Sammi Hanratty has only been a working actor for the past decade, but the “Salem” and “Chosen” star has already racked up 50 film and television credits—three of which were for TV shows she was filming at the same time—and has no plans to slow down.
Hanratty spoke with Backstage about her unorthodox introduction to Hollywood, juggling multiple parts at once, and her upcoming projects—including Lifetime’s “Seeds of Yesterday,” airing this Sunday, April 12.
On how she got into the business.
Though she started acting professionally at age 9, Hanratty knew it was what she wanted to do long before that. “I wanted to start acting when I was 2!” she reveals, laughing. “I would tell my mom I wanted to be onstage and TV. She was like, ‘No!’ and I was like, ‘Yes!’ ”
Obviously, Hanratty won that argument, and when she was 6 her mom agreed to send some photos out to an agency. They got a call a few days later, and it wasn’t long before Hanratty booked her first commercial.
On the training she’s had as an actor…or lack thereof.
While many of today’s young actors have had formal training, or fell into acting as a result of their previous connections to Hollywood, Hanratty dove into the industry headfirst.
“I mainly just learned everything from my experiences on set,” she says. “My start in the industry was unusual. I’ve been super fortunate to be able to just watch and learn from other actors and take in as much as I can. I’ve never really taken any classes, but I’m not against them at all; I think they’re great. It’s important to work on your craft, I just haven’t had a lot of time.”
On preparing for her role on “Salem.”
“I did a little bit [of research] for ‘Salem,’ ” reveals Hanratty, adding, “mainly for the way I’d be speaking. I wanted to be able to speak the way people did in the 1600s. It was easy, though—once you step on set you’re really stepping back in history. You don't feel like you’re in 2015.”
Hanratty goes on to say it was similarly easy to slide into the role of ’90s rebel Cindy in “Seeds of Yesterday,” Lifetime’s fourth installment in its V.C. Andrews adaptation franchise.
On the transition from TV to film.
By and large, Hanratty’s career has consisted of television work. (Her first few roles were small parts on “Passions,” “Charmed,” “Drake & Josh,” and “House M.D.”) It wasn’t long before she broke into film, though, and the transition was more than welcome.
“Because I was recurring on three shows at once [‘The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,’ ‘Pushing Daisies,’ and ‘The Unit’], at one point in time I was going between three different characters,” she says. “It made it a lot easier to go to film. I think it would’ve been harder if I was ever a series regular.”
On the one that got away.
One thing undeniable about Hanratty is her ability to stay positive about her career—even when it comes to losing out on parts she really wants.
“I didn't book it!” she says when asked about her most memorable audition. “I fell in love with the character. It was a transgender role. I decided to kind of go all out and wore a wig to the audition, wore my boyfriend at the time's clothes—basically dressed like a boy. I went in and it was an emotional piece. I felt like this person, just completely let go. It didn’t matter if booked it or not, I was just happy to perform it. I felt so good! On the way to the audition someone called me ‘sir,’ which was such a big compliment.”
On what’s in her future.
Hanratty currently has two projects in the pipeline: “Bad Kids Go 2 Hell,” in which she plays leader of the bad kids Siouxsie, and “Remedy for the Dark Mind”—which she’s also producing. According to Hanratty, both films are dark comedies, but that’s right about where their similarities end.
“ ‘Bad Kids’ is based off a comic book, it’s filmed like comic book,” she says. “It’s very bold and different—super fun to film. It’s a lot edgier than what I've done before. I wouldn't recommend to younger audience. I play a motorcycle-riding, gun-shooting girl whose sister dies, and I’m trying to figure out who killed her.”
“Remedy,” meanwhile, marks Hanratty’s debut as a producer on a feature film.
“I’m really honored and excited,” she says. “It’s so beautiful. It’s a black-and-white feature and basically begins with a mother passing away, and my character, Noelle Westbrook, inherits over $90 million, and she and her friends try to figure out what they’re going to do with all this money.”
On advice for young actors.
“You have to love it,” Hanratty says. “You hear way more no’s than yes’s, but as long as you love it and keep remembering it’s all about doing what makes you comfortable, it’s worth it. Take every rejection and turn it into positive.”
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