Today we’d like to introduce you to Albamarina Nahar.
Hi Albamarina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Woo! This is always a loaded question! I’ve always been a creator since I was a young laden. Through art, writing, pageantry, and creating shows with all my friends and family (so I could win!). However, it took off in middle school where I got my first big role as Goldilocks. My immediate connection with the arts really started to brew and unfold right in front of me. I became an active thespian, directed my own school plays, and thoroughly wanted to always create any type of production. Being born and raised in Boston, New York always felt like my next home deep down, especially because I had family there. My dad also was also a big Afro Colombian musician and my mom, from the Dominican Republic, always enjoyed traveling.
I attended a College Prep Charter school and going right into college was extremely important to my family since I am first generation in the states. I imagined becoming an engineer and being a Woman of Color changing the “mans world”. I got rejected from most of my dream schools and did not dive straight into college. Instead I was blessed with a full scholarship to ‘Global Citizen Year’ Gap Year program to live and volunteer in Brasil for a year! I was so excited because I knew traveling always forced me to grow and it was a blessing to get out of forcing a conventional lifestyle that didn’t serve me.
While living in Brasil, I lived with my Afro-Brazilian host mom, where I was able to embody and learn about my roots, acceptance, and empowering my value in this world. She always took me to live theatre shows, movies, and it was an opportunity to indulge in the arts more than ever. I was able to see what American and Brazilian films and tv shows portrayed on a bigger scale.
I did not like it, I constantly questioned my host mom as to why it was such a white washed cast when my reality was not that. It made me question storytelling, writers, production companies and face the hard questions of ” Why is there lack of People of Color on the Screens?” ” Why were we constantly devalued and type casted” “Why wasn’t it the norm?” and “What can I do to change this and share my own experiences?” and BAM! Because this was a consistent conversation with my host mom she simply asked me, why not apply to acting school once I got back to the states. So I went upstairs at the house and searched acting schools and got to it.
Fast forward to graduating from the New York Film Academy Conservatory, building my career’s foundation in New York, to then transitioning here in Los Angeles in 2019. I’ve always wanted a Bi-Coastal career. Where I can continue to travel, experience, learn and grow while doing what I love. The moving transition to LA was definitely a lot. Being an East Coast girl coming to the West Coast to continue the manifestations of my purposes was and still is not easy okay!
I dove right into acting classes, and two months later was able to sign with my manager and my commercial agent. I also came out here with my first short film that was in post-production so it gave me more fire to continue creating my own content. I was all about disciplining my new life, building my network, creating strong connections, and learning the ropes of this new lifestyle. As I knew, it was a new chapter for me!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Lawd!!! Success is never linear. I love rollercoasters so I always look at my life like one forever roller coaster that has a lot of highs and lows. I am a seeker of challenges. I know they are never comfortable but in the midst of those moments, I am forced for self-discovery and growth. I am a planner, and when I moved out here to LA (almost two years now!) I had a list of online friends, connections I’ve made in the past, and industry folk who I thought would help me out and assist in the transition. Unfortunately, the path didn’t unfold that way, and just as much as everyone else is caught up in their own world trying to figure it out – I also was there too. With me, myself, and I. It never has been difficult to make new connections for me, I mean put me in the middle of nowhere and I’ll figure it out because I am truly a survivor. But not being able to follow my blueprint to the T really taught me to always adjust, be patient, be kind, and understanding that things happen for you. No matter what it looks like at the time, you will always conquer! And just keep pushing through with your journey of becoming your best self!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
See I do a lot! I am a multi-facet being as a whole. I’m mainly an actress and you can find more of my work on my website: albamarina-nahar.com. I also am an abstract painter, which has led me to finally open my online store: seaofmarina.com, A Afro Latina owned brand that was created because of the lack of support when bridging self-love, healing, and mental health in the POC Community. Our purpose is to inspire and empower people of color with exploring their self-love journey. I also have a podcast “I got sh*t to do” where I interview my friends and community about all the wonderful things they do and share what they have learned along their pathway. I recently had a poetry spread with the MWP Magazine, sharing my relationship with self-love.
I’m known for the lead role in the film “250” A film about police profiling and brutality; and won the Cultural Perspective- Independent Producer award at the Hometown Media Awards in Philadelphia. I also was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at Jersey City’s Golden Door Film Festival playing ‘Toni’ in the Feature Film “Bus Stop.” And I recently screened my short film “Phases of A Goddess” a film following a young woman through healing, heartbreak, and self-discovery.
I am most proud of finishing my short film! I had written the script a few years ago after a bad breakup and filmed it after another breakup and before moving to LA! I was working with my amazing DP – Lucille Celic throughout the move to LA, editing and having many follow-ups to finish the project! I am extremely proud of us, the turnout of the screening and am now submitting to some film festivals!
What sets me apart from others is that whatever I create comes from my soul, my personal endeavors, and my truth with healing in the most honest way. I have accepted that anything I create is already a healing component for me, so it’s time to continue to share that with my community and the world.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
My Online Shop: https://seaofmarina.com/
Contact Info:
- Email: albamarina.nahar@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.albamarina-nahar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seaofmarina/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeaofMarina
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SEAofMARINA
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qj4HolZVDqUnolTQa68tA
- Podcast: https://anchor.fm/
alba81 - Short Film: https://m.youtube.com/
watch?v=_fA7Ps2HhHw
Image Credits:
Fredrick V. Deidhra Fahey Photography Heaven Horton Natacha Gutierrez Create with Phong
