Vanessa Burns is a Guyanese-English Canadian actress, writer, and producer best known for her recurring roles as Shelly on ABC’s Designated Survivor and Mrs. Calhoun on The Handmaid’s Tale. With over 20 years of experience, she has appeared in more than 40 film and television projects, as well as numerous national and international commercials.

In 2016, Burns produced, wrote, and starred in her first short film, Acting Up, which won Best Comedy at the Toronto International Short Film Festival. She received a MARTY Award for Outstanding Film and Video Arts in 2023 and is currently developing her feature-length screenplay, A Mother’s Vengeance.

In addition to her work on screen, Vanessa runs a successful corporate headshot photography business, drawing on her extensive on-camera experience to work with professionals across Canada.

    VANESSA BURNS - Official Website