Sydney Meyer talks with Rival about Authentic Storytelling in the Groundbreaking Netflix Series 'Grand Army'

Known for shows such as “V-Wars”, “Shadowhunters” and “Departure”, actress Sydney Meyer tackles her new role as Anna in the hit Netflix series “Grand Army”. In the show, five students at the largest public high school in Brooklyn take on a chaotic world as they fight to succeed, survive, break free, and seize the future. In this exclusive interview with Rival, Sydney opens up about how she heard about the show, her audition process, her future plans and many more.

1. What is your background and how did you get involved in the entertainment industry?

 I come from a very academic family. My parents enrolled me in a bit of everything when I was young. I started acting at a school for the arts that I went to from grades 4-8 and I found I really loved being on stage and was so curious about developing myself as an artist. I continued training after that and went to a High School for the Arts as well as a Drama program at University and trained privately. I got an agent when I was maybe 14 and started auditioning and learning more about the world of film and television.

2. Was acting something you wanted to pursue from a young age?

Not entirely. I developed an interest in it when I was young for sure, as soon as I went to that school for the arts I gravitated towards acting but it took a long time for it to become something that I considered seriously as a career. It was a long process for me to get to the place that I knew it was what I really wanted to pursue.

3. Fans will be able to see you star on “Grand Army” as Anna. What can you tell us about your character and her involvement in the story?

Anna is best friends with Joey and the twin sister of Tim. She is the motherly one in her group. She’s very smart and nurturing and has a bit of an understated personality. She’s fine not being the center of attention. Anna begins out with a strong friend group but is a bit wary of the prospect of Joey and Tim getting together and how that could affect her friendship with Joey. As the season progresses, there is massive friction within her friend group and Anna is put in this position where she has to choose a side, she has to decide who she is loyal to. It’s a big test for her and her relationships.

4. What first drew you to the story when you read the script?

I was immediately taken by how authentic the interactions between teens were portrayed. You’re dealing with these hugely emotional issues and the writing was so authentic and messy and you couldn’t help but be invested in the story as soon as you read a scene or two. I knew right away that it was a story I wanted to be a part of.

5. What was the audition process like for you?

I actually had a really unique experience getting cast for the show. I was working for the Toronto casting office as a reader while they were casting the show and when I saw the script I was blown away. I called my agent and said I would love to audition for the show and the response from casting was that I was too old for the show. I kind of put my hopes of being on the show to bed at that point. They ended up hiring me to work the table read and some callbacks that were happening at the studio afterward. I went, I worked the table read, and during the callbacks, I ended up getting sick, I actually ran out of the room during someone’s audition and threw up and the showrunner came out to help me. I was so embarrassed, but at the end of the day the showrunner, Katie asked me if I could read Anna’s audition scene with her. I did and I went home and the next day I got a call from my agent that I had booked the role.

6. How did you react when you got the role?

Naturally, I was shocked. I was so excited, this was a show I knew I wanted to be a part of so I was just thrilled. I think in a way I was lucky because I didn’t really have time to overthink it, I started filming pretty much the next week so I was on this high of excitement from getting the role and I just jumped straight into the project from there.

7. What was your best memory from the set of “Grand Army”?

Being in New York with the cast and filming there was so special. We had a cast dinner and sat down and talked and reflected on the experience and that is just such a special memory for me.

8. What are some movies that made you fall in love with acting growing up?

Garden State, White Oleander, Hard Candy, Stardust, there are so many that I loved and that I was drawn to at different points in my life.

9. Who are some artists you would love to collaborate with in the future?

Zach Braff, Charlize Theron, Tilda Swinton, Ellen Page, Michelle Pfeiffer, Miles Teller, Kerry Washington, Denzel Washington, David Fincher, there are so many incredibly talented people I would love the chance to work with and learn from.

10. What has been your biggest achievement so far?

Having patience with myself.

11. What are some things you hope to cross off your bucket list once everything goes back to normal?

Hugging friends. Dancing with loved ones at our wedding.

12. What are some causes that are dear to your heart and hope to bring awareness to in the future through your platforms?

NAACP, EveryTown For Gun Safety, The ACLU, The Equal Justice Initiative, and The Education Collaborative.

13. If you weren’t an actress, what other profession would you pursue?

I would likely be a mediator in law or an investigative journalist. Perhaps I still will!

14. In your opinion, what is the biggest misconception about being an actor?

 I think there’s plenty of misconceptions about our job, but more than that I think the glorification of actors as people is damaging. Putting actors on a pedestal or associating who they are as a person with a character they played, it can be so much pressure for the artists and I don’t think it’s healthy to look up to anyone that you’re only seeing in a two-dimensional form.

15. What is the best advice you have gotten and from whom?

“All things are easier when tempered with love”, from my acting teacher and dear friend Rob Nagle.

16. What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

“Fail” as much as humanly possible. If you can get the fear of failure out of the way then you’re already ahead of the game. Live with an open mind and a resilient heart. You always have one more try in you!

17. What do you hope to achieve through your art?

I hope to make space for the questions that cannot be answered. To allow them to be asked, to be discussed. I hope to make someone feel seen and heard and valued. I want someone to watch something I make and feel like the narrative of their life is valid and they have a safe space. I hope to help move the social consciousness of society forward a little bit. To challenge the way we think and our idea of what is possible.

18. What are some things that need to change as soon as possible in the entertainment industry?

I think inclusion in every way and in every sector of the industry is a must. Our stories should be representative of our world and should be told through the authentic lens of that narrative in terms of writing, directing, etc. I also really hope to see art that holds itself socially responsible. I think we need to be responsible for the ideas, images, and feelings that we’re putting into the world. I think there needs to be intent behind what is being created and we have to start answering for the art that’s being put out there.

19. What is the best thing about being an actor?

I get to learn more about myself and the people around me every single day. I have the chance to train in compassion and human experience and that is a gift.

20. What are your plans for the future?

 I am writing my scripts and I hope to make some of my own work in the future. I’m writing music. I want to educate myself on what is going on in the world and how to be a productive citizen. I want to read and watch tv with my cat and get married to the man I love!

There is no doubt that Sydney has a bright future as an actress ahead of her. You can currently watch her on Grand Army on Netflix and keep up with her work through social media.

Sydney’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydneymeyer48/?hl=en

Meet the Author

Violeta Nicola is a 20 old who has over three years of experience in the journalism world. Starting in 2017, Violeta launched her news website where she interviewed people from all over the entertainment industry. Over the years, she has worked for publications such as 71 Magazine, A Book of, Reignland Magazine and now she joined the Rival Mag Family. This year she launched her own magazine called N Magazine which is growing by the issue.