Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicole Marsh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nicole, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you signed with an agent or manager? Why or why not?

I signed with my first agent a month after I graduated college. I was introduced to the agency by a classmate of mine who was already signed with them and was traveling to Wilmington on the weekends to film small projects here and there. We were in archery class one day and I mentioned to her that I was a WebTv host and she told me I should sign with her agency and do commercials and films. At this point I hadn’t considered becoming a professional actor, I always loved being on the stage but I didn’t think to pursue it as a career, however she offered to reach out to them and put in a good word for me. A few days later I contacted them, auditioned and they signed me. I was with them for five years before moving to Atlanta and signing with a different agency. However, when I moved back to Raleigh, I re-signed and was with them until the recent union strikes halted everything in the industry.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an actress, author, screenwriter and creative director. I began acting at age ten, in plays such as Oklahoma, Pocahontas and various other musicals as an ensemble dancer. In high school I won an award for choreographing the musicals Grease and West Side Story and was featured in the News & Observer. As a writer, my first published work was an article in the Independent Weekly for my high school thesis.

I graduated from Meredith College with a BA in French. While I was there I directed my first play, La Cantratrice Chauve, which is a French play, and I acted in it as well. In 2011, I self-published a novel, Ingrid Darling, and a short story, Vérité. My notable stage performances include Tazzy in Office Girls, Francesca in West Side Story, Imara in Un-Shame On You, among others. My screenwriting and directorial work includes short films and feature films. My film and television work includes national and international commercials, supporting roles in feature films such as Union Bound, short films such as Carbon Neutral Pig, and a co-starring role in the Emmy award winning Hulu miniseries, Dopesick. I am also a brand ambassador for organic skincare and makeup brands, founder of 12 Gems Jewelry and host of the weekly podcast Life & Art with Nicole.

I am proud of my novel, which I wrote when I was in my early 20’s and chronicles the story of a young woman on a path towards self-realization. I am also proud of my role in the play Un-Shame On You, which followed the stories of three women and their own struggles. I feel honored that I was able to touch and inspire so many audience members through that performance. My screenwriting and directorial work are also a huge source of joy for me because I love watching what I’ve written come to life on the screen.

My podcast is my current passion, which I am using to discuss topics related to life, creativity and spirituality.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

As a society, we must recognize that artists and creatives literally build the world. From architecture such as buildings, roads, bridges and dams, to literature and books, painting, music, movies, designing cars, clothes, shoes, radio, commercials and advertising, etc. etc. etc. I have also noticed that, although society consumes art (music, television, movies, books), just as much if not more than we consume food, we don’t pay the artists nearly enough for the value they provide. Unless the artist of his/her particular field is at the very top, it is very difficult to have financial stability and many artists have to maintain two more more sources of income to put food on the table for their families. Yet businessmen and women, lawyers and politicians (who work an equal amount of time – sometimes less than the average actor on set) get paid significantly more than the person who is providing a means of entertainment for them when they home from work. This is exactly why writers and actors went on strike this year. Unfortunately, society won’t actually get to appreciate the contribution we actors and writers bring because content is oversaturated these days, which means no one will truly feel the effects of us going on strike, but it has caused a shift in the way production companies view talent, and it forces them to not take artists for granted anymore. I think every creative industry should follow suit and go on strike if they are not being valued properly. If society can understand what it would be like without artists then the appreciation for us would be that much greater.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes! The recent strikes as I just mentioned. When the writers strike started, most of my auditions halted and when the actors strike started there was no work at all. You learn quickly in this business that when one source of income stops you have to find it somewhere else so I started to look for work elsewhere. I was able to find a steady work from home job that I like and will be able to do once the film industry picks up again, but knowing how to pivot is crucial in this line of work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nicoleburgessmarsh.com
• Instagram: @nicolebmarsh
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleBurgessOfficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nicolebmarsh
• Other: Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UwKmNUO7fUhoKQE7LtS19

Image Credits
Chris Charles