Sarah Wynter: From Newcastle to New York

Young girls are born with huge imaginations filled with make-believe stories of fantastical adventures and daily thrills. As they grow into young women, their imaginations begin to craft dreams of their futures—hope for a family, a strong career and wanderlust take over in their minds. While these young adults fight to bring their dreams to fruition, not all leave their world of make-believe behind.

Enter Sarah Wynter, a modern circus act juggling her family, acting career and frequent traveling all at once. Born in Newcaster, Australia, Wynter left home for New York at 17 to study acting—what she intended to be a quick trip turned into a change of citizenship and the beginning of a long career playing make-believe for a living on the silver screen. With a varied repertoire that includes television shows such as Sex and the City, 24, Californication, Dead Zone, Windfall and Elementary, this New York resident of 25 years has brought her dreams to fruition through hard work and discipline. Currently, Sarah Wynter is a cast member on the Amazon Prime TV series Goliath, which stars Billy Bob Thorton and William Hurt. Recently renewed for a second season, this critical darling of a series centers around the fictional law firm Cooperman McBride, with Sarah Wynter portraying a widow and mother to one of the firm’s plaintiffs. 

Yes, taking on new personas is what Sarah Wynter does for a living—and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Wynter spoke with FINE Magazine Editor-at- Large Tracey Smith about her journey from Newcastle to New York and everything in between.

When you were a girl in Newcastle, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Oh, I only ever wanted to be an actor. I didn’t consider anything else, which is something I wouldn’t recommend coming up today. You’re supposed to have a backup plan.

I started acting in school; I was in a lot of plays and musicals throughout high school. I had an aunt who was in a local theater company, and I moved to Sydney to go to boarding school, where I continued [acting]. I really never pursued anything else. It was sort of a childhood hobby that turned into a dream, and it became a reality for me.

Did you have your sights set on coming to the United States to hone your acting career?

Growing up in Australia, I had always planned on visiting New York City, seeing Broadway and maybe––in my wildest dreams––taking some acting classes and then going back home... I ended up just staying. I realized after a while that I was having the career that I wouldn’t have had in Australia, so it didn’t make any sense to go back. I’ve been here for twenty-five years now; I’m an American citizen. I’ve been here longer than I’ve lived in Australia, which more or less blows my mind these days.

And if you had the chance to do it all over again?

I would have to say I would do it exactly the same. A lot of people go to L.A. because that’s where television and film is, and it’s more "show business." But I think I really am quite happy that I came to New York City first, did theatre, took acting classes, worked really hard—you know, suffered [Laughs]. Suffered in terms of struggled. I didn’t work for a very long time, I was doing voiceovers and commercials and anything I could. I’m glad I took that route rather than go to Los Angeles first.

I don’t regret anything in my life because I think it’s a wasted emotion—if you can call it an emotion—because there’s only so much you can do. No regrets for me! It’s a journey, not a race, and I never really feel like I’ve arrived because if you’ve arrived then where do you go?

Tell me how you work with being bi-coastal and a mother.

It is a study in patience. I have five different calendars going on at once: I have three kids, so they all have their calendars, I have my professional calendar and I have my sort of "home mommy" calendar. I’m lucky I have a really great nanny and an understanding ex-husband, and we sort of just juggle it. If I’m working in California, I do a lot of flying. I don’t make them fly to visit me. I don’t want to disrupt their school or their activities or their social life, so it’s on me to do the traveling. Sometimes, I’ll fly home just to see them for two days, but it’s worth it. I really do limit my time away. Goliath is an Amazon Prime show, so it wasn’t a very long season in the way a network show would have 22 episodes. To do a series that is shorter or to take [on] more supporting roles makes me quite happy.

How was your experience working with Billy Bob Thornton and William Hurt on Goliath? What was the formula you used to create magic on set?

Billy Bob Thornton and William Hurt have both won Oscars, and I’ve grown up watching their movies and admiring their work. I think my recognition of being surrounded by that level of greatness was kept in check because I was there as an equal member of the Goliath cast, and it’s a very collaborative atmosphere. But it was an extraordinary opportunity to watch them do their thing—it almost felt like I didn’t have to act.

Billy Bob Thornton comes from a career in acting and directing, and he’s very comfortable on set. He made me feel comfortable if something my character said didn’t sound right [so] that I could speak up and say, "You know what, I don’t think Gina would say that here." It made for a very comfortable atmosphere, and I think that working with people like that made me feel that I could stretch myself as an actress.

These people are so respected and so accomplished that [the Goliath actors] kind of knuckled down and did their jobs because we’re not messing around! I think what is key is you show up, rehearse, hit your mark and keep things professional... Even with great material and great actors, sometimes you can end up with something that people don’t watch, but people have responded so beautifully to this series. The fans are so excited, and it’s been great to get this feedback from people... I’m very proud to be a part of it. It’s so nice to feel good about something that is being seen and [enjoyed].

What is it you love about playing Gina on Goliath? Is there a little bit of your personality that brings her to life?

I think I respond to the maternal experience of being a mom. Gina is also a single mother, and she’s fiercely protective. I suppose I wouldn’t call myself fiercely protective because sometimes, if you’re overly protective, it can cloud your judgment. You want to allow your children to grow up and make their own decisions.

I like that Gina is tough or may have made some choices that ultimately weren’t the right ones, but she listens. The more she listens, the more she learns. I think there always has to be something [in a character] that resonates in order for me to make it real. You’ve got to find something, and I suppose although Gina battled so much grief and loss, she’s grateful for what she has left and moves forward—you’ve always got to keep moving forward. Like Gina, I try to (although I don’t know if I always succeed) have a positive outlook—to look forward, not back. It’s so easy to get bogged down in the negative. Simply accept what you have and make the most of it. 

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