Actress Sara Canning has played unforgettable roles on screen, but her real story is even more powerful. The Vampire Diaries actress who moved cities at a young age to chase her dream, Sara has built a career as an incredible storyteller, while learning how to navigate change, pressure, and what it truly means to create your own joy. This week, Mercedes and Anastasia are joined by Sara for an honest conversation about the challenges of starting out in Hollywood, lessons she’s learned playing emotionally demanding roles, her advice for taking control over your happiness, and her most memorable memories from being on set!
In this episode:
Sara’s journey from Canada to Hollywood and what it taught her about chasing dreams.
Her real advice for teens (and anyone!) afraid to take a non-traditional path.
Tips for managing constant change, uncertainty, and pressure in your personal life and career.
The biggest happiness lesson she’s learned (and the moment it clicked).
Why storytelling isn’t just for actors, and how it can change your life.
Behind-the-scenes stories from The Vampire Diaries and more.
Daily happiness practices to stay grounded.
Whether you’re navigating change, chasing a dream, or just craving some inspiration, this episode is packed with wisdom, honesty, and practical hacks to take control over your mood.
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Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with actress Rachael Leigh Cook. In this episode, Rachael shares her experience of growing up on set (she booked her first role at 15!), hacks for being true to yourself, and advice for navigating imposter syndrome: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5fkwx5JV2ludNqA69uOl9x?si=ocILBt6AQZWtLAz0oJNOOw
(00:00) Intro
(01:18) Sara's Early Days
(02:47) How Did Growing Up In A Small Town Impact Sara's Happiness & Lifestyle?
(03:59) Moving Away To Pursue Her Career
(06:40) Here's Why You Should NEVER Say Never
(08:12) Handling Frequent Moves
(09:37) Advice For Facing BIG Transitions
(11:55) Pursuing A Non-Conventional Career
(15:07) Top Tips For Handling Change
(18:40) The Moment That Sara Realized Her Power Over Her Own Happiness
(22:08) Unknown Challenges In The Film Industry
(25:26) How Can I Manage Rejection?
(27:09) Biggest Lessons From Acting
(29:26) How Can I Become A Better Storyteller?
(32:32) Sara's Current Reading List
(35:51) The Personal Impact Of Emotionally Deep Characters
(40:04) Why Is Mental Health Important To Sara?
(43:22) Sara's Most Meaningful Role
(44:40) Craziest Behind-The-Scenes Moment From The Vampire Diaries!
(46:59) Want To Become An Actor? Here's Your FIRST Step!
(50:01) What Is Sara's DREAM Role?
(50:59) Sara To Her Teenage Self
(52:07) What Brings Sara A Small Bit of Happiness?
(53:24) Sara's Motivational Quote
(54:44) Find Sara Here
(55:38) Key Takeaways