Q&A with NYFA Acting Alum Maria de Sa, part of the cast of Netflix's "Turn of the Tide"
NYFA Alum Maria de Sa is an actor that has built an international career working on various projects across Europe and the US. After graduating from NYFA’s BFA Acting for Film program, she has appeared in productions including The Infernal Machine, Lovely, Dark, and Deep, Netflix’s Turn of the Tide, and the Portuguese series PRISMA and Desassossego. Most recently, she stars as Amy in the horror feature Ever After, alongside Bonnie Aarons and Mark Sheppard. Read more about Maria's journey in the Q&A below.
NYFA Alumni Network: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you're from, and what brought you to New York Film Academy?
Maria de Sa (M.D.S.): I was born in a small town in Portugal, but at 14 I moved to London to start studying acting. By the time I was 18, I already had a few years of acting training behind me, but I really wanted to experience studying in the US and, more importantly, get closer to the film industry, where it was clear to me there existed way more diverse opportunities.
Until then, most of my training had been focused on theatre, and I wanted to broaden my horizons. NYFA stood out to me because the BFA Acting for Film program felt like the most complete option, combining acting techniques with a hands-on understanding of filmmaking—something I hadn’t found anywhere else.
I actually auditioned for NYFA while I was still living in London. I got into some drama schools there, but by that point I was set on getting a taste of being at the heart of the film industry!
NYFA Alumni Network: What projects have you worked on since graduating? Have you won any awards or been showcased in any festivals or competitions?
M.D.S.: Since graduating, I’ve worked first a bit in the US and then Europe. I initially started working in American productions, shooting in Portugal. Features such as The Infernal Machine for Paramount+, followed by Lovely, Dark, and Deep, which premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal and is now available on Apple TV. ( also an open call like Ever After)
Over time, I also started working more within the Portuguese industry and I’m now based in Lisbon, with bases in London and Barcelona, so basically I am always travelling for work (and I love that!) I'm represented in Portugal and in Madrid (my European agent) and that's how I get the opportunities to continue to work in several places.
More recently, I was part of Season 3 of the Netflix original series Turn of the Tide, as well as Broken Spies, which was selected for the Berlinale Series Market in 2025. I’ve also starred in two Portuguese limited series, PRISMA and Desassossego.
My latest project is the horror feature Ever After, where I play the lead, Amy, alongside Bonnie Aarons (The Nun) and Mark Sheppard (Supernatural). The film recently premiered in theatres in Bolivia and Peru and is coming to US cinemas through AMC on September 4, 2026.
I’ve also never really stopped doing short films along the way. They’re such a great way to keep meeting new directors, experimenting with different characters and staying involved in the festival circuit. Some of those smaller projects have led to some pretty meaningful opportunities and connections later.
One of my earliest awards was the Most Promising Young Actress award at the BragaCine Film Festival in 2021 for Tenho Medo do Medo, directed by Cátia Silva. That was also an important moment for me because it helped open the door to the Portuguese market.
NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us more about Ever After and how you got involved.
M.D.S.: Ever After is a horror feature with a multicultural cast, bringing together actors from the US, Portugal, Canada, the UK and Hungary. We filmed in Budapest across three different phases, and the final one was in January, which meant a lot of night shoots and freezing temperatures at 3 a.m. in a Hungarian forest!
It was an amazing experience, though, and definitely put me to the test. As the lead, you really carry a huge part of the film on your shoulders, and I really got to experience how your attitude and openness can influence the energy and atmosphere on set. It was still an indie film, not the American sets I was used to, but It was a complete adventure, one I’m incredibly grateful for.
The casting itself was actually a bit of a happy accident. My best friend found an open casting call online in London and sent it to me. I didn’t think too much of it at the time, but I submitted anyway. I then self-taped two scenes, had a Zoom meeting with the director where we talked quite a lot about the character, and eventually got the email saying I had the part of Amy.
It was such a rewarding moment because open international calls can be incredibly competitive and, sometimes, a little mysterious; they don't come pre-selected by your agent and you never really know where the casting is going. It was a good reminder that you really do have to put yourself out there and take the risk. You never know what’s waiting for you on the other side of a self-tape, and what's in store for you, if you take that chance.
NYFA Alumni Network: What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to this project and others?
M.D.S.: Of course, the obvious answer is the acting training, I was lucky enough to work with some really great teachers. But I think one of the biggest things I took away from NYFA was learning how filmmaking works as a whole. We weren’t just trained as actors, we were taught to understand the set around us.
Knowing the etiquette of a professional set, understanding what the different departments are doing, knowing who to communicate with and where you need to be, these things might sound small, but they make a huge difference, especially for your confidence when you're first starting out. It also makes you an active person on set, able to solve problems.
When I first returned to Portugal, I felt like the industry was quite small and I wasn’t sure how to integrate into the community. I was able to take on work as a script supervisor and production assistant, jobs which gave me a way into the local film community. I met people, made friends and built connections that I still have today, and some of those relationships eventually led to acting opportunities. Also gives you the tools to create yourself, which is so important so you don't stop working and having new material.
PRISMA is a Portuguese limited series I co-wrote and co-produced, because at the time I wasn't being seen for bigger roles and so I created those opportunities for myself. There was a competition created by channel 1 (RTP) to submit pilots and we did. Being part of that process also made me realize that I love producing and I wont stop creating these opportunities. Personally, I felt like it really helps us actors to not despair, and take reins of our own career, as so often we have absolutely no control over anything.
NYFA Alumni Network congratulates Maria on all her success!
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