Beloved Canadian actor Mag Ruffman plays Meredith (Molly's Mom) in Avocado Toast the series. She acts to uplift, to inspire and to help people relate to experiences beyond the scope of their own lives.
Tell us about your story in Avocado Toast the series. What were the main challenges and fears you had in your role?
My role is Molly’s mum, Meredith. When Molly finally admits to her mother that she’s bisexual, her mother one-ups her by revealing that Molly’s parents are in an open marriage. The news doesn’t go over well. As an actor, a challenge I always face is that I won’t be believable. Or that I’ll make dumb choices and then my scene partner will say, “Are you going to do it that way?”
How much of yourself goes into a character?
I share a bunch of characteristics with Meredith – open-heartedness, extreme Liberal-ness, and an abiding love of welding. There are some characteristics that are completely foreign to me, like the choice to be in an open marriage, so I had to do a little reading about that.
What aspects of Avocado Toast the series are you excited for an audience to experience or discover?
I’m excited that the series will spark conversations and de-mystify sexuality. There is such an intense need for people to understand the vast spectrum of human sexuality. Witness the popularity of the British show, Sex Education, I think the timing is fantastic for Avocado Toast the series to offer a roadmap for honest conversation and self-acceptance.
What was the hardest scene for you to do and why?
I was nervous about the smoking marijuana scene because I don’t smoke marijuana and I don’t know how to act stoned.
Who is a major influence for you and on your creativity?
My Australian acting guru, Lindy Davies, plays an enormous part in my ongoing development as an actor. She has taught me to be freely in the moment and emotionally present on camera and onstage.
Is there a type of role you dream of playing but haven’t had the opportunity yet?
I’ve always wanted to play a nun. I have no idea why.
With so much going on in the world today, what’s your motivation to be a performer? Do you act to explain? To get away? To move past? To widen our knowledge? To incite a conversation?
I act to uplift, to inspire and to help people relate to experiences beyond the scope of their own lives.
What's next for you as a creator/actor/performer?
My show is Mag Ruffman’s Self Help Cabaret, because I’ve spent my entire life trying to fix myself with self-help products.
Do you have interesting hobbies or a creative pursuit outside of acting? Tell us about it!
Welding (as seen on Avocado Toast!), knitting, novel-writing, singing.
Twitter: @magruffman
Facebook: ToolGirlMag
Instagram: @magruffman
IMDB: Mag Ruffman
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Up next on Friday is a blog with Production Designer, Kiki Divic in our Women Behind The Camera Weekend interview series.
