You know that feeling when a character walks onto the screen and the energy just... shifts? That’s Maxine Baker. She’s loud. She’s theater-obsessed. She’s probably the most chaotic person in Wellsbury, but somehow, you can’t look away. If you’ve spent any time bingeing Netflix lately, you’ve definitely wondered: who plays Maxine in Ginny and Georgia? That would be Sara Waisglass.
Honestly, Sara doesn't just "play" Max; she inhabits her. It's a performance that feels less like acting and more like a controlled explosion of teenage angst and charm. But there is a lot more to Sara than just being the girl who talks at 100 miles per hour and loves a good musical. She’s been in the industry since she was basically a toddler, and her journey to becoming Max Baker is actually kind of wild.
The Face Behind the Energy: Sara Waisglass
Sara Waisglass is a Canadian powerhouse. Born in July 1998 in Toronto, she’s been working in front of cameras since she was only six years old. Think about that for a second. While most of us were trying not to lose our lunchboxes in first grade, she was booking commercials for KFC.
She calls herself "half a nepo baby" because her mom is a commercial producer. It gave her a foot in the door, sure, but the talent is all her. You might actually recognize her from somewhere else if you grew up on teen dramas. Before Wellsbury was even a thing, Sara was a staple in the Degrassi universe. She played Frankie Hollingsworth for years, which is basically the ultimate rite of passage for Canadian actors.
Why She’s the Only One Who Could Be Max
Maxine is a lot. Like, a lot a lot. She’s the twin sister of Marcus (played by Felix Mallard), and she’s the first person to really pull Ginny into the "MANG" friend group.
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Playing someone that high-energy without making them annoying is a tightrope walk. Sara manages it by leaning into the vulnerability. In the most recent episodes, specifically Season 3 which dropped in mid-2025, we see a much darker side of Max. She’s dealing with her brother's mental health struggles and her own feelings of being "the easy twin" who gets ignored by her parents.
Sara has mentioned in interviews that she was actually terrified of being typecast as "just the loud girl." When she took on her newest role in the film How to Lose a Popularity Contest (2026), she was super intentional about changing her posture and tone of voice so people wouldn't just see Max Baker in a different outfit.
From Degrassi to Global Stardom
It’s easy to forget that Ginny and Georgia wasn’t her big break—it was her "next level" break.
- The Early Years: She spent years on Overruled! as Jordy Cooper.
- The Degrassi Era: This is where she really learned the ropes of teen drama. Playing Frankie Hollingsworth from 2013 to 2017 gave her a massive fanbase before Netflix even called.
- Other Projects: She popped up in October Faction and even had a small role in the movie Life alongside Robert Pattinson.
She’s not just an actress, though. Sara actually studied screenwriting at York University. She finished her degree while filming Ginny and Georgia. Imagine writing a thesis on story structure while simultaneously performing one of the most popular shows on the planet. Talk about a flex.
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The Dynamics on Set
The chemistry between the cast is one of the main reasons the show works. Sara is famously close with Antonia Gentry (Ginny) and Katie Douglas (Abby). But her bond with her TV twin, Felix Mallard, is what fans obsess over.
Even with the age gap between the actors and their characters—Sara is 27 now playing a high schooler—she brings a certain maturity to the role's heavier moments. Recently, she’s been in the news for defending the show’s decision not to recast Diesel La Torraca (who plays Austin) even though he’s had a massive growth spurt. She’s very much the "big sister" of the set, having been a child actor herself.
What's Next for the Maxine Baker Actress?
If you're worried about the show ending, don't be. Netflix already greenlit Season 4.
But Sara is diversifying. She’s moving into the indie film world and expressing a lot of interest in directing. Given her screenwriting background, it’s only a matter of time before we see "Directed by Sara Waisglass" in the credits. She’s also been very vocal about mental health, working with organizations like Unsinkable to talk about the "pressure to be perfect" that comes with social media fame.
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Honestly, the best way to keep up with her isn't just watching the show. She’s pretty active on Instagram and TikTok, where she shares a lot of behind-the-scenes chaos that is very "Max," but with a bit more Canadian chill.
How to follow her journey:
- Check out her recent film SUZE if you want to see her in a more grounded, dramatic role.
- Watch for her upcoming projects where she’s likely to take on more "adult" characters as she transitions away from high school roles.
- Look into her screenwriting work; she has hinted at developing her own scripts for the big screen.
If you’ve missed any of her earlier work, going back to watch the Degrassi: Next Class seasons is a great way to see how much she’s grown as a performer. It makes the transition to Maxine Baker even more impressive when you see where she started.