Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Senghore.
Marie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have been acting since I was a little girl, still living in Stockholm. I cannot really recall when or why I got into acting. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to act. I took theater, went to a performing arts high school and worked in commercials. There is nothing I enjoyed more than entertaining people. In that sense I have been lucky; I’ve always known what I wanted to do.
After I graduated high school, I knew that I was done with school. I also felt a need to change location, so I decided to move to Spain. I took my first break from acting and focused on learning a new culture and language. I stayed with a beautiful and loving Spanish family whom I am still close with today. After a year, I moved back to Stockholm and started working in TV. I started out doing background jobs, then small featured roles and eventually landed a part in my first leading role in the short “Aliki” directed by Tine Alavi, playing a teenager facing the struggles of growing up black and queer. After that came my first role in a feature. I portrayed Tessan in “Alena”, directed by Daniel di Grado. I was doing well for myself, booking commercials and so on but I knew that I wanted to move to LA to continue my career.
January 2016, I started my associate’s degree in acting for film at the New York Film Academy in LA and I graduated May 2017. The best thing I took from that school was my connections. I, of course, learned a lot and I am so thankful for all of my instructors but most of all, I am thankful for all my new talented international friends. It was through that school that I got to meet Deja Gordon, the writer/director of “SHEA BUTTAH” which will be screening at the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival this year. I am so proud of this project and I cannot wait for the world to see it!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Well, the entertainment industry isn’t easy for anyone but being a dark skinned Swedish girl, adds another array of “situations” to overcome. Don’t get me wrong. I am so happy that I was born Gambian AND Swedish. I truly feel like a wonderful mix of the two. But of course, growing up it wasn’t always as wonderful. I was constantly told that I wouldn’t be able to make an acting career in Sweden because I didn’t “look” Swedish. At the time, it may or may not have been true but luckily, I don’t listen to opinions from people whom I’ve never asked. Starting out, it was quite hard. Again, it’s hard for anyone to make a name for themselves at first, but it’s even harder to do so when your field of the profession doesn’t have openings/opportunities for you. It forces you to make them for yourself. Which is where I am today. I just finished writing my the script for my first short “Remember”. Writing was never meant to be a part of my profession but I suddenly found myself in front of a notebook with an idea. I had a story that I wanted to tell and being an actress, I knew I could only tell it through a film. Now, I am equally nervous and excited to start production. So even though it has been (and still is) quite hard to find a space in this industry for someone like me, I’m thankful. I have learned to become more resourceful.
Please tell us about Marie Senghore.
I am an actress. To be more precise; I am a black, Swedish, multilingual, international actress. I come from a Gambian family but was born and raised in Sweden. I have lived in both countries as well as Spain and currently the US. Next, who knows? I might head over to South Korea. I work in film, TV, and theatre. I am trained in stage combat, martial arts, dancing but what really sets me apart is my interest in languages and culture.
I am currently fluent in Swedish and English. Intermediate in Spanish and Wolof, and a beginner in Japanese in Korean.
I love languages. My goal is to be fluent in at least six. In my profession, you can never have too many talents. I decided a while back that mine was going to be my international factor. I love traveling almost as much as I love acting and my dream is to be able to travel around the world and act. In as many different countries as possible. For that to be possible, I need to be able to speak as many languages as possible. Which is why I usually spend my free time with my nose in a language-learning book.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Honestly, not much. I am a pretty diligent worker and I have always been the kind of person to follow my goals. If anything, I would probably just go back in time to tell myself to work a little harder and a little faster. I wouldn’t change the paths I’ve taken. I have learned a lot from my hardships and mistakes.
Right now, all I can do is move forward. I got a job at Disney, I am set to shoot my first script and I’m working on my second. I have a lot of plans for the future and honestly, cannot wait. Problems and all.
Contact Info:
- Website: mariesenghore.com
- Email: senghore6@gmail.com
- Instagram: senghore
- Facebook: marieasenghore
- Twitter: MarieSenghore
Image Credit:
Alejandro Mateos, Olivia Wu, Kingi Kingibe
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