In the emotionally charged third season of Ginny & Georgia, Maxine Baker’s once-bubbly presence takes a sobering turn—and no one felt the shift more deeply than actor Sara Waisglass. In an exclusive interview, Waisglass opens up about portraying Max’s unraveling, the show’s bold storytelling, and the empowering vulnerability she brought to one of teen TV’s most beloved queer characters.
The unraveling of Max Baker
The third season of Ginny & Georgia sees Max Baker—often the show’s comic relief and chaotic ray of light—thrust into darker, more emotionally complex territory. Her storyline is heavy with themes of exclusion, insecurity, and helplessness as her relationships fray. Speaking with L’OFFICIEL, Sara Waisglass, 26, reflects on the emotional toll of playing Max’s descent.
“We only get scripts two at a time, so I didn’t know where things were headed,” Waisglass admits. “But with every new script, I became more uncomfortable.” Max, once boisterous and confident, finds herself distanced from her best friends in the MANG group, unsure about her new relationship, and increasingly distressed by her twin brother Marcus’s worsening battle with depression and alcohol.
“I saw a pattern forming,” she says. “She’s getting left out, and it’s not improving. And at the same time, she’s desperately worried about Marcus, who she’s always had to take care of. No one else seems to be taking it seriously—and she’s left holding all this pain.”
Creating space for authenticity
Despite the weight of Max’s arc, Waisglass feels proud of the way the show tackles nuanced, often taboo, issues. From addiction to abortion, Ginny & Georgia dives fearlessly into topics often sidelined in teen dramas. “Our show doesn’t feel like an afterschool special,” she says. “It’s grounded, and that’s why people connect with it.”
One scene Waisglass highlights is Max choosing to tell her parents about Marcus’s drinking—right after performing in the school musical, a moment she’d normally seize for validation. “That choice shows incredible growth,” Waisglass says. “She puts her brother first. It’s selfless and painful. But that’s what love looks like sometimes.”
Waisglass also takes pride in Max’s unapologetic queerness. “Her story never centered around coming out—she just was. That kind of representation is huge. But this season, someone uses her queerness against her, and it shakes her. It adds another layer to her identity crisis.”
Playing a teenager as a grown woman
While Waisglass brings an emotional maturity to her performance, stepping into Max’s teenage mindset isn’t without its challenges. “It’s hard to watch Max make mistakes,” she confesses. “I’m 26 now—I’m very self-aware. I want to scream at her sometimes. But she’s doing the best she can. That’s what being young is.”
This is not Waisglass’s first time playing a teen—she starred in Degrassi: The Next Generation and its sequel series while in high school. “Back then, I lived my character’s experiences in real time. Now, there’s a gap. It’s harder to relate, but also more rewarding. I can bring perspective.”
One thing that hasn’t changed? Max’s bold wardrobe. “Her style is loud,” Waisglass laughs. “Definitely not mine—I live in sweatpants. But our costume team works magic. I wouldn’t wear fur or neon, but Max rocks it.”
The off-screen impact of being Max
Waisglass doesn’t shy away from fan interactions—and she cherishes them deeply. “There’s this trend of celebrities saying ‘don’t approach me.’ I hate that,” she says. “Playing characters like Max means people connect with you. That’s sacred.” She recalls a fan who learned English through Max’s fast-paced dialogue. “That blew me away.”
Despite the emotionally taxing season, Waisglass found empowerment through the experience. “Max is me—if I had 10 cups of coffee and no filter,” she jokes. “We both love big, we both want to make people happy, and we both hide our pain behind jokes. This season brought up insecurities I’ve buried. It was triggering but healing.”
Looking ahead to Season 4
With Ginny & Georgia recently renewed for a fourth season, Waisglass is cautiously hopeful for Max’s future. “I want her to repair things with Marcus, but I think it’ll take time. Their bond is deep, but he’s in a dark place. That storyline deserves room to breathe.”
She also teases hopes for another musical episode—and maybe a MANG reunion. “When I was a teen, I got excluded too. I remember how that felt—but not how I got through it. I’m excited to see how our writers tackle that in Season 4. It’ll resonate.”
Off-screen, Waisglass is venturing into new territory: writing. She’s working on a musical with friends, which she describes as “actually amazing—even though I’m usually my harshest critic.” She’s also developing her own projects. “I want to make something I’m really proud of. Something that makes people feel seen—just like Max did.”
A character worth the pain
Max’s journey this season may have been isolating, but for Waisglass, it was an opportunity to portray something deeply real. “Everyone’s been left out. Everyone’s worried about someone they love. Everyone doubted themselves. Max puts that on screen.”
And Waisglass is just getting started. With her raw honesty and fearless approach to storytelling, both on and off screen, she’s proof that teen dramas—at their best—aren’t just for teens. They’re for anyone who’s ever struggled, ever grown, or ever loved too hard. As she says, “It’s complicated. It’s painful. And it’s beautiful.”
