CHLOE Magazine Spring 2013 Spring 2013 | Page 90

C H LO E F E AT U R E In 2008, she received a Leo Award nomination for her role opposite Ashley Judd in the feature film Helen. Fast plays a girl who has to come to grips with her mother’s depression while trying to keep her family together. When she was only 13, the actress beat out adult competitors and won her first Leo for her role in Past Tense, another indie thriller in which she plays a girl fighting for justice as she unravels a murder mystery. Like any true artist Fast enjoys fashion and tries to change her looks when she’s not in character and when she’s auditioning for movie roles. “I have worked with stylists,” she says. “But I like to change my hair and makeup and I use that as a tool or an approach to get roles. I get so in character when I’m on set that I use make-up and clothes to come back to myself. I do this so I can leave the character I play on set.” Despite the lucky breaks, even now, she still has to prove herself and speaks openly about age discrimination in the business. “I get stares but once you start the scene they get to see what you’re made of. It’s a nice moment when you get to prove yourself as an actor.” Fast is already calling the shots, demanding respect in every aspect of the production process, transcending a script to what she wears on her body. She believes that “the right wardrobe is important,” as it affects how she portrays a character. The young actress is conquering the silver screen, but envisions her future behind-the-scenes. Currently enrolled in a business program at Langara College in British Columbia, Fast is learning about the fundamental elements of the film industry, with hopes of revisiting her humble beginnings in production, direction and writing. Fast acknowledges her strong support system and credits her mother for keeping her “grounded and resilient.” Most of her friends are outside of the industry but she’s social with actors “because they can relate to what you’re doing.” Boyfriends are not in the picture right now. The star says her choice to stay single is to find the “right” guy. “I don’t want to be in a relationship because I have to be,” Fast says of dating in high school. “I would rather wait for a nice guy who is a good person to spend my time with. I want it to be my choice.” It’s hard not to respect Fast. Her experiences could mirror the story of The Ugly Duckling, as she has evolved into a beautiful, smart and talented young woman. By choosing to make acting her outlet, she turned a tough past into a promising future.  “I was finding my identity and stayed true to myself,” she says of not conforming to the expectations of her peers. “That was the trade-off.” The lessons she learned in high school have taught her how to handle herself as an actress and as a woman. In doing so, Fast has created a life for herself that is as layered as any movie role, full of emotions, conflict, a climax, a wardrobe, a set, a script, but most of all, a story. By choosing to make acting her outlet, she turned a t o u g h p a s t i n t o a p r o m i s i n g f u t u r e .  “ I w a s f i n d i n g m y i d e n t i ty a n d s t ay e d t r u e t o m y s e l f, ” she says of not conforming to the expectations of her peers. “That was the trade-off.”