Daily Inspiration: Meet Maria Molund

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Molund.

Hi Maria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in a small town in northern Sweden pretty near the Arctic Circle where the winter darkness lingers and drifts of snow light up the days, and even as I moved south and grew up in a more urban city the presence of trees and Nature was always near. From an early age, I felt an impulse to act and write. I wrote my first poem when I was 10, and it was published in our local newspaper. It was about how I feel lonely sometimes but that one day everything will change and all humans will stop fighting and live in peace.

However, more pragmatic influences and a genuine interest in caretaking pushed me into studying nursing and I worked in that field for some years until the call to act got too loud to ignore and I was accepted into a theatre school in Stockholm. As I progressed through the program I finally felt at home and that I had found the path that was meant for me. With a longing for expansion and opportunities, that path eventually brought me to Los Angeles where I studied at Stella Adler Acting Conservatory. Since then I have acted in various films and stage productions, honed my craft, obtained my American citizenship, as well as got caught up in day jobs.

A big turning point for me was taking sketch writing classes with John Crane first at the Groundlings and then in his online workshop during the pandemic. This led me to write, produce, and act in 3 comedy sketches shot in my apartment. The realization that I can make my own content has been incredibly empowering. I wrote and starred in my first feature length film last fall and I’m excited to see my artistic expression continue to unfold and merge with my other passions.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This windy road as a creative professional is still taking shape, and for me the hardest challenges along the way have been those playing out within the confines of my mind and nervous-system. For many years I struggled with severe anxiety, and this partly showed up as self-doubt, often exacerbated by the many challenges that accompany the life of an actor. Learning meditation and the mindfulness that comes with it has been a lifesaver and continues to deepen and enrich my life.

Something else they don’t teach you much about in theater school is the business side of things, and upon graduating from Stella I was unprepared for how much of an actor’s career consists of strategizing, networking, and promoting oneself in various ways. It has been said that one must be like the parent of a beauty pageant contestant, but for yourself. As a non-tech-savvy introvert, self-promotion does not come easy to me and my comfortability with it is something that I will always be working on.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am very proud of “Disconnected,” a feature length romantic comedy that’s in post-production right now. I wrote the screenplay together with my partner, and I also played the lead role, and helped produce. It’s been incredible to experience the process of putting an idea on the page and bringing it to the screen. There is a quote by William Blake that goes “What is now proved was once, only imagin’d.” And with storytelling being so much about trading ideas, what a powerful tool then it can be to envision a better world.

In Disconnected I was able to incorporate poetry and an undeniable love for Nature. And that really is my main objective as an actor, poet, and writer; to help convey a quality of mind that recognizes our oneness with Nature, and subsequently transform our society into a more egalitarian, peaceful, and loving one.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love how there are so many amazing trees and flowers blooming in LA all throughout the year! As a keen pedestrian I can attest that, even though our city is car-centric, walking instead of taking the car has a lot to offer including free exercise. I especially love how walking can provide a beautiful way to connect with Nature despite LA’s urban concrete elements. It’s also a wonderful way to explore our communities.

What I like the least about our city is probably all of the trash, especially plastics, that litter our streets. Not only does it look awful, but it also feels saddening knowing that it will eventually end up in our waterways and harm our oceans and marine-life, and in time, since we are all part of an ecosystem, find its way back to us. I would like to see more trash cans in public spaces, as well as more native trees which provide shade, protection against wildfires, and so many more benefits!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mariamolund.com
• Instagram: @coolprincessmaria
• Youtube: @mariamolund8188
• Other: https://mariaandme.com