Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Burgess Marsh.
Hi Nicole, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am an actor, author, screenwriter, and creative director. I started on the stage when I was very young, performing in plays and musicals such as Oklahoma, Pocahontas, and Alladin. In high school, I did the choreography for and performed in the musicals Grease and West Side Story, for which I received local recognition. I graduated from Meredith College with a BA in French. There, I directed and acted in the French play La Cantratrice Chauve. In 2011, I self-published a novel, Ingrid Darling, and a short story, Vérité. Since then, I have performed in stage plays such as Office Girls and Un-Shame On You, among others, written screenplays, and directed in short films and feature films. My film and television work includes national and international commercials, supporting roles in features films such as Union Bound and But Deliver Us From Evil, 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, jewelry designer, and host of the weekly podcast Life & Art with Nicole.
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 road has definitely not been smooth. All artists face challenges in pursuing a career in art, whether that is financial difficulties, facing constant rejection in the audition process, maintaining a balance between passion and livelihood, or dealing with judgment and criticism from family and audiences. I am fortunate to have an amazing circle of friends, many of whom are also pursuing their artistic passions, and family that I can lean on for support when needed; however, that is not the case for the majority of creative people. The current society is not designed for artists, actors, or writers to be able to create act, or write without having a second or third source of income to support themselves. This is why a lot of the time, artists have to either give up their passion in favor of feeding their families or opt to remain a “starving artist” forever. It helps to know people in these respective industries, whether that is family connections or being born into wealth, because when you don’t or aren’t, the struggle is that much harder to get that lead role produce that film project, or get that novel published.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As I mentioned, I self-published a novel, Ingrid Darling, as well as the short story, Vérité. My novel is semi-autobiographical and follows a young woman on a journey of self-discovery. I’ve gotten many positive reviews from it, and I am very proud of it, especially since I wrote it when I was in my early 20s, in the midst of my own personal growth.
I am also proud of my role in the play Un-Shame On You, which followed the story of three women and their own struggles. My character faced challenges of domestic violence and shone a light on the issues that women go through in that kind of relationship. 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. Likewise, I love transforming into a character for the stage or screen and telling impactful stories to audiences around the country and the world. Thus, being part of the cast of Dopesick was particularly impactful for me since the story exposes the underbelly of the pharmaceutical industry. I am probably most known for the small role I had in the series.
I am currently using my podcast to discuss topics such as books, art, acting, music, television, and film, and I think that combined with my experience in the different artistic fields, sets me apart from others.
What’s next?
I plan to continue growing my podcast continue writing, and collaborating on creative projects. I’m looking forward to fun collaborations and developing myself as a true creative in this world.
Contact Info:
- Website: nicoleburgessmarsh.com
- Instagram: @nicolebmarsh
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/NicoleBurgessOfficial
- Youtube: @nicolebmarsh
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-and-art-with-nicole/id1696147070
Image Credits
UnShame On You
Carbon Neutral Pig
