We recently had the chance to connect with Maggie O’Gara and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Maggie, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Having other creative outlets outside of acting. I’ve been getting back into sewing clothes for myself, and I love crafting and painting. It’s nice to have things that are creative to just create for the fun of it!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Maggie O’Gara and I’m an actor in Los Angeles. I moved out here two years ago after living in Chicago and then back home to Southern Illinois during the first few years of Covid. When Covid hit, I moved back home and started my brand, Maggie O Finds. Since I wasn’t able to really pursue my acting during Covid and living at home, I needed a creative outlet and goal to focus on. So I started my brand and was making clothes, earrings, and necklaces out of recycled materials. Dresses out of vintage sheets, earrings made out of Barbie doll shoes, necklaces with fun phrases, and also sold vintage and upcycled items. It was a lot of fun and also challenging having a brand, but now that I am focusing on my acting and performing career again, I decided to put my brand up on the shelf. I really enjoyed doing it, but sadly there are only 24 hours in a day so I don’t have time anymore. Running a brand is a lot of work as and I learned a lot, met a lot of great people, and had great experiences. But whew it takes a lot of grit and gumption which is similar to acting I’d say!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Definitely my mom. She sees better than anyone else I know, even better than I see myself sometimes! She’s who I go to if I’m having a hard time seeing or figuring something out about myself. I’m very fortunate for my whole family, as we are all very close and it’s (mostly!) all fun and laughs when we’re together.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Literally all the time, or like once a week probably. I feel like that’s a common thing as an actor, it really tests your resilience. There’s lot of rejection and difficult days, and the mental tenacity you have to have is one of the hardest parts of the industry and being a creative in general. But at the end of the day, I wouldn’t want to be pursuing anything else really.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no. I think how I present myself in public and in my work is a true and real version of myself, but it just skims the surface of who I am. Which I think is true for a lot of creative and public facing people, like we’re never gonna know the real versions of these people we admire and their work that we love.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
Ooh I love this question! I think what would remain for me is the real foundation of who I am. Which I would say is I’m kind and warm, and that I bring that energy in any room I walk in to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://butthatsanotherstory.substack.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schmaggieogara/
Image Credits
Grace Stockdale, Tyris Winter, Perry Picasshoe
