Sophie Desmarais

Born into a family of privilege in Montréal, Québec -- her father was a prominent financier and ranked by Forbes magazine as the fourth richest man in Canada in 2013 -- Sophie Desmarais, by her late teens, was actively auditioning for film and TV roles. She landed her first film role at the age of 18 in the 1930s-set romantic drama "Head in the Clouds" and soon began nabbing parts in the French-Canadian films "Le grand depart," "Polytechnique," and "Les grandes chaleurs" (2009). Desmarais also appeared on a few Canadian television shows during this time, including a recurring part as Chanel on the comedy-drama, "La galère" (Radio-Canada, 2009-), among others. By the late 2000s, Desmarais was gradually working her way up the ranks of the French-Canadian film industry with supporting roles in such high-profile films as the action movie "Gangsterland" (2010) and the disco-themed "Funkytown" (2011). Then in 2013 she appeared in two of Canada's most widely anticipated film releases: the rural family drama "Le démantèlement" and "Sarah Prefers to Run." In the latter film, Desmarais portrayed the lead role of a long distance runner who must overcome the constant anxieties and pressures of pursuing her passion. "Sarah Prefers to Run" debuted at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and went on to win the prestigious Women in Film & Television Vancouver Artistic Merit Award at that year's Vancouver International Film Festival, thus further cementing Desmarais's status as a young actress on the rise.