Interview by Kierston Drier:

KD: Tell me a little about yourself? What inspired you to pursue a career in acting and performance?

MM: I don’t remember first time I was on stage because I was three years old! At four I started dance. You may have guessed, my parents are actor/writer/directors. They never pushed me, but gave me the opportunity to try it out to see if I enjoyed it. I obviously did.

KD: To date, what has been the defining role of your career. Why?

MM: This is a tough one.. I would have to go with my film Perfect for a few reasons; In this film, I play twins. It’s a unique challenge, playing two different people opposite each other. It’s a silent film, which means everything has to be communicated in the eyes, facial expressions, and body language. Also, the twins are violinists. I’ve played violin since I was a little kid, so being able to marry two of my passions in one project was especially gratifying!

KD: What are some of the most exciting projects you are working on right now?

MM: I have a couple projects in the works- one that films in Italy, and another in the states, and hopefully I can share more on those soon! I recently wrapped the first season of Six City. At the moment, I’m filming the horror series Raveage. Imagine Mr. Robot went on a Purge- lots of scary stuff ahead!

KD: Tell me more about Six city- what’s the most engaging thing about it?

MM: I’ve always really liked six-degrees-of-Kevin-Bacon type of films. I love seeing the small and not-so-small ways lives are intertwined and affect each other. Six City is exactly that, using the backdrop of Toronto to explore the intersecting nightlife, crime, and police force. My character Serena is a bisexual club go-er who may seem all fun and parties on the outside, but has a whole separate private life that her friends don’t know about yet…

KD: What are you most looking forward to with these new projects? What excites you most about Six City? About Raveage?

MM: I’m excited to delve deeper into Serena’s story, and for the audience to get to see just how far her story expands. Much like Six City, the world Courtney and Jennifer James have created is also connected to Raveage. Raveage is cool because it expands on the set up of Six City- it takes place in the same world. Serena is an even bigger lead in this next chapter, following her steep emotional journey and her ties to the worlds of politics, crime, and of course, love.

KD: Where can we find these new projects?

MM: Six City will be permiere in November on Facebook, and other media platforms after that. You can follow along for Six City here: https://www.facebook.com/sixcityseries/ and here: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8205962/

Raveage is currently in production, but to stay up to date you can follow on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/raveagefilm/ and here: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6267818/

Six City stills of Serena- Admit One Productions

KD: Describe your process. How do you get into the headspace of a really difficult character?

MM: It begins with text analysis. Getting everything I can from the pages provided to me. If the character has a specific job, or past, it helps to research if I’m unfamiliar with being, say, a surgeon. What are the hours like? What are the success rates of the types of surgery I do? How does that affect me, my mental state, my relationships? Even if my character is never at work on screen, the job will affect my home life. Knowing everything I can about my character makes it easier to be them in a believable way.

KD: What has been your most challenging role?

MM: My role on the hit Canadian show Murdoch Mysteries was challenging in a number of ways. It was exhausting because Amy MacFarlane (my character) experiences a lot of panic- and panic is draining on the performer. At one point in the season 7 premiere, I had my arms tied behind my back, I was gagged, and wearing a woolen dress – all under rushing water. It’s a lot going on.

KD: What has been the hardest part of being a professional actress? What is the most rewarding?

MM: The hardest part is the sometimes uncontrollable schedule. Over the span of two weeks, I was working on a movie full-time at night, and filming IRL: The Series during the day. On the weekends, I had scheduled a few other shoots. None of it could be moved. One ‘day,’ I was up for 40 hours working on three different projects. Sometimes it would be nice to be able to space things out, and give every project the time it deserves. But, you just have to plow ahead and do your best. When it rains, it pours. There are so many rewarding aspects. Like, finishing the two weeks mentioned above. And watching your finished product come to life, with everyone else’s work coming together. It’s a very bonding experience.

KD: Apart from performance, what else are you passionate about?

MM: I have a very deep love for fantasy novels. There’s nothing better than sitting down with a cup of tea and a really great novel. It’s one of my favourite forms of escapism. I love being able to bring a world in my bag, and jump into it whenever I can. I’m passionate about the environment- finding ways to keep and reuse materials I have, upcycling and recycling. I can’t wait until plastic is a thing of the past.

KD: What is next on the books for you, Miranda?

MM: After I finish filming Raveage, I’ll be heading down to LA next year for pilot season. I’m so excited for this next adventure!

KD: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in this industry, looking to be a professional performer as well?

MM: If you want to work on set, become a PA or work as an extra. It’s not just about the performance aspect, you need to know if you actually enjoy the environment you’ll be spending 12-17 hours a day in. Learn by helping. If you want to make your own projects, make connections by helping other filmmakers first. You can’t call in a favor you haven’t earned. Take classes, and don’t be afraid to suck. You will probably suck. But knowing what not to do is just as important as learning what you can be doing. And if you want it badly enough, you will find a way to make it happen.

headshot credit- Denise Grant Photography