An 85-year-old Coquitlam woman who is a retired nurse and longtime food bank volunteer has unexpectedly embarked on a new career: acting.
Hot sauce lovers will recognize Joan Sanderson as the new "granny" in the Frank's Red Hot Sauce commercials. You know, the one who says, "I put that [bleep] on everything!"
The role practically landed in Sanderson's lap as she quickly shone through the more than 50 grannies who auditioned for the part. A friend who noticed the casting call on a talent agent's Facebook page suggested she try out, so Sanderson hopped on a bus to Vancouver - but soon balked at saying the famous line out loud.
"I didn't know what to expect," Sanderson said during a break in filling hampers at the Share food bank in Port Moody. "They asked me to say that word, which I don't like in the first place. There was a script, but they kept changing it."
Her spunky energy and cheeky grin caught the director's eye, however, and just 12 hours after Sanderson learned she'd bagged the role she was flying standby to Mexico City for two days of whirlwind wardrobe fittings and shooting.
The mood was both hectic and intense.
"The last iconic grandmother in advertising is the 'Where's the beef?' lady," said Pamela Wise, Sanderson's agent. "There were a lot of people chiming in to decide on Joan."
Sanderson filmed two commercials while in Mexico in just over two days, both of which pit the petite grandmother of 15 up against burly men in a body building gym and at a fire hall.
She schools the "tough guys" on their wimpy hot sauce application, commanding them to pile it on, ending with the iconic "I put that [bleep] on everything!" line.
It was tough work but Sanderson said she was "chortling through it all" and continues to enjoy her newfound notoriety.
"My grandkids keep sending me pictures of them in stores holding up the bottles," she said, adding they each got a signed bottle in their Christmas stocking. At a launch party at her church, St. Laurence Anglican in Port Moody, Sanderson was also asked to add her signature to several bottles to give away as prizes.
Wise marvels at Sanderson's energy and enthusiam, saying her client is always up for anything.
"She's always in the call-back zone, she hops on multiple buses, SkyTrains... it's really snowballed. She now has a permanent spot on my roster."
In fact, just this week Sanderson was going to a call-back for a commercial for a well-known sports apparel brand, in which she'd be among a group of elite athletes at a gym.
"These days casting directors are looking outside their rosters for real people," Wise said, noting that Sanderson's easygoing humour makes her a natural in front of the camera.
Sanderson just takes it all in stride like a seasoned pro, saying, "You're never too old to start a new career."
