- Sarah Polley
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Sarah Polley 
Polley at the 66th Venice International Film Festival, September 11, 2009Born January 8, 1979
Toronto, OntarioOccupation Film director, actress, screenwriter Years active 1985–present Spouse David Wharnsby (2003–2010?) (divorced)
David Sandomierski (2011-)Sarah 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, will be featured at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2011.[1]
Contents
Early life
Polley, the youngest of five children, was born in Toronto, Ontario. She is the daughter of Diane Elizabeth (née MacMillan), an actress and casting director, and Michael Polley, a British-born actor and insurance agent (he attended acting classes with Albert Finney in England before moving to Canada).[2][3][4] Polley's mother died of cancer just after Polley's 11th birthday. Polley attended Subway Academy II, then Earl Haig Secondary School, but dropped out before graduating.
Career
Early career and fall-out with Disney
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.[5] 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]
Acting career as adult
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. She was nominated as Best European Actress by the European Film Academy for her role as Hanna.[6]
Polley played Elise in Jaco Van Dormael's Mr. Nobody, which was released in 2010. The film was mostly funded through European financiers, and was given limited release in certain countries.[7] Critical response has praised the film's artistry and Polley's acting.[8]
Directing career
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 (the first woman to do so). At the 2008 Genies, she was also awarded the Claude Jutra Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement by a first-time feature film director.
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."[9]
Political and social activism
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 said to be her political mentor.
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.[3][10] She was subsequently involved with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. She has recently scaled back her political activism.[10]
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,[11][12][13] 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."[14][15][16] 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".[17]
Personal life
Polley is an atheist.[18] On September 10, 2003 she married Canadian film editor David Wharnsby, her companion of seven years. In 2008 they divorced.[19]
On August 23, 2011 she married Canadian clerk David Sandomierski. Sandomierski is working on his PhD in law at the University of Toronto. Polley is pregnant with her first child, and due at the end of February 2012.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1985 One Magic Christmas Molly Monaghan 1986 Confidential 1987 Tomorrow's a Killer Karla 1987 Blue Monkey Ellen 1987 The Big Town Christy Donaldson 1988 The Adventures of Baron Munchausen Sally Salt 1989 Babar: The Movie Young Celeste (voice) 1993 The Fugitive ER Doctor (uncredited) 1994 Exotica Tracey Brown 1996 Children First! 1996 Joe's So Mean to Josephine Josephine 1997 The Sweet Hereafter Nicole Burnell 1997 The Hanging Garden Teen Rosemary 1997 The 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 The Life Before This Connie 2000 This Might Be Good Short film 2000 Love Come Down Sister Sarah 2000 The Weight of Water Maren Hontvedt 2000 The Law of Enclosures Beatty 'Beatrice' 2000 The Claim Hope Burn 2001 No Such Thing Beatrice 2003 The 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 The I Inside Clair 2004 Sugar Pregnant Girl 2004 Siblings Tabby 2005 Don't Come Knocking Sky 2005 The Secret Life of Words Hanna 2005 Beowulf & Grendel Selma 2009 Mr. Nobody Elise 2009 Splice Elsa Kast 2010 Trigger Hillary Television 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 movie 1987 Friday the 13th Mary Episode: "The Inheritance" 1988 Ramona Ramona Quimby 10 episodes 1990 Lantern Hill Jody Turner TV movie 1990-1994 Road to Avonlea Sara Stanley 65 episodes 1991 Johann's Gift to Christmas Angel TV short 1993 The Hidden Room Alice Episode: "Dangerous Dreams" 1994 Take Another Look Amy TV movie 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 movie 1999 The Industry Rhonda Episode: "It's a Science" 2006 Slings and Arrows Sophie 5 episodes 2008 John Adams Nabby Adams 4 episodes Director and writer
Year Title Notes 1999 The Best Day of My Life Also co-producer 1999 Don't Think Twice 2001 I Shout Love 2002 All I Want for Christmas 2004 The Shields Stories Episode: "The Harp" 2006 Away from Her 2011 Take This Waltz Also producer 2011 The Best So Far in development Awards and nominations
On June 8, 2010, it was announced that she would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.[20]
- 2006 – ACTRA Toronto Award of Excellence (Won)
- 2008 – Best Adapted Screenplay, Away from Her (Nominee)
- Chlotrudis Awards
- 2008–Best Director, Away from Her, (Nominated)
- 2008–Best Adapted Screenplay, Away from Her, (Won)
- 2008–Best Actress, The Secret Life of Words (Nominated)
- 2004–Best Actress, My Life Without Me (Won)
- 2002–Best Supporting Actress, The Claim (Nominated)
- 2000–Best Actress, Go and Guinevere, (Nominated)
- 1998–Best Actress, The Sweet Hereafter, (Nominated)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 2000–Best Supporting Female, Go, (Nominated)
References
- ^ "TIFF 2011: U2, Brad Pitt, George Clooney Films Featured At 2011 Toronto International Film Festival". The Huffington Post. 26 July 2011. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/07/26/tiff-brad-pitt-2011-george-clooney-u2_n_909633.html#s316195&title=U2. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ^ "Sarah Polley Biography (1979–)". Filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/65/Sarah-Polley.html. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
- ^ a b Brian D. Johnson. "Polley, Sarah". Thecanadianencyclopedia.com. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0011399. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
- ^ "The Polley dynasty was born in Kingston; Diane Polley, the mother of actor and director Sarah Polley, grew up in the Limestone City. She used to put plays on in her backyard, attaching theatre curtains to the clothesline — The Whig Standard — Ontario, CA". Thewhig.com. 1990-01-10. http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=945513. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ "Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800013030/bio. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
- ^ "The Nominations". European Film Academy. Archived from the original on June 17, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080617143547/http://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/htm/Nominations.html. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
- ^ Feuillère, Anne (June 15, 2007). "Van Dormael’s ambitious Mr Nobody". Cineuropa.org. http://cineuropa.org/newsdetail.aspx?documentID=77937. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ Topel, Fred (June 27, 2011). "LAFF Review: Mr Nobody". Screenjunkies.com. Break Media. http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-review/laff-review-mr-nobody/. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ "Exclusive: Filmmaker Sarah Polley". Comingsoon.net. 2007-05-03. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=20149. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
- ^ a b "Woman on the Verge — Page 4". Toronto Life. http://www.torontolife.com/features/woman-verge/?pageno=4. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
- ^ Katie Bailey. "Becel to Debut The Heart at Oscars". Strategy. http://www.strategyonline.ca/articles/news/20100225/beceloscars.html. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
- ^ Gayle MacDonald. "Sarah Polley's new work gets Oscar debut". The Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/sarah-polleys-new-work-gets-oscar-debut/article1399110/. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
- ^ "Sarah Polley pulls her name from Heart and Stroke film over Becel sponsorship". Marketing Magazine. 2010-03-02. http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/marketer/article.jsp?content=20100302_142625_13120. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
- ^ Melissa Leong (2010-03-03). "The matter with The Heart is product endorsement". National Post. http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=2634726. Retrieved 2010-03-07.[dead link]
- ^ Katherine Monk (2010-03-03). "Sarah Polley strips name from Oscar short". Vancouver Sun. Canwest News Service. http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Sarah+Polley+strips+name+from+Oscar+short/2633177/story.html. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
- ^ "Polley pulls name from sponsored film". CBC News. 2010-03-02. http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2010/03/02/polley-heart-short-oscars.html. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
- ^ Jeromy Lloyd (2010-03-03). "CTV and Becel React to Polley's Rebuke". Marketing. http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/pr/article.jsp?content=20100302_171155_1920. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
- ^ http://www.torontolife.com/features/woman-verge/?pageno=5
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001631/bio
- ^ "2010 Inductees for The Canada Honours Announced". Canada's Walk of Fame. 2010-06-08. http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/2010-inductees-the-canada-honours-announced. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
External links
Categories:- 1979 births
- Actors from Toronto
- Canadian child actors
- Canadian film actors
- Canadian film directors
- Canadian people of English descent
- Canadian screenwriters
- Canadian television actors
- Canadian atheists
- Female film directors
- Gemini Award winners
- Genie Award winners for Best Achievement in Direction
- Genie Award winners for Best Actress
- Genie Award winners for Best Screenplay
- Living people
- People from Toronto
- Women screenwriters
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