THUNDER BAY — Retirement from a long career in broadcast journalism not only reinvigorated a city woman's passion for acting, but has now given her a part in a network TV movie.
Barbara Saxberg, a former award-winning journalist with CBC network radio, first took to the stage in her 20s with regional theatre productions.
In her 30s, "life came along, working at the CBC for 25 years, and doing other things like having a family," she said in an interview with TBnewswatch.
Now, decades after she put acting on hold, Saxberg plays the role of a judge in the Lifetime TV movie Would You Kill For Me? The Mary Bailey Story.
The motion picture debuted over the weekend in the U.S., and will have its Canadian debut on Nov. 4 at 8 p.m.
"I was only on set for a couple of days. I think they took three weeks to film the whole movie, but I was only there for the courtroom scene... I have a couple of scenes where I had a little monologue, and I got to say 'guilty' at the end. So I'm thrilled to bits to have been part of it, and you know, with any luck it won't be the last thing I ever do."
One of the stars of the movie is 12-year-old Presley Allard of Thunder Bay, whose performance in a challenging role about a distressing subject impressed Saxberg immensely.
But it was on the final day of shooting the film in Ottawa that the two of them learned they had a connection.
Saxberg said she believes the young girl has the talent to make a career out of acting if she chooses to pursue it.
She credits a vibrant and supportive performing arts community in Thunder Bay with fostering the development of local performers.
"It's actually things going on here that got me started back into it. It initially started when my cousin Kelly [Saxberg] and her husband Ron Harpelle were producing the film Where the Poppies Grow, about my grandfather and his experiences in World War One. And she said 'do you want a part in that?' So I had a small role, and really enjoyed doing that, and it wasn't long after that I saw a notice for auditions for the Magnus Theatre 10-by-10 short play festival."
That led to her being cast in a play, and to acting classes, just as COVID-19 arrived.
"Trying to start a whole new career in the midst of a pandemic, and especially as an older person, maybe wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done. But it's certainly been a lot of fun."
Saxberg found an acting coach, then signed with an agent who arranges for online auditions, which is how she was noticed by the producer of the Lifetime movie.
"I hadn't heard for a little while, so I thought 'Oh well, you know, moving on, because that's kind of the way it goes there.' There's way more rejections than bookings. But then I got the call to say that yes, they wanted to book me in this role for the judge. So I was thrilled to bits."
Believing that there is always opportunity for growth, she continues to work on her acting skills, including frequent sessions one-on-one with coaches.
"I take it very seriously...I work really hard at doing al the things I need to do for the business of acting. But I also recognize that I'm in a demographic where there aren't a whole lot of roles for older women. And generally, I'm auditioning against other women who've been in the business for awhile, and have some pretty impressive resumés. So I'm grateful to get the auditions, and I was delighted to be in this movie."
Saxberg may be seen a role model for retired people who've had to relinquish something that was important in their younger years, whatever the reason.
When asked if she'd advise others in her age range to have another go at achieving their dreams, she replied "If you can, if you are able to, why not?...We get to a certain point in our lives when you know you're in the back half rather than the front half, you're trying to live as much as you can without regrets."
