Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Elaine Ramsey.
Mary Elaine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all started at my alma mater Boston College. Go Eagles! My parents sent me there thinking a solid Jesuit education would secure their daughter a professional/conservative future but boy oh boy did that backfire! I ended up devoting most of my time there to a sketch comedy group Hello…Shovelhead! I absolutely fell in love with comedy, performance and the collaborative process of putting together a show. I’m really proud of the friendships I formed in that group– there are a handful of them out in LA with me and they’re all starting to make some waves in comedy and have been an amazing support system. With that experience under my belt, once I graduated, I moved to NYC and did some theatre acting/commercials/a few guest spots on TV shows… mostly as sex workers– you know real “big-time” stuff.
One of my first IMDb credits was “Dead Hooker” in a Colin Quinn pilot that Jerry Seinfeld directed. I wouldn’t stop calling production, “How could I be dead? I had lines!” They finally agreed to change the credit to “Hooker”. That small victory made me think I’ve got what it takes. Then, a few years ago, I decided to make the leap to LA and start stand up and haven’t looked back since. I’d say I’ve gotten where I am today by becoming really good at taking a hit, hearing constructive criticism and just keeping it moving. There’s still a massive hill I need to climb in my career but the love of the game gives me all the energy in the world to do it. Which is funny because I’m generally a very low energy person.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Has it been relatively smooth? God no! I don’t think “smooth” exists in entertainment. My ride has been absolutely insane and far more humbling than I’d care to admit. For anyone considering getting into showbiz, remember the counsel of Bette Davis: “Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night!” Frankly, half the time I’m having too much fun to notice I’m struggling. I only notice when I slow down so I cope with that by just rarely slowing down. (Real healthy I’m sure). But I’ve got a vault of stories that I wouldn’t trade for the world… well, maybe for the lead of a series.
Initially, when I started out, my biggest struggle was maintaining self esteem in the face of perpetual negative feedback– be it the no’s of auditioning or the lack of laughter when you’re on stage or the beat downs of all the wacky side jobs, etc. I’ve learned to stop wishing away the struggle and just come to accept it as a part of the process that will always be there. And with age, I’ve become much better at maintaining my sense of self in the face of it all. I’ve just come to the understanding that the only way any of all this will be worthwhile is if I build a career on my own terms, always willing to bet on myself, and doing it in a way that when I look back on this time years from now will make me really proud.
One thing I gotta say though… a lot of my buddies on the standup circuit draw immense pride from living the starving artist lifestyle. And, you know, hooray for them, but I’m personally at a place where I wouldn’t mind making a bit more cashish. To quote another old time legend, Lauren Bacall, when presented with the cliche “Money can’t buy you happiness,” she replies, “Ya, well it doesn’t automatically depress me either.” I’m with Bacall. The thought of being a homeowner or not cruising around in uber pools doesn’t depress me.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a stand-up comedian and actor. That alone makes me very proud because it is a career that is hard and requires a great deal of commitment. I am currently focused on, and will be for the remainder of my career, getting as good as I possibly can. Comedy is the most democratic of all the performing arts. You either made em laugh or you didn’t. I’m chasing those laughs.
I am most proud of my ability to maintain self-satisfaction while simultaneously understanding you could always be much better. I don’t think those two thoughts need to be mutually exclusive. Even when I don’t do great on stage people will comment, “You always seem to be having so much fun.” And I say, “I am.”
Which women have inspired you in your life?
The female performers that have inspired me are endless– Tig Notaro, Ellen DeGeneres, Sandra Bullock, Candace Bergen, Catherine O’Hara, Amanda Peet, Parker Posey, Lauren Bacall the list could go on and on. My favorite type of actress is a fiercely strong woman who can be both hilarious and scary. I love a lunatic– somebody who just truly lets it rip! The women who have inspired me most, though, are my mom, sister, aunts, cousins, and closest friends because I love them the most and feel lucky everyday for having such a large stable of women who are strong, whip-smart, and positively wacky in my life. They are unapologetically themselves and live their lives on their terms and make my life endlessly colorful.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: maryelaineramsey
Image Credit:
Andrew Max Levy
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