Between two worlds

May 22, 2018 4:41 PM

Anais Granofsky, who played Lucy Ferndandez on Degrassi has a life story filled with as much drama and pathos as her fictional counterpart.

It starts off in an interesting way: Soon after my parents met, they fell into a passionate on-again, off-again relationship. My mother had never seen a Jewish person before, and my father had never really talked with a black woman in his life. Then it gets even more interesting.

posted by Cuke (13 comments total)

She is a great storyteller, thank you for posting this. This is a case where her real life is far more interesting than any arc they gave her character on the show.
posted by The Gooch at 5:04 PM on May 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

That was complicated and I have complicated feelings. Thanks for sharing!
posted by crush at 6:12 PM on May 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

Thanks for posting! That is a wonderful story, and I’ll totally watch her show when it comes out.
posted by Valancy Rachel at 6:27 PM on May 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

I have complicated feelings too. We went to school together. I try very hard to forget school and now I can't. She was always kind.
posted by Dhertiiboi at 6:38 PM on May 22, 2018 [11 favorites]

In the past, I've always been slightly dismissive of people who come into threads to complain because the initial phrasing of a post made them worried that it was an obituary and I'd like to apologise for my lack of empathy and also for shouting "OH GOD NO!" before finishing one simple paragraph.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:42 PM on May 22, 2018 [4 favorites]

This is probably as good a place as any, since Anais Granofsky was a Mighty Mite, to admit that I have had the theme song from Owl/TV stuck in my head for thirty years and don’t mind a bit. It’s sung by star of A Different World and a hundred thousand cartoons, Cree Summer. And it’s awesome.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:10 PM on May 22, 2018 [5 favorites]

What an incredible life, and a story told with such gentleness and clear eyes. Thank you for sharing it.
posted by gusandrews at 7:41 PM on May 22, 2018 [3 favorites]

Made me tear up, written with such love.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 8:54 PM on May 22, 2018 [1 favorite]

Thanks for this... that was an amazing piece of writing, and wow is she gentle with those she loves... A good role model, I'll have to reflect on her grace the next time I get worked up over small things with my family.
posted by chapps at 8:55 PM on May 22, 2018 [4 favorites]

My god, what a powerful story, so well told. I grew up watching the Degrassi shows, and I remember how appealing Anais Granofsky always was.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:06 AM on May 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

That's a wonderful article. I loved Degrassi as a kid and Lucy was always so cool and her life seemed so much easier, I never thought about the actress who played her and that Lucy's life would've been quite different for her too.

Anais has so much love and forgiveness and understanding for her family. She's remarkable.
posted by kitten magic at 4:13 AM on May 23, 2018 [2 favorites]

What a fabulous piece! Thanks for posting it! It's nice to have Anais back on my radar and now I'll be watching for her show.
posted by danabanana at 5:34 AM on May 23, 2018

I really enjoyed reading that. Beautiful evocative writing, fascinating to hear about such an unusual childhood and an inspiring level of love and forgiveness.
posted by *becca* at 6:18 AM on May 23, 2018