Actress Serinda Swan worships Buddha – her gorgeous French bulldog who shares the same name with the religious icon!
The Canadian beauty was born to be an actress as her thespian father Scott Swan runs the Seacoast Theatre Centre in West Vancouver, British Columbia, and is also the head teacher at its accompanying acting school, Seacoast Studios. In fact, Swan made her silver screen debut when she was just 3 years old in the 1989 Ted Danson/Isabella Rossellini romantic comedy “Cousins.”
She pushed acting aside for a bit, though, to pursue competitive gymnastics. Luckily for fans, she was drawn back into showbiz and has been steadily acting on TV and in feature films.
Swan had minor roles in series like “Psych,” “Smallville,” “Supernatural” and “Hawaii Five-O” before landing the part of Erica Reed on A&E’s “Breakout Kings” in 2011. In 2013, she began a three-season stint on the USA Network drama “Graceland” where she portrayed DEA agent Paige Arkin. Unfortunately, the show was canceled in October and will not be returning.
On the big screen, Swan was seen in films like “The Break-Up Artist,” “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” (as Aphrodite) and “Tron: Legacy.” Next up, she appears alongside William Levy and William Moseley in “The Veil.”
The 31-year-old is also a dedicated human-rights activist. She is the founding ambassador of Friends to Mankind, a nonprofit that does work for the betterment of humanity. “We do this by bringing people together on a common platform, fuelling them with the support and resources needed to find more and more ways to bring this world to a whole state. We are working towards achieving a global transformation in a peaceful and organic way based on respect and friendship,” explained the organization on its website. One of Swan’s main goals with Friends to Mankind is to help victims of sex-trafficking.
When not acting or fighting for human rights, Swan can be found at home with her best friend Buddha. Read Headlines & Global News’ exclusive interview to learn all about her celebrity pet.
How did Buddha come into your life?
Buddha wasn’t the easiest little guy to get. After doing a lot of research on Frenchies, I found an amazing breeder in Kentucky [Bluegrass Frenchies]. I went on the site and saw a picture of his parents and it said, “Expecting.” I just had this feeling that [the right dog] was in this litter. So I put my deposit down and waited. Once [the puppies] were born, they sent pictures every couple of days, and I knew who he was the minute I saw him. The problem was, I had second pick. So I had to wait until the other lady made her choice first. I found out that she was deciding between him and another one. I was dying! Eventually, after a week, the call came that she liked the color of the other one better. In the week, Buddha changed two shades darker, and she wanted a cream dog, which I think was his way of making sure he came home with me. So I flew to Kentucky the next week and picked him up. The rest is history!
Does he have any of your personality traits?
He’s stubborn, hilarious, a bit of a trickster, but mainly just a gigantic ball of love. I hope I have some of his personality!
What are some of Buddha’s favorite things?
Morning cuddles. The big workout balls. Balloons, which we found out on the set of “Graceland.” It was one of the hair and makeup girl’s birthdays and there were balloons all over the trailer. When he saw them, he went crazy and popped them all. We were laughing so hard we were crying.
What do you really like about his breed, the French bulldog?
How balanced they are. One minute, he is running around having the best time, the next just quietly lying beside me as I work.
Does he demand much of your attention?
Not too much. But when he wants it, he wants it, and he’ll do whatever he can to get it. He has three moves: 1. He gives me sad eyes. He’ll put his head all the way down and then just look at me with his eyes, giving that typical sad dog face; 2. He makes the craziest little whine sound, like almost a cat meowing, and doesn’t stop until I acknowledge him; 3. His final go to move, if none of the others have worked, he will, literally, walk over to me, come under my chair or wherever I am, and fart and then walk away. It’s horrific, but hilarious, and it does get me out of my chair!
What have you learned from having Buddha in your life?
Extreme love, patience and putting something else first in my life – no matter what’s happening.
What does he really mean to you?
He’s my best friend. I know it sounds crazy or kind of a cliché, but he really is. He is the epitome of unconditional love, and I can’t thank him enough for opening my eyes to that.
For more on Serinda Swan, follow her on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
