Episode 269: Markian Tarasiuk

Actor Markian Tarasiuk has been busy: making rom-coms and thrillers; fielding acting nominations from leading industry organizations; working with Ukrainian Canadian organizations to preserve and promote Ukrainian culture during this war. In recent years, Markian has made a name for himself as a romantic lead in holiday rom-coms like Welcome to Valentine, A Homecoming for the Holidays, Wedding Cake Dreams, Christmas at the Golden Dragon, Our Italian Christmas Memories, the delightfully named Why Can’t My Life Be A Rom-Com?, and The Christmas Jars (for which he was nominated for a 2021 Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Performance in a TV Movie). Late last year, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2022 UBCP/ACTRA Awards for the thriller There’s Someone Inside Your House; the award ultimately went to Hollywood icon Eric McCormack of Will & Grace fame. In this fun and freewheeling conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Markian talks rom-coms (and his fans, the Hallmarkians), nominations, activism, and navigating the industry as a Ukrainian Canadian during this devastating time. Says Markian: “I will not let Russia take away our Ukrainian joy.” Episode Sponsors: UBCP/ACTRA