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Sarah Rafferty Talks Film, Fashion, and Female Empowerment

Sarah Rafferty wearing Marc Cain.

A mainstay in the popular legal drama Suits for nearly a decade, Sarah Rafferty is a champion for empowering womenā€”whether on screen as her character Donna Paulsen, or as a brand ambassador for Marc Cain. Here, the actress discusses progress sheā€™s seen in the film industry, her partnership with TIFFā€™s Share Her Journey campaign, and the union between style and female empowerment.

What has been the most moving part of working with Share Her Journey?Ā 

ā€œI had to try not to cry when I talked about my daughters, because of the fact that the world is changing for them right now. That moves meā€”because itā€™s very important that the world changes for them.ā€

What steps do you think need to be taken to facilitate more female empowerment in the film industry?

ā€œTIFF is doing that. Maxine Bailey has put mentorship programs in place committed to having 50/50 percent of males and females receive those opportunities, to commit to having more films in the festival that are directed by and starring women. Theyā€™re actually doing itā€”and with the 50/50 gender parity agreement, theyā€™ve agreed to hold themselves accountable. Now other festivals are following suitā€”theyā€™re leaders and theyā€™re influencing people to take notice and to make change.ā€

In your eight years portraying Donna Paulsen on Suits, have you witnessed visible changes in the industry?

ā€œAbsolutely! From a practical standpoint, we have more female directors now than ever. I also felt that after the presidential election in the US, Donnaā€™s storyline needed some female empowerment situations and Iā€™m thrilled to say that Aaron Korsch, the showā€™s creator, heard me, and Donna became a partner at the firm and became COO.ā€

As an ambassador for Marc Cain, how would you describe your style philosophy?

ā€œIā€™ve definitely been very influenced by Donnaā€™s style. I really like feminine clothes and I like classic clothesā€”I appreciate elegant clothes and beautifully made pieces, and I can say that Marc Cain is all of those things. Their fit is the best. I wear a lot of their clothes now and my friends are always asking ā€˜where can I get that?ā€™ Their jeans fit like nothing else, their boots are so comfortable, their sweaters are beautifulā€”so I can feel confident when I just grab the pieces and they work together. Because another thing is weā€™re all really busy, we donā€™t have a lot of time to spend on thisā€”weā€™ve got important work to do!ā€

Can you share some of your favourite pieces from the Fall/Winter 2018 collection?

ā€œRight now, I love these over-the-knee sock boots Iā€™m wearingā€”you can smoosh them down and wear them scrunchy. Their coats are also great.ā€

Do you see fashion as a way for women to empower themselves?

ā€œI think so. Weā€™re making choices everyday with what we wear, and Iā€™ve definitely felt that playing Donna. Sheā€™s very different from meā€”she has superhuman self-confidence, and I think thatā€™s really reflected in her wardrobe. The wardrobe and the shoes and the accessories help me to access that. When youā€™re wearing something that is tailored and impeccable in these gorgeous fabrics, it feels like armour. What I mostly love about Donna is that her silhouette is always feminine, and she always feels powerfulā€”she never feels like she needs to look like a man or behave like a man. Her power is in her femininity, and her clothes reflect that.ā€Ā 

Can you touch on one of the highlights in your journey as a woman in film?

ā€œMy favourite part of the journey is when I meet people and I hear their experiences and their reactions to Donna. When I realize that it matters to them to see these examples. I love all the tweets that I get on the nights that the show airsā€”thereā€™s so much girl power, ā€˜you go girlā€™, and just women supporting women. Thatā€™s been amazing.ā€

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