Canadian actress and film director, born 8 January 1979 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The youngest of five children. Mother, Diane Polley and step-father Michael Polley were actors and she had her first audition at age 5. She debuted in films at age 6 with One Magic Christmas .
Dropped out of high school to become a political activist for Socialist groups. Was attacked by police at a political protest at Queens Park in 1995.
In 1994 had surgery to correct scoliosis.
Mother died when she was 11.
Lost some back teeth at a rally, in a violent clash between police and protesters.
When she was 12, during the first Gulf war, she attended a childrens awards show in Washington, DC, and was seated at a table with some representatives from the Walt Disney Company. They asked her to remove a peace symbol that she was wearing but she refused. Disney has blacklisted her ever since.
Was originally cast as Penny Lane in Almost Famous . When she dropped out of the film because she did not feel comfortable with the role, writer-director Cameron Crowe considered canceling the film.
Attending the Canadian Film Centres directors program.
Appointed to transition advisory group by new Toronto mayor David Miller
Appeared on "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" on the 15th of March 2004 to promote the film Dawn of the Dead . She stated that it was her first appearance on an American late-night talk show.
Names White Zombie (1932) and George A. Romero s Living Dead films as her favorite zombie movies.
Atom Egoyan , who directed her in Exotica and The Sweet Hereafter , originally considered casting Polley as the character Felicia in Felicias Journey . After talking it over with her, they jointly decided that she should not take the role as her intelligence and awareness were antithetical to the character, who remains quite unconscious of other characters motivations.
Her step-father, Michael Polley , said of his famously independent daughter in 1997, "She was at her best when she was out of kilter with society in some way.".
Both Sarah and her first husband, David Wharnsby , won 2004 Genie Awards, she for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for My Life Without Me , and he for Outstanding Achievement in Editing for The Saddest Music in the World .
One of five children, her birth came eight years after that of her youngest sibling, when her parents were in their mid-forties.
In November 2005, it was announced that the Harold Greenberg Fund was financially backing 24 film scripts in development, including one by Polley. She is adapting the Alice Munro short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain", which has been optioned by Pulling Focus Pictures. Rechristened Away from Her , the story is about a faithful husband married to a woman who, afflicted by Alzheimers disease, unknowingly betrays him.
Provided vocals on two tracks for The Sweet Hereafter soundtrack. The Tragically Hips "Courage" and Jane Siberry s "One More Colour".
On February 24, 2006, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists awarded her the Award of Excellence for a critically acclaimed career at the 2006 ACTRA Toronto Awards. ACTRAs Toronto chapter, the unions largest, has approximately 21,000 members.
Has worked with the legendary actress Julie Christie three times: Polley co-starred with her in No Such Thing and the Goya Award-winning "La Vida secreta de las palabras" ( The Secret Life of Words ), and Christie is playing the lead in Polleys first feature film as a director, Away from Her . Polley is impressed by not only with Christies talent, but praises her intelligence and independence. After appearing with her in No Such Thing , Polley -- who lost her mother when she was 11 years old -- said that Christie had become one of her surrogate mothers.
She had intended her feature film debut to be "Itchy", based on a script she wrote about a 12-year-old actress starring on a television series. However, she was unable to get the project green-lighted, and turned to another property she had, an adaptation of one of her favorite short stories, Alice Munro s "The Bear Came Over the Mountain". The story, which deals with a couple dealing with the wifes Alzheimers disease, appealed to her as her own grandmother had suffered from the affliction.
Was chosen by Variety as one of "10 Directors to Watch" (January 2007).
Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.
Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007.
Has lived on her own since she was fourteen years old.
Was presented with the Dallas Star Award at the 2007 AFI Dallas Film Festival.
Dec. 2007 - Ranked 49 on EWs The 50 Smartest People in Hollywood.
Served on the mayor of Torontos transition team in 2003.
Was offered the female lead in the film The Bourne Identity but declined the part.
Member of jury at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival in 2008.
Ex-daughter-in-law of Marnie Wharnsby and Bill Wharnsby.
Ex-sister-in-law of Tim Wharnsby.
Recently revealed that she was conceived during an extramarital affair conducted by her mother Diane Polley and that Michael Polley is not her biological father. The revelation of this is at the core of her new documentary film Stories We Tell .
Actress Rebecca Jenkins , who plays Polleys mother in Stories We Tell , was a good friend of Polleys mother.
Directed one Oscar nominated performance: Julie Christie in Away from Her .
Half-sister of Mark Polley and Joanna Polley.
Younger half-sister of Susy Buchan and John Buchan. They share the same mother, Diane Polley.
(November 2008) She visited Argentina to be part of the member of jury in Mar del Plata International Film Festival 2008.
On her mothers side, Sarah has Scottish and Northern Irish ancestry. Sarahs biological father, Harry Gulkin, is the son of Russian Jewish immigrants.
Gave birth to her 1st child at age 33, a daughter named Eve Sandomierski on February 7, 2012. Childs father is her 2nd husband, David Sandomierski.
As of August 2014 she had 2nd daughter with her 2nd husband David Sandomierski.
It takes terrible things to live well.
[on filming The Sweet Hereafter (1997) ] "I was so young then, 18.
Acting can be the most shallow, vapid things you can do with your life,but it can also be one of the most profound experiences in the world.
Lately I did a film called All I Want for Christmas and it was well received. This gave me a new point of view and a new respect for my work as an actress. .
