Page 21 - Real Style Winter 2016 / 2017

TALEnTED TATiAnA tatiana maslany on orphan Black, Winning and the end of the clones.
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AS TATIANA MASLANY LAUNCHES INTO her acceptance speech at the 2016 Emmy awards after being named outstand- ing lead actress in a drama series for Orphan Black, a urry of thoughts run through her head. “Why didn’t I write [my speech] on
a piece of paper? Why do I have it on my phone? I’m taking too long,” recalls Maslany, ashing her contagious smile. “It was crazy. I was totally blown away.”
The Regina-born, Toronto-based actress, who was nominated for the same award the year prior, became the rst Canadian actor to win for a Canadian series. She also beat out an impressive list of nominees, including Taraji P. Henson (Empire), Claire Danes (Homeland), Robin Wright (House of Cards), Viola Davis (How to Get Away With Murder) and Keri Russell (The Americans).
“There’s so much amazing content right now...like so many incredible shows. I never felt they’re not noticing,” says Maslany, refer- ring to the Television Academy’s delay in “of- cially” recognizing her abilities after Orphan Black rst aired in 2013.
With so many accolades for her role in the show, including two Critics’ Choice Awards, two Television Critics Association nomina- tions and one win, a Young Hollywood Award, two Canadian Screen Awards, a Golden Globe Award nomination and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, the Emmy statuette is now the topper on the cake.
The win comes at a bittersweet time, how- ever, as loyal fans in her “Clone Club” (which is worthy of cult status) prepare for the fth and nal season of the sci- series. Filming
on location in Toronto, Maslany plays several roles (and frankly most of the cast), starring as Sarah Manning and all of her clones— ttingly the Emmy nod recognized her portrayal of Sarah, Alison, Cosima, Helena, Rachel, M.K. and Krystal.
“It’s sad to say goodbye to those characters and to my family on the show. I’m going to be really sad to not be these characters anymore. But we’re really lucky that we get to wrap it
BY: HeIdI HoFsTAd
up on our own terms and [not] have the plug pulled prematurely,” Maslany says. “I’ll prob- ably be a sobbing mess all of March, but it’s been an amazing journey for me.”
We meet Maslany on the red carpet at the Vancouver International Film Festival, for the premiere of The Other Half. She executive produced and starred in the lm alongside her long-time boyfriend, Welsh actor Tom Cullen (whom Downton Abbey watchers will recog- nize from his stint as Lord Anthony Gilling- ham). The pair play love interests on-screen too: As Emily, Maslany suffers from a severe bipolar disorder, and as Nickie, Cullen is grief- stricken at the disappearance of his school- aged younger brother years earlier.
“It’s a love story about two people who are damaged but nd each other and need each other for a variety of reasons,” shares Maslany. “These two aren’t necessarily perfect for each other, but they are, and that complexity is what’s interesting to me about the lm.”
A proud Canadian—although she doesn’t
Two Lovers and a Bear
Orphan Black
The Other Half
choose roles based on homegrown patriot- ism—Maslany does believe it’s important to support cinema from the Great White North.
“I feel like we do a lot of slow, patient work here in Canada in terms of storytelling—that there is a different pace and we don’t have the money thing making us afraid,” she says of the pressure to deliver big box of ce numbers felt by many major Hollywood productions.
Lately it seems Maslany’s acting resumé is stacked with Canadiana, including The Other Half, shot in Toronto and directed by Joey Klein, and Two Lovers and a Bear, shot in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and directed by Oscar- nominated Kim Nguyen.
“I grew up in Saskatchewan and there’s very much a huge artist scene that’s come out of there. I think the space and the quiet that ex- ists in Canada—it’s not so overpopulated that you can’t daydream and have your imagination run wild—is a big factor why I’m an actor,” she says.
Next up, Maslany will be spotted on the big screen starring opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in Stronger, based on the memoir of Jeff Bauman (played by Gyllenhaal), a survivor of 2013’s Boston Marathon bombing. Maslany spent two months lming the movie in Boston after wrapping the fourth season of Orphan Black.
“[Jake’s] a powerhouse actor, and so com- mitted, and has such a strong storytelling thing in him—I just wanted to be part of that, you know? And I wanted to see what it is [like] to be opposite somebody like that and play with somebody like that,” she says of taking on the role.
As for the show that made it all possible, Maslany still has some questions.
“Hopefully we get some answers to things, because I have a lot of questions,” says Masla- ny of wrapping Orphan Black. “I don’t think all the endings are going to be satisfying and comforting—Orphan Black is not about that.”
Certainly, happy endings are in store for Maslany, whose star is just beginning to rise. Bring on the popcorn; we’re excited to see what’s next.
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Photos, Left: PrPhotos, right: mongreL media, orPhan bLack iv Productions Limited, vancouver fiLm festivaL, istock