Sarah Polley (Sarah Stanley)

Today, Sarah is an accomplished actress, writer, producer and director.  But here’s a look at what the “Story Girl” has done to receive these well-deserved titles.  After appearing in the last season of Road to Avonlea, Sarah went on to star in the critically acclaimed drama The Sweet Hereafter, in which she played the only survivor of a school bus crash.  Since then, she starred in a number of series and feature films, including the zombie thriller Dawn of the Dead, Slings and Arrows, Beowulf & Grendel and the HBO drama John Adams, to name just a few.  Besides her many acting roles, Sarah garnered international attention with the film Away From Her, for which she adapted the short story “The Bear Came Over the Mountain” written by Canadian author Alice Munro. The film, which starred Gordon Pinsent and Julie Christie, was nominated for two Academy Awards: best adapted screenplay and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. This was not the first feature that Sarah wrote and directed, nor will it be her last.  She is currently working on the Canadian film Trigger.

Ryan Gosling (Bret McNulty)

Before the London, Ontario native accelerated female heartbeats in films like The Notebook or played it quirky in Lars and the Real Girl, Gosling acted as a pickpocket in Road to Avonlea’s 7th season when he was just a teenager.  In the episode “From Away,” Gosling plays an English orphan who is sent to stay at Avonlea’s Foundling Home.  Along with his brother, Gosling pulls numerous pranks on the town and convinces Davey to steal money from Hetty so that they can make the trip to Halifax to find their long-lost brother.

Since acting in Road to Avonlea, Gosling has appeared in several critically acclaimed films – both big and small.  His part in Remember the Titans led to starring roles in The Believer, The United States of Leland, Murder by Numbers and Half Nelson – for which critics praised his acting ability at such a young age.  Gosling’s most recent credits include Lars and the Real Girl and the upcoming Blue Valentine.

Jackie Burroughs (Hetty King)

The actress who played the indomitable Hetty King actually shares her character’s never-tiring attitude.  We can simply look for proof in the number of television series and films she has appeared in since her days in Avonlea.  Jackie appeared in many Canadian television series, including Due South, Made in Canada, The Eleventh Hour, Slings and Arrows, as well as the American show Smallville – to name just a few.  Some of her feature films include Lost and Delirious, A Guy Thing, Willard, Rhinoceros Eyes, The Republic of Love, Fever Pitch and Into the Labyrinth.  Most recently, Jackie provided her voice for Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life and will appear in Small Town Murder Scenes, which is now in post-production.

Stay tuned for future updates on Road to Avonlea's other cast members!