Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Wisdom Harris.
Hi Mary Wisdom, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I got my first glimpse at acting/modeling at the age of 11 when my parents brought my sister and I to the local mall in Fort Walton Beach, FL and there was this talent scouting tent set up. Long story short I ended up being flown to LA at a huge cost to my family and it was a scam. But through that experience, I discovered what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
I immediately enrolled in drama class at my middle school then that continued into high school where I got to be involved in musical theatre and competitions. My monologue from a play called Ruined by Lynn Nottage (my favorite playwright) had me considered for critic’s choice in a district competition which was a pretty big deal. That play was given to me my drama teacher in high school. Shout out Christa Whittaker! That was the first time that I realized, “Dang girl, you’re good at this, let’s keep going”! I went to college and got my Associate’s and then Bachelors’s in theatre from NWFSC and UWF. After graduating, I remained in my college town of Pensacola, FL and auditioned for every project that I could get my hands on. I was happy to book three of those! The first being a witch in Macbeth which I was delighted to play, my favorite part was the craziness of the costumes and hair. Then I booked Lysistrata, which production ended up using an all-female cast of six women for. It was so unique being able to play male characters. Lastly, I booked a historical fiction play, “Into the Breeches” performed at The Gordon Theatre in which I played Ida Green (an African American woman getting her first shot to perform in a theatre during WWII).
Then shortly after that, the pandemic hit, I had been talking about moving to Atlanta for ages but had never really put a plan in action. My roommates were planning on moving back home and I thought why not do the same? My mom and best friend were the ones that said, “Well you’ve been talking about moving to Atlanta forever, JUST DO IT”! Especially my mom who was so thrilled to support me in any way that she could on this new journey, She was the final push I needed. So I took a leap of faith and moved to a big city and away from home in the middle of a pandemic! I worked every single day for six months doing to-go orders at Olive Garden while driving back and forth 2 hours to take care of my mom. I saved every penny and finally made the move. I’m so grateful that I did! I immediately enrolled in acting classes and managed to book my first lead in a short film called Elena in which I play the role of Elena. Elena is a film based on five real women’s stories and brings awareness to human and sex trafficking. It’s a project that I’m so proud to be a part of. Elena premieres sometime this year!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The main struggles were moving during a pandemic while also taking care of my mom. Also, comparison is the thief of joy. I find myself comparing a lot and asking myself if I’m good enough when I see others book a project or sign with a major agency. I’m so ecstatic for them but find myself wondering when it’s going to be my turn, or maybe I’m not as talented as I thought. As an artist, we all go through that! Even Viola Davis had an interview recently and was talking about the same thing. Something that has tremendously helped me with this is “Actor’s Faith”, which is knowing and trusting that I’ve done the work and that something will happen. I also know that it’s a marathon, not a sprint (every actor has heard this). I go back and look at auditions from in the past and I’m like, “Wow! You have improved tremendously. Keep going!”
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an actor! I have a strong theatrical background but I’ve gotten into film since moving to Atlanta. My most recent film that I’m extremely proud of is Elena. I play Elena, actually. It’s a film based off of 5 real women’s stories and the awareness for sex trafficking. It’s definitely one of my favorite projects to date. What sets me apart from others I would say is my goofy personality and my positive outlook on every situation in life. I constantly try to find the positivity in everything. I also am always showing up for my craft, whether that be film festivals, classes, auditions, whatever I can get my hands on.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t necessarily believe in good luck. I believe in being ready when an opportunity approaches you. If you’re not ready well then you can’t act on that opportunity. I stay ready so that I don’t have to get ready. I do this by researching, staying in classes, submitting, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/marywisdomharris
- Instagram: @thenameiswisdom
- Facebook: Mary Wisdom Harris
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mwisdomh
Image Credits
Chase Anderson, Sean Black, Anne-Marie Kennedy, Amanda Mazonkey
