Extras! Extras! Read all about them!

Updated on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET.

Ice Cove, the fictional Nunavut community at the heart of the hit comedy series North of North, has fewer than 50 residents.

That’s if one estimates the population of the make-believe hamlet by counting the actors listed in the first season’s credits.

Fans of the Netflix/APTN/CBC show know that Ice Cove is at least as large as Resolute Bay — its nearest real neighbour on the map — whose population is about 180.

So who are the enigmatic Ice Cove inhabitants behind main character Siaja (Iqaluit actor Anna Lambe), her mother Neevee (Iqaluit actor Maika Harper), and Siaja’s bestie Millie (Ottawa actor Zorga Qaunaq) in the first eight episodes?

Actors who appear on camera but do not speak, while otherwise appearing busy in the background, are known in show business as “extras.”

Annie Angoyuak, a stay-at-home mother; Danny Proulx, driver for Iqaluit restaurant The Snack; and Ron McGregor, business administrator for Caribou Cabs, are anything but extra in real life, but onscreen the trio are among close to 60 background actors who portrayed Ice Covers during shoots in downtown Iqaluit on March 5 and 6. Their work was for Season 2 of North of North, scheduled to air in 2026.

Here’s a recounting of their two-day experience as extras:

March 5 — 7 a.m.: “Call-time!” Recruited over social media, the extras arrived at the Franco-Centre — production headquarters — dressed casually without logos visible, as they were instructed when they were hired. Angoyuak wore a Mother Hubbard parka. Proulx wore a plaid shirt and black jeans. McGregor also dressed comfortably.

Angoyuak had auditioned for a speaking part but she was too cheery to portray the grumpy vibe the director was going for. McGregor auditioned for the role of a tourist, but didn’t get it.

After 30 minutes, casting director Jason Boyd handed out paperwork. More waiting followed. People chatted or scrolled on their phones and snacked.

Angoyuak and Proulx each found familiar faces and made new friends with strangers. McGregor played cards with others.

Two more hours passed before about 20 extras were shuttled to the cadet hall for filming.

10 a.m.: “Action!” Producers accessorized the extras’ own wardrobes then gave each some simple directions about where to stand and what to do on camera.

But first, more waiting.

“It was a long process, but not boring,” Proulx said.

Angoyuak, a former production assistant with the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation in the analog 1990s, marvelled at the technology.

“TV production is no longer just a camera and a mic. Everything is digitized,” she said. “It was the most amazing thing to see them at work.”

The crew buzzed around the hall, adjusting props, lights and cameras.

“The production assistants did what they could to accommodate everyone, running around like little chickens without a head,” Angoyuak said. 

When they were not in motion they stared into monitors.

Off to the side, the principal actors rehearsed their lines over and over. The stars were “very friendly” and “very approachable,” Angoyuak said.

12 p.m.: “Cut!” The morning shoot wrapped and extras were shuttled back to the Franco-Centre for lunch, catered by the Aqsarniit Hotel.

In mid-afternoon they returned to the cadet hall.

2 p.m.: “Reset!” The extras were placed in new positions with fresh instructions. They were reminded to be quiet on set and were told to be aware of who was standing next to whom.

“They gave us directions — ‘stand here, stand there,’” Angoyuak said.

The filming — and the waiting — continued until 7 p.m.

Boyd instructed everyone to arrive the next day dressed in the same casual clothing the wore on Day 1.

March 6 — 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.: “Quiet on set!” The extras showed up wearing their same clothes. Proulx confided he had changed his underwear, which drew a chuckle and a head shake from Boyd. Everyone on set maintained good humour, the extras agreed.

When the cameras rolled, it was all business.

“With all those lights and the cameras and all those people, I would try to forget all the the crew and be in the moment,” Proulx said.

McGregor pulled out a new Japanese card game and taught others to play between shooting.

The second day unfolded much the same as the first, but ran 14 hours.

After his experience, Proulx said he would encourage anyone thinking of answering the next casting call for Ice Cove extras to go for it.

“Be natural and free your mind,” he said. 

Correction: This article has been updated from its originally published version to delete an incorrect reference to a role that Ron McGregor had auditioned for but didn’t get.