Today we’d like to introduce you to Mara Marini.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Since I was four years old, all I ever wanted to do was to be an actress (minus one year around thirteen where I wanted to be a dolphin trainer). We lived in Winnipeg, Canada and at that time there were not a lot of resources for me, so I begged my parents to move to LA (their response was “hell no”) & then begged them to at least put me in acting class (also a “no.”)
When I was six, I just started memorizing sonnets & scenes out of my Mum’s Shakespeare book & she agreed to enroll me in a local class at Manitoba Theatre for Young People. I fell even more in love & involved myself in anything I could get my hands on – school plays, local theatre, etc.
I began plotting on how I was going to get to LA. I left Winnipeg at 17 to attend York University’s theatre program & while there auditioned for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. I was accepted & finally made it to LA. I completed the full three-year conservatory program at AADA & dived into hustling & auditioning in the city.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I wouldn’t use the adjective “smooth…” I would definitely say it’s been curvy. Lots of twists and turns! I think this industry is very challenging for everyone involved. I have trained, I have written personal letters to every agent and manager in the city, I have taken meeting after meeting and audition and after audition.
My first big credit I actually got through pretending to be my own manager. You never stop hustling. I also love to create, so I have been creating my own content as well. A short film I co-wrote and star in called A Play (Jane Lynch and Derek Phillips are some of the other cast members) won best short and writing at Mammoth Film Festival, among other awards.
I also co-wrote a show called Exties with Sean Wing about exes who are now best friends that have received some great feedback: www.exties.com.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am an actress and, although I am classically trained, I am mostly known for my comedic characters (Brandi Maxxxx from NBC’s Parks and Recreation, Phat Shawn from ABC’s Black-ish and Justine St. Pierre from POP TV’s Schitt’s Creek).
I have had so many amazing opportunities… working with Dax Shephard and Michael Pena on WB’s CHiPs was amazing… I’d have to say I am most proud of the work I did on Parks and Rec. It was so fulfilling to get to come back as this wonderful, vibrant character and the writing is just so brilliant on that show. I was honored I got to be part of the series finale as well.
What were you like growing up?
I was a ham!!! Haha. I loved attention and whether I was on my grandma’s balcony singing and dancing for neighbors on the balconies across from our building to come out and be entertained or nearly getting kicked out of all girls’ Catholic school for performing Madonna’s Express Yourself to a sea of nuns… I definitely have always been drawn towards the spotlight.
Contact Info:
- Address: www.exties.com, http://bit.ly/A_Play
- Website: http://imdb.me/maramarini
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/popgloss
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/MaraMariniPage
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/popgloss
- Other: http://snapchat.com/add/popgloss
Image Credit:
Melissa Schwartz – SchwartzStudios, Yansen Setiawan, GettyImages
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