24-year-old Anna Lambe began her acting career at 15 years old when she was part of a youth audition workshop for an upcoming film, “The Grizzlies”. The workshop was held in Iqaluit with other Inuit youth from the circumpolar regions. She auditioned and she was offered the role of “Spring”. The Grizzlies was about a lacrosse team made up of young Inuit from Kugluktuk. They came together to uplift and empower one another during a suicide epidemic in the community.
After the success of The Grizzlies, Anna finished high school and later attended the University of Ottawa to study International Development.
She had realized the power of film and television through sharing and talking about “The Grizzlies” which led her to audition for a role in “Trickster”, a CBC TV series based on a novel, “Son of a Trickster”, authored by Eden Robinson. Anna was given the role of “Sarah” in that series. After that Anna knew that film and television were always going pull her back in.
To prepare to audition for the lead role in North of North, Anna had to read scripts, do self tapes and other steps which became a 4-month process. It was a stressful time for her as she really wanted the role of “Siaja”, She says she gave it 110% because she believed if you don’t give it your all, someone else could take your place.
Anna had just boarded a plane to return to Iqaluit after a spending a week at the University of Ottawa. And just before the flight took off, she received a call from the creators, Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, telling her the role was hers if she wanted it.
Anna says she burst into tears. She may have startled some of the passengers with her emotional outburst, but she says it was a long build up to that moment. For her, it was pure joy and relief knowing the waiting was over But, that was quickly followed by fear and excitement of what was yet to come.
Anna says the filming was both challenging and rewarding and she’s never experienced a set like the North of North. She says filming in a remote location builds a sense of community with the cast and crew as you see each other everyday – even when not working.
She says it was wonderful to see the resourcefulness and innovation as challenges rose with lack of infrastructure for a production of that size.
Anna says the highlight for her was the filming part of the series and working again with Alethea and Stacey. She added that coincidentally she was starring with Maika Harper who played “Neevee”, “Siaja’s” Mother.
The two had previously met in Germany to audition for the same role in another production, and neither was selected. While in Germany, it gave them time to have conversations about Indigenous representations in film, and how badly they both wanted to see a comedy about Inuit lives.
Anna says it was amazing that they ended up with roles of Mother and Daughter on North of North.
For Anna, when the series first aired, she was not quite sure how people would react. Although she had a sense that people would really enjoy the comedy series, there was always that feeling of anxiety. She was assured as she sat in the same theatre in Toronto and Iqaluit and heard people laugh, gasp and shout at the screen which filled her with so much joy and relief.
Anna doubted whether she could pull off being the lead actor in a comedy show but the incredible support from the cast and crew made it so much easier.
North of North has given her the confidence and a better understanding of comedy show production. Anna says the industry can wear you down, especially when you are not picked for a role you worked hard for, which is usually unpaid work and preparation.
Anna’s message to aspiring Inuit actors is that there’s a lot of uncertainty and dealing with rejection which can affect you but, it’s also very fulfilling work and a great way to meet people and go places and the stories you can tell from experiences.
And it’s better to try than never knowing what could have happened if you didn’t. And for her, if she did not try out for “The Grizzlies”, she would not be where she is today.
Anna says the film industry has not always been a positive experience for Inuit as their stories and voices were often exploited.
She says in the indigenous film industry, they all rise together, look out for each other, share platforms and lift each other up every step of the way.
