Sarah Polley is a renowned actress, director, screenwriter, and producer, celebrated as one of Canada’s most talented and influential figures in the film industry. She became the first Canadian woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director and holds the titles of Officer of the Order of Canada and inductee into Canada’s Walk of Fame. Learn more about her life and career on torontonka.com.
A Born Performer
Sarah Polley was born on January 8, 1979, in Toronto to renowned parents. Her mother, Diane Polley, was a casting director and actress, while her father, Michael Polley, was a British-born actor. The youngest of five children, Sarah began her acting journey at the tender age of four, debuting in Philip Borsos’ One Magic Christmas (1985). She continued to appear in several films and TV series, with her first notable role in Terry Gilliam’s epic fantasy The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988). During the filming of this project, young Sarah worked long 18-hour days.
In 1988, she starred in Ramona, a performance that earned her the Gemini Award, her first major accolade.
Three years later, in 1991, Polley won her second Gemini Award for her role in Lantern Hill.
While balancing her burgeoning acting career, Sarah attended Earl Haig Secondary School in Toronto. Despite her undeniable talent and success in acting, she initially had no intention of pursuing it as a long-term career. However, fate had other plans.
In 1997, Polley played the lead role in The Sweet Hereafter. The film received international acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award. This pivotal moment solidified Sarah’s decision to continue her journey in the film industry, marking the start of her illustrious career.
Rising Stardom and Creative Expansion
In 1997, Elle magazine recognized Sarah Polley as one of the “25 People to Watch.” She began collaborating with some of Canada’s most esteemed directors, appearing in a series of notable films that cemented her reputation as a rising talent.
By 1999, Polley starred in Doug Liman’s Go and Audrey Wells’ Guinevere. Both films garnered critical acclaim and resonated strongly within the film industry.
At just 20 years old, Polley ventured into filmmaking. She wrote and directed her first short film, Don’t Think Twice (1999), a poignant story about an African man forced to choose between his love and his family. In 2001, she attended the Canadian Film Centre’s Director’s Lab, further honing her craft. Her second short film, I Shout Love (2001), followed shortly after.
Polley’s next major project was a literary adaptation of Alice Munro’s short story The Bear Went Over the Mountain, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
In 2006, Polley directed the deeply moving film Away from Her, which tells the story of a married couple grappling with Alzheimer’s disease. The film was a critical success, winning six major Genie Awards, solidifying Polley’s status as one of Canada’s most talented filmmakers.
Political and Social Activism
Sarah Polley’s engagement in political activism began early in life. In 1991, during the Gulf War, she publicly wore a peace symbol to express her opposition to the conflict. By 1995, Polley actively supported the successful election campaign of New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Peter Kormos.
That same year, she organized a protest in Toronto’s Queen’s Park against the Progressive Conservative Party, led by Mike Harris. The demonstration quickly escalated into a large-scale disruption.
Polley also volunteered with the Ontario Coalition, focusing on anti-poverty initiatives and anti-nuclear advocacy. However, by the late 1990s, her activism began to take a back seat as she returned to her acting and filmmaking career.
While immersed in the film industry, Polley, alongside fellow filmmaker Don McKellar, lobbied the federal government to ensure Canadian films received more screen time in domestic theaters.
Her extensive contributions to politics, cinema, and filmmaking have earned her widespread recognition. Polley was honored with the ACTRA Toronto Award of Excellence in 2006. Additionally, she received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto. In 2010, she was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame, and in 2013, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.