Canada’s
Rising StarsBacklot
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 82 SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
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IC.^ SKOVBYE: NOEL^ VASQUEZ/GETTYIMAGES.The New Kings and Queens of
the North 15 emerging Canadian talents
aboot to hit the next level talk big breaks,
Tim Hortons coffee and ... ketchup chips
By Etan VlessingG
iven the sheer number of streaming projects, studio movies and TV series shooting in Canada
year-round, it’s not surprising that 2019’s crop of emerging Canadian talents have more paths
than ever to Holly wood stardom. The northern talent pool also offers Holly wood casting directors
and producers a wealth of diversity. From Venezuela-born actress Humberly González (Orphan Black) to
Amybeth McNulty, the Irish-Canadian star of Anne With an E, and Jessica Matten, a descendent of Canada’s
indigenous Metis who stars opposite Jason Momoa on Netflix’s Frontier, these 15 up-and-comers represent
a multicultural mix that, as evident in their comments below, is a source of national pride (along with
Schitt’s Creek, the homegrown Ryans — Gosling and Reynolds — and, of course, universal health care).RYAN GOSLING OR RYAN REYNOLDS?
“Reynolds always came in for cof-
fee and bagels at the coffee shop I
used to work at, so going to have
to go with him.”
WHAT DOES THE HANDMAID’S TALE
GET RIGHT ABOUT CANADA? “That it’s
a place that provides freedom,
acceptance and opportunity for
people in search of a better life.
As a first-generation immigrant,
my family and I are living proof
of this.”Shannon Kook • 32
ACTOR
Kook grew up in apartheid-era
South Africa before landing in
Canada and, like Drake, nabbed
a breakout role on Degrassi: The
Next Generation.
THE MOST CANADIAN THING ABOUT
SCHITT’S CREEK “Noah Reid. As an
immigrant, I remember feeling
a broader sense of what made
Canada special simply via his
tastes and character.”
THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING
CANADIAN “We are all people of
the world.”Rebecca Liddiard • 28
ACTOR
Toronto-based Liddiard has been
a standout in period dramas like
Netflix’s Alias Grace and the 2016
Fox miniseries Houdini & Doyle.
10 YEARS AGO I WAS ... “18, beginningTim Hortons, living on Vancouver
Island and dreaming of moving
to Vancouver.”
CBC OR CNN? “CBC — they have
great animal segments that
make me smile. I remember one a
couple of years ago titled ‘Moose
on the Loose.’ ”Humberly González • 27
ACTRESS
A triple threat as an actor, singer
and dancer, González boasts TV
credits including Orphan Black,
Saving Hope and an upcoming role
on Netflix’s animated superhero
drama Jupiter’s Legacy.
BIG BREAK “This year I was cast in
my first series-regular role on a
new TV show called Utopia Falls
where I got to showcase not just
my acting but also my singing
and dancing.”
THE BEST CANADIAN SHOW AMERICANS
ARE MISSING OUT ON “Work in’ Moms.
Hilarity in motherhood and
everything in between. Seasons
one and two are on Netflix. Drop
everything and go watch!”Eve Harlow • 30
ACTRESS
Born in Moscow, Harlow has
been a part of two Diablo Cody-
penned features, 2007’s Juno
and 2009’s Jennifer’s Body. She
currently appears on The CW’s
dystopian drama The 100.Jared Abrahamson • 31
ACTOR
The former MMA fighter known
as Wolfblood made a strong
impression in the 2018 heist
movie American Animals, which
premiered at Sundance.
10 YEARS AGO I WAS ... “Broke as a
joke, prize-fighting for smokes.”
RYAN GOSLING OR RYAN REYNOLDS?
“Ryan Gosling via TKO. He was
all Muay Thai’d up for Only
God Forgives.”Shamier Anderson • 28
ACTOR
Wynonna Ear p star Anderson
will join older brother Stephan
James, star of 2018’s If Beale
Street Could Talk, to host theannual B.L.A.C.K. Ball at TIFF.
BIG BREAK “Definitely not the
Tim Hortons commercial I was
edited out of in 2013.”
THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING
CANADIAN “Living in a country
that is diverse and inclusive,
and no matter where your fam-
ily is from, we have the right to
celebrate our heritage and culture
while still being Canadian. And
free health care!”Nesta Cooper • 25
ACTRESS
Toronto-born Cooper landed one
of the lead roles on Apple TV’s
upcoming streaming series See,
opposite Jason Momoa.
10 YEARS AGO I WAS ... “Working atFrom left: Jared Abrahamson, Shamier Anderson and Nesta Cooper.