“Northern Star” is an apt description for Toronto-born actress, Sarah Gadon. Not only does she call the True North home, her star status is shining brighter than ever with a steady stream of high-profile films (Cosmopolis, The 9th Life of Louis Drax) and as the current face of Armani Beauty.
The 28-year-old actress is not fading off our radar any time soon. Her latest film, Sundance favourite, Indignation, opened in Canadian Theatres on August 5th and later this summer she begins production on Netflix’s Margaret Atwood drama, Alias Grace, in which she stars as Grace Marks.
Vitamin Daily recently chatted with Gadon to discuss her current projects, beauty philosophy and why doing her own laundry is some of the best career advice she’s ever received. —Michelle Gadd
Tell us about Indignation.
It’s about a young Jewish boy who leaves the bosom of his home and goes to college where he is confronted and challenged by dominant ideologies of the time. He meets a beautiful young woman and through a series of intense encounters she proves to be his unraveling in a way. It’s a film about young people questioning power structures and authority and what the consequences were for them in the 1950s. But I think it’s also about what the consequences are generally if you choose to challenge power structures.
Image: Elevation Pictures.
You started acting from quite a young age so you could have continued with that trajectory as a full time career but instead you went to university to study cinema. Why was that important to you?
I’m three credits shy of my degree. I should finish it at some point. I’m not sure when that will be. My parents really encouraged me to go to university. I finished high school and thought, ‘Oh maybe I’ll try acting full time!’ I remember very clearly my mom saying to me, ‘It’s the type of industry that takes and takes and takes from you, and education is something that nobody can ever take away from you.’ And so I went to Queens and did my foundation year, then transferred to U of T and did my degree part time, while working.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received as an aspiring actress?
Think for yourself. It doesn’t matter where you are, what you’re shooting. Don’t live out of a hotel. You know, get an apartment, do your own cooking, do your own laundry. Do it yourself. I think that’s good advice. The more you think for yourself; the more you can do for yourself; the more you remain seeped in reality.
Image: Elevation Pictures.
Your Indignation director, James Schamus, felt that 20th century U.S. novelist and poet Sylvia Plath inspired the author of the original Indignation novel, Philip Roth, when he created the character you play in the film. How did you draw from Sylvia Plath when acting the part of Olivia Hutton?
James really encouraged me to revisit her work. One thing that I had never read was Plath’s journals and that provided this kind of amazing insight into the psyche of a really bright, young woman in college, who was struggling to fit in and struggling with depression. While reading her journals I was reminded that Sylvia Plath can be so dark, so heavy; but she’s also funny and light and provocative. The dominant popular culture at that time was so fluffy. It was a really interesting dichotomy between the darkness of the material, the darkness of Olivia’s past and the lightness of the time.
Do you have a favourite red carpet moment?
The second time I went to Cannes was for Map to the Stars. I arrived the day before my premiere without a dress. Like, who does that? I remember going to the Armani showroom and basically just being enveloped in couture. I chose a beautiful gown for that premiere that really launched the relationship between me and the Armani brand so that was a really wonderful moment.
Image: Elevation Pictures.
What’s a make-up secret you’ve learned as the face of Armani Beauty that you could share with Vitamin Daily readers?
Less is more. People always think you have to wear a lot of makeup and it’s not really about wearing a lot of makeup. It’s about wearing really great makeup and only a little bit of it to enhance your features. I can’t tell you how important that is. And really the true masters do not put a lot of makeup on you.
You’ve decided to keep Toronto as your home base for now. Could you share any favourite Toronto spots?
Oh yeah! Absolutely! My favourite cups of coffee in the city are BoxCar. In the summer time they do the best cold brew in the city. Then the best Americano I would say is Inferno down in Queen West. My movie theatre is The Varsity. I go to The Varsity or The Light Box when I’m in Toronto. I try to at least go see one movie a week. Oh! I also love The Goods. Especially when I’m running between appointments and trying to get my life in order before I have to leave again.
Image: Elevation Pictures.
What are your favourite Canadian clothing designers or brands?
I’m a big fan of Greta Constantine. I love Lucian Matis. I love Wayne Clark. I love Aritzia. I’m wearing Aritzia on my press day. There are so many great Canadian brands now that are both high and low and really accessible.
Do you find keeping up with social media and having to present your acting career and elements of your personal life a challenge or do you enjoy it?
I run my own social media. I think it is a wonderful extension of my life and work. I’m a big fan of Instagram. It’s kind of what I use the most. I think it’s a great way to share with people what you’re up to and what your days look like. I follow a lot of people on Instagram as well: friends, brands, celebrities and artists. It’s just a great tool.
At this very busy stage of your career, what does “me time” look like for you?
Just sharing it with friends and family. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about shooting Alias Grace in Toronto. I can spend time at home with my family and friends and be a part of their lives; just hang out, go for dinner, catch a film, walk home from the theatre and chat about what we saw.
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