Best known as the feisty young coroner Dr. Emily Grace on Canada’s acclaimed Victorian series ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ and as the cynical Sabrina Reynolds on the CW’s ‘The L.A Complex,’ Georgina Reilly Grew up in an artistic household. The British Canadian actress performed in musical theatre productions throughout her schooling. While attending Havergal College, she was discovered by celebrated independent filmmaker Bruce McDonald, who cast her in the critically acclaimed horror/fantasy/thriller ‘Pontypool.’ Georgina Reilly soon became a household name in Canada.
In ‘Goalie,’ Reilly is Pat Morey, wife of the legendary hockey player Terry Sawchuk, who racked up 103 shutouts and 400 stitches to his face (playing unmasked). In this one-on-one interview, Reilly reveals her take on acting and the challenges she faced in bringing her character to life.
What attracted you to this film and the role of Pat?
Georgina Reilly: I really wanted to work with Adriana Maggs and when I read the script, I thought the character was so interesting, so strong in many ways. This was more than your typical wife’s role and how much wives at that time did for their husbands and families. And since my husband is Mark O’Brien, that played into it (laughs). My baby was four months old at the time and I felt like I needed to work again. Mark had been talking about doing this project for over a year.
Some roles are challenging in different ways. What did you find most challenging about being in this film and why?
Reilly: First off, playing a real person, you feel responsible for doing your best about everything you know about the person. You want to do them justice. Plus, some characters don’t have as many scenes and lines, yet you want to portray the full person. You want to fill every moment, even the quiet ones with the truth of the situation. I learn a lot more when I don’t have to speak on camera. There’s just so much more in those in-between moments. And that’s where the audience gets to be part of the scene; otherwise, you’re not letting them contribute to the story with you.
Did you have a favorite scene? What did you like about it?
Reilly: I liked the early scenes, they were sweet. Like when the guys were in the bar. It’s a lighter time in their relationship. He’s so introverted and doesn’t know how to handle himself. And she’s so confident. And the scene when Pat’s ironing and watching Terry finally win the cup. The camera comes in really slow and I don’t say anything. I found that so emotional. These women do all these things—they drag the kids around, they support their husbands. She was there for him through all his injuries and how he was treated. Yet all the fun is on the road and the game is fun and when he comes home, he brings all this baggage to her. So when he finally wins, she’s watching it on the TV and is not really a part of it. 
Pat and Terry had one of the most oblique marriage proposals I’ve seen in a long time. Can you go into that a bit?
Reilly: I loved that scene. It was written by Jane and Adriana (Maggs). I think it’s so telling of Pat and Terry as characters. She had the confidence to say, is that what you want? She pulls it out of him. It’s real, not glamor. It’s not like the proposals you see on TV or the movies. In real life, you’re talking about kids and your future and suddenly, you’re saying, are we doing this? It’s actually a beautiful but kind of sad scene because you can already see their downfall in the way Mark plays it. Like he knows he’s not going to be able to do this one-hundred percent. Yet when I spoke to Pat, she’s so proud of him and the Sawchuk name. And how their kids have it better than he did, for they’re all respected and invited to all the NHL games. There’s no regret or bitterness toward Terry. 
What did you draw from so convincingly play a goalie’s wife–trying to raise a family, dealing with Terry’s drinking, his explosive emotions, injuries?
Reilly: I actually got to speak to Pat Morey on the phone. It was awkward because I didn’t want to pry. I’d read one of the biographies where she was pretty candid about her relationship with Terry. When I read the script and talked to Pat, I wondered if she was going to sound like she had a hard time. But she was bright, cheerful and enthusiastic. There was a powerful woman under all that she had gone through. I was still nursing my four-month-old baby at the time. And I could relate a bit because as a mother, I understood her viewpoint. Being an actor and being married to one, you do experience rejection and not feeling good enough. We’ve been there for the ups and downs of our careers. It gave me an insight into how people put up with each other’s moods. It tests you and I used that.
What have you learned about acting and the business that surprised you?
Reilly: You come into it and you see all your heroes and you think you can change yourself. You tell yourself, if I want to do this, I need to change—I need to lose weight, I need to look more like this, I need to go to this party. But the truth is, all anyone ever wants is what you’re providing. In this industry, it took me so long to realize that what I’m bringing is all that matters because there’s no other me. What I have is special and I don’t need to be what’s “in” right now or what others want. It took me a while to realize that I know what I’m doing and I don’t need anyone else to do my art; otherwise, how am I unique if I’m trying to copy someone else? 
What can you tell us about the new TV series ‘Baker and the Beauty‘?
Reilly: It’s just a very beautiful romantic comedy where these two different worlds meet. I play Beauty’s best friend. I love a good romantic comedy and the best friend roles are always my favorite. You get to be a little out there. It’s going to be on ABC on April 6th.
‘Goalie’ releases in theaters from January 31 and will then be available on DVD and digital come February 25 from Dark Star Pictures.
Alex A. Kecskes is a published author of "Healer a Novel" and "The Search for Dr. Noble"—both now available on Amazon. He has written hundreds of film reviews and celebrity interviews for a wide variety of online and print outlets. He has covered red carpet premieres and Comic-Con events for major films and independent releases.
