From ‘School Spirits’ to SXSW premieres and plastic-free sets, Sarah Yarkin is rewriting the rules of Hollywood — and she’s doing it with honesty, humour, and unapologetic queer joy.
To say Sarah Yarkin is on a creative roll would be an understatement. Since 2022, she has portrayed Rhonda in ‘School Spirits’, a sarcastic and emotionally layered ghost who, over the seasons, has become much more than just another paranormal presence. “Rhonda is one of the longest relationships I’ve ever had,” she says with a laugh. “Each season feels like a little time capsule of who I was at that time.” With the third chapter of the show in sight, Yarkin hints at transformation. “Season 3 is really where we get to see the payoff, as she opens herself up and lets herself truly connect.”
For Yarkin, building characters—whether in teen thrillers or psychological horror—is less about genre and more about truth. “Rhonda is a human who is really hurt and masks that really well. I get that. I do that. I think we all do that to an extent.” It’s this emotional sincerity, masked by sharp wit, that makes her performance so gripping.
That same mix of rawness and humour carries through her broader creative work. Whether producing, writing, acting or composing music, Yarkin moves through her artistic phases like seasons in her beloved Prospect Park. “When I’m really sad I write music, when I’m really inspired I write long form. And when I have a really good idea, I pitch it to all my talented friends and try to convince them to make it with me.”
Her short film ‘VISITORS’, a sci-fi thriller with deeply human undertones, is one such product of inspiration. Directed by her friend Minnie Schedeen, the project emerged from a voice note sent in the middle of the night. “We got an incredible team of female producers together and all the pieces fell into place super quickly,” she explains. “It was a dream come true to be directed by Minnie. She describes ‘VISITORS’ as ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ meets ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’. I’m beyond excited for it to have its World Premiere at SXSW 2026.”
But there’s another side to Yarkin that resists the confines of any screen. Passionate about sustainability, she works with the Plastic Pollution Coalition and has helped initiatives with SAG-AFTRA to reduce single-use plastics on film sets. “Plastic pollution impacts everything—not just the environment but our health and wildlife,” she says firmly. “There are really doable ways to make movies and TV shows without throwing out hundreds of plastic water bottles every day.”
Away from film sets, Yarkin has found solace and inspiration in Brooklyn. “It’s so nice to leave my house and walk through Prospect Park and not think about the industry. I love being surrounded by people of all ages and walks of life. I’m still in awe of the change of seasons in New York.”
Openly queer and actively reshaping storytelling from within, Yarkin sees her identity as essential, not accessory. “There has been so much progress and there is still so much work to be done. I love getting messages from young people saying they see themselves in the work, that they’re rooting for Rhonda and Quinn. That makes me cry.” Still, she notes the hurdles remain. “A show like ‘Heated Rivalry’ even today couldn’t get made in the US. We need more shows like that.”
When asked who influences her craft, she doesn’t hesitate: Miranda July. “Where have I been? I’m so obsessed with her voice. She is a huge inspiration to me.”
And if her life were to become a film? “It would be called ‘That Dog is My Daughter!’” she grins. “A 2017 mumblecore dramedy about me falling in love with my foster dog but then discovering she’s actually my biological daughter. Full of twists and turns and so many funny jokes—but mostly it’s about love.”
