Canada has many talented actors, writers, directors, and other content creators. To help our industry grow, we would like to introduce you to some of those talented folks who have managed to capture that magic on screen.
At the 2024 Leo Awards, we met with Mia Bella Shewchuk. She was nominated for best performance in a series as the young star of Popularity Papers.
HNMAG: Are you originally from Vancouver?
Mia: I am, yes.
HNMAG: When did you become interested in entertainment?
Mia: I started off in dance and musical theatre when I was three years old. That really sparked my passion for performing. When I was seven years old. A good family friend introduced me to a film and TV agent, Brenda Wong at MVM Agency. She still represents me today.
HNMAG: How much do now remember from when you were three?
Mia: I remember having so much fun being on stage and connecting with people through performance.
HNMAG: When you first auditioned for Film and TV, did you start with commercials?
Mia: I did yeah. My first audition was for a Duracell commercial and I booked it. I played a bearded elf. It was a really fun experience for my first time on set. I had a fake beard and had to dance on a table.
HNMAG: That dance background paid off for your first audition.
Mia: Yay it did!
HNMAG: Was this a US national union commercial?
Mia: Yes, I believe so.
HNMAG: When did you book your first TV show role?
Mia: A couple of months later I booked a part on DC Legends of Tomorrow. I played a young French girl in the 1800’s. It was about a haunted, killer doll and it killed my character’s mother. It was filmed at the historic Vancouver mansion Casa Mia which I was very excited about. Strangely, my next role was in the reboot of the Chucky movie reboot – another killer doll!
HNMAG: You also speak French. That was another advantage of your background for your on-camera performance. Did you have lines in French?
Mia: I had to do a French accent. I tried it for a couple of takes saying the line in French but that didn’t make the cut.
HNMAG: Your dance and language skills have been utilized but how about your singing?
Mia: On Popularity Papers, my character shares some of my own traits in loving musical theatre, she’s a singer and an actress. I sang a musical theatre song for my audition and I got to sing in the show, which is really cool. I get to sing here and there on the show but there was one episode where it was more prominent.
HNMAG: Was that the Middle School of Rock episode?
Mia: I did a little bit of singing in that one, but that actually wasn’t one of the main ones. That episode revolved around the drama that Lydia was NOT cast as the singer of the school band in that episode. I was able to perform a couple other songs in some episodes later in the season.
HNMAG: Where is Popularity Papers set?
Mia: It’s a fictional town called Mapleview, which I think it is supposed to be a suburban Toronto area. There are parts of the show where we talk about Scarborough and different areas. Not enough TV shows embrace the Canadian spaces they’re filmed in. It’s a cool, unique part of the show.
HNMAG: What was it like to work on the show Yellow Jackets?
Mia: That was really fun. It was about three years ago. It was a super fun day. I haven’t really watched the show because the subject matter, while interesting, is kind of creepy!
HNMAG: You played a recurring character on the Disney+ series, Gabby Duran and The Unsittables.
Mia: That was a really cool experience. I made some lifelong friends and it was fun to be blue and have tattoos. I also got to use my taekwondo training. My character was a warrior alien. I got to do some fight scenes. It was an experience I’ll never forget. I’ve been doing taekwondo since I was two and a half.
HNMAG: You do things before most people even form long-lasting memories. Does your martial arts training inspire an interest in stunt work?
Mia: Totally, I want to do my own stunts but it’s hard because I’m not fully stunt trained but eventually I’d love to get more into stunt work. I love that entire realm. I’m taking sword fighting and archery classes.
HNMAG: Do you have any thoughts about getting more productions set in Canada?
Mia: We have amazing talent and crews here and we can just keep working and striving to be authentic. The author of the book Popularity Papers is not Canadian but a lot of the crew and all of the Cast are Canadian, so they just set the show in Canada. I think that was a good choice. It came out as authentically Canadian and a lot of Canadians can relate to it.
HNMAG: That’s the reverse of what usually happens. What else have you been busy with?
Mia: I’m working on three original songs which will be released this year. I’m very passionate about music and being a recording artist is another one of my big goals.
HNMAG: Do you perform live music?
Mia: Yes. Recently, I was the opening act for the Mini Pop Kids on their last tour. I got to play at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver which was a lifelong dream because it’s such an iconic venue. The kids and their parents were all jumping up and down. It was really fun. I have also been performing around Metro Vancouver at open mic nights for a long time.
HNMAG: You also have US representation. When did that happen?
Mia: A few years ago, I took an online acting workshop with John D’Aquino. There were agents from LA on zoom who saw my scenes from the showcase performance. Then I had a meeting with them and signed a contract. There were kids from all over the world in the workshop. It was really cool.
HNMAG: Did your LA agent help you get the lead for Popularity Papers?
Mia: No, that was with the help of my Canadian Agent, Brenda Wong at MVM Agency.
Mia Bella is a very talented actor and we are fortunate to experience her performances from such a young age. She has worked hard at developing her craft as a triple-threat entertainer since she was a toddler. Even though she has many years of experience in front of the camera, in reality, her life is still in the very early stages. Mia has passion and drive. Keep an eye out because there are no limits for what she can accomplish.