IN CONVERSATION WITH SARA WAISGLASS
interview by JANA LETONJA
Sara Waisglass stars as Maxine in the Netflix hit series 'Ginny & Georgia', which returned for its third season on 5th June. Sara first rose to notability as a child actress, playing the role of Jordy Cooper in the children's sitcom 'Overruled!', and some of her other notable roles include starring in 'Degrassi: The Next Generation' and 'Degrassi: Next Class'.
top and skirt KENZO
shoes ALEXANDRE BIRMAN
You’ve played a range of characters from Maxine in 'Ginny & Georgia' to Frankie in 'Degrassi: Next Class'. What draws you to a role when you first read a script?
To me, the character's voice is of the utmost importance. I think 90% of my impressions of a character come from the dialogue and the way they interact with the people they like vs. the people they hate. There's a lot of nuance in that, just as there is in real life. You can tell a lot about a person from their interactions. Behavior is everything. Once I read the script, only then do I turn to the character description, where they list the specific quirks and traits of the character. I take that information and treat it as a first round of direction, so I can fine tune the version of the character I originally created that felt the most authentic to the story.
In terms of being drawn to roles, I'm not picky. I love what I do. Every role I've played has taught me something. Every role has changed me, moved me and helped me grow as an actor and a person. I can't get enough of it.
jacket VAILLANT
shirt and tie PRADA
skirt LEO SEASON
shoes MANOLO BLAHNIK
Maxine is such a vivid and bold character. How did you prepare for that role, and in what ways do you relate, or not relate, to her?
She is the most dynamic character I have ever had the pleasure of playing. She's bighearted and loving but also fearless and out there, and that was probably the most daunting challenge for me when I got the role. In order to play a character like Max, you have to let go of what people think of you and trust your instincts. And you need a lot of energy. I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to do her justice or take up the room the way she demanded. Luckily, everyone who worked on season one of 'Ginny & Georgia' was encouraging and supportive, and the rest of our cast played their characters so well I had no choice but to believe they cast me for a reason.
I've always said Max is me if I were brave and drank ten cups of coffee a day. We love the same way and we care about our friends and family with the same ferocity. In terms of differences, I'd say I'm less brazen, whereas Max kind of bounces around with an enviable freedom. The cool thing is playing her has given me a lot of confidence and I wouldn't be surprised if I got to her level of bravery one day.
'Ginny & Georgia's is returning for its third season. What can the fans expect from the upcoming episodes and your character's story?
Coming off the heels of Season 2, Max wants nothing more than to be there for Ginny. She doesn't exactly have firsthand experience with having a mom on trial for murder, but you bet your bottom dollar she wants to help Ginny through it anyway. On top of that, fans will get a much closer look at the Baker family dynamics. The Baker family scenes are some of my favorites of the season. It's always so fun working with Chris and Jen and Felix, and I think that energy comes through on screen.
And yeah, maybe there's a musical.
top and skirt KENZO
shoes ALEXANDRE BIRMAN
How has your experience as a child actress shaped your approach to acting in later roles like Max in Ginny & Georgia?
I think working as a kid gave me a lot of perspective. I knew my way around a set before I could do long division. There's a comfort and familiarity that only comes with experience, and having that baseline makes it easier to relax into yourself on set. That ease gives you more freedom to play and be bold, something that has served me well playing Max.
Acting as a child also made me hyper aware of how competitive and difficult this industry can be. I have immense gratitude for my career and I know that no matter what happens from here on out, playing Max has been the adventure of a lifetime and I am so incredibly lucky to have played her.
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shirt and pants FILIPPA K
sunglasses VOGUE EYEWEAR
How do you approach roles in more intense projects compared to more light-hearted or teen dramas?
Cautiously. I've grown so comfortable in Max's shoes, I often worry she will bleed in to the other roles I play, so I've become my own drill sargeant in a way. I always want there to be differences in whichever roles I'm lucky enough to book. Intense projects require more prep and more discipline, which is a challenge for me, but one I can't wait to keep conquering as I go.
You mentioned a quote that really resonates with you: “A lot of people think acting is stepping into a different character, but it’s actually that character stepping out of you.” Can you expand on how this perspective has influenced your performances?
I do love that quote. We experience so much in our lives, and those experiences move us and evoke emotional responses that stay with us forever. We may not all go through the exact same things, but we can sympathize with each other based on our own brush-ups with similar emotions. So if I'm auditioning for a murderer, it's not like my preparation involves committing murder or convincing myself I could be a murderer. Instead, I'm accessing the part of myself that has experienced anger and hurt. Getting familiar enough with those powerful emotions builds a new persona, and I let that persona take the driver seat. That's what resonates on screen. Deep understanding of the characters you're playing and sincere empathy for people who seem irredeemable. It's a superpower.
top and skirt KENZO
shoes ALEXANDRE BIRMAN
What’s been the most challenging scene or character you've had to embody so far, and how did you overcome it?
Now that I've had three seasons to play Max, I've gotten a lot more comfortable with balancing all of her layers and taking up the room the way she always does. However, there was a scene we had to shoot that revolved around Max's inner dialogue. It was four pages of Max running around her room, jumping over her bed, looking in her closet, crawling on the floor, taking everything out of her bag, throwing it around the room. My God, it was just so much. It was a physical manifestation of what's always going on in Max's head. That was definitely the most challenging scene for me. Everything was so specific, I had to reach the exact same places and make the exact same movements each time so that the editors could stitch everything together. It took six hours to film. And it was the scariest six hours of my career.
How do you stay grounded in the fast-paced world of acting and fame, especially after the success of 'Ginny & Georgia'?
I owe my family and friends a great debt. They keep me grounded and humble and I am so grateful for that. I also think that because of my twenty years doing this, I'm aware of how absolutely bonkers it is that 'Ginny & Georgia' blew up the way it did. So few actors are lucky enough to experience this, even less Canadian actors, so I make sure I never take it for granted.
I also told all my friends that if I ever become an asshole, they have full permission to open-hand slap me across the face.
Would you ever consider writing, directing, or producing your own content someday?
Writing is a huge passion of mine. I went to school for it, and I'm still working at it and the hope is that one day I can create, perform and maybe even direct my own content. Maybe even Phoebe Waller-Bridge my way to an Emmy, who knows. I just want to make people laugh and reflect. That's what I think art is meant to do.
top and skirt KENZO
shoes ALEXANDRE BIRMAN
suit MARIUSZ BRZEZINSKI
shirt PRADA
earrings and shoes GIORGIO ARMANI
What are the things and passions you enjoy the most outside of acting?
Music is a huge part of my life. Singing with my family, harmonizing with my sister and playing piano are the foundations of who I am. It's really hard to have stability and consistency in this line of work, so hobbies are a must. I've also gotten into golf recently, so hoping that takes up a lot of my downtime this summer.
suit MARIUSZ BRZEZINSKI
shirt PRADA
earrings and shoes GIORGIO ARMANI
Besides the new season of 'Ginny & Georgia', what do you have coming up next?
I've got this project I've been working on with my two friends. It's a musical comedy and the songs are genuinely so catchy and genius. We're working on getting that off the ground, and when that happens, I'm sure I will never shut up about it. Other than that, hanging with my dog Shmoo and spending as much time outside as I can.
TEAM CREDITS:
talent SARA WAISGLASS
photography PERAZNA
styling KAMERON KUBICKI
makeup KELLY ZHANG
hair VINCENT PELLETIER at A-FRAME AGENCY using COLOR WOW
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial direction and interview JANA LETONJA
