Sarah Polley

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Sarah Polley
Flickr - nicogenin - Sarah Polley 66ème Festival de Venise (Mostra).jpg
Polley at the 66th Venice International Film Festival, September 11, 2009
Born (1979-01-08) January 8, 1979 (age 34)
Toronto, Ontario
Occupation Film director, actress, screenwriter
Years active 1985–present
Influenced by Woody Allen,[1] Ingmar Bergman,[2] Atom Egoyan, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Terrence Malick,[3] Wim Wenders[4]
Spouse(s) David Wharnsby (2003–2008; divorced)
David Sandomierski (2011–present)
Children 1 daughter

Sarah E. Polley (born January 8, 1979) is a Canadian actress, singer, film director, and screenwriter. Polley first attained notice in her role as Sara Stanley in the Canadian television series, Road to Avonlea. She has also starred in such films as Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter, Guinevere, Go, The Weight of Water, My Life Without Me, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Dawn of the Dead, Splice, and Mr. Nobody.

Polley made her feature film directorial debut with Away from Her, for which she won a Genie Award for Best Achievement in Direction and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Polley's second film, Take This Waltz, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2011.[5] Her latest film, Stories We Tell, is her first feature length documentary. It had its world premiere at the 2012 Venice Film Festival, and its North American premiere followed at the Toronto International Film Festival.[6] The Toronto Film Critics Association awarded it the $100,000 prize for best Canadian film of the year.[7]

Contents

Early life [edit]

Polley, the youngest of five siblings, was born in Toronto, Ontario. Her mother, Diane Elizabeth (née MacMillan), was an actress (Street Legal) and casting director who had died of cancer after Polley's 11th birthday.[8] Polley grew up believing that her biological father was Michael Polley, a British-born actor and insurance agent who had attended acting classes with Albert Finney in England before moving to Canada.[9][10] Polley discovered as an adult that her biological father was actually Harry Gulkin, with whom her mother had had an affair while working on a stage play in Montreal (as chronicled in Polley's film, Stories We Tell).[11] Gulkin, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, is a Quebec-born film producer who produced the 1975 Canadian film Lies My Father Told Me.[12][13][14] Polley met her biological father by accident and the connection was confirmed by a DNA test.[7][15]

Polley attended Subway Academy II, then Earl Haig Secondary School, but dropped out before graduating.

Career [edit]

Early career and fall-out with Disney [edit]

Her first cinematic appearance was at the age of four, as Molly in the Disney film One Magic Christmas. At age eight, she was cast as Ramona Quimby in the television series Ramona, based on Beverly Cleary's books. That same year, she also played one of the lead characters in Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Polley burst into the public eye the following year as Sara Stanley on the popular CBC television series Road to Avonlea. The series made her famous and financially independent, and she was hailed as "Canada's Sweetheart" by the popular press.[citation needed]

The show was picked up by the Disney Channel for distribution in the United States. At the age of 12 (around 1991), Polley attended an awards ceremony while wearing a peace sign to protest the first Gulf War. Disney executives asked her to remove it, and she refused. This soured her relationship with Disney, and she left Road to Avonlea in 1994.[16] The show itself was cancelled in 1996, although she did return as Sara Stanley for an episode in 1995 and for the final episode in 1996.[citation needed]

Polley at the premiere of Mr. Nobody at the 2009 Venice Film Festival.

Acting career as adult [edit]

Polley appeared as Lily on the CBC television series, Straight Up. It ran from 1996–1998 and she won the Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series for her role. Polley's subsequent role as Nicole Burnell in the 1997 film The Sweet Hereafter, brought her considerable attention in the United States; she was a fan favourite at the Sundance Film Festival. Her character in the film was an aspiring singer — on the soundtrack, she performed a cover of The Tragically Hip's "Courage" and Jane Siberry's "One More Colour", as well as the film's title track which she co-wrote with Mychael Danna. "Courage" was also played in the ending of an episode of Charmed, "Long Live the Queen" (Season 4 Episode 20). Polley appeared to two critically acclaimed small movies; 1998's Last Night, and the well-received 1999 film Go with budding actress Katie Holmes, to end out the 1990s.

She was cast in the role of Penny Lane in the big-budget 2000 film Almost Famous, but dropped out of the project to return to Canada for the low-budget The Law of Enclosures. Her role in the 2003 film My Life Without Me, garnered the Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in 2004. In the same year, she starred in a lead role in the stylish and successful remake of Dawn of the Dead, which was a departure from her other indie roles. In 2005 she starred in The Secret Life of Words, opposite Tim Robbins and Julie Christie.

In 2006 Polley took a role on the acclaimed series Slings and Arrows during its third and final season. Polley's father, Michael Polley was a regular on the show during its entire three season run. She served as a member of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival jury.[17] She was nominated as Best European Actress by the European Film Academy for her role as Hanna.[18] In 2008, Polley appeared as Nabby Adams in the HBO miniseries based on the life of John Adams. Polley appeared topless in one episode, in which her character has a mastectomy because of breast cancer. Polley played Elise in Jaco Van Dormael's Mr. Nobody, which was released in 2010. Critical response has praised the film's artistry and Polley's acting.[19] Later that year she also appeared in a cameo role in Bruce MacDonald's film Trigger.

Directing career [edit]

In 1999 Polley was invited to make her first short film, The Best Day of my Life for the On the Fly 4 Film Festival. She also made a second short film that year Don't Think Twice. Polley attended the Canadian Film Centre's directing program in 2001.

She made her feature-length film directing debut with Away from Her, based on the Alice Munro short story The Bear Came Over the Mountain. The movie, starring Julie Christie, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2006 as part of the TIFF's Gala showcase. Away from Her was acquired by Lionsgate for release in the US for the sum of $750,000. It drew rave reviews from Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and the three Toronto dailies, both for the performances of Christie and her co-star, Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent, and for Polley's direction. It also earned Polley a 2008 Academy Award nomination for her adapted screenplay and won the Genie Award for Best Achievement in Direction. At the 2008 Genies, she was also awarded the Claude Jutra Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement by a first-time feature film director. In 2011 her film Take This Waltz starring Michelle Williams, Luke Kirby, Seth Rogen and Sara Silverman premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

In 2012 her documentary film Stories We Tell premiered at the 69th Venice International Film Festival in competition in the Venice Days category. That same year she announced that she would be adapting Margaret Atwood's novel Alias Grace into a feature film.[20]

Polley takes pride in her work and enjoys both acting and directing but is not keen on combining the two. "I like the feeling of keeping them separate. I find that really gratifying. I can't imagine combining those. For me, I love the feeling of using different parts of my brain separately."[21]

Political and social activism [edit]

Following the row with Disney, Polley dedicated more of her efforts to politics, becoming a prominent member of the New Democratic Party, where Ontario legislator Peter Kormos was her political mentor. In 1996, she gave a nomination speech for Kormos at the ONDP leadership convention. After his death in 2013, Polley called that the "proudest moment in my life".[22]

In 1995, she lost two back teeth after being struck by a riot police officer during a protest against the Provincial Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris in Queen's Park.[10][23] She was subsequently involved with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. She has recently scaled back her political activism.[23] She was part of a group in 2001 which opposed the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas. The 3rd Summit of the Americas was held in Quebec City in April 2001.[citation needed] In 2003, she was part of former Toronto mayor David Miller's transition advisory team.

In 2009, Polley directed a two-minute short in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. In advance of the film's airing in Canada during the 82nd Academy Awards, and following news reports that characterized the film as a marketing exercise for the margarine company Becel,[24][25][26] Polley withdrew her association with the film. "In December 2009, I made a film to be aired during the Academy Awards that I believed was to promote the Heart and Stroke Foundation. When I agreed to make this film ["The Heart"], I was thrilled, as I was proud to be associated with the work of this incredible organization. However, I have since learned that my film is also being used to promote a product. Regretfully, I am forced to remove my name from the film and disassociate myself from it. I have never actively promoted any corporate brand, and cannot do so now."[27][28][29] In response, Becel said it was a "founding sponsor" of the Heart Truth campaign and had commissioned the film "to put heart health on the radar of Canadian women".[30]

In January 2012, Polley endorsed Toronto MP Peggy Nash in the 2012 New Democratic Party leadership race to succeed Jack Layton.[31]

Personal life [edit]

Polley is an atheist.[32] On September 10, 2003, she married Canadian film editor David Wharnsby, her companion of seven years. They divorced in 2008.[33]

On August 23, 2011, she married Canadian law clerk David Sandomierski, who is working on his PhD in law at the University of Toronto. Their daughter Eve was born on February 7, 2012.[34]

Filmography [edit]

Polley at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Film [edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1985 One Magic Christmas Molly Monaghan
1986 Confidential
1987 Tomorrow's a Killer Karla
1987 Blue Monkey Ellen
1987 Big Town, TheThe Big Town Christy Donaldson
1988 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, TheThe Adventures of Baron Munchausen Sally Salt
1989 Babar: The Movie Young Celeste (voice)
1994 Exotica Tracey Brown
1996 Children First!
1996 Joe's So Mean to Josephine Josephine
1997 Sweet Hereafter, TheThe Sweet Hereafter Nicole Burnell
1997 Hanging Garden, TheThe Hanging Garden Teen Rosemary
1997 Planet of Junior Brown, TheThe Planet of Junior Brown Butter
1998 Jerry and Tom Deb
1998 Last Night Jennifer 'Jenny' Wheeler
1999 Guinevere Harper Sloane
1999 eXistenZ Merle
1999 Go Ronna Martin
1999 Life Before This, TheThe Life Before This Connie
2000 This Might Be Good Short film
2000 Love Come Down Sister Sarah
2000 Weight of Water, TheThe Weight of Water Maren Hontvedt
2000 Law of Enclosures, TheThe Law of Enclosures Beatty 'Beatrice'
2000 Claim, TheThe Claim Hope Burn
2001 No Such Thing Beatrice
2003 Event, TheThe Event Dana
2003 My Life Without Me Ann
2003 Dermott's Quest Gwen Short film
2003 Luck Margaret
2004 Dawn of the Dead Ana
2004 I Inside, TheThe I Inside Clair
2004 Sugar Pregnant Girl
2004 Siblings Tabby
2005 Don't Come Knocking Sky
2005 Secret Life of Words, TheThe Secret Life of Words Hanna
2005 Beowulf & Grendel Selma
2009 Mr. Nobody Elise
2009 Splice Elsa Kast
2010 Trigger Hillary
2014 Every Thing Will Be Fine Pre-production

Television [edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Night Heat Cindy Keating Episode: "The Game"
1987 Screen Two Episode: "Heaven on Earth"
1987 Hands of a Stranger Suzie Hearn TV film
1987 Friday the 13th Mary Episode: "The Inheritance"
1988 Ramona Ramona Quimby Lead role (10 episodes)
1990 Lantern Hill Jody Turner TV film
1990–1994 Road to Avonlea Sara Stanley Main role (65 episodes)
1991 Johann's Gift to Christmas Angel TV short
1993 Hidden Room, TheThe Hidden Room Alice Episode: "Dangerous Dreams"
1994 Take Another Look Amy TV film
1995 Road to Avonlea Sara Stanley Episode: "Comings and Goings"
1996 Road to Avonlea Sara Stanley Episode: "So Dear to My Heart"
1996 Straight Up Lily TV series
1998 White Lies Catherine Chapman TV film
1999 Industry, TheThe Industry Rhonda Episode: "It's a Science"
2006 Slings and Arrows Sophie Recurring role (5 episodes)
2008 John Adams Nabby Adams TV miniseries

Director and writer [edit]

Year Title Notes
1999 Best Day of My Life, TheThe Best Day of My Life Director, writer
1999 Don't Think Twice Writer, co-producer
2001 I Shout Love Director, writer
2002 All I Want for Christmas Director
2004 Shields Stories, TheThe Shields Stories Episode: "The Harp" (director, writer)
2006 Away from Her Director, writer
2011 Take This Waltz Director, writer, producer
2012 Stories We Tell Director, writer

Awards and nominations [edit]

On October 16, 2010, it was announced that she would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.[35]

ACTRA
  • 2006 – ACTRA Toronto Award of Excellence (Won)
Academy Awards
Chlotrudis Awards
Director's Guild of Canada
  • 2007–Best Feature Film :DGC Team Award, Away from Her (Won)
  • 2007–Best Director :DGC Craft Award, Away from Her (Nominated)
Gemini Awards
  • 2007–Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series, Slings and Arrows (Nominated)
  • 1998–Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series, Straight Up (Won)
  • 1998–Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series, The Planet of Junior Brown (Nominated)
  • 1998–Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series, White Lies (Nominated)
  • 1994–Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role, Road to Avonlea (Nominated)
  • 1993–Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role, Road to Avonlea (Nominated)
  • 1992–Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Lantern Hill (Won)
  • 1990–Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role, Road to Avonlea (Nominated)
  • 1988–Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role, Ramona, (Nominated)
Genie Awards
  • 2008–Claude Jutra Award, (Special Prize)
  • 2008–Best Director, Away from Her, (Won)
  • 2008–Best Adapted Screenplay, Away from Her, (Won)
  • 2004–Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, My Life Without Me, (Won)
  • 2003–Best Live Action Short Drama, I Shout Love (Won)
  • 2002–Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, The Law of Enclosures (Nominated)
  • 1997–Best Original Song, The Sweet Hereafter, (Nominated)
  • 1997–Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, The Sweet Hereafter, (Nominated)
Independent Spirit Awards
  • 2000–Best Supporting Female, Go, (Nominated)

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://storify.com/ThisWaltzFilm/sarah-polley-s-live-twitter-q-and-a
  2. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3664484/A-different-road.html
  3. ^ http://www.reverseshot.com/article/sarah_polley_interview
  4. ^ http://www.uc.utoronto.ca/magazine/filmmaker-sarah-polley
  5. ^ "TIFF 2011: U2, Brad Pitt, George Clooney Films Featured At 2011 Toronto International Film Festival". The Huffington Post. July 26, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2011. 
  6. ^ Adam Benzine (July 23, 2012). "Exclusive: TIFF to host Polley's "Stories," Kastner's "Disco"". Realscreen. Retrieved August 8, 2012. 
  7. ^ a b "Sarah Polley doc wins Toronto critics' $100K prize". CBC News. January 8, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013. 
  8. ^ Stevens, Dana (May 10, 2013). "Stories We Tell: Sarah Polley’s compassionate portrait of a complex, flawed woman: her mother". Slate.com. Retrieved May 12, 2013. 
  9. ^ "Sarah Polley Biography (1979–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2010-03-27. 
  10. ^ a b Brian D. Johnson. "Polley, Sarah". Thecanadianencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2010-03-27. 
  11. ^ Polley, Sarah. "Stories We Tell: A post by Sarah Polley". NFB.ca blog. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved August 29, 2012. 
  12. ^ http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/venice-review-sarah-polley-documentary-stories-we-tell-20120829
  13. ^ http://www.thescreeningroom.ca/2012/08/sarah-polley-reveals-personal-secret-in-new-documentary.html
  14. ^ http://forward.com/articles/134693/truth-and-lies-a-q-and-a-with-montreal-film-produ/
  15. ^ http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/05/03/sarah-polley-on-documenting-family-secrets/
  16. ^ "Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2010-03-27. 
  17. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Sarah Polley". www.festival-cannes.fr. Festival de Cannes. Retrieved July 21, 2012. 
  18. ^ "The Nominations". European Film Academy. Archived from the original on June 17, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2011. 
  19. ^ Topel, Fred (June 27, 2011). "LAFF Review: Mr Nobody". Screenjunkies.com. Break Media. Retrieved July 3, 2011. 
  20. ^ http://arts.nationalpost.com/2012/01/04/sarah-polley-to-adapt-margaret-atwoods-alias-grace/
  21. ^ "Exclusive: Filmmaker Sarah Polley". Comingsoon.net. 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2010-03-27. 
  22. ^ Polley, Sarah (March 31, 2013). "Nominating Peter Kormos for the Ontario NDP leadership was the proudest moment of my life". Twitter. Retrieved March 31, 2013. 
  23. ^ a b "Woman on the Verge — Page 4". Toronto Life. Retrieved 2010-03-27. 
  24. ^ Katie Bailey. "Becel to Debut The Heart at Oscars". Strategy. Retrieved 2010-07-17. 
  25. ^ Gayle MacDonald. "Sarah Polley's new work gets Oscar debut". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-03-15. 
  26. ^ "Sarah Polley pulls her name from Heart and Stroke film over Becel sponsorship". Marketing Magazine. 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-05-07. 
  27. ^ Melissa Leong (2010-03-03). "The matter with The Heart is product endorsement". National Post. Retrieved 2010-03-07. [dead link]
  28. ^ Katherine Monk (2010-03-03). "Sarah Polley strips name from Oscar short". Vancouver Sun. Canwest News Service. Retrieved 2010-03-07. 
  29. ^ "Polley pulls name from sponsored film". CBC News. 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-03-07. 
  30. ^ Jeromy Lloyd (2010-03-03). "CTV and Becel React to Polley's Rebuke". Marketing. Retrieved 2010-03-07. 
  31. ^ "Sarah Polley picks Peggy Nash for NDP leader". CBC News. January 4, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2012. 
  32. ^ http://www.torontolife.com/features/woman-verge/?pageno=5
  33. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001631/bio
  34. ^ Sarah Polly Boasts Breastfeeding While Screening Latest Film
  35. ^ "2010 Inductees for The Canada Honours Announced". Canada's Walk of Fame. 2010-06-08. Retrieved 2010-06-09. 

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