Ottawa child actress Julia Scarlett Dan stars in feature film with Amy Adams

When 11- year-old Julia Scarlett Dan is not in her Grade 6class at Ottawa's Westboro Academy, she's a busyactressindemand starring in CBC Television's ThisLife and also in directorDenis Villeneuve'supcoming feature film Story of Your Life alongsideOscar nominee Amy Adams.

"I think I'm learning that you should just follow your dreams," said Scarlett Dan.

Scarlett Dan grew up in Ottawa, attending acting classes at the Shenkman Art Centre and theOttawa Acting Company.

"When I was younger I actually made friends with my characters, which is kind of weird, but when I was younger Iused to think they were actual people and they couldn't make it to the stage and I was actually filling in," Scarlett Dan recalled.

Here's Julia Scarlett Dan talking about her early love of acting.

Julia Scarlett Dan making mark early

9 years ago

Duration 0:46

Actress stars in CBC's This Life and is set to appear in Denis Villeneuve's Story of your life.

InThisLife,Scarlett Dan plays the role of Romy Lawson, a gifted, artistic 13-year-old who is dealing with the typical strugglesof adolescence whileher mother is coming to terms with a terminal cancer diagnosis.

"It's not really about how sad it is being diagnosed with cancer, its about all the love you receive and your family."

Julia Scarlett Dan in This Life

9 years ago

Duration 1:31

Julia Scarlett Dan plays Romy Lawson, a gifted artistic adolescent in CBC's This Life.

This Life is broadcast on CBC Television on Mondays at 9 p.m. (The program is exempted during election night). The film, Story of Your Life, is set to open in 2016.