It’s the red hair. That’s usually the first thing people look for when they start wondering who played Anne of Green Gables, but honestly, the carrot-colored braids are just the surface. Anne Shirley is a whirlwind. She is a temperamental, poetic, and fiercely independent orphan who somehow became the patron saint of Prince Edward Island. Finding the right face for her isn’t just about a wig; it’s about finding someone who can handle those massive, four-syllable words and the "depths of despair" without looking ridiculous.
Lucy Maud Montgomery’s creation has been around since 1908. Since then, we’ve seen dozens of adaptations. Some were silent films lost to time, and others were big-budget Netflix swings that divided the fandom right down the middle. If you’re trying to keep track of the lineage, you have to go back further than you think.
The Megan Follows Era: The Gold Standard
For a huge chunk of the population, Megan Follows is Anne. Period. End of story. When Kevin Sullivan’s 1985 miniseries aired on CBC, it didn't just become a hit; it became a cultural landmark.
Follows wasn't even the obvious choice. She actually had to audition several times. Sullivan was looking for someone who could balance the grit of an orphan with the whimsy of a dreamer. She nailed it. Her chemistry with Jonathan Crombie, who played Gilbert Blythe, is the stuff of actual legends. People still talk about that "carrots" scene like it happened yesterday.
What makes the 1985 version work—and why Follows remains the definitive who played Anne of Green Gables answer for millions—is the pacing. It’s slow. It breathes. You see her grow from a spindly, talkative child into a young woman who still gets into scrapes but carries herself with a certain grace. Follows returned for The Sequel in 1987, which combined several of Montgomery’s later books. Even when the third installment, The Continuing Story, went completely off the rails into a weird WWI spy drama (which, let's be real, was a bit much), Megan Follows remained the grounded heart of the whole thing.
Amybeth McNulty and the Gritty Reboot
Fast forward to 2017. Netflix and CBC teamed up for Anne with an E. This was a different beast entirely. It wasn't the "sun-dappled fields" vibe of the 80s. It was darker.
Amybeth McNulty was cast as the lead, and she was a revelation. While Follows brought a theatrical flair to the role, McNulty brought trauma. You could see the PTSD in her eyes. It was a more realistic, albeit more depressing, take on what an orphan in the late 1800s would actually be like.
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McNulty had this incredible way of speaking—almost like she couldn't get the words out fast enough. It felt urgent. This version of the character tackled modern issues like gender identity, racism, and social injustice, which sparked some heavy debates among purists. But regarding the question of who played Anne of Green Gables with the most raw vulnerability? It’s hard to beat McNulty. She grew up on screen over three seasons, and fans were so devastated when it was canceled that they literally bought a billboard in Times Square to bring it back. It didn’t work, but it showed how much she resonated.
The Silent Films and the Early Talkies
We usually forget that Anne existed on film long before color television was a thing. Back in 1919, Mary Miles Minter played her in a silent film. Minter was a huge star at the time, but the film is actually considered "lost," meaning no known copies exist today. It's a tragedy for film historians.
Then came the 1934 version. This is a weird one. The lead actress was born Dawn Evelyeen Paris, but she legally changed her name to Anne Shirley just to promote the movie. Talk about commitment to the bit. She was quite good, actually. She brought a sweetness that the 1930s audiences craved, and she even came back for a sequel called Anne of Windy Poplars in 1940. If you ever see an old black-and-white clip of a very "proper" looking Anne, it’s probably her.
International Versions and the Anime Influence
Here is something most people miss: Anne is a massive superstar in Japan. Huge.
In 1979, Isao Takahata (the guy who co-founded Studio Ghibli) directed an animated series called Akage no An (Red-Haired Anne). While it’s not a live-action performance, the voice acting in this series defined the character for an entire generation of Japanese fans. It’s arguably the most faithful adaptation ever made, following the book almost page-by-page.
There was also a 1972 British miniseries starring Rosemary Nicols. It’s hard to find now, and it’s very... British. The accent is different, the vibe is more "BBC drama," and it doesn't quite have the Canadian soul that the story usually requires.
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Breaking Down the Main Performances
- Mary Miles Minter (1919): The pioneer. Sadly, we can't watch her work anymore.
- Anne Shirley (1934): The girl who literally took the character's name. Classic Hollywood style.
- Megan Follows (1985-2000): The definitive version for most fans. Perfect balance of humor and heart.
- Kim Braden (1972/1975): Played her in two different BBC miniseries. Very traditional.
- Hannah Endicott-Douglas (2008): Played a young Anne in Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning. This one featured Barbara Hershey as an older Anne, which was an interesting, if confusing, choice.
- Ella Ballentine (2016): Starred in a series of TV movies for PBS. She was younger and brought a very "spunky" energy, though the scripts were a bit more sanitized.
- Amybeth McNulty (2017-2019): The modern, complex Anne. A bit darker, very emotional.
Why Does It Matter Who Plays Her?
The character of Anne Shirley is unique because she’s a talker. In most books, you know what a character is thinking because the author tells you. In Anne of Green Gables, you know what she’s thinking because she won’t stop saying it. This is a nightmare for an actress.
If you play her too loud, she’s annoying. If you play her too quiet, she’s not Anne.
The actress has to make you believe that this girl actually sees "The White Way of Delight" when she looks at a row of trees. She has to make the "bosom friends" thing feel sincere, not cheesy. When you look at who played Anne of Green Gables over the years, the ones who failed were the ones who treated her like a normal kid. She’s not normal. She’s an alien who landed in a small town and decided to love everything to death.
The Weird Side of the History
There was a 2008 film directed by Kevin Sullivan that actually tried to rewrite the history. It was called A New Beginning. They cast Barbara Hershey as an aging Anne Shirley looking back on her life. It introduced a bunch of backstory about her father that wasn't in the books. Fans hated it. It felt like a betrayal of the character's origins. It just goes to show that even with a powerhouse like Hershey, if the spirit of the character isn't right, the audience won't buy it.
Then there’s the stage. Every year in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, a different actress takes on the role for Anne of Green Gables: The Musical. It’s been running since 1965. Dozens of women have donned the red wig there, and for many PEI locals, the "real" Anne is whoever is performing at the Confederation Centre of the Arts that summer.
How to Choose Which One to Watch
If you’re new to the world of Avonlea, the "who played it best" debate can be overwhelming. Honestly, it depends on what you want.
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If you want the cozy, nostalgic, "I want to drink tea and feel happy" experience, go with Megan Follows. It’s the closest to the "vibe" of the books. The 1985 series captures that specific Canadian autumn light that feels like a hug.
If you want something that feels like a modern prestige drama—think Lady Bird meets Little House on the Prairie—watch Amybeth McNulty. Be prepared to cry, though. It’s not a "light" watch.
If you’re a film nerd, try to hunt down the 1934 Anne Shirley version. It’s a fascinating look at how they handled the character before she became a global industry.
Moving Forward with the Story
The legend of Anne Shirley isn't going anywhere. There will eventually be another reboot. There will be another actress who has to dye her hair or put on a wig and scream at a boy for calling her "carrots."
The real magic is that the character is bigger than the actress. Whether it's the 1930s, the 80s, or the 2020s, the story of an outsider finding a home is universal.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Source: Read the original 1908 novel by L.M. Montgomery. Most films cut out the best "Anne-isms."
- Compare and Contrast: Watch the first episode of the 1985 series and the 2017 series back-to-back. The difference in tone tells you everything about how television has changed in 30 years.
- Visit the Island: If you're ever in Canada, go to Cavendish, PEI. Seeing the actual house that inspired the book makes you realize why the setting is just as important as the actress.