24’s Sandrine Holt – Changing Hollywood through Asian eyes

Sandrine Holt is most recognizable as Evelyn Martin, the aide to First Lady Martha Logan on the Emmy Award winning television series "24" starring Kiefer Sutherland. Born in England but raised in Canada, Sandrine Holt is the daughter of a French mother and a Chinese father…Sandrine Holt is most recognizable as Evelyn Martin, the aide to First Lady Martha Logan on the Emmy Award winning television series “24” starring Kiefer Sutherland. Born in England but raised in Canada, Sandrine Holt is the daughter of a French mother and a Chinese father. The raven-haired actress owes her adaptable appearance and ability with accents and dialects to her international upbringing.

At seventeen, Sandrine left Canada to move to Paris. Her plans were cut short, however, when she landed the highly coveted role of Annuka in the critically acclaimed epic “Black Robe”, directed by Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy.) Sandrine earned a Prix Genie Award nomination for her highly moving and erotically charged performance, quickly launching her career and thrusting her into the Hollywood spotlight. Her performance in “Black Robe” caught the attention of Executive Producer Kevin Costner and Director Kevin Reynolds, who cast her in the lead role of the Warner Bros. feature film “Rapa Nui”, co-starring Jason Scott Lee (Map of the Human Heart, Dragon), and Cliff Curtis (Whale Rider.) Her performance was a powerful combination of innocence and sultry sexuality that played strongly against the stark visual style of the film. Adapting her versatile looks to the needs of each role, Sandrine went on to star in several diverse independent projects, including the leading role of Poppy Twelvetrees in Bruce McDonald's “Dance Me Outside” which premiered at the 1995 Toronto Film Festival. She had a starring role opposite David Bowie and Harvey Keitel in “My West” (Il Mio West.) Sandrine also delivered a memorable performance as the precocious Mona in “Loving Jezebel”. She followed that film with the defiant, regal Chinese bride Jin in David Weaver's “Century Hotel”, which premiered at the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival. Sandrine then went on to co-star alongside Jennifer Garner and Amanda Peet as the charismatic lesbian Suki in the comedy “1999”. Soon after, she starred with Eric Stoltz and Anthony LaPaglia in the romantic comedy “Happy Hour”. Sandrine then returned to Hollywood to co-star in the role of Terri Morales with actress Milla Jovovich in the feature film “Resident Evil: Apocalypse”. Its release in the fall of 2004 hit number one at the box office. Sandrine has worked with some of the finest talents in television, including the starring role in John Woo's martial-arts/action thriller “Once a Thief” (Fox/CTV, 2 seasons,) Francis Ford Coppola's “The Conversation” (NBC pilot,) and Sidney Pollack's “Last Defense” (CBS pilot.) Sandrine's recurring guest appearances include “Las Vegas” and “New York Undercover” and guest roles include “E.R.”, “CSI Miami”, and “The Outer Limits”. Watch for Sandrine this Fall in the controversial yet highly anticipated “The L Word” on Showtime. Find out if Asian Americans are breaking ground as she gives us some insight into the world of Hollywood through Asian eyes.

ASIANCE: Your last name is originally Ho. How did you come up with Holt?

Sandrine: The first film I worked on was “Black Robe” and I was playing a native role. There's was a little bit of controversy on the fact that I'm Asian playing a native role. So my agent at the time thought I should change my last name for that role. Then it just stuck. “Black Robe” was my first film and I didn't know if this (acting) was what I was going to do.

ASIANCE: Now you are in The L Word coming out this Fall.

Sandrine: This is the first time I'm on the L word. I love it! They have the best wardrobe ever. It's unbelievable! I guess because the entire cast is women. They have Armani, Prada, and amazing clothes. I'm playing a high society lady who has a bit of a gambling problem..

ASIANCE: After you were on 24 did people start to notice you?

Sandrine: Yeah actually (laughs). I guess a lot of people what 24. I would go to the pharmacy and someone would ask me, “Can you tell? Does Edgar make it?!” My character died so I'm not on the show anymore. Now I'm working on this other show called Runaway for the CW network.

ASIANCE: Was there any role that you absolutely loved playing?

Sandrine: That's hard. I think “Black Robe” was the most interesting project that I had worked on. It's weird because it was like my first project and working with Bruce Beresford. I don't know it's so hard. I've had very few comedic roles which is what I want to play. Ultimately it is to do some French Language films. I'm fluent in French and I use to always watch French films when I was a teenager.

ASIANCE: Do people compare you to Maggie Cheung?

Sandrine: Sometimes I get Faye Wong, an Asian Pop Star. She's in a lot of Wong Kar Wai Movies.

ASIANCE: Who's your favorite actress?

Sandrine: Emily Watson, Frances McDormand. I love them all for different reasons. I love Emily because there is something childlike about her. France McDormand is such a solid, interesting actress to watch. I love Kate Winslet. She's gorgeous.

ASIANCE: Any Asian Actresses?

Sandrine: Maggie Cheung is pretty much the one.

ASIANCE: Who would you love to work with?

Sandrine: I'd love to work with Wong Kar Wai. Mike Lee. I'd love to work for Lars von Trier.

ASIANCE: Are you going to pursue French films.

Sandrine: Right now they are making such amazing films in French Canada. They made this film “Crazy” which just picked up all these awards. They are just making really interesting films and I'm definitely pursuing that.

ASIANCE: You are married to rock producer/engineer Travis Huff. How is it balancing marriage and your career?

Sandrine: It's actually pretty easy. I don't have any kids yet so maybe that's why it's easier. My husband is a music engineer and music producer. So he travels a lot and he works crazy hours like 6 days a week, 12 hour days. So he does his thing and I do my thing. So when we have time together it's great.

ASIANCE: When you are not acting what do you like to do?

Sandrine: I like to cook. Since I don't have time to do that, I do yoga and weight training. I'm always trying to bulk up..

ASIANCE: You went from modeling to acting. How was the transition?

Sandrine: It was pretty easy. I started acting when I was 17. I started modeling when I was 13. It helps in the way that you don't get fazed by cameras too much. You get over that aspect but I think when I started acting it was “Yeah but isn't she a model?”

ASIANCE: Any favorite actors?

Sandrine: You can always think when you're never asked.. I think Clive Owen is really cute.

ASIANCE: What about your favorite movies?

Sandrine: I like films that are really simple, character driven. Films like In the Bedroom. I saw the Larry Clark movie, The Wassup Rockers. It's hard because some movies you like just because they are visually beautiful and then some you love because of the acting?

ASIANCE: Would you ever want to direct?

Sandrine: I really love documentaries. If I ever got into that, it would definitely be documentaries.

ASIANCE: Any type of theme?

Sandrine: I like the idea of something that already exists and capturing it. I took a few documentary classes in school. It's fun!

ASIANCE: Did you ever study acting officially?

Sandrine: I actually continuously study acting. I take a class three times a year which is about a month long. It's an all intensive class. I've been doing that for 5-6 years. Before that I was studying with a teacher in New York.

ASIANCE: What's the difference between New York and Los Angeles?

Sandrine: It's so weird. In NY you give up a whole lot of lifestyle things. You live in a small apartment, everything is really expensive but then I think it makes up for your social life. You can connect with people and be spontaneous. In LA you are so isolated.

ASIANCE: Tell us something about you that we would be surprised to know.

Sandrine: I'm a fairly boring person (laughs). I think that's why I like acting. The characters are always a little more exciting than I am.

ASIANCE: How has being Asian American/Canadian American affected parts that you've either played or lost because of your ethnicity?

Sandrine: It's difficult because usually when they cast things, the main characters are Caucasian in absolutely almost every situation. Maybe it's going to change now but it really hasn't yet. The secondary cast is usually African American, Asian or Hispanic. Sometimes you feel that you're the token such and such or you're usually the one who dies first (laughs). It sort of takes you out of a lot of roles, because if the main cast is Caucasian you can't play somebody's daughter or somebody's sister because you're ethnic. On the other end you get cast in Professional roles, the stereotypical, young professional.

ASIANCE: Have you seen changes though?

Sandrine: I feel like LOTS have changed since I started working. It's definitely changed a lot. It's become more realistic. When I watch a movie or a television show, it's always white. I think to myself, “This is not real!” Like Lost is amazing because it's real. It's slow. I think for Asian Americans it's been the hardest. I think a lot has to do with our culture. My parents weren't pushing me into the arts and my friends who were in the arts, their parents were really nervous about it. Accept your destiny, be pragmatic..this is fluffy.

ASIANCE: Any Asian women you admire?

Sandrine: My favorite is Maggie Cheung.

ASIANCE: What would say to an Asian girl trying to make it in acting?

Sandrine: The main thing is to work on your “voice”. Not actual voice but you being heard. We're always taught not to make a scene or talk too loud. To not be as expressive as you should be..So that's the hardest to breakthrough. I think The L word is good in that it's multicultural.

Photo contributions by Scott Miller.
Stylist: Daniel Hernandez.
Make-up/hair: Amber Griffin.

For more information on Jaymie check out her MyAsiance page at my.asiancemagazine.com/Jaymie