Being a child actor can be hard. You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to understand that thrusting fame and the Hollywood lifestyle onto a young person is a recipe for disaster. Think Lindsay Lohan, Corey Feldman, Hell, even that little girl on Fox’s “X Factor” last year. Few child actor stories turn out for the better…unless you’re Mercedes McNab. Mercedes has somehow navigated through a career in Hollywood with dignity and integrity and has launched a career that has lasted over two decades.
McNab’s first noteworthy appearance was in 1991’s The Addams Family, where she played a mean girl scout. Two years later she would be brought back as Amanda Buckman – a much larger role – in the 1993 sequel The Addams Family Values. These movies are absolute classics and you can see Mercedes acting chops already blossoming at such a young age.
Her career was not limited to the big screen, either. For years she would rack up credits on popular television shows including “Harry and The Hendersons,” “Touched By An Angel,” “Walker Texas Ranger,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Boston Public,” “Reaper,” “Supernatural,” “Psych,” and “Criminal Minds.” Although, midway through her television career she would land her first breakout role.
In 1996 Mercedes McNab auditioned for the role of Buffy Summers in a pilot being created by the now iconic director Joss Whedon. While she didn’t win the role she initially auditioned for, Mercedes would be brought onto the historic television series “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” as a mean girl and the sidekick to Cordelia Chase, Harmony Kendall. Mercedes would appear in 16 episodes of “Buffy,” before moving to the spin-off series, “Angel,” where she would play Harmony in another 17 episodes. Her affiliation with the series lasted eight years, and has since expanded into the comic book continuations.
After “Buffy,” and “Angel,” McNab would return to the big screen with a stream of horror films, most notably the 2006 hit Hatchet, where she played Misty. After Hatchet, she would appear in Vipers, XII, and Dark Reel all in 2008, as well as Thirst in 2010.
Her last starring role to date was a 2011 comedy movie titled Glass Heels. If you’re wondering where she’s been for three years, well, there’s a reason for that. Mercedes marries her husband in May of 2012, and gave birth to a daughter in February of 2013. Just as with her “Buffy” co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mercedes looks to be putting her family first and focusing on their wellbeing and future. Certainly a ton of respect is deserved there, and lots of well wishes, too.
Mercedes is a 2006 Playboy cover girl (and FHM, for that matter), so here’s hoping she returns with that body, personality, and skill sometime soon. I know that I’ll be patiently waiting for this Canadian native’s return to acting!
