[3] Polly Shannon was born September 1, 1973, in Kingston, Ontario, and raised in Aylmer, Quebec.

[4] Her father, Michael Shannon, is a doctor who served in various senior posts at Health Canada, including director general for the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control.

[4] At the age of 13, after acting in theatre as a child, Shannon became a model, with assignments that took her to New York, London, and Tokyo.

In 1992, Shannon began her television career, landing a part in Catwalk, a YTV series about a struggling rock band.

In 2002, Shannon appeared in the popular comedy film Men with Brooms in the role of Joanne.