Honestly, it's pretty rare to see an actress jump from gritty sci-fi thrillers to the gentle, tea-soaked world of 1960s East London without missing a single beat. But that’s exactly what Molly Vevers has done. If you’ve been watching molly vevers movies and tv shows lately, you probably recognized her as the fresh-faced postulant, Sister Catherine, who just joined the ranks of Nonnatus House in Call the Midwife. She arrived with a splash—literally—helping Nurse Crane through a difficult birth on her very first day.
It wasn't that long ago we were watching her navigate the terrifying, oil-slicked corridors of a haunted rig in the North Sea.
Molly isn't some "overnight success" that popped out of nowhere. She’s a powerhouse Scottish actress who has been grinding in the theater scene for years. Born in Cardiff but raised in the seaside town of North Berwick, she basically grew up around the arts. Her dad was a taxi driver and her mum worked for the Scottish Parliament, but they both did amateur dramatics on the side. That’s where the spark came from.
She eventually went off to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and that training is super obvious in the way she carries herself on screen. There’s a groundedness to her. She doesn't just "act"; she inhabits.
The Breakout: From The Rig to Poplar
Before she was wearing the habit, Molly Vevers was Heather Shaw. If you haven't seen The Rig on Amazon Prime, you're missing out on some intense, claustrophobic drama. She played a rig hand who was smart, capable, and arguably one of the most relatable characters in a cast full of big personalities like Martin Compston and Iain Glen.
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Playing Heather was a massive shift from her earlier work. It was physical. It was dirty. It was high-stakes.
Then came The Long Shadow. This was a heavy one. Molly took on the role of Irene Richardson, one of the real-life victims of Peter Sutcliffe. It’s the kind of role that requires a huge amount of empathy and respect, and she delivered a performance that felt deeply human rather than just a plot point in a true-crime checklist.
But then, the pivot. Joining a show as established as Call the Midwife in its 14th and 15th seasons is a tall order. You’re entering a machine that’s been running for over a decade. Her character, Sister Catherine Cantwell, is a bit of an enigma. She’s a trainee midwife and a postulant, meaning she hasn’t taken her final vows yet. She’s bright and eager, but there’s a clear sense that she’s navigating some heavy internal conflict regarding her non-religious family.
Why Molly Vevers is the one to watch in 2026
It’s 2026 now, and Molly’s career trajectory is basically a vertical line. She’s managed to secure a spot as a series regular in one of the BBC’s biggest exports, which is basically the "Golden Ticket" for UK actors. But she isn't leaving her roots behind.
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She’s always been a "theatre person" at heart. Back in 2015, she won The Stage Award for Acting Excellence for a solo show called Ross & Rachel. If you can hold an audience’s attention by yourself for an hour, you can do anything. That stage presence is exactly why she stands out in ensemble casts. She knows how to hold her space.
A Quick Look at the Molly Vevers Filmography
If you’re trying to catch up on her work, you don't have a massive backlog of 50 movies to get through, which is actually kind of nice. You can see the evolution of her craft pretty clearly.
- Call the Midwife (2025–Present): As Sister Catherine. This is where she’s becoming a household name. Expect her to be a major player in the upcoming Season 15 and 16.
- The Rig (2023–2025): As Heather Shaw. Series 2 recently hit, and she’s just as vital to the survival of that crew as she was in the first season.
- The Long Shadow (2023): As Irene Richardson. A somber, respectful performance in a high-profile ITV drama.
- The Spanish Princess (2019): A smaller role, but a good look at her in a period costume before the midwife habit became her daily uniform.
- Doctors (2018): Like every great British actor, she did her time on the long-running soap.
- Chubby Funny (2016): A foray into the world of indie film.
What’s interesting about Molly is that she isn't just sticking to one "vibe." She goes from period drama to sci-fi to gritty true crime. That versatility is what keeps casting directors calling.
What's next for Sister Catherine?
Word on the street—and by "the street," I mean the BBC press releases—is that the world of Call the Midwife is expanding massively. We’re looking at a prequel series set during World War II and even a feature film set in 1972.
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Since Molly’s character is part of the "new generation" at Nonnatus House, she’s perfectly positioned to bridge the gap as the show moves deeper into the 70s. We've already seen Sister Catherine struggle with her first solo delivery and get involved in the Women's Lib movement. In 2026, we’re likely going to see her grapple more with the tension between her religious calling and the changing social landscape of the decade.
The "Molly Vevers" approach to acting
There is something very "un-actor-y" about her in interviews. She talks about being nervous during birth scenes. She talks about how Tom Cruise’s helicopter once interrupted filming in London because he was nearby for Mission: Impossible. She feels like someone who is genuinely excited to be there.
That authenticity translates to the screen. When Sister Catherine looks terrified during a complicated delivery, it feels real because Molly has been vocal about how "technical" and high-pressure those scenes actually are to film. They use real babies, you know. They bring them in at the last second to get the shot. It’s intense.
How to follow her journey
If you want to keep up with her, she’s relatively active on Instagram, posting bits of her life in London or her runs through the city. She’s a big runner, apparently.
But really, the best way to support her is to watch the work. The Rig is still one of the best-produced British sci-fi shows in years, and her performance is a huge reason why.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch The Rig Series 2 on Amazon Prime if you haven't seen it yet—it's a totally different side of her compared to the BBC.
- Keep an eye out for the Call the Midwife movie announcements; though it's set in 1972, the younger cast members like Molly are rumored to be central to the "mercy mission" plotline.
- Check out her early theatre work mentions if you’re a drama nerd; Ross & Rachel is a masterclass in solo performance if you can find a recording or a revival.