Earlier today I posted my interview with Aislinn Paul, which you should go check out if you already haven’t. This next interview is with one of the newest members of Degrassi. She joined the team for season 13 and her character has already suffered through a personal life-changing moment in just her Sophomore year. A lot of you requested an Ana Goljia interview, here it is.

Jr: Describe the moment you found out that you landed the role as Zoe on Degrassi?

Ana: When I got the call from my agent saying I got the part, I was in the car with my mom in the parking lot of my dentist. I remember at first being in complete and utter shock…I was speechless. After I got off the phone and the idea sunk in a bit, I screamed like no tomorrow! I was on cloud nine!

Jr: What do you like about playing Zoe?

Ana: I love playing Zoe because she is so far from who I am in reality. It’s a real challenge to play someone so manipulative and complex. She is so unpredictable and you never know what she has on her mind and up her sleeve. 

Jr: Degrassi has revisited the sensitive topic of sexual assault. Zoe goes through such a difficult story-line not realizing at first that she was sexually assaulted. How did you react once you read that your character would have to endure this? How did you prep yourself for such an emotional plot, and how do you think this will or has impacted Zoe’s life at Degrassi?

Ana: I was completely heartbroken for Zoe when I found out what had happened at the party. Unfortunately, this happens to teens around the world every day, so the whole team at Degrassi approached this block with the utmost care and sensitivity that it deserved. Getting into character for this block was by far the hardest thing I’ve had to do in my 9 years of acting. I watched countless films and interviews with assault victims to help get into that mindset. When on set, I stayed completely separate from cast and crew so I could really feel helpless and lonely. I remember always feeling so drained by the end of the work day and dreading the fact that I had to do it all over again the next day. It was certainly a challenge, but I am so honored I had the opportunity to do this storyline and help get an important message out there. All that said, I think Zoe has learned who her friends are now and will treat them with the respect they deserve; however, I do not think this event will change who she is as a person.