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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, March 11, 2016 | 24 John Bkila Sub-Editor jbkila@oakvillebeaver.com Artscene "Connected to your Community" Oakville's Sara Garcia plays Miri in the second season of the Canadian TV spy thriller X-Company, as seen above and at left in scenes from the show. Garcia's character is a `broken, but strong' Romani woman who takes up the Second World War fight against the Nazis with the show's main character spies. | photos courtesy CBC X-Company shines light on stories that have been rarely told Oakville's Sara Garcia plays Miri in show's second season by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff As if Sara Garcia's role on X-Company wasn't exciting enough, with it being her first big TV gig, the former Oakville resident said she finds it more important she's able to help tell a story rarely told. Garcia's character Miri, on the Second World War espionage drama, is a young Romani woman who is found hiding in a convent by the main character spies and decides she wants to go hunt Nazis with them. "I think it's really important that this show is highlighting the Roma people struggle of the Second World War, it's not something I knew about growing up or read about and not something I usually see in Second World War dramas," said the 26-year-old Garcia, who was a local resident for 19 years. "I think the fact that they chose to go there is really important... they (the Roma people) went through much of a struggle... as the Nazis tried to eliminate them as a race as well," she continued. "It's so important to have their story be told through this show.... I did a lot of research (for the role) and it was heartbreaking. Especially more so in that their story hasn't been told as much." X-Company, created by married Oakville residents Stephanie Morgenstern and Mark Ellis, is inspired by true events and about secret agents trained at Camp X (in Whitby, Ont.) who were sent behind enemy lines in France to fight the Nazis during the Second World War -- the show is currently in its second season. "We created X Company because we wanted to tell the story of Camp X, North America's first spy training camp, and the critical role Canadians played in the field of espionage and covert operations during the Second World War," Morgenstern told the Oakville Beaver. "Those true stories remained classified for generations, and now that they're accessible, we wanted to shine a light on the particular kind of dark courage it takes to leave civilian life behind and throw yourself into a battlefield where there are no rules." Miri is a broken, but strong woman, explained Garcia. "Her secret power -- all the spies on the show have special skills -- is ruthlessness," she said. "She's gone through a very traumatic experience and she is very intent on seeking revenge." Garcia's character appears in five episodes -- the last of which airs Wednesday (March 16) on CBC at 9 p.m. When asked if she shares any characteristics with Miri, Garcia said it would be her strength and perseverance. "I always approach my characters as if I was in their shoes, how would I be? I think if I had experienced what she had during that time and had the opportunity to join the resistance, I would be very similar," she explained. "That being said, she's definitely unhinged in a way and is trying to deal with her pain in a very different outcome most I think it's really important that this show is highlighting the Roma people struggle of the Second World War... as the Nazis tried to eliminate them as a race as well.... I did a lot of research (for the role) and it was heartbreaking. Actor and former Oakville resident Sara Garcia Sara Garcia | photo by David Leyes people would not nowadays." Of all the actresses competing for the part of Miri, who were given the same two scenes to perform on tape, Garcia's audition was a standout, according to Ellis. "It was very emotionally-challenging material and she tackled the role beautifully. Sara has a natural fiery charm and intensity, and she bonded immediately with her team of fellow spies when she got to Budapest (where filming takes place)," he said. "The story that develops between Sara's character and Neil (played by Warren Brown from Luther) is a bittersweet one that allows both fierce fighters to show their more vulnerable side, even for just a short time." Garcia said finding out she got the role of Miri was "an absolute whirlwind." "I auditioned on a Thursday afternoon, found out I got the part on Friday and then I had leave for Budapest on the Monday following," she said. "It was crazy. I was shocked, ecstatic. I was working at a restaurant part-time (at the time) -- let's just say that day was a write-off." Garcia has also appeared in Man Seeking Woman, Spun Out and several commercials. Her upcoming roles include the premiere episode of Damien (a spinoff of the film The Omen) and season 2 of Dark Matter on Syfy. While she has been acting as a hobby since she was a child, Garcia said she realized after university, acting was something she absolutely loved to do and "life is short, so why not do something you love and hopefully be successful at it." "My mom always taught us to do whatever you want so long as you're happy doing it -- knowing I always had a support system like that, no matter what, I decided now was the time," she added.