A professional actress since the age of four, Sarah Polley’s diverse career took her from child star in her native Canada, to an acclaimed adult performer whose fiercely independent streak applied to both her demeanor and her choice of films. Along the way, she impressed audiences in features ranging from Atom Egoyan’s heart-rending drama “The Sweet Hereafter” (1997), to Zach Snyder’s caffeinated revamp of “Dawn of the Dead” (2005) – even finding time to make her directorial debut in 2006 with “Away From Her,” which earned rave reviews from critics around the globe.

Born Jan. 8, 1979 in