Miriam McDonald
Miriam McDonald is the fresh, spunky star of ensemble cast show Degrassi: The Next Generation. Taking new fame in stride, we caught up with this blooming young actress to continue to get you the latest scoop on this emerging "generation" of stars.
THE STAR SCOOP:
What’s it like being part of an ensemble cast?MIRIAM MCDONALD:
I think it's a lot of fun because you get to work with all different people and different people bring different sides of your personality out, so it really gives you an opportunity to sort of explore yourself and explore the different sides of your character. But at the same time, as an actor, everybody wants their own time to sort of, you know, be the center of it all. but luckily on Degrassi the plot lines sort of shift throughout the entire cast so everybody has their episodes.THE STAR SCOOP:
What is it about the show that is attracting so many people?MCDONALD:
I think the fact that the show doesn't look all shiny and polished really appeals to people, because so often you watch shows and they don't represent real life, they represent sort of a glossy, fantasy, whereas Degrassi is kind of more raw and blunt and very much how you would do things in real life.THE STAR SCOOP:
Degrassi has a pretty long legacy, especially in its cast.MCDONALD:
Now the whole Degrassi empire if I can call it that, has been around for 25 years, but because I was born in '87, I missed a lot of those years, so I'm not too familiar with what the hype with the original show was, but they're all really great to work with, they've got some really fun stories to tell us from the old show. It's just a lot of fun, like mixing it up, working with kids and adults.THE STAR SCOOP:
How has the success of the show affected you?MCDONALD:
Every season the show gets bigger and more people start to watch it. It's really encouraging, to me, as an actor on the show to see that we've still got what it takes to make a show that people want to watch. I just love it. I think the show gets stronger every year because we get more input from our fans and that really means a lot to us and gives us that kind of encouragement that really energizes us a lot more.THE STAR SCOOP:
You play Emma. How much are you like her or different from her?MCDONALD:
I think as I'm growing up, sort of more specific areas are changing a lot between myself and Emma. But I think the things that fit both of our personalities are there - we're both very determined and very strong-willed and independent and driven people. And I think that is the same and that's been a constant from Emma from the first season and that's always been my personality as well.THE STAR SCOOP:
Can you share a little about your audition for Degrassi?MCDONALD:
I went through a series of four or five auditions. My first audition was in October and I didn't get the role until June, so it was a very long process. I think they saw pretty much every female actor in the sort of Toronto area for the role of Emma. But I was just so excited because I hadn't been acting for a very long time and the whole thing was just new to me and I was so thrilled.THE STAR SCOOP:
Tell us about the mall tours.MCDONALD:
They've all been so much fun. They've been absolutely amazing. It's kind of shocking to go into a mall and see thousands of kids there basically showing their support. It's exhilarating. You sort of don't expect it, like we also go into you know, is anybody going to show up and then we're just dumbfounded by how many people come. It's just such a rush of adrenaline. It's so exciting.THE STAR SCOOP:
Do you want to stay in TV or branch into movies?MCDONALD:
I think ideally I want to break into films and I love acting. So I'll do whatever comes to me. Of course I'm going to look for scripts that really capture my interest, with interesting and complex characters.THE STAR SCOOP:
With all this success, you've become something of a role model. What do you think of that?MCDONALD:
Wow, I honestly don't think of myself as a role model. I guess you could say my character is a role model, and I think that because she is so strong and opinionated and stands up for herself, I think those are all positive qualities to have. And myself as a role model, wow. I don't know. I guess I'd be comfortable with the title.THE STAR SCOOP:
Is there a message you want to give to your fans?MCDONALD:
I just want to tell them thank you so much for being so supportive of a show like Degrassi, because it's so different from everything else that's out there, it's a little riskier, you don't know how people are going to accept the messages that Degrassi is trying to present. They've just been so amazing and I'm just so grateful that they like our show.Don't forget to check out our review on "Degrassi Generations: The Official 411" book by Kathryn Ellis.