As my readers know, I invariably state that the Signature Mystery Series on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries are my topmost favorites of the network offerings. I’m just a cozy mystery junkie! Typically, these mystery movies boast a fairly substantial cast, and for many of these actors, it may be their first movie with the network. Veenu Sandhu was recently seen in one of the trio of new offerings from Morning Show Mysteries with Rick Fox, Holly Robinson Peete, and Al Roker. I am honored to share my brief, newsy interview with all of the Sleuthers today!
RH: How/why did you decide to pursue a career in acting? What kind of training have you had to prepare you for this career?
VS: After I finished University (where I minored in Drama), I moved back in with my parents in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and started working for them at their store, selling furniture, appliances, and electronics. Over the next three years, I learned the family business and it looked like taking over the store was my path. If I continued on this path, I knew I would have a happy, stable life in running the business. I would most likely settle down, get married, buy a house, have a couple of kids…you know, the usual stuff. I think it was my second year there when I auditioned for and was cast in a couple of local theatre productions. I had such a great experience doing those shows, and they reminded me how much I loved acting. I decided I needed to at least try a career in this industry, and if I failed, then I could be happy in following that other, much easier path without any regrets.
In 2006, I started at Vancouver Film School in the one-year Acting For Film and Television diploma program. After graduating, I continued to take acting classes around the city, and still do! Having a community of actors who support you and understand the struggles of this career is vital for longevity in this field, and classes are a great way to build that support network.
What was your first professional role in the business and what are your memories of it?
First commercial shoot
My first professional role was on a commercial for a drugstore brand. It was an advertisement for their beauty department. I was cast with two other amazing women–Aili Storen and Thi Tran–who are both strong, brilliant and incredibly aspirational. The premise was that we were in the bathroom of a dance club and each were primping with a different type of cosmetic. I was spraying a ridiculous amount of hairspray in my hair, while Aili was applying lipstick and Thi was powdering her nose. Other than meeting Aili and Thi, the neatest thing about the whole experience was that the “club” bathroom was totally fake. Our commercial was shot in conjunction with two other spots for the same company. To keep things efficient, the production team had rented a house and shot each commercial in different rooms. For our dance club bathroom location, they built a false wall with three false sinks in a room in the basement of the house, and it felt so real! They even had one of those paper towel dispensers installed. I didn’t even realize the wall and sinks were fake until they started taking down the set when we were done!
You had a recurring role on Lost In Space. What was most memorable about being on that show?
I am a huge sci-fi fan, so it was a dream role for me. It was such an enormous production that all of it was memorable for me. The sets, the wardrobe, the attention to detail… it was all on a much larger scale compared to anything else I have ever seen. I had never shot at multiple locations before or with more than one director. I learned so much over those episodes in terms of how something that large all comes together. My favourite part was that I was able to wear a spacesuit. It was weird to not be able to hear much when I was wearing it because the fan in the helmet was so loud. I had an earpiece that allowed me to hear the other actors, but I couldn’t hear anyone else in the room unless they had a microphone. The spacesuit was a little small for me because it was custom-made to fit Molly Parker, who is a few inches shorter than me. It ended up feeling a little claustrophobic, and it caused friction burns under my arms, but I didn’t care because I was pretending to fly a spaceship!!!! That was the coolest experiences I have had so far.
I saw you in Cop and A Half. What did you appreciate about your time on that movie? (Giles Panton is a good friend of mine.)
I was only there for one day – but that was by far the most fun I have had in the green room. All the actors on set that day (including your friend Giles) are just genuinely funny and nice people so the conversation was hilarious and kept me entertained. I am a huge Chopped fan, so I told Lou Diamond Phillips how much I enjoyed his episode on the cooking competition show. We had a great chat about food and cooking that day, so by the time we broke for lunch, I was so hungry!
You’ve appeared in a handful of Vancouver shows-any special memories?
My first network television role was on Fringe. I was so excited that my scene was with Joshua Jackson and Anna Torv. I was a huge fan of the show and was really worried about doing a good job and not standing out as a “new” actor. I thought I was so funny when I pointed out to Josh that I actually grew up in a town called Dawson Creek (not Dawson’s Creek). I was surprised he actually had heard of it and he said, unfortunately, he had not been there. It turns out that he has toured through a lot of small towns all over Canada, partly for filming his movie One Week. Both he and Anna were genuinely nice and welcoming which helped me relax and truly enjoy that day.
I see you were also in A Dog’s Way Home. What was it like being a part of that film? What are the differences between doing a film like that and being on a TV show?
A Dog’s Way Home was a really special experience. First of all – DOGS! It was so fun to work with Shelby (aka Bella). In the movie, I played a police officer and my partner was played by Tammy Gillis. She taught me so much. Although we’re pretty close in age, she started in the industry well before me, so I took the opportunity to ask her a ton of questions, and hopefully didn’t badger her too much! It was also a huge privilege to work with John Cassini, as well as the legendary Wes Studi, and the magnetic Ashley Judd. Working on a film with such a large budget, I was involved in my first ever crane shot. That’s when the camera is mounted on a giant crane to allow for the shot to start way up in the sky, and then zoom in to where we actors played out the scene.
You recently made your first Hallmark Movie–Morning Show Mysteries: Murder In Mind. What did you know about Hallmark before making that movie? What was it like being on set working with that cast and crew?
I knew quite a bit about Hallmark going into shoot Morning Show Mysteries: Murder In Mind. Hallmark has created so many wonderful opportunities here in Vancouver, and I love the cute storylines. A number of people I know have appeared pretty often on these projects. My good friend Kate Isaac has been on a quite a few as well as Tammy Gillis who I mentioned above.
It was a wonderful cast and crew to work with. Everyone was pretty upbeat and easy to work with even though we were shooting outside in the cold at night. As a former high school basketball player, it was pretty exciting to shoot my scene with Rick Fox!
Currently, Canadians can see you on The Murders (waiting for it to come to the US). What can you tell us about your role in this show?
I play a lawyer named Jennifer and… I don’t want to give away too much for anyone who hasn’t watched yet! The show is about a homicide unit here in Vancouver. I’m so proud to be in such a distinctly Canadian show, that stars some of the best talent that just happen to be local. The writing is stellar, and the show is filled with intrigue and surprising twists in every episode. I also love the diversity showcased on this series. It’s rare to see television shows that accurately reflect what our cities really look like. The series is filled with people of all genders, ethnicities, and ages, playing people in all sorts of professions and social standings which make the stories feel more authentic.
Any other upcoming works you can mention?
I will be in the new Child’s Play move that stars Aubrey Plaza. I don’t usually watch horror movies because I get too unsettled…but I will have to make an exception for this one. The trailer looks fantastic, and I appreciate how stylized the production is, so I think there’s going to be more layers to it than just your average horror flick.
I have also just been cast in the play A Thousand Splendid Suns, based on the book by Khaled Hosseini. It’s being produced by The Arts Club here in Vancouver, and will run mid-September until mid-October. More information can be found at: artsclub.com
Any plans to write/produce/direct in the future?
I have a one-woman play that I have been writing for a while, but I think it’s time I buckle down and finish it. I think I have a little fear in the completion of it because it deals with some divisive issues around racial identity, and national identity. It’s scary to put something out there that might ruffle feathers, but this idea first came to me about four years ago, and over time I see that the themes in this story have become even more relevant, so I think it’s time to get it done and get it seen.
I don’t think I am too keen on producing anything in the near future, but would love to direct if the right project came along.
When not acting, what do you like to do for fun? How do you balance your personal and professional life?
I like to spend time with my husband Devin, who happens to be my best friend too. He is not in the industry, so he keeps me grounded, and it’s nice that we can have conversations about things other than what we do for work. I really enjoy cooking, keeping up with my favourite TV shows, and physical activity. I love hot yoga, working out, and hiking. That’s partly because I have Type 1 Diabetes and it’s important for my health to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. It’s also partly because I find physical activity helps me clear my mind and focus, as well as bolster a healthy mindset when I am challenged with the ups and downs of this industry.
The funny thing about being an actor is that it is sporadic work. Generally, you get very short notice for when you’re going to have an audition or be on set, so I have built in a lot of flexibility with my schedule. The hard part is meeting up with friends and family who work normal 9-5 jobs, but there’s always lunch hour meet-ups if I’m too busy in the evenings or on weekends. I also have a great community of other actor friends that I socialize with regularly. Their schedules tend to match mine a little more easily, and it’s comforting to be able to talk with others who understand why we are driven to act for a living.
I absolutely admire the fact that Veenu made the decision to give up her secure, typical life and take a risk toward pursuing her artistic passions. So many spend their lives on the sidelines and expire with regrets because they chose a life that guaranteed them a paycheck instead of true purpose in this life. I understand that everyone has to chart their own course in this world, and there are a variety of reasons why people choose not to chase their dreams, but we viewers are the beneficiaries of a young lady who chose to plunge headfirst into the entertainment universe. It appears to be her calling due to her sense of personal fulfillment in addition to her continued success. And for that reason (and so many more), I applaud and thank her from the bottom of my heart for being willing to share her gifts and talents with the masses.
If you have not had the opportunity to see Veenu in any of her wide variety of works, I would invite you to check out the links below for more information about when and where you can see her in action on the big and small screen (and live theater as well). And while you’re investigating her work, I would invite you to follow her via her social media links so that you never miss any of her future offerings. While she is a working actor who labors intensively in order to attain her goals and dreams, there is no doubt that she is quickly becoming a highly esteemed industry professional who consistently injects authenticity and heart into all of her works, regardless of the size or scope of the role she is given. I am glad she has a plethora of support inside and outside of the industry, and I can hardly wait to see what the near and distant future holds for her!
FOLLOW VEENU
Related Articles
1 Comment
-
Okay, I think I missed most of her work, I would definitely try Child’s play, its being timed to watch some good quality horror movie, Thanks for sharing 🙂
