Author:

Jessica

Back in mid-March, Mary was photographed on the streets of NYC doing a photo shoot and now the pictures along with the accompanying interview have been released, courtesy of the Rose and Ivy Journal. As always, be sure to click the link above to read the full interview and head to the gallery to check out the full set of photos! Below are some highlights from the interview:

ONE OF THE FACETS I HAVE COME TO LEARN ABOUT LEADING A CREATIVE LIFE AND PURSUING YOUR DREAMS IS TAPPING INTO YOUR POTENTIAL. WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU COULD TAP INTO YOUR POTENTIAL TO PURSUE WHAT YOU LOVED?
It was all in stages since I started at such a young age. I was always interested in performing—in ballet, theater, or music—it was always my passion. I saw my older siblings doing it and I just wanted to be a part of it. As soon as I started taking lessons, a light went off. All I ever wanted to do was something in the arts, particularly the performing arts, for as long as I can remember. It’s what came naturally to me and it’s what made me happy. I was lucky I had a family who supported me in that my parents found opportunities to pursue to nurture that in me. I was lucky I had that. I was always in dance, singing, or acting classes.

HOW DID YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM BALLET TO ACTING? DID YOU GET TO THE POINT IN BALLET WHERE IT WAS JUST TOO HARD ON THE BODY?
I was fortunate in the sense that I was always doing a bit of everything. So when I gave up ballet to focus on acting, it didn’t necessarily feel so abrupt. When I was a little girl, I thought I was going to be a ballerina since it was my first love and my focus. I was always the kid with my hair in a bun at school because I had to rush off to a rehearsal or something straight from school. I also loved every part of performing. So when I got to the age where I realized I didn’t want to put my body through that in an ongoing way. I could see the older dancers around me and see what they were going through. I thought, I love so many things about performing and this doesn’t have to be it for me. I can pivot to something else. So that’s when I started focusing on acting. I knew I could put that love and passion into something else.

WHAT HAVE YOU CHERISHED THE MOST AS YOU’VE GROWN IN THE INDUSTRY? HAS THERE BEEN SOMETHING YOU’VE APPRECIATED ABOUT YOURSELF OR AN OPPORTUNITY THAT HELPED YOU GET TO WHERE YOU WANTED TO BE?
There have been so many opportunities. It’s been all these small experiences that have added up to leading to this great life, which is the life I had always hoped for. It’s being a professional actor and being able to support myself financially, being able to live my life creatively, and making acting my work was always my dream. It was a slow progression for me. I went from job to job from a young age, and each job led to the next one, and each one was more fulfilling than the last. It’s been this gradual step-by-step process of deepening myself in terms of my abilities and my professionalism and the combination of those two things, that led to more fruitful opportunities. I’ve been lucky in that way.

WHAT’S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL ROLES YOU’VE EVER PLAYED? YOUR BREADTH OF WORK IS SO INCREDIBLE.
My usual answer for that is this small film that I did called Smashed. It was pivotal for me in terms of taking things into my own hands. Up until that point, I had been taking whatever jobs came my way, which was great, and I was happy to do them and have the opportunities. But I did reach a point where I thought, what is it that I actually want to do, and, do I have the ability to make that happen for myself? I started beating down doors and saying, I just want a great role in a small movie where people are just trying to make something good. We were not trying to make money, we were just trying to make good work and create. That was the first film that came my way when I started focusing. Before, I had made somewhat of a name for myself, but mostly in genre films. I was known for horror and action films. They were so much fun to do, but I was ready for something a bit deeper. I longed to have a character who I could connect with on a deeper level. I had a meeting with the producer who was doing a bunch of indie films, and he said, I have this script, I don’t know if it’s for you. I read it and I was just like, yes, yes, please! It was just the most amazing experience, and it affected me so much as an actor and a person. It was a pivotal turning point for me in my life as an actor.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT’S COMING UP THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
It seems like we’re going to be doing another season of Ahsoka, which is really exciting. We are waiting to get more information about it but the scripts are being written and the second season is being developed. And then, who knows? I’m waiting to see what sparks, and in the meantime, I’m at home being a mommy and enjoying life.