If you’ve spent any time on the weird, neon-soaked streets of Riverdale or got caught up in the high-stakes hospital hallways of Nurses, you definitely know Tiera Skovbye. Or at least, you think you do. Most people tend to pigeonhole her as "Betty’s sister with the twins" or the "Hallmark girl," but honestly? That’s barely scratching the surface of what she’s been doing for the last two decades.
The Vancouver-born actress has been a working pro since she was seven. Seven! While most of us were still figuring out how to tie our shoes without tripping, she was already booking commercials. Since then, she’s built a filmography that is frankly exhausting to read through. She’s popped up in everything from cult-classic horror to prestige true crime, and yet, there’s still this weird misconception that she’s a newcomer.
She isn't.
The Riverdale Effect and the Polly Cooper Mystery
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: Polly Cooper. For a lot of fans, Riverdale was the introduction to Tiera Skovbye. Playing Polly was a bit of a thankless task at first. She was the "crazy sister" locked away in a group home, then she was the mother of "cult babies," and then—well, things got typically Riverdale-esque.
But what people get wrong is thinking that Riverdale was her "big break." By the time she stepped onto that set in 2017, she had already been in Supernatural, Arrow, and headlined a Lifetime movie playing Elizabeth Berkley. Polly Cooper was just the role that made the internet notice her.
Interestingly, her time on the show was always a bit of a balancing act. Because she’s so in demand, she was constantly hopping between the CW set and other major projects. You might remember she vanished for a while to go play Robin (the daughter of Zelena and Robin Hood) on Once Upon a Time. It’s a testament to her talent that showrunners are usually willing to work around her schedule rather than just writing her off.
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Breaking the "Typecast" in Dirty John and 2 Hearts
If you only know her from teen dramas, you’re missing the best stuff. Honestly, her turn as Young Betty Broderick in Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story is probably her most underrated performance. She had the impossible task of playing the younger version of Amanda Peet, showing the slow, agonizing erosion of a woman’s sanity.
It wasn't just about looking like a 1960s housewife. She had to sell the genuine love that eventually turned into a murderous rage.
Then you’ve got 2 Hearts. Starring opposite Jacob Elordi, she played Sam in a story that—fair warning—will absolutely wreck you. It’s based on a true story about organ donation and interconnected lives. While critics were mixed on the film’s sentimentality, everyone pretty much agreed that Skovbye was the emotional anchor. She has this way of being incredibly grounded even when the plot around her is getting a little soap-opera-y.
The Lead Era: Nurses and Ride
In the last few years, we’ve seen her move from "memorable supporting actress" to "undisputed lead."
- Nurses: She played Grace Knight, a young nurse trying to outrun a messy past. It was a gritty, fast-paced Canadian medical drama that eventually found a huge audience on NBC in the States.
- Ride: This is her most recent big swing. Playing Missy McMurray in the Hallmark rodeo dynasty drama, she traded the stethoscope for cowboy boots.
What’s cool about Ride is that it isn’t your typical "small town girl finds love at a pumpkin patch" Hallmark flick. It’s more of a Yellowstone-lite family saga. She plays a former rodeo queen and a widow, which gave her some heavy emotional lifting to do. It’s probably the most "mature" role she’s taken on to date, dealing with grief and legacy rather than just high school angst.
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Tiera Skovbye Movies and Shows: A Quick Career Snapshot
To give you an idea of the sheer volume of work, look at the variety here. She doesn't stay in one lane for long.
| Project Type | Notable Titles |
|---|---|
| The Cult Classics | Summer of 84, Even Lambs Have Teeth |
| The Big TV Dramas | Riverdale, Once Upon a Time, Dirty John |
| Leading Series | Nurses, Ride |
| The Early Days | Supernatural, The Troop, Painkiller Jane |
Why She’s Actually a Scream Queen in Disguise
Here is the thing no one talks about: Tiera is low-key a horror icon.
If you haven't seen Summer of 84, go fix that. It’s a retro-slasher/mystery where she plays Nikki, the "girl next door" who is way more than just a trope. It captures that 80s nostalgia perfectly. And then there’s Even Lambs Have Teeth, which is a brutal, stylized revenge thriller. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it showed a side of her that is miles away from the polished Hallmark image.
She’s also part of the Bring It On franchise now, starring in Bring It On: Cheer or Die. Yes, it’s a slasher movie about cheerleading. It’s campy, it’s weird, and she’s great in it.
The "Secret" Sister Connection
A fun bit of trivia that usually surprises people is that Tiera isn't the only Skovbye taking over your TV screen. Her younger sister, Ali Skovbye, is the lead in the massive Netflix hit Firefly Lane (she plays young Tully).
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The two of them actually played sisters on screen once in a TV movie called Forever 16. They also both guest-starred on Supernatural, though in different episodes. It’s rare to see two siblings navigate the industry from such a young age without the typical "child star" burnout, but they both seem remarkably well-adjusted. Tiera has been pretty open about her mental health journey, too, which has made her a bit of a hero to fans who appreciate her being "real" on Instagram rather than just posting curated headshots.
What's Next for Tiera Skovbye?
As of 2026, Tiera is clearly moving into the "producer" phase of her career. She’s mentioned in interviews that she’s developing her own projects. Given her background in martial arts, she’s also been vocal about wanting to do a full-blown action role. Honestly? It’s about time. We've seen her do the drama, the horror, and the romance. Seeing her in a John Wick-style flick would be the logical next step.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you want to actually see the range of Tiera Skovbye movies and shows, don't just stick to the stuff that trends on TikTok.
- Watch "Summer of 84" for her best film performance.
- Binge "Dirty John" Season 2 to see her act circles around people in a period piece.
- Check out "Ride" if you want something comfort-watchy but with actual depth.
- Follow her social advocacy. She’s one of the few actors who actually talks about the reality of the job and mental health without it feeling like a PR stunt.
She’s been in the game for twenty years, but it feels like she’s just getting started. The transition from "the girl in that show" to a household name is almost complete. Just don't call her a newcomer.