Each year at TIFF, four talented up-and-coming Canadian actors are selected as the festival's official Rising Stars. They receive special consultations with filmmakers, casting directors and film executives. Plus, we're also pretty sure they get to go to all of the parties. This year, one of the rising star is Alexandre Landry.
Landry is a young star who got his start in French Canadian roles. He studied at the National Theatre School of Canada but got his big break in the 2013 TIFF flick Gabrielle. This year he stars in another festival selection Love in the Time of Civil War.
But we wanted to find out some of the interesting facts about these stars that may not be in his official bio. Check out what he wants you to know below.
Alexandre Landry:
- I joined the National Forces in 2004 to pay for my studies at The National Theater school of Canada. I worked for the Naval Reserve for nine years and sailed on the west coast and the east coast of the Canada.
- I am from a tiny town call St-Étienne-Des-Grès.
- My mother started child care at home when I was 5 years old and so my brother, my sister and I grew up with 6 other kids all week long. That is why I love to tell stories.
- I did mixed martial arts for 8 years.
- Shannon Kook (fellow TIFF Rising Star) and I went to the National Theater School of Canada exactly at the same time and we became friends the first day.
- I like stoic philosophers because I feel it is a philosophy that applies time and time again.
- My favourite drama film is Pierrot le Fou by Jean-Luc Godard and my favourite comedy film is Bruce Almighty.
- I like extreme sports, such as skateboarding, skydiving, surfing and rock-climbing.
- My favourite book is Life is Beautiful by Roberto Benigni.
- I am dyslexic and it takes me a lot of time to read and learn my texts.
You find out more about his fellow TIFF Rising Stars Shannon Kook and Julia Sarah Stone here.