Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela DiMarco.

Angela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

I was born and raised in Seattle Washington by my mom who was widowed right before I was born. My whole family, on both sides, helped raise me as my mom worked several jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. Then my Momo came into our life, my mom found a life partner and I was blessed with the two best moms ever.

One thing was very clear, at a very young age, I LOVED to entertain. There was no better feeling than making my mom laugh. I also was constantly performing for my Great Grandmother and my Grandparents. And just like they say in Hollywood, sometimes an actor might get “discovered”, and I kinda was.

I was only 7 years old and doing one of my many impressions, this time it was Robin Leach (The Life styles of the Rich and Famous). My mom and I were walking through a small shop and the young woman working there asked my mom “have you ever thought of signing your daughter with an agent?”. Later that week we meant with Dee, my very first Talent Agent who would later get me several audition opportunities from booking national commercials to my first feature film (Waiting for the Light with Shirley MacLaine).

40 years later I am still acting on stage, in films, on TV, doing voiceovers and am the proud co-founder of Mighty Tripod Productions and Mighty Tripod Acting Studio. Both companies are run by Me and my husband, David S. Hogan. We have been teaching acting for the camera to actors of all ages for the past 13 years. And our production company has produced over two dozen short films and three feature films. I truly believe all of the above was possible because my mom was and continues to be the most supportive force in my life. She is always reminding me to believe in myself, that I am enough and I am MIGHTY. She also taught me not to depend on others to provide my creative path. So I have been making my own path and helping empower other artists do the same.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Life is never easy all the time. And as an artist, I feel every trauma in your life or in your surroundings, changes you and so your Art also changes. I learned to work for what I want and that nothing is just handed to you. I was bullied a lot as a kid and teenager, which taught me resilience, although I never did get a thick skin. As an adult, anytime I am bullied, betrayed or someone disrespects me, that little bullied girl surfaces every time. BUT I am still here and I now have so many students that I want to show them “how to get back up” and make they know “you are enough and you are mighty”.

One of the biggest struggles I have faced was losing three babies, which was some of the most painful years of my life. My mom and my incredible husband helped pull me from the darkness. I soon found myself spilling my pain into my Art because I embraced that life is never easy all the time.

My directorial debut was a short film called Always, dedicated to our son Caleb. It was about a couple losing a child and the ways different partners grieve. Some of my closest friends at the time, helped us make the film possible. It went on to premiere in SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) and had an international premiere in CANNES short film corner in 2016. KUOW also reached out to me and Bill Radke interviewed me about the film.

That was truly an eye opening experience about how Art can Heal yourself and others. I had hundreds of strangers, my friends and some family members reach out to me and thank me for talking about something many don’t, miscarriages. (interview here: https://www.kuow.org/stories/siff-film-always-captures-directors-journey-after-losing-child/).

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I am an actor, director, filmmaker, mentor and acting teacher. When it comes to acting, there is nothing like being on stage. I love having a live audience and hearing them react as the story unfolds. I don’t have a preference on comedy versus drama but I would say comedy is my speciality. I studied Comedy Del Arte in the BFA program I was a part of and still love making others laugh.

When I started doing more film and TV, the types of roles I was cast in were very different than the ones on stage. Whether it’s an over the top comedic role or an edgy badass role, I’m grateful to each opportunity I’ve been invited to dive into.

I am very proud of each story we’ve told, play, short or feature film. But I am most proud of our Mighty Tripod Acting Studio. Mentoring and teaching artists fills my heart in a way I cannot describe. Our Creative Community often calls me “Mama DiMarco”, a nickname one of our students gave me and it stuck. And I truly do feel like a proud mama when I get to help other actors on their artistic paths.

I have taught hundreds of actors over the past 13 years and continue to teach that “You Are Mighty”. Meaning YOU are enough, that you don’t need someone else to validate you with a role or an award. This industry is a constant state of “rejection”, you audition for a role or submit a film to a festival and often things don’t work out how you hoped. But I feel artists should not feel LESS THAN just because they were not cast in something or their film didn’t win an awards. YOU ARE ENOUGH.

When it comes to being an actor, I have never wanted to be famous. I like my privacy, I like creating in a smaller market and all I have ever wanted was to be a working actor on stage, on screen and voiceovers. Would I turn down a huge role in a major “blockbuster movie”? No, I would accept it with grace and excitement. But when I think about acting and collaborating with others, “FAME” is so far down on my list of things I think about.

Like they say “More Money, More Problems” and especially in this world of social media platforms. I don’t want to worry about followers, I just want to create and share powerful stories. I am also very proud of the stories I have directed and/or produced, as many hit close to home. Always, dedicated to our son we lost in 2016. The Parish, about losing a partner and navigating the world as a single mother, like my mom did. And most recently, A Trapdoor, which I directed with my husband, David. A Trapdoor is written by our dear friend, James James. A Trapdoor it based on real experiences of addiction, loss and trauma. A Trapdoor is currently being submitted to festivals for 2025.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?

Follow someone’s work, watch them perform, watch interviews, check out different studios, audit classes and find someone who will challenge you. Then ask them to mentor you or see if they need an assistant or help with a project. Not everyone mentors, so don’t be offended if some folks say no. And there are so many great books out that can be an Art and Life Saver.

Some of my faves…
Acting from the Spiritual by Kathryn Marie Bild
The Creative Act: A Way of Being Rick Rubin
The Power of NOW
Eckhart Tolle

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MightyTripod.com
• Instagram: @ImAngelaDiMarco
• Facebook: Angela DiMarco
• Other: ATrapdoorMovie.Com (our current short film going into festivals in 2025)