself as a permanent fixture in the TV landscape.
To dive deeper into her filmography, check out her credits on IMDb or the Hallmark Channel official site to see where her newest movies are airing. If you're looking for her more obscure 2000s work, many of those Canadian series are now surfacing on ad-supported streaming apps like Tubi.