---
name: "Sarah Polley"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/sarah-polley"
fi1m_id: "sarah-polley"
imdb_id: "nm0001631"
tmdb_id: 98
wikidata_id: "Q234212"
roles: ["Writer","Director","Actor"]
born: "8 January 1979"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-10-01T19:33:33.155619+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Sarah Polley

## Identity

Sarah Polley

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/sarah-polley
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** sarah-polley
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001631
- **TMDB ID:** 98
- **Wikidata ID:** Q234212
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Polley, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q234212, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001631/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/98

Writer and director. Born 8 January 1979 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer, Director, Actor
- **Born:** 8 January 1979, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- **Active:** 1997–present
- **Also known as:** Sara Polley
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 3 acting, 3 directing, 1 writing
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 1 nominated)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 88 (1), 2000s 82 (2), 2010s 77 (1), 2020s 73 (3)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Polley, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q234212, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001631/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/98

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Stories We Tell*](https://film.one/film/stories-we-tell.md) (77), [*Women Talking*](https://film.one/film/women-talking.md) (76)
- **Apple TV:** [*Away from Her*](https://film.one/film/away-from-her.md) (82)
- **HBO Max:** [*John Adams*](https://film.one/tv/john-adams.md) (81)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Sarah Polley

> Sarah Polley writes arguments that stay interesting because the people having them matter. We recommend her films for their talk, with a reservation: she can keep explaining what we have already understood.

In *Women Talking* (2022), the schoolteacher sits at the edge of a hayloft, taking minutes while the women decide whether to stay or leave their colony. Polley keeps the practical questions tangled with the religious ones: what happens to the boys, and what does forgiveness mean if it is demanded? The women interrupt each other, so an exchange that could become a lecture keeps changing direction. Polley is good at giving each speaker a reason to resist what the others are proposing.

Her first feature as writer-director, *Away from Her* (2006), adapted a story by Alice Munro; *Take This Waltz* (2011) followed with an original screenplay. With the documentary *Stories We Tell* (2012), she turned to her own family’s conflicting accounts of the past. She returned to literary adaptation with the miniseries *Alias Grace* (2017), from Margaret Atwood’s novel, and *Women Talking*, from Miriam Toews.

In *Stories We Tell*, Mike Munn cuts the interviews so that one person can finish a memory begun by someone else and disagree with it in the process. Iris Ng shoots them plainly in daylight, keeping our attention on faces rather than decoration. We were moved by Michael Polley in the recording booth, calmly accepting his daughter’s request to read a passage again without appealing for sympathy. Jonathan Goldsmith’s mostly piano score is restrained enough to let the speakers hold our attention. The frustration is that Polley keeps explaining how stories are shaped after the interviews have already shown us.

*Women Talking* has a different problem: the dialogue is persuasive, but Luc Montpellier’s drained colour makes the images needlessly dreary. Claire Foy gives Salome’s anger an urgency that keeps the theological discussion from becoming too comfortable, while Jessie Buckley makes Mariche’s resistance sharp and difficult. Editors Christopher Donaldson and Roslyn Kalloo keep finding a listener’s reaction across the circle, so we register the effect of a speech as well as its meaning. The brief glimpses outside the loft add little to what the women have already said. Start with *Stories We Tell*; if the arguments are what hold you, follow it with *Women Talking*.

## Biography

Sarah Polley is a Canadian actor, writer and director. Born in Toronto, she began her career as a child actor, appearing in the television series *Road to Avonlea* (1990–1996) and films including *The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* (1988) and *The Sweet Hereafter* (1997).

She later wrote and directed feature films including *Away from Her* (2006), *Take This Waltz* (2011) and the documentary *Stories We Tell* (2012). Polley wrote and directed *Women Talking* (2022), for which she received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, ew.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

### Performed in (3)

- *The Studio* (2025), Fi1m 84, as Sarah Polley — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-studio.md)
- *John Adams* (2008), Fi1m 81, as Abigail Adams Smith — [page](https://film.one/tv/john-adams.md)
- *The Sweet Hereafter* (1997), Fi1m 88, as Nicole Burnell — [page](https://film.one/film/the-sweet-hereafter.md)

### Directed (3)

- *Women Talking* (2022), Fi1m 76, Screenplay, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/women-talking.md)
- *Stories We Tell* (2012), Fi1m 77, as Self (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/stories-we-tell.md)
- *Away from Her* (2007), Fi1m 82, Director, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/away-from-her.md)

### Wrote (1) — the average rests on these

- *& Sons* (2026), Fi1m 58, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/and-sons.md)

## Complete filmography (70)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *& Sons* (2026), Screenplay — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/and-sons.md)
- *The Studio* (2025), series, as Sarah Polley — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-studio.md)
- *Seven Veils* (2025), Thanks
- *Beethoven's Nine: Ode to Humanity* (2024), Executive Producer
- *Women Talking* (2022), Screenplay, Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/women-talking.md)
- *Hey Lady!* (2020), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Alias Grace* (2017), series, Producer, Executive Producer, Teleplay, Writer, Creator
- *The Secret Path* (2016), Executive Producer
- *Stories We Tell* (2012), Director, Writer — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/stories-we-tell.md)
- *Take This Waltz* (2011), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Trigger* (2010), as Hillary
- *Splice* (2010), as Elsa
- *Mr. Nobody* (2009), as Adult Elise
- *John Adams* (2008), series, as Abigail Adams Smith — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/john-adams.md)
- *Away from Her* (2007), Director, Writer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/away-from-her.md)
- *The Secret Life of Words* (2005), as Hanna
- *Beowulf & Grendel* (2005), as Selma
- *Don't Come Knocking* (2005), as Sky
- *Siblings* (2004), as Tabby
- *Sugar* (2004), as Pregnant Girl
- *Luck* (2004), as Margaret
- *The I Inside* (2004), as Clair
- *Dawn of the Dead* (2004), as Ana
- *Slings & Arrows* (2003), series, as Sophie
- *My Life Without Me* (2003), as Ann
- *Dermott's Quest* (2003), as Gwen
- *The Event* (2003), as Dana Shapiro
- *No Such Thing* (2002), as Beatrice
- *I Shout Love* (2002), Writer, Director
- *The Weight of Water* (2001), as Maren Hontvedt
- *The Claim* (2000), as Hope Burn
- *Preludes* (2000), Actor
- *The Law of Enclosures* (2000), as Beatty 'Beatrice'
- *This Might Be Good* (2000), Actor
- *Love Come Down* (2000), as Sister Sarah
- *Don't Think Twice* (1999), Producer, Director, Writer
- *The Life Before This* (1999), as Connie
- *Guinevere* (1999), as Harper Sloane
- *eXistenZ* (1999), as Merle
- *Go* (1999), as Ronna Martin
- *The Best Day of My Life* (1999), Screenplay, Director
- *Jerry and Tom* (1998), as Deb
- *Last Night* (1998), as Jennifer Wheeler
- *White Lies* (1998), as Catherine
- *The Sweet Hereafter* (1997), as Nicole Burnell — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-sweet-hereafter.md)
- *The Planet of Junior Brown* (1997), as Butter
- *The Hanging Garden* (1997), as Teen Rosemary
- *Joe's So Mean to Josephine* (1997), as Josephine
- *Children First!* (1996), as Host
- *Exotica* (1994), as Tracey
- *Johann's Gift to Christmas* (1992), as The Angel
- *The Hidden Room* (1991), series, as Alice
- *Road to Avonlea* (1990), series, as Sara Stanley
- *Road to Avonlea: The Movie* (1990), Actor
- *Lantern Hill* (1989), as Jody Turner
- *Babar: The Movie* (1989), as Young Celeste
- *The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* (1988), as Sally Salt
- *Ramona* (1988), series, as Ramona
- *Friday the 13th: The Series* (1987), series, as Mary
- *The Big Town* (1987), as Christy Donaldson
- *Blue Monkey* (1987), as Ellen
- *Hands of a Stranger* (1987), as Suzie Hearn
- *Pretty Kill* (1987), as Karla
- *Heaven On Earth* (1987), as Becky Hawthorne
- *The Incredible Time-Travels of Henry Osgood* (1986), Actor
- *Confidential* (1986), as Emma (child)
- *One Magic Christmas* (1985), as Molly Monaghan
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Becky Hawthorne
- *The Best Kind of People*, Director, Producer, Screenplay
- *The Bell Jar*, Director, Screenplay

## Gallery

- ![Sarah Polley](https://film.one/media/person/21807/gallery-779c2c22f5de.jpg) Sarah Polley — nicolas genin from Paris, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Flickr_-_nicogenin_-_66%C3%A8me_Festival_de_Venise_%28Mostra%29_-_Jared_Leto_%2813%29.jpg/1280px-Flickr_-_nicogenin_-_66%C3%A8me_Festival_de_Venise_%28Mostra%29_-_Jared_Leto_%2813%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jared Leto, Diane Kruger, Sarah Polley, Linh Dan Pham and the director Jaco Van Dormael from the film Mr. Nobody at the 66th Venice International Film Festival.](https://film.one/media/person/21807/gallery-d157c7994a25.jpg) Jared Leto, Diane Kruger, Sarah Polley, Linh Dan Pham and the director Jaco Van Dormael from the film Mr. Nobody at the 66th Venice International Film Festival. — Nicolas Genin, CC BY-SA 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Cast_Mr_Nobody_66%C3%A8me_Festival_de_Venise_%28Mostra%29.jpg/1280px-Cast_Mr_Nobody_66%C3%A8me_Festival_de_Venise_%28Mostra%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jaco and the Mr Nobody crew (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/21807/gallery-d50932a06b12.jpg) Jaco and the Mr Nobody crew (2009) — Bryan Chan from Toronto, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Flickr_-_Sasoriza_-_Jaco_and_the_Mr_Nobody_crew.jpg/1280px-Flickr_-_Sasoriza_-_Jaco_and_the_Mr_Nobody_crew.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Canadian actresses Sarah Polley and Clare Stone played the same character (at different ages) in the film. Polley has amazing talent. She portrayed a woman suff (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/21807/gallery-4dff92b5d662.jpg) Canadian actresses Sarah Polley and Clare Stone played the same character (at different ages) in the film. Polley has amazing talent. She portrayed a woman suff (2009) — Bryan Chan from Toronto, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Flickr_-_Sasoriza_-_Sarah_Polley_and_Clare_Stone.jpg/1280px-Flickr_-_Sasoriza_-_Sarah_Polley_and_Clare_Stone.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Sarah Polley](https://film.one/media/person/21807/gallery-749b6a40acf2.jpg) Sarah Polley — Image via TMDB
- ![Sarah Polley](https://film.one/media/person/21807/gallery-d34587b49648.jpg) Sarah Polley — Image via TMDB
- ![Sarah Polley](https://film.one/media/person/21807/gallery-06b2be98e500.jpg) Sarah Polley — Image via TMDB
- ![Sarah Polley and Clare Stone. (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/21807/gallery-d6bf828c06ed.jpg) Sarah Polley and Clare Stone. (2009) — Bryan Chan from Toronto, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Flickr_-_Sasoriza_-_Sarah_Polley_and_Clare_Stone_%281%29.jpg/1280px-Flickr_-_Sasoriza_-_Sarah_Polley_and_Clare_Stone_%281%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Canadian actresses Sarah Polley and Clare Stone played the same character (at different ages) in the film. Polley has amazing talent. She portrayed a woman suff (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/21807/gallery-63fadb7eb671.jpg) Canadian actresses Sarah Polley and Clare Stone played the same character (at different ages) in the film. Polley has amazing talent. She portrayed a woman suff (2009) — Bryan Chan from Toronto, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Flickr_-_Sasoriza_-_Sarah_Polley_and_Clare_Stone_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Sarah Polley](https://film.one/media/person/21807/gallery-121ae33b5f66.jpg) Sarah Polley — Image via TMDB
- ![Sarah Polley](https://film.one/media/person/21807/gallery-2ded2d9dfeb0.jpg) Sarah Polley — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- 2023: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (won), for *Women Talking*
- 2008: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *Away from Her*

### Golden Globes — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2023: Best Screenplay (nominated), for *Women Talking*

### Other awards — 2 won, 1 nominated

- Writers Guild of America Award 2023: Writers Guild of America Award (won), for *Women Talking*
- Canada's Walk of Fame 2010: Canada's Walk of Fame (won)
- European Film Award for Best Actress 2006: European Film Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *The Secret Life of Words*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/sarah-polley