One of the best Canadian TV series ever would have to be Degrassi. There have been many "generations" of the show and it has continually gotten better. The teen drama sheds light on what life is like for high school students who are going through some very serious issues. Some of the subject matter covered includes teen pregnancy, eating disorders, and domestic abuse.
Drake is obviously one of the most popular rappers alive and he got his start on Degrassi back in the day when he was much younger. Nina Dobrev, the leading actress of The Vampire Diaries, also got her start on Degrassi. They might be the most famous stars to come from the show but these stars are pretty impressive also.
10 Miriam McDonald Played Emma Nelson
The character of Emma Nelson existed in earlier seasons of Degrassi and she was played by Miriam McDonald. Storylines revolving around the character of Emma were always very interesting because she was going through those coming-of-age issues that preteen and teenage girls all must face while surrounded by boys that she liked, friends, teachers, and more. These days, Miriam McDonald is totally focused on taking care of her dog, keeping up with her fitness, and sending shoutouts to fans via Cameo.
9 Cassie Steele Played Manny Santos
Who could ever forget the rebellious character of Manny Santos who wore inappropriate underwear to school and hooked up with a boy who is much older than her when she was only a freshman! Cassie Steele is the actress behind the role. Post her Degrassi days, she landed a leading role in a 2012 drama called the LA Complex that only lasted for one season. If you asked us, the show definitely deserved another season! Especially with her in a leading role.
8 Lauren Collins Played Paige Michaels
The character of Paige Michaels was the pretty, popular girl who was sometimes a little bit mean to her classmates and sometimes a little bit bossy within her relationship. Lauren Collins is the actress who brought the role away. She hasn’t really done a lot of acting since her days on Degrassi but according to Instagram, she is living a very fulfilling life as a mother! In her bio, she mentions that she played the mean girl on TV but she is not a mean girl in real life.
7 Shenae Grimes Played Darcy Edwards
After Degrassi, Shenae Grimes really made a name herself in 90210. She starred in the show alongside Anna Lynne McCord, Jessica Stroup, and Jessica Lowndes. The show is a rebooted version of the older one from the 80s that was so successful. Shenae Grimes played the role of Darcy Edwards on Degrassi, the pure and innocent virgin who ended up getting taken advantage of.
6 Raymond Ablack Played Sav Bandari
Most recently, people have seen Raymond Ablack in Ginny & Georgia on Netflix! The Netflix original show is already receiving a lot of praise. We hope to see more of him because after seeing him get his start as Sav Bandari on Degrassi, he has been moving in the right direction as an actor. Some of the other rules he has landed include Shadowhunters, Teenagers, and Buffaloed with Zoey Deutch.
5 Sara Waisglass Played Frankie Hollingsworth
Frankie Hollingsworth was such an adorable, yet troubled, teenager on the Degrassi. She was played by Sara Waisglass who has constantly been compared to a young Leighton Meester. In all seriousness, they really do look like they could be sisters!
The two have got the same porcelain skin, the same super deep dimples, the same beautiful smiles, the same grenades, and the same brown hair! They definitely need to be cast in a movie as family members at some point.
4 Olivia Scriven Played Maya Matlin
The character of Maya Matlin went through a lot of emotional turmoil during her time on Degrassi. She was part of a devastating bus accident and it let her down the path of thinking about death way more than she should have been at her young age. Her morbid thoughts also surfaced after her boyfriend committed suicide. Olivia Scriven is the actress behind the role. She was so believable and some other difficult scenes that it would be impossible to forget her.
3 Chelsea Clark Played Esme Song
Chelsea Clark is another young actress that bands will recognize in Netflix’s new Ginny and Georgia. She plays the role of one of the rebellious friends who likes to shoplift and get into a little bit of trouble.
During her days on Degrassi, she played the role of Esme Song, a girl who was very troubled and constantly seeking attention. Although both characters she plays seem to be a bit edgier, her new character is certainly a lot more normal.
2 Stacey Farber Played Ellie Nash
Stacey Farber played Ellie Nash on Degrassi, a girl who had her gay best friend’s back by pretending to be his girlfriend until he was ready to tell the truth about his sexual orientation. In later seasons, fans got to see Ellie go off to college and actually meet a guy who liked her on a serious level. Stacey Farber also joined the cast of Virgin River as well as Superman & Lois.
1 Landon Liboiron Played Declan Coyne
Declan Coyne was the rich boy in Degrassi who thought he could control and manipulate others through his wealth. In some instances, he did get his way. In real life, Landon Liboiron isn’t actually like that. He is a good guy who seems to be super artsy things these days, according to his Instagram. He posts a lot about music, art, and his visually beautiful surroundings.