25 Rapid-Fire Questions with Children Ruin Everything’s Meaghan Rath

Meaghan Rath is an award-nominated actress and producer best known for her roles as Tani Rey on Hawaii Five-0 and Sally Malik in Being Human. On television, Rath has had recurring roles on the popular award-winning series Supergirl, New Girl, Secrets and Lies and the crime drama Banshee. In 2006, Rath earned a Gemini Award nomination for her portrayal of Adena Stiles in the acclaimed 15/LOVE. Rath is a 2015 Canadian Screen Award nominee and recipient of the ACTRA Award in the Best Actress category for Being Human. She was also awarded the 2015 Golden Maple Award for Newcomer of the Year in a TV Series Broadcasted in the U.S. for her role in New Girl.

Meaghan recently welcomed a son with her husband, actor Jack Cutmore-Scott, and is currently starring as Astrid in CTV’s Children Ruin Everything. You can catch it on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV app. (The series has already been renewed for a second season!) We caught up with her to ask about everything from her real-life heroes to her favourite traditions.

What is your idea of the perfect day?
This answer changes with every season of my life, but currently a perfect day would be spent at a seaside spa and would involve some sort of seafood tower.

Why did you choose your career?
I like telling stories. I like learning about people, observing people. I love figuring out what makes someone who they are. I love working as a team to build something special and truthful. I love the common ground you can find with people from wildly different backgrounds when you all have the same goal.

What do you love most about what you do in your job?
The thrill you get from a real connection with someone.

What has been the hardest part of building your career?
Navigating the massive amount of rejection that comes with this business. It’s not for the faint of heart. You would think that at every new stage reached, the rejection decreases. The truth is that as you grow your career, the rejection is the same—the stakes just get higher.

Who was/is your mentor?
My acting coach, the late, great Jaqueline McClintock.

Who is your favourite Canadian?
My labradoodle, Bug.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I’m mortified to admit that I probably overuse the word “literally.” Baring my soul here, for you people.

Which words or phrases do you dislike when other people overuse?
I’m famously not a huge fan of the word “shenanigans.”

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My husband and my baby boy.

When and where were you happiest?
I think when my husband proposed to me, I was the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. It was a complete surprise, and it felt like the beginning of everything. Also up there is watching how my baby takes in the world. It’s all pretty wonderful.

Which talent would you most like to have?
I would love for people to describe me as a “breathtakingly graceful dancer.”

Who are your heroes in real life?
Mothers.

What is your motto?
“Don’t ever, for any reason, do anything, for any reason, ever, no matter what. No matter where.” —Michael Gary Scott

What do you always have in your fridge?
Hot sauce.

How would you describe yourself as a parent?
Trying to survive.

What is your parenting superpower?
I can stop the crying!

What is your favourite memory of your own parents?
Our trips to Plum Island.

What is a tradition from your childhood that you’ve carried on with your own child?
I sing my baby the same lullaby my parents sang me.

What do you love most about being a parent, and what do you dislike most?
I love finding pure joy in things I never thought about before having a baby. The sounds he makes, his laugh, his fingers. Watching him learn and change every day. Strong dislike for the sleep deprivation.

What has surprised you most about being a parent that you weren’t expecting?
That I’ve become that person who only wants to talk about their child.

Favourite family vacation and why?
We have yet to go on one!

What one trait or value are you most trying to instil in your child?
Patience.

What one trait are you hoping to avoid?
I want to give him everything he could ever want or need in his beautiful little life, but I also don’t want him to be an ***hole.

Favourite family summer activity?
We haven’t really experienced a first summer as a family yet, but I foresee long days by the pool. I foresee this so much that the baby already has his swim trunks ready to go. It is February.

Favourite family winter activity?
Walking around our neighbourhood and looking at all the holiday lights.

Instagram: @meaghanrath

Twitter: @MeaghanRath