The final season of "Shits Creek" begins this month. So what has she learned in a lifetime of hardship and success?

1. the best career advice I've ever gotten To put the right foot forward in any job (and really in any relationship). Once you commit, it is nearly impossible to change people's perception of you.

2. The most graceful response to a rejection/career setback: "God willing."

3. The least graceful reaction to a rejection/career setback: "But I wanted to do it!"

4.

4. change you would like to see in your industry: a resurgence of medium-budget films. Right now, only low-budget independents or nine-figure blockbusters are being made.

5. how did you earn your first dollar? Babysitting. when I was 13. There were five kids in that house. When the parents came home, I was asleep and all the kids were awake. But I still got paid!

6. Who do you admire and why? I respect and appreciate: people who bust their asses and do good things for those in need, people who fight for a worthy cause. Otherwise, they are all talk and no action.

7. Last thing I binge-watched: HBO's "Succession". I caught up with it a while ago and now look forward to every new episode. The characters are despicable, but somehow likable thanks to the show's great writing and acting.

8. Song that always makes me cry: "When She Loved Me" by Sarah McLachlan from Toy Story 2. Makes me cry.

9. song i want played at my funeral: "Got to Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye. Not because of the lyrics, but because it's perfect for a dance party.

10. first album you ever bought? Bruce Cockburn's "High Winds White Sky."

11. food you unashamedly love: salt & vinegar chips. Especially good with Rum & Ting.

12. favorite cocktail: homemade margarita with jalapeño simple syrup and casamigos reposado. On the rocks, no salt.

13. something every woman should try at least once in her life: skinny dipping. Preferably on a lake.

14. how does your perfect day start? Getting ready to do something fun with a cup of tea.

15. how does your perfect day end?

16. what am I good at? Giving unsolicited opinions. Ha ha.

17. 17. thing I'm not very good at: in the third grade, I was scolded for putting Toronto (my hometown) in Iceland on a geography test. Corporal punishment doesn't work. I still don't know where anything is.

18. better in theory than in practice: "Smell this, see if it's still good."

19. store where you can't leave without buying something: Big Lots in California, USA; Dollarama in Ontario, Canada.

20. thing you did for yourself recently: got a great facial. I need to do this more often.

21. beauty essential: a toddler toothbrush. You can clean your teeth without staining your character's lush red lipstick.

22. advice for the heartbroken woman: "they don't deserve you."

23. love advice to my younger self: that "sexy" dark and brooding guy is not a high-dimensional thinker. In fact, it turns out that he doesn't think about anything.

24. craziest thing I did for love: learned to cook. If I had known that years later I would still be cooking dinner...

25. the craziest thing you wish your high school boyfriend/girlfriend would tell you: in high school, I fell in love with a lot of people, but I never had a boyfriend. I guess I was too busy playing and fooling around with my wonderful girlfriends.

This article appeared in the February 2020 issue of Marie Claire. Subscribe to the Marie Claire newsletter (opens in new tab).