If you’ve spent any time on Netflix lately, you know exactly who she is. She’s loud. She’s fast-talking. She’s unapologetically queer and wears enough neon to be seen from space. Maxine Baker is the heartbeat of the Wellsbury high school scene in Ginny & Georgia, but there is a lot more to the actor behind the character than just snappy one-liners and high-energy drama.
So, who played Maxine Baker?
The answer is Sara Waisglass.
She isn't just a newcomer who got lucky with a streaming hit. Honestly, Waisglass has been a staple of Canadian television for years, and if you felt like you recognized her the moment she stepped on screen to grill Ginny Miller about her AP English class, you’re probably right.
The Face Behind the Energy: Sara Waisglass
Sara Waisglass is a Canadian powerhouse who was born in July 1998. That makes her a true Gen Z creative, which probably explains why she inhabits Max’s chaotic, social-media-obsessed world so perfectly. She started acting way back when she was just six years old. We're talking commercials for brands like Dove before she could even drive.
A lot of fans don’t realize she’s actually what she calls "half a nepo baby." Her mom, Tessa Waisglass, is a producer in the commercial world. It was that early exposure that got Sara in front of the right people, but she’s the one who did the heavy lifting to move from 30-second spots to starring in some of the biggest teen dramas of the decade.
By the time she landed the role of Maxine Baker in 2021, she was already a seasoned pro. She had spent years on the set of Degrassi, which is basically the Olympics for Canadian actors. If you can survive the drama of Degrassi Community School, you can handle anything Netflix throws at you.
Why You Recognize the Girl Who Played Maxine Baker
Before she was Max, she was Frankie Hollingsworth.
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If you grew up watching Degrassi: The Next Generation or Degrassi: Next Class, you watched Sara Waisglass grow up on screen. She played Frankie for six seasons. It’s wild to think about, but she was filming major television arcs while most kids her age were just trying to pass algebra.
That Degrassi pedigree is a big deal. It’s the same show that gave us Drake and Nina Dobrev. Waisglass has that same "it factor"—that ability to take a character who could easily be annoying and make them someone you’d actually want to hang out with.
She’s also popped up in:
- The Good Doctor (playing Olivia Hartman)
- Suits (as a young Esther Litt)
- October Faction (as Madison St. Claire)
- Holly Hobbie (playing Lyla)
Basically, she’s been everywhere. But it was Ginny & Georgia that finally made her a global name.
The Complexity of Maxine Baker
Playing Max isn't as easy as it looks. The character is a whirlwind. She talks at about 100 miles per hour, and Sara has admitted in interviews that she actually felt an immediate connection to that specific "fast-talking" energy.
"With her oversharing, with her morbidity, she just popped right off the page for me," Waisglass told Who What Wear.
But here’s the thing—Maxine isn't just the "funny best friend." Over the three seasons (with Season 3 having premiered in early 2025), we’ve seen her deal with some heavy stuff. She’s navigated messy breakups with Sophie and Silver. She’s dealt with the fallout of her brother Marcus’s mental health struggles. She’s even had to face her own flaws, like how she can be a bit self-centered when her friends are going through a crisis.
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Waisglass brings a nuance to the role that most actors would miss. She makes Max’s desperation for love feel real rather than just a plot point. Plus, she actually learned American Sign Language (ASL) for the show, since Max’s father, Clint (played by Chris Kenopic), is deaf. That’s commitment.
The Legend of "Wellington"
Can we talk about the musical? In Season 2, Max stars in the school’s production of Wellington (a very obvious and hilarious nod to Bridgerton).
Watching Sara Waisglass perform those musical numbers was a highlight for many fans. It turns out, she’s actually a trained performer. She didn’t just stumble through those scenes; she commanded them. It’s one of those "meta" moments where the actor’s real-life talent perfectly mirrors the character’s "theater kid" obsession.
What's Next for the Actor?
Sara isn't just staying in front of the camera. She actually graduated from York University with a degree in screenwriting. She wants to direct. She wants to write.
In late 2025 and heading into 2026, she’s been making moves beyond the Wellsbury universe. She starred in the film How to Lose a Popularity Contest alongside Chase Hudson (Lil Huddy), proving she can carry a movie just as well as a series.
There's also been a lot of buzz about her personal life, though she keeps it relatively low-key. She’s been with her boyfriend, Givan Pradhan, for a while now, and they occasionally show up on each other’s Instagram feeds, looking like a normal couple rather than "Hollywood royalty."
Common Misconceptions About the Cast
People often get the ages wrong. While Max is supposed to be about 15 or 16 at the start of the show, Sara Waisglass was in her early 20s when she started filming. This is standard for Hollywood, but Sara’s youthful energy—and let’s be honest, her incredible wardrobe on the show—makes it easy to forget she’s a grown woman with a university degree.
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Also, some fans get her confused with her co-stars. Because she, Katie Douglas (Abby), and Chelsea Clark (Norah) are so close in real life, people sometimes mix up their backgrounds. But Sara is the one with the deep Degrassi roots.
Your Maxine Baker Cheat Sheet
If you're looking for the quick facts to win a trivia night or just to settle a bet with a friend, here is what you need to know about the woman behind the character:
Real Name: Sara Waisglass
Birthday: July 3, 1998
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Most Famous Role (Pre-Max): Frankie Hollingsworth on Degrassi
Hidden Talent: Screenwriting and ASL
Current Status: Starring in Season 3 and 4 of Ginny & Georgia and appearing in the 2026 film How to Lose a Popularity Contest.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're a fan of Sara Waisglass and want to see more of her work or support her career, here is what you can actually do:
- Watch the Back Catalog: Don’t just stick to Ginny & Georgia. Go back and watch Degrassi: Next Class on Netflix. It gives you a whole new appreciation for her range.
- Follow Her Screenwriting Journey: Keep an eye on her credits on IMDb. As she moves into directing and writing, her name will start appearing in places other than the "Cast" list.
- Check Out Her PSAs: Sara has been very vocal about mental health and the pressure of social media. She recently worked with the organization Unsinkable on a "Blue Monday" campaign. Watching her speak as herself—not as Maxine—is really eye-opening.
Maxine Baker might be the role that made her a household name, but Sara Waisglass is clearly just getting started. Whether she's acting, writing, or teaching a virtual spin class (yes, she’s done that too), she’s one of the most versatile talents working in TV today.
To keep up with her latest projects, make sure to follow her official social media accounts, as she often shares behind-the-scenes looks at the Ginny & Georgia set that you won't find anywhere else.