Interview with Savannah Burton

Some people move through life quietly, leaving small ripples behind. Others crash in like a comet, leaving trails of inspiration, courage, and sheer brilliance. Savannah Burton is absolutely the latter. Canadian actress, international athlete, and unapologetically herself, Savannah has shattered ceilings and expectations, becoming the first out transgender athlete in Canadian history to compete in team sports on the world stage. And if you think that’s enough to define her, think again, her story is as dazzlingly multi-faceted as a prism catching sunlight. Born in the small town of Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Savannah’s early life may have seemed ordinary at first glance, but her dreams were anything but. In her twenties, she traded the familiar landscapes of her hometown for the bustling streets of Toronto, armed with nothing but two passions: acting and sports. From the moment she first stepped into an acting class, she was hooked, the magic of performance, the thrill of embodying someone else, and the joy of eliciting emotion in others became her heartbeat. 

 

Roles in Beauty and the Beast, Operation Fake Date, and Killjoys weren’t just credits on her résumé, they were proof that authenticity and talent can shine, even in an industry that often resists both. But acting is only half her story. If Savannah’s life were a movie, dodgeball would be the action-packed subplot where she throws, dodges, and leaps her way into history. Drawing on years of baseball experience, she transitioned into dodgeball with precision and passion, eventually representing Canada on an international stage. In doing so, she has challenged misconceptions about transgender athletes and inspired countless people to believe in the power of perseverance, skill, and courage. Savannah’s journey is also deeply human. She has navigated the complexities of transitioning in a world that often misunderstands or undervalues transgender lives. She has found inspiration in role models across media, sports, and advocacy, proving that visibility matters, and that it can change the world, one story at a time. Her reflections on identity, resilience, and representation reveal a woman who is not only breaking barriers but also inviting the rest of us to rethink what is possible.

 

In this conversation, Savannah shares her journey with unflinching honesty and infectious warmth: from her early days in Newfoundland to the adrenaline of international dodgeball arenas, from her love of acting to her role as a trailblazer for transgender athletes. She speaks not just as a participant in life, but as a creator, a fighter, and a guide for anyone striving to live authentically in a world that often wants you to shrink. So buckle up. This is the story of Savannah Burton, a woman who doesn’t just navigate the world, she redefines it.

 

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Savannah Burton, a Canadian actress and accomplished athlete, the first out trans athlete in Canadian history to compete in team sports internationally. Hello Savannah! 

Savannah: Hi Monika! It’s wonderful to talk with you. I’m excited to share a bit of my journey with your readers.

Monika: To begin, could you introduce yourself to our readers and share a little about your background?

Savannah: I’m originally from Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada, and moved to Toronto in my early twenties. My two biggest passions would have to be acting and participating in sports. Both of them have shaped my life in unique and meaningful ways.

 

Savannah in "Killjoys" (2016)

 

Monika: When did you first realize that acting wasn’t just a pastime but something you wanted to pursue as your life’s vocation? 

Savannah: I’ve loved movies from a very early age. They have the ability to inspire and elicit incredible emotion. After my first acting class in my twenties, I was hooked. Having positive reactions to scenes I was performing made me want to continue this joyful experience we call acting. Acting became not just an interest, but a calling that continues to fuel me every day.

Monika: You have appeared in productions such as Operation Fake Date (2014) and Beauty and the Beast (2014). What did these opportunities mean for your career and for you personally?

Savannah: Landing the role on Beauty and the Beast was a big step for me. It was my first role on a major network as my authentic self. I was between agents at the time, and this certainly helped with my credibility as an actress. It gave me confidence that I could move forward and continue building a career on screen.

Monika: Your role in Killjoys (2016), where you played Itchy Woman, was another exciting project. What was it like to be part of such a popular sci-fi adventure series?

Savannah: It was such a thrill to work on Killjoys. It’s a fun sci-fi space action adventure show by the amazing showrunner Michelle Lovretta. I’ve always been a huge sci-fi fan, and I think that my look is well suited for this genre in particular. Being on set felt like stepping directly into the kind of universe I had admired as a fan for years.

Monika: Beyond acting, you are also a member of the Canadian National Women’s Dodgeball Team. For those who may not be very familiar with the sport, how did your journey into dodgeball begin?

Savannah: Baseball was something I had played most of my life, and dodgeball has similar skill sets with respect to throwing and catching. My early experience certainly helped develop my dodgeball game at a fairly quick pace and allowed me to reach the international level. Competing for Canada has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my athletic career.

Monika: In recent years, we’ve seen more transgender women succeeding in sports, from Fallon Fox in MMA fighting to Gabrielle Ludwig in basketball, to Michelle Dumaresq in mountain bike racing. Unfortunately, many of them have also faced criticism about so-called “male muscle advantages.” Have you encountered similar challenges in your own athletic career?

Savannah: They are all great athletes who don’t get the credit they deserve. Michelle Dumaresq in particular is a huge hero of mine. I think what she did while competing was absolutely incredible, while facing such horrible discrimination from all sides, including having fellow competitors actually getting petitions together to try and stop her from competing. I’ve never faced anything like that in dodgeball, but you don’t have to look any farther than the comments section of a sports article featuring any trans female athletes to see the ugliness of transphobia that still exists in the world. It’s a reminder of how much work still needs to be done to create real inclusivity in sports.

 

Savannah in "Beauty and the Beast" (2014).

 

Monika: Can you share at what point in your life you began your transition, and what challenges you faced during that time?

Savannah: I tried to transition in my early twenties, though the lack of support and lack of social understanding delayed my transition for over a decade. Looking back, I realize just how important community and acceptance are in making those first steps possible.

Monika: During that period, were there any transgender role models or figures who inspired you and helped guide your journey?

Savannah: I don’t think enough can be said about the positive contributions by trans video bloggers from YouTube during the late 2000s. They shared so many of their personal stories and experiences with the world via social media. I’m certain this was a big inspiration to many of us to take the important first steps of transition. Their visibility helped us feel less alone and gave us hope for the future.

Monika: Are there transgender women today whom you particularly admire and look up to?

Savannah: There are so many. Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, the Wachowskis, Sarah McBride, Zachary Drucker, Shadi Petosky, Alexandra Billings, Erika Ervin, Jen Richards, Angelica Ross, Michelle Dumaresq, and the list goes on. Each of them, in their own way, has helped to move our community forward and shown what’s possible.

Monika: Looking back at your personal journey, what would you say was the most difficult part of coming out? 

Savannah: Fear of losing everything. This is a legitimate fear, as it’s still incredibly difficult to be trans. The uncertainty of how people will react can weigh heavily on you during that process.

Monika: The transgender movement is often tied to the larger LGBTQ umbrella. Do you think the trans community is able to highlight its own struggles and priorities within that larger group?

Savannah: One of the problems we have is that our numbers are not as big as the other groups in the acronym. We certainly need more paying jobs in many of these LGBTQ organizations, which will help with the staggering numbers of us that live in poverty. Greater visibility and resources are essential if we are to thrive alongside the broader movement.

Monika: How do you feel about the way transgender people have been portrayed in films, books, or the media in general?

Savannah: Authentic positive portrayals of trans individuals are vital to improving the quality of life of our community. Something the media almost always gets wrong is saying a trans woman was a man before transition. We don’t have that problem when a gay person comes out, the writer doesn’t say the person used to be straight and then became gay. The same respect should be given to trans women. They were always women, even before transition. Accurate representation really does change hearts and minds.

Monika: Are there any upcoming projects you are working on right now that you would like to share with us?

Savannah: The Kiss is a short film that I am extremely excited about. It’s an important LGBTQ story, as it takes place in the 1950s but still relates to things that are happening in the world today. Coming to a film festival near you in 2017–2018. Working on this film has been both creatively fulfilling and deeply personal for me.

On eTalk Canada (YouTube)

Monika: What advice would you give to transgender girls who are currently struggling with gender dysphoria?

Savannah: Nobody knows you better than yourself. Trust in who you are and what you believe in. Find allies that support you and believe in you. Focus on the positive and keep moving forward on the goals that you set. Life is worth living, and show the world how beautiful and amazing you truly are. Remember, every step you take toward self-acceptance is a victory worth celebrating.

Monika: A friend of mine, Gina Grahame, once told me that we should never limit our potential based on how we were born, or by what we see other transgender people doing. She said our dreams shouldn’t end with an operation, they should begin there. Do you share this perspective?

Savannah: I look at being trans as a gift. All the hardships and difficulties I have gone through in my life have made me a stronger and more driven person, and I look forward to the unknown adventures to come. I believe our journeys give us a resilience that can fuel endless possibilities.

Monika: Savannah, thank you so much for sharing your story and experiences with us today.

Savannah: It’s been my pleasure. I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect and hopefully inspire others through this conversation.

For more information about Savannah Burton, visit her website.

All the photos: courtesy of Savannah Burton.

© 2017 - Monika Kowalska