Best known for her collaborations with David Cronenberg and her leading role in the adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s miniseries Alias Grace (2017), Sarah Gadon has made a significant mark in Canadian cinema. She has earned Canadian Screen Awards for her performances in Alias Grace and Denis Villeneuve’s Enemy (2013). Here’s a closer look at the talented and enchanting Sarah Gadon on toronto-trend.
Childhood and Family Background
Sarah Gadon was born in North Toronto to Michael, a psychologist, and Linda, a teacher. Raised alongside her older brother James, Sarah grew up in a household that encouraged creative expression. This upbringing led her to attend various art schools and enroll in the National Ballet of Canada at the age of five. Her first role came through ballet, playing a lamb in The Nutcracker. Sarah credits the strict discipline of ballet for shaping her acting career.
Early Acting Career
At age 10, Sarah landed her first acting role in the Toronto-shot series La Femme Nikita. Her parents ensured she stayed in school, only allowing her to act during holidays. Her early roles included appearances in Twice in a Lifetime, Redwall, Mutant X, and Are You Afraid of the Dark?.
After high school, Sarah briefly attended Queen’s University in Kingston before returning to Toronto. She later pursued film studies at the University of Toronto while training in acting. Living in Toronto provided her with opportunities to work in Canadian films (Siblings, Leslie, My Name Is Evil) and TV series (This Is Wonderland, Flashpoint, Murdoch Mysteries). She also took part in American productions filmed locally, such as Charlie Bartlett and Cadet Kelly.
Gadon gained attention in 2011 when she appeared in several high-profile productions. She played a minor role in the horror film Dream House, starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, and Naomi Watts, as well as a more significant role in Mary Harron’s horror drama The Moth Diaries.
Collaborations with David Cronenberg
Sarah Gadon’s third project in 2011 marked her first collaboration with director David Cronenberg. In A Dangerous Method, Gadon portrayed Emma Jung, the wife of psychologist Carl Jung (played by Michael Fassbender). For this role, Sarah mastered an English accent and drew upon her ongoing studies in film theory. That same year, she participated in the Toronto International Film Festival’s Rising Stars program and was featured as a star in Playback magazine.
Her performance in A Dangerous Method so impressed Cronenberg that he immediately cast her in Cosmopolis (2012) as the wife of a cyber-capitalist playboy (Robert Pattinson). Gadon studied socialites of past eras to perfect the poise and composure of her character. Her cool, icy performance complemented Cronenberg’s detached style. Sarah garnered further attention when Cosmopolis premiered at the Cannes Film Festival alongside Antiviral, the directorial debut of Cronenberg’s son, Brandon. Initially hesitant about playing Antiviral’s starlet Hannah Geist, Gadon embraced Brandon Cronenberg’s interpretation of the character as a critique of society’s fetishization of female celebrities.
Gadon reunited with David Cronenberg in Maps to the Stars (2014), a darkly satirical portrayal of Hollywood excess. She took on a daring role as the ghost of Julianne Moore’s character’s mother, haunting her daughter and feeding her insecurities. Grantland described Gadon’s performance as “surreal” and “hauntingly elegant.” In addition to her work with David Cronenberg, Gadon frequently collaborates with his daughter Caitlin, a photographer. In 2015, Sarah filmed an episode of the documentary series Reelside about their creative partnership. In 2017, Gadon credited David Cronenberg as the person who profoundly transformed her career.
Further Career Milestones
In 2013, Sarah starred in Denis Villeneuve’s psychological thriller Enemy, winning a Canadian Screen Award. She also appeared in Amma Asante’s Belle (2013) and auditioned for the lead role in Snow White and the Huntsman, ultimately taken by Kristen Stewart.
In 2013, Sarah Gadon appeared in Amma Asante’s socially conscious costume drama Belle. Hollywood took notice, and Gadon auditioned for the lead role in Snow White and the Huntsman, though the part ultimately went to Kristen Stewart. Nevertheless, Gadon starred in two major Hollywood productions in 2014: a supporting role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and the lead female role in Dracula Untold. She described this experience as “a significant departure and deeply overwhelming.” Following these projects, she released the international co-production The Girl King. Gadon also took the lead in A Royal Night Out, a largely fictionalized account of Princess Elizabeth’s wartime efforts, and appeared in Hulu’s miniseries about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Additionally, she participated in the 2014 CBC Canada Reads debates, championing Kathleen Winter’s novel Annabel.
Dedicated to her craft, Gadon showcased her dramatic range in Indignation (2016), the feature directorial debut of James Schamus (The Ice Storm, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). Her portrayal of Olivia, a sexually candid and psychologically complex college student, garnered critical acclaim. Stephen Holden of The New York Times noted that “in Ms. Gadon’s sensitive performance, vulnerability can be felt just beneath the surface of her apparent composure.” Recognizing her potential, Schamus encouraged Gadon to seek out powerful roles rather than confining herself to auteur-driven films.
Alias Grace (2017)
Inspired by Schamus’s advice, Sarah auditioned for the CBC/Netflix adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace. To portray Grace Marks, Sarah trained with a dialect coach, studied Victorian servant duties, and immersed herself in the literary works that inspired Atwood.
Her layered performance, praised as “powerful and nuanced” by The Guardian, earned her a Canadian Screen Award. Critics highlighted her ability to convey the ambiguity of Grace’s character, making her portrayal both captivating and unsettling.
Personal Life
In 2012, media speculated about a relationship between Sarah and her Cosmopolis co-star Robert Pattinson, but these rumors were false. Sarah has been in a long-term relationship with editor and director Matthew Hannam since working on Antiviral.
A brand ambassador for Giorgio Armani and Jaeger-LeCoultre, Sarah shuns celebrity labels, preferring to be seen as an artist. She is an advocate for Canadian film crews and has spoken out about actors’ rights in digital projects.
While Sarah values her Canadian roots, she pragmatically pursues roles wherever opportunities arise. She believes in advancing her craft by seeking challenging projects, regardless of the location.
“Film production in Canada lacks the scale of the U.S.,” she remarked at TIFF 2018. “To keep working, you need to push your vision and continue evolving in your career.”
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