Shenae Grimes
Shenae Grimes, known as Degrassi's Darcy has acquired quite a fan base for her portrayal of the religious teen. Shenae talks about the new season of Degrassi, what's ahead for her, and her character.
Photo Credit: The N
The Star Scoop:
How did you get involved with Degrassi in the first place?
Shenae Grimes:
It's a funny story how I got into acting at all, it's because of Jake Goldsbie, who is on Degrassi. I was a huge fan the first season, and he was in an acting class of mine, so I asked him for his autograph, and he set me up with his agent, and a couple years later, I auditioned, and I got the part. I've been working my way up into a bigger role ever since.
The Star Scoop:
When you were a fan of Degrassi, whose story line were you most excited about?
Grimes:
Ellie. I love Ellie, hands down my favorite character. Stacey does an amazing job at it; I think she's a really cool girl.
The Star Scoop:
How is everything going with the next [6th] season?
Grimes:
This season is the biggest one for me yet, so it's the most work I've had, the most challenging work I've had on the show; it's really exciting for me. I started off my first year with a few lines here and there, and I finally got my own A plot this year, so I worked really hard on that, and I hope everyone's happy with it. I haven't seen anything from it. But it was a really juicy story line for Darcy, so I'm really excited to see how it turned out.
The Star Scoop:
Are you anything like Darcy?
Grimes:
Definitely lots and lots of differences. I'm not much like my character in real life, at all actually. She's extremely into religion, as we saw last year, which I think is very, very cool. I have yet to find any one area that I've really stuck with all my life. I've been studying lots and lots of different religions, so that's definitely a major difference. I'm not exactly the cheerleading type either. I was never prom queen, or any of that in high school, so that's definitely fun to play.
The Star Scoop:
Now that you've got a more major role on the show, do you get recognized a lot?
Grimes:
It's crazy. I never got recognized before, and I always hung out with the cast members. This year, ever since being on it more and more, fans start to recognize me, and I'm just like, what? Okay, why do you want a picture with me?
The Star Scoop:
A lot of your scenes you do with Shane Kippel. What can you tell us about him?
Grimes:
I've spent a lot of time with Shane, and he is one of the sweetest, kindest, funniest people I've ever met in my life. He's such a sweetheart, and I'm so lucky, coming in as a new cast member, to work with somebody who is so warm and just so welcoming. It made my job a lot easier, and my experience a lot better. He was just so fun to work with, and I was a little intimidated. He was my first on-screen kiss, and I was a little intimidated, but he made it so easy, and he was so funny all the time. I love Shane. Nothing but good things to say about Shane.
The Star Scoop:
Is there anything you can share from the new season?
Grimes:
Definitely very top secret. We're told, keep your mouth shut, it's all confidential. I can definitely tell you that Darcy does some unexpected things. I think the fans are going to be surprised, and excited, and shocked in a good way. There's a turn of events this year. Nobody's gone for good. I'll tell you that much. You'll be seeing a little bit of everybody, and what they're doing now. I think the fans are going to be very fulfilled with Ellie's story line this year, she's got some good ones. I think they'll be surprised where the kids are headed after high school, but they'll enjoy it...We've put a lot of work into it, and it's only getting better every year. We're leaving it in a place where there could be [a next season]. It's so popular, and it's popularity is only increasing year by year.
The Star Scoop:
You're from Canada, but Degrassi is also huge in the states. Why?
Grimes:
It goes there, that's our motto. It's a risky show, and it touches on a lot, a lot of issues not a lot of shows would ever go for. It provides something for kids to relate to, because kids do deal with these crazy issues. I think it helps everyone feel like they're not the only one out there going through things through this. That's why I think a lot of kids love this show. That's why I love this show.
The Star Scoop:
Tell us a little about you, and what you like to do.
Grimes:
I'm definitely a shopaholic. I recently took up drumming as a hobby of mine. I spend a lot of time going to friends' concerts and gigs and just surrounding myself with as much music as I can. It's a huge part of my life.
The Star Scoop:
In terms of your acting career, is there someone's career, that if yours went the same way, you'd be fulfilled?
Grimes:
One hundred percent Natalie Portman. She is my inspiration, the way her career has gone. It's just been so amazing, and the fact that she went to Harvard University is just beyond me. Having a very versatile career is really important to keep yourself from being typecast in a certain role, and I think she's done that phenomenally. She's done roles of all different types, and that's what I'd love to do, just have a broad spectrum of characters behind me.
The Star Scoop:
Thank you so much, Shenae!