Carrie-Anne Moss found herself engrossed in a chapter about Baba Yaga from her cherished book when an invitation to star in the new series, “Yaga,” unexpectedly came her way. The coincidence felt like a meaningful sign to Moss, who has held onto “Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype” by Clarissa Pinkola Estés since 1999. The chapter’s thematic alignment with the project intrigued her.
The dark mystery-thriller series, “Yaga,” is an adaptation of Canadian playwright Kat Sandler’s 2019 stage play. In the fictional town of Whittock, Noah Reid of “Schitt’s Creek” portrays private investigator Charlie Rapp, on a quest to locate missing heir Henry Park, played by Hudson Williams. The storyline draws inspiration from the enigmatic Slavic legend of Baba Yaga, a mystical figure associated with a hut on chicken legs and unpredictable powers.
Kat Sandler personally approached Moss for the role of Katherine Hargrove, a professor attracted to younger men. After careful consideration of Sandler’s pitch, the scripts, and the character, Moss accepted the role. Filming in Victoria has brought Moss back to her roots in British Columbia, where she spent summers as a child, fostering a deep connection to the region.
Reflecting on her career journey, Moss shared her early aspirations to become an actress, nurtured by her profound emotional reactions to television shows. Her move from Vancouver to Toronto and later to Los Angeles was driven by her passion for acting. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, including a difficult transition to LA, Moss remained steadfast in her pursuit of her acting dreams.
Moss’s breakthrough role as Trinity in “The Matrix” transformed her career and established her as an international star. The experience of watching the completed film for the first time evoked an emotional response from Moss, highlighting the impact of her iconic role. Balancing her career with motherhood, Moss has prioritized her family and embraced a quieter lifestyle in New Hampshire, away from the Hollywood spotlight.
In contemplating the future of her creative work, Moss expressed concerns about the implications of artificial intelligence on storytelling and artistic expression. She emphasized the importance of human creativity and empathy in storytelling, viewing it as a spiritual endeavor. Despite uncertainties, Moss remains focused on her current opportunities, including her return to her hometown and the serendipitous role that came her way in “Yaga.”