Sarah Polley
Sarah Polley
Sarah Polley, actor, director (born at Toronto 8 Jan 1979). Sarah Polley, one of Canada's most talented young actors, made an early debut in Philip BORSOS's One Magic Christmas (1985), which she followed up with leading roles in Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) starring John NEVILLE and the PBS children's series Ramona (1988), based on the books by Beverly Cleary. Her widely seen six-year stint as Sara Stanley in the CBC series Road to Avonlea (1989-96) earned three of her eight GEMINI nominations. By a young age, she had already established herself as an international actress, moving comfortably between independent and mainstream films in both Canada and the US.
Sarah Polley interviewed as a child on set of Road to Avonlea.
In 1994 she took a small role in director Atom EGOYAN's Exotica. She worked with him again in THE SWEET HEREAFTER (1997) and the Oscar-nominated film, which received its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, brought her international attention and GENIE Award nominations for best actress and best song. She then worked with prominent Canadian directors Don MCKELLAR (LAST NIGHT, 1998), David CRONENBERG (eXistenZ, 1999), and John GREYSON (The Law of Enclosures, 2000).
A CBC Television profile of Sarah Polley. From YouTube.
Sarah Polley is also an award-winning director. She studied directing at the CANADIAN FILM CENTRE, and her 2001 film I Shout Love won a Genie Award in 2002 for best live action short. Polley wrote the screenplay for and directed her first feature-length film in 2006. Away from Her, based on a short story by Alice MUNRO, stars Gordon PINSENT and Julie Christie as a married couple coping with Alzheimer's disease. Polley was nominated for the Oscar for best adapted screenplay, and the film won the prize for best picture at the 2008 Genie Awards. Polley was also presented with the prestigious CLAUDE JUTRA AWARD, given to a first-time feature-film director.
Sarah Polley has won two Gemini awards, one in 1992 as best supporting actress for the made-for-television movie Lantern Hill, and another in 1998 for best performance in a children's program, for the series Straight Up. As an actress, she won a Genie Award for My Life Without Me (2003).
Her other films of note include Go (1999), Guinevere (1999), The Claim (2001), The Event (2003), Dawn of the Dead (2004), Luck (2004), Beowulf and Grendel (2006), The Secret Life of Words (2006), Mr Nobody (2009) and Splice (2009).
Sarah Polley appeared in recurring roles for television in the series Slings and Arrows (2006) and John Adams (2008).
Her 2012 feature film Take This Waltz, which she wrote and directed, co-stars Canadian actor Seth ROGEN and American Michelle Williams. The same year she released a very personal documentary, Stories We Tell, that highlights the nuances of family history when told from the perspectives of different people.
She is an outspoken supporter of Canadian cinema and has become an advocate for child actors. She received ACTRA's 2006 Award of Excellence and in 2010 she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.
Sarah Polley
Polley grew up in the CBC's Road to Avonlea and has made the transition to adult roles with poise (courtesy Lois Siegel).
Author MARSH MURPHY
Links to Other Sites
Sarah Polley
A biography of Sarah Polley, acclaimed director, screenwriter, and actor. Also offers a listing of Polley’s film and video work. From the Canadian Film Encyclopedia.
Away From Her
A detailed press guide for “Away From Her,” a film by Canadian writer-director Sarah Polley. Features a film synopsis, bios of Sarah Polley, Gordon Pinsent, and other cast members. About a husband caring for his wife who is stricken with Alzheimer’s disease. From the website for Capri Films. A PDF file.
The Directors Guild of Canada
Search for profiles of Canadian film directors at the Directors Guild of Canada website. Click on "DGC" in the top menu and then "About" to access a history of this organization.
Genie Awards
The website for Canada’s prestigious Genie Awards. From the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.
Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television
Check out the "Press Room" for announcements about the latest winners of the Canadian Screen Awards at the website for the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.
'Splice' catches Polley's eye
A news story about Sarah Polley starring in science fiction horror flick "Splice." From the torontosun.com website.
Road to Avonlea- Behind the Scenes 3
Watch a revealing behind the scenes look at the popular CBC Television series "Road to Avonlea." Features interviews with cast and crew. From YouTube.
Canadian Import 'Slings & Arrows': The Soul of Wit
A review of the Canadian television show "Slings & Arrows" from the Washington Post newspaper. Click on the photo to enlarge the view.
Take This Waltz
Watch a brief trailer for Sarah Polley's 2012 romantic comedy "Take This Waltz". From YouTube.
Take This Waltz
See photos and reviews of Sarah Polley's "Take This Waltz", starring Seth Rogen, Michelle Williams, Luke Kirby, and Sarah Silverman. From the website for the Toronto International Film Festival.
Stories We Tell: A post by Sarah Polley
See a very personal blog post by Canadian filmmaker Sarah Polley in which she discusses the genesis of her film "Stories We Tell." From the National Film Board of Canada.
Review: Sarah Polley’s Stories We Tell is in the name of her father
A review of Sarah Polley’s highly personal documentary "Stories We Tell." From the National Post.
The Cast: Then And Now
Profiles of leading actors in the television series "Road To Avonlea." From Sullivan Entertainment.
The story of the founding of Montreal is perhaps unique in history....
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