The Wrap On: Sana'a Shaik
Feature
Sana'a graced our streaming services in series to the likes of Dive Club, Netflix thriller - Reckoning and recently wrapped Class of ‘07 , which you can watch on Prime Video. Sana’a and I discussed not taking typical routes and what it means to be on our screens that instantly reach right around the globe.
Few things to note about Sana’a:
Graduated from Sydney University with a Master of Management
Recipient of the CGA Rising Star Award (2022)
Film work in Includes Summer love, which is a Comedy Finalist at the Equity Ensemble awards 2023
“ I’ve always said paint me in green, hang me from wires! I want to do things I’m not going to in my real life!”
What’s the meaning of Sana’a ?
It’s an old school Arabic name, it means Sunshine, Brightness or light.
Do people ever butcher it?
When I couldn’t be bothered to get into it I just introduce myself by my nickname, Sunny. One year, I got given a birthday card by a family friend and she called me ‘Shinaz’…
What was your childhood like?
I was born in Durban, South Africa, and grew up there and in Johannesburg. In 2008 my family immigrated to Perth.
I grew up very close with my extended family, always at the beach with cousins, big Eid lunches every few months as we’re Muslim.
That was probably the most difficult part about moving to Australia, was losing that sense of community and family.
Who was a young Sana’a looking up to ?
I'm actually not sure who I looked up to growing up. I wouldn’t say I looked up to anyone famous because my thoughts about what classified as inspiring differed from those around me.
Now, there are so many people that inspire me: Michaela Cole, Ramy Yousef, Phoebe Waller Bridge, Donald Glover.
More recently on home soil is, Flex Mami (Lillian Ahenkan), I love the way she speaks with such conviction. She’s Really. Friggin. Cool.
Agreed!
These artists all speak and do things I was once too scared to admit I was inspired by, let alone do.
“I know I’m not running out of time, but I wish I knew early on to not back down on my dreams and what I wanted! “
How was High School for you in Perth?
It was actually not that bad! My best friend is still my high school best friend.
A study conducted by Harvard suggested loneliness, which is significantly impacted by longterm friends, can increase risk of disease and can be as harmful to your health as smoking. SMOKING!
So go you two for maintaining a friendship for decades.
How did you find acting?
I’ve always been a creative person. My first love was ballet, I started dancing classical ballet when I was little. Getting older my creative outlet shifted from dancing to acting in high school when I moved to Perth. I don’t know why, but I felt uncomfortable doing ballet here, so I randomly chose a drama subject and I guess it just grew from there.
Did you go from High School to drama school?
Not a typical drama school. I did workshops around Sydney and did performance as my minor at uni .
What excites you about telling stories on screen?
Being able to tell all sorts of stories - I’ve always said paint me in green, hang me from wires, I want do things I’m not going to do in my real life!
Cinema can be an eye opening moment for people. Movies are able to permeate every type of person or social group. I mean, its kinda the reason movies were used as propaganda during the war right! Its influential.
Modern entertainment, is still a reflection of a country’s culture and history. Helps show who we are to the world, what we stand for and our beliefs, our past and people. Being part of that is exciting to me.
How has the way you auditioned evolved?
At first, so daunting. It’s getting easier with every tape and every in room. It’s definitely just as much a mental game as it is a physical one.
You’re getting rejected, your competing with your friends for work, maybe your family don’t approve, maybe you just don’t get the same opportunities to audition as everyone else and you have to keep telling yourself to keep going and pursue your dream. It’s tough. Even when you’re working and climbing that ladder, its hard not to compare yourself to your peers.
“I don’t know what the secret is to survive [but], I’ve got really great people around me and other passions besides acting.”
Having a life outside this world is so important because waiting by the phone is honestly soul crushing, so try to create my own work as well. I really admire people who can get their own projects off the ground. Said it before and I'll say it again, its TOUGH!
Talk to us about a role you resonated with most.
Stevie from Dive Club. She’s so loud and curious, she says what’s on her mind. She’s such a larrikin and isn’t afraid of anyone. She reminds me of a younger me, before I started to overthink everything and doubt a little bit of myself.
Do you remember booking class of 07?
Yes! It was such a wacky and wonderful casting process. I remember auditioning for like 3 or 4 different characters, Teresa being one of them. Then getting called back for Teresa and feeling like a totally bombed the audition…
You clearly didn’t and something aligned to make the perfect fit!
Can you share an experience that made you smile during that shoot?
The rowing stuff. We actually learned how to Row. And I got told for the wides that the teachers thought I was decent so if I wanted to do it I could! And I did.
Rowing with 3 other pressional rowers. It was a rush. That boat is SO SMALL and so thin it honestly almost capsized twice because of me but, I love that stuff.
You’ve played young women navigating the world.
Do you think we’re still glamourising the ‘young adult’ experience like some of the films we grew up with?
Or are we FINALLY portraying it with accuracy ?
I think thanks to streamers there is a larger pool or stories now that manages to tap into so many different teen groups. I can think of many Teen shows that manage to capture the adolescence pretty truthfully, Sex Education, Never Have I Ever, Atypical and Heartstopper are some pretty genius shows that explore very real themes and depict people from different backgrounds which I definitely didn’t see growing up.
What is something you wish would become more mainstream?
I wish there was more of a push for diversity in, Hair and MakeUp, Wardrobe and Camera departments. It's really good to see more diverse people on screen (albeit quite slowly), however there are hardly ever any PoC’s in the makeup and wardrobe department.
Many people of colour I've worked with feel so uncomfortable after coming out of hair and makeup because instead of learning the styles for their textures of how to match their skin tones, aren’t colour matched.
So, as important as it is to write stories from diverse communities with diverse actors accurately portraying those parts, it’s equally important to utilise the other elements of filmmaking to depict those characters truthfully.
Teaching all H&MU artist to style different hair and colour match different tones important and slowly happening. Everyone should feel equipped to handle anyone they meet on set. But…
What impact has it had on you when the backstage team just simply get it?
I speak for my own Muslim/Indian background when I say there are elements of my culture that are so nuanced in terms of what we wear, the colour of our clothing, how we wear a piece of clothing or how we wrap our scarf. It’s really difficult to understand cultural nuances if you’re not from a similar background.
It’s about giving a truely authentic representation of a community when someone from each department creating that world, is from that background.
Before we let you go, can you tell us where can we see you next? Maybe even our stages…
Theatre would definitely challenge me. I’m a little frightened of it to be honest. I did two shows back to back a few years ago and it really rocked me.
I kind of swore off theatre after that. But, I know how incredibly beneficial it would be and the amount I would learn. I’m sure I’ll overcome the fear of theatre soon!
For now, can see me in ‘Nomad’ and ‘It Only Takes A Night’.
Thank you for so generously sharing your career and experience with us Sana’a as you weave between jobs. We’re all watching!
Sana’a recommends:
In the car, no ones about - what are you belting?
Air drumming to anything My chemical romance!
A must read:
A secret History by Donna Tart
Shows / films we must watch:
To take a break and zen out, we should try: Caring for some plants, buying plants, potting plants. Just plants!
