Preparation for my interview with Charlotte Sullivan involved researching her written and video interviews, and viewing clips from her work. This kind of information paints a picture of the kind of person she might be. But it’s not until you actually speak to the person that the full image comes together After a one hour conversation that was only supposed to be thirty minutes, the final image of Charlotte Sullivan emerged as a woman of genuine, unfiltered, bubbly, radiant energy.
That Sullivan is also well-traveled is, no doubt, one of the perks of being an established actress. Asked how she balances work and home life, she explained:
“Well, my husband is a director, so his work requires him to travel just as much as mine does. Very rarely are we separated unless our schedules call for it. Otherwise, he and I, my daughter, and Penelope (their dog) are all together. We try to keep it to where one goes, we all go. No man gets left behind!”
Sullivan describes herself as a very imaginative child.
“When I was a kid, I used to watch movies all the time and complain to my mom about being in them and she’d tell me that I couldn’t because they were already shot. I’d be all bummed out! But I think that was what sparked my interests and put me on the path that I’m on today.” We inquired about one of her first acting roles as Marion Hawthorne in the 90’s classic, Harriet the Spy, alongside Rosie O’Donnell.
“Wow, how nostalgic! You learn a lot about film etiquette and hitting your mark from your first acting experience, especially at such a young age. It helps when you have a director who is very visual like Bronwen Hughes. This made all the children feel very comfortable. She treated us with the same level of respect as the adults on set. And Rosie was such an inspiration! She helped me out so much with my confidence and reassured me that I was talented and that I could do this. That set was a very positive first experience for me.”
Years later, after more acting experiences, Sullivan landed a role on the Canadian hit-series Rookie Blue as Gail Peck, a very serious, twisted character struggling to find her place amidst the ranks.
“That whole experience was magical! I loved being surrounded by good, talented, supportive people on a daily basis. The environment was so creatively free and I never once felt like I didn’t have a voice. I was given a lot of freedom with Gail to make the character my own. I even pulled the director to the side at one point to ask if she was a lesbian!”
Describing her experience in playing Marilyn Monroe in the Canadian-American miniseries, The Kennedys, she commented:
“To be honest, when I was researching the role, a lot of things about her didn’t add up. From who she was really in love with to how she was as a person didn’t seem to correlate from one thing to another. It was a little tricky, but I sculpted the best character that I could with the information that I had. The best part about playing her was hair and make-up. Hands down! I’ve played a lot of addicts and prostitutes in my line of work. Hair and make-up don’t take long for those type of characters, so it was just refreshing to get dolled up for once and play the ultimate girl of girls.”
Her recent roles include Chicago Fire, in which she plays Anna, the girlfriend of Riverside, the main character. She dies from cancer right in front of him.
“That final scene was really raw and even became personal to one of my co-workers. I believe Anna’s death grounded Riverside and made him less selfish and more aware of those around him outside of himself.”
Sullivan also appears in Lifetime’s Mary Kills People in the role of Nicole (the titled character’s sister) who may have had a helping hand in killing her own mother.
“I originally auditioned for the lead role, but the director felt I was better suited for the role of the sister, which was fine! The director, Holly Dale, is a good friend of mine from my Rookie Blue days, and she let me have complete control over my character’s look. Tattoos and all. It worked out in my favor!”
She will next be seen on the new mini-series Caught.
“It’s a true story about one of the biggest Canadian drug busts in history. I play the main character’s girlfriend who’s hiding a big secret from him. That’s all I can say for right now. It airs next year though, so tune in to find out!”
We wondered which of her many roles made the most impact on her.
“Citizen Gangster has to be the one. That role was so electric and like nothing I’ve ever played before! I got to be so out of character and as gritty as possible. What also made it that more memorable for me is because it’s based on a true story.”
The music, fashion, and film industries all seem like a world of endless glitz and glamour, but behind is a darker side which Sullivan knows all too well.
“I’d have to say the best part about all this is the highs you get from taking center stage and having the lights and cameras on you. It’s your moment to shine and give it your best foot forward. It’s your moment that no one else can take. The worst part of it all, to me, isn’t necessarily what anyone does to you, but more so is what you do to yourself. There are definitely people in this industry who devalue you and don’t make you feel appreciated, but it’s you yourself that’s hardest on you. As an actor, we all go through those dry spells of not having work for a time and you start to feel like maybe the naysayers are right; maybe this is a waste of time, maybe I’m not that good, or are people going to forget about me? It comes and goes with every role you land, but it’s up to you to understand your worth and remember the reasons why you love doing this in the first place.”
Sullivan’s serious advocacy for the famine crisis in South Sudan reveals another side of this interesting woman’s life.
“Even though I’ve never actually been there myself, I’ve worked with UNICEF on this issue. The work they produce is absolutely amazing. All the money they receive actually goes towards what they’re working for. Although they’re putting in all this hard work, they still need help to get more people involved or even just to be aware of the situation. Every little bit helps and no amount is too small.”
When asked her about her fears, doubts, and the unsureness of life she responded:
“You always doubt yourself, but they’re fleeting moments. You learn to appreciate the moments of confidence and remember them in those doubtful moments. Especially when it comes to improving your artistry and who you are as a person. You find yourself along the way and just learn to live in moment.”
As for her future goals?
“Oh my God, I have no idea! Right now I’m working with a writer and we’re coming up with our own concepts for a show. Outside of that, I’m just focusing on my family.”
As for all you aspiring actors and actresses out there, Sullivan has this to offer:
“I spent a long time trying to be what they wanted me to be, but I realized that being an original is the only way to go.”
And that is the perfect description for her. Charlotte Sullivan is an original.
Creative Credits
- Written by
- Kyle E. Preston
- Photography
- Julie Artacho
