In addition to providing Sara Waisglass with a new challenge, How to Lose a Popularity Contest offers her an opportunity to show that she is more than the adored character Maxine Baker from Ginny & Georgia. In an interview with Us Weekly to promote her most recent film, the 27-year-old Canadian actress said, “One of my biggest fears is that I can only play Maxine Baker, because my energy does bleed into my performances.” “And I was really concerned about whether Max would simply be in another movie in this one.”
In Tubi’s How to Lose a Popularity Contest, Waisglass portrays Ellie. In an effort to win back their respective ex-partners, Ellie, a high achiever, reluctantly joins up with her rival, Nate (played by Chase Hudson), to lead his student body president campaign. Nate calls Ellie “Max,” which is short for “maxi pad,” which exacerbates the situation. Years ago, a humiliating classroom incident gave rise to the term. Waisglass’s revelation that she has been referred to as “maxi pad” on the Ginny & Georgia set since season one adds even more irony.
In order to make Ellie feel like a totally different person from her Netflix persona, the Degrassi: The Next Generation actress said she worked “really hard” to pinpoint particular traits that set her new character apart. She said, “I was very intentional about silly things like tone of voice and posture.” I suppose the execution was different, but the energy was the same. And I’m hoping that went well.
