Sirena Gulamgaus’ latest role in CODE 8 Part II marks her place as an actress on the rise. 

Being only 14 years old at the time of the shooting, Sirena was the youngest member of an all-star cast. The producers were concerned about finding the perfect fit for the role of Pav, but they found it in Sirena, who was often referred to on set as “wise beyond her years.”

The sequel to CODE 8 follows Connor (Robbie Amell) outside of prison. Having cut ties with his former criminal associate Garrett (Stephen Amell), his attempt to stay out of trouble is destroyed when he must help 14-year-old Pav (Sirena Gulamgaus) escape from corrupt officers tracking her down with robotic K9s. This action-packed film shot across the GTA follows Connor as he questions who he can trust when it comes to crime. 

While navigating a world of crime through the lens of a child, Sirena effortlessly captures Pav’s thirst for justice. “There is so much behind her eyes. She just does so much with saying so little,” says co-star Robbie Amell. 

In a film centred around adult stories, Sirena’s performance as Pav stands out. “The great thing about Sirena is that she is one of the most authentic people in our business, and she makes it so real,” says Jeff Chan, director, co-writer and producer of Code 8 Part II.

Previously starring as a series regular on the hit Canadian medical drama Transplant, and with a recurring role in the popular BBC American series Orphan Black, she has quickly made a name for herself.

At a young age, Sirena has built an impressive filmography with a humble heart. We sat down with her to dish on all things CODE 8 Part II, her favourite memories from set, and how her family inspires her to push forward in the industry.

Courtesy of Netflix

 

How was working on the set of CODE 8 Part II?  Are there any memorable stories you can recall from being on set?

It was so cool! I came in and everything was done really well, from the writing to the directing. It was super special and I’m honoured and thankful for the cast to welcome me to their little family. 

The first day was super fun. The call time was around 6:00 and it was the beginning of October so it was pretty dark and chilly outside. I went from my house which was warm, then outside where I felt the breeze, and then the car where it was warm, and then the trailer where it was heated. I love that feeling, when you see the sunrise while being on set.

Being from Toronto, were there any filming locations that you particularly enjoyed?

Filming downtown at Pinewood Studios was the best. It’s much closer to my house and so it was easier to get there and get back. It was generally such a nice vibe. The other parts of Toronto were fun as well, but I’m barely downtown so it was nice being there. Being in other places further from home puts me outside of my comfort zone, but it was nice to actually go home to my parents.

How did you change over the course of filming CODE 8 Part II?

It never really felt like I was growing up on set, because I feel like I’ve been doing this my whole life—I don’t remember my life before this! Having a supportive family helped a lot. My brother who’s super supportive of me helped me along the journey and always made me feel comfortable. They’ve always been supportive of my decisions so it never really felt like a thing that I was forced to do.

Like you said, you’ve been doing this for a long time. Is there a favourite project you’ve worked on that has led you here?

I have been acting since I was six, so it’s been a while now, and my brother has inspired me to keep going as well. I remember when I was six, I watched his high school play and I thought, “what he does is super cool,” so I asked him how to do it! He showed me and guided me through my career which was super cool of him to do.

Courtesy of Netflix

Was there a challenging scene to shoot in CODE 8 Part II?

Pav goes through a lot of things emotionally. She’s a heavy character and there were times it was hard to get there emotionally. Other than that, I think the writing was super good and everything flowed. Sometimes it’s really hard to find a good script that just makes sense. You’ll have parts of the scene where it doesn’t click but everything went smoothly. There were none of those moments, and everything felt right. Chris (Paré) did a good job writing, Jeff did a great job directing me, and it was really just a team effort.

With that being said, do you relate to Pav at all?

She is definitely not like me! She’s very independent and I am the opposite. I don’t know how she does it honestly, the amount of things that she goes through at such a young age. If I was in her place I don’t even know what I would do. I’d be a mess! She handles everything so well, she’s strong in her powers and mentally as well. It’s nice to play a character that is different from yourself, you get to see different points of views.

What advice would you give to other young actors who dream of working in film?

Honestly, it’s so cool to be here and to be doing everything, but you have to make sure that what you’re doing is what you love. Because if you don’t love it, it’s going to be hard to get through it. 

As a young person, it’s difficult, but having the right support system is really important. But honestly, you can do anything as long as you put your mind to it. I mean anyone can. There’s no age for it, so just do it! 

CODE 8 Part II is streaming now on Netflix.