Hot 10: Sarah Hay

This beautiful ballerina is taking her talents from the stage to the small screen.

Sarah Hay was born to be a dancer. “I have a lot of relatives that were dancers and musicians and artists,” she told Maxim. “They basically came out of the womb doing it.” Despite beginning her journey early by enrolling in lessons at the ripe age of eight, Sarah immediately found herself facing struggles and discouragement. Knowing there was so much to come as a young performer, she soon discovered Germany’s Semperoper Ballet, and found herself living there full time in order to actively pursue her dreams.


“I went to school in New York, and grew up in and out of New York,” she said. “I love it and I miss it, and every time I go back I think, ‘Why am I in Germany?’ I do know that my career is really important to me and in Germany, they’ve always been so much more supportive than my previous engagements in the dance world.”


As someone who plays a new role on stage regularly, it was natural for the stunning ballerina to find herself shifting behind the camera, with her first big acting role in Starz’s new mini-series, Flesh and Bone. Although never really considering this path before, things fell into place after Sarah received an email asking her about any interest in the role. Inferring from the list of people working on production of the series, she knew this was the real deal.


“There’s no out of reality moments, and everything is real in the dance world that it’s portraying,” Sarah says of the scripted dance series. “It can be really, really challenging and I think it’ll be interesting for people to see that side of it. I know a lot of people are comparing it to Black Swan, but there’s no psychedelic aspect to it. It’s just, this is how it is. They’ve used all real dancers for each of the dancing roles. There’s no body doubles. You can’t get more authentic than that.”


Sarah chatted with Maxim all about cheesy pick-up lines, her favorite part of her body, and what’s next.

Photo: Starz

1. If you weren’t in the entertainment industry, and you could do anything else, what do you think you’d be doing?


I’d want to work with some form of charity. I want to help people. I love teaching, so maybe a teacher. Or doing anything that involves guiding people. I love doing stuff like that.

2. What would you say is your favorite curse word to use?

Scheisse, in German. It means shit. It’s a good one because people use it all the time. Curse words aren’t that much of a a problem in Germany, so you can use it for everything. You hear little kids on the street saying it, and they’re all yelling ‘shit’ and it’s really funny.

3. Is there a movie that you find yourself watching over and over again without getting bored of?


Probably Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. I love it so much, and I love how he uses such intense female characters for all his movies. They’re so rock ’n’ roll and amazing.

4. What do you feel most sexy wearing?


Probably just underwear, no bra. I’m not really a girly girl, so for the most part, I’m really into wearing baggy clothes. A little on the grunge-y side of things for the dance world. I’m not really into the tutus or the flower hair clips either. As dancers, we’re pretty much next to naked with each other all day, so you kind of get used to being not so clothed.

5. If a guy wanted to get your attention, what should he do?


Not be stupid, and have a lot of funny things to say. If a cheesy pick-up line is done well, I’ll take it. If I can tell you’re trying too hard, probably not.

6. What’s something on your bucket list that you still really, really want to do?


I want to act in a Tarantino movie and be a vixen in one of his films. Maybe I’ll secretly drop an episode of Flesh and Bone in his mailbox and see what he thinks.

7. Do you have a favorite part of your body?


Most people say my boobs, but I’d probably say my mouth. I just like the shape of my mouth. It’s kind of big.

8. If you have any downtime, what do you usually find yourself doing?


Probably watching cartoons. I love Rick and Morty, Adventure Time, and Bob’s Burgers. I’m a big Adult Swim fan. 

9. If you’re with a guy, how do you want them to be groomed?


I’m into the scruff. I like an unkempt man. I mean, not like beard to the chest, but I’m definitely a Johnny Depp kinda girl.

10. What else is next for you?


I would really like to pursue acting if the opportunity comes to me. I’m really happy dancing as well. I had a hard time finding my footing until the past two years, but now everything is working out pretty well for me. So, hopefully I’ll be acting a lot more. 

Photos by Maarten de Boer / Getty Images