Raised in Abu Dhabi, moving to Canada with no connections, no training, and no roadmap… Maxine still managed to land her first three acting credits in six months, join the union almost instantly, and book the lead role in the award-winning film Polarized.Her story is a masterclass in risk-taking, resilience, and trusting your instincts even when you feel completely unprepared.We talk about:Growing up in the Middle East & finding her voiceGetting signed by an agent with zero materialBooking her first jobs without formal trainingThe chaotic (and hilarious) audition storiesHow she landed Polarized — and why she almost didn’t auditionThe callback that tested everything she knewHer identity, culture, and navigating the industry as an Arab womanThe tattoo she designed herself inspired by the filmHow she breaks down characters, script work, and audition prepWhy small wins matter as much as “big breaks”