How did you become involved in the entertainment industry?
I started very young. My brother went to the National Theatre School of Canada when I was six, and I saw his first play when I was seven. I remember thinking, “That’s what I want to do for a living,” and I never actually wanted to become something else. I considered becoming a lawyer because my dad wanted me to do something normal, but when I was 18, I got my first job and the rest is history.
You portray Alice Harlow on October Faction. What can you tell us about her?
October Faction is based on a graphic novel and my character is very small in that. Alice was developed for the series, and although they are not promoting her that way because she is a very mysterious character, I am basically number three on the show. I think the message of the show is so interesting and so modern. It reflects really well how we’re not understanding or accepting each other and how we’re trying to push back anything that’s different. As for Alice, she has always been a great believer in humans. She has always fought for the relationship between warlocks and humans, and she has been betrayed. She just tries to understand why humans are the way they are, and I think people will be very surprised.
What has been the most challenging part of bringing Alice to life and how did you prepare for it?
I was actually supposed to do something else on the show and then, a week before, they called my agent and said, “We want Max to play something bigger.” They offered me the part of Alice after that, but luckily the episodes were coming in slowly, so I had time to prepare. It was one of the shows where, in the middle of shooting, you’re thinking to yourself, “What am I doing? Am I doing this right?” They built a whole world for October Faction, and since Alice has powers, I was always thinking how to portray that on screen in a natural way, not trying to be tacky. It was a challenge to make that happen, but I was surrounded by such incredible people, especially Damian Kindler, our showrunner, whom I love dearly and is a genius. Also, all the actors that star in the show are so incredibly talented. It was a very supportive cast and environment to be creative in. It was a real collaborative effort.
Because the show is based on a graphic novel, did you feel a certain amount of pressure when portraying your character?
Absolutely! With movies or TV shows that derive from books, it is always tricky because they already have an established fan base that you don’t want to disappoint. But at the same time, it’s an interpretation of the books. Also, you are kind of at the mercy of showrunners because they get to decide what they’re putting on the screen. Since my character was developed more for the show, I had a lot of liberty in portraying and exploring this character. We hope the fans love the show just as much as we did creating it.
What was the audition process like and how did you react when you got the role?
I put myself on tape for another part originally and I got it. I was at TIFF in Toronto and I got a phone call from my agent where I was told that they wanted me to play something else, and that’s when I found out. At first, I thought they wanted to downgrade me, but it turns out it was the exact opposite. You never get that; it’s usually the other way around, but this was a real gift.
When you first auditioned for the other part, what drew you to this story?
Honestly, it is so well written! If you can learn your lines really fast, that’s a good indicator of a great script, which was the case here. It is way funnier than people expect, sarcastic and witty. I also heard of Damian and knew of his work, so I was very excited just to audition for it.Later, I found out that he actually was the one who wanted me to play Alice, but I didn’t know that at the time.
If you could give any advice to your younger self and to the younger generation, what would it be?
For me, “Trust yourself more.” I think I lacked confidence when I was younger, so trust your instincts. For younger people, I would say, “Have gratitude.” Appreciate the things that you have in your life and never take anything for granted because you never know when it is going to stop.
What are some causes that are dear to your heart and you hope to bring awareness to in the future?
The environment. It still blows my mind how people are still not scared of what is going on and, even if they are scared, they’re still not doing anything. I was at someone’s house the other day and someone was talking about the Australian fires and how terrible it is, and meanwhile that person was serving beef. There’s something that is not connecting with a lot of people because they are talking about it but they are not doing anything. Start with small changes, get rid of plastic bags, reduce your meat intake, stop using plastic. These small changes can amount to so much for our future. have literally stopped talking to people because of this because I can’t listen to it anymore. There is no excuse for acting so irresponsibly with our planet considering the state that it is in!
