Or Die Trying executive producers Sarah Hawkins and Myah Hollis caught up with actress Mary Claire Garcia to talk about her experience playing Alex Rivera in ODT Season 1.
ODT: Where are you from?
Mary Claire Garcia: Los Angeles, born and raised.
ODT: What character do you play in Or Die Trying?
MCG: Alex Rivera
ODT: What made you want to pursue acting?
MCG: I remember spending my formative years as a young girl in the wings of theaters with my mother a costumer, and my brother an actor. I was baptized in the collective and collaborative effort of curating story, especially in witnessing an actor's ability to suspend my disbelief and raise my own imagination to new heights. I fell in love with the act of storytelling then, and have intrinsically been a story seeker ever since.
ODT: What first drew you to this series?
MCG: The women. Sisterhood in the industry is instrumental to our voices being equally heard and respected. Then, the story. Myah captured highly relevant moments—which I've similarly witnessed with friends or within my own life—with fervor, tenderness and nuance. It's been a joy to meet, discuss and collaborate with some of the strongest talent in today's industry.
ODT: Without giving too much away, what do you relate to most with your character?
MCG: The fire. Alex has a giving heart that is dynamically balanced with her no-BS demeanor. It's helped her get where she is today.
ODT: What was it like to work on a set with a predominately female crew?
MCG: A breath of fresh air. The women provided a sense of jovial ease and pristine skill on set that was palpable and contagious.
ODT: What do you think is the best way for the industry to go about closing the gender gap?
MCG: Keep creating. Reveal the unseen stories; and, most importantly, support one another. A new friend of mine, Liz Manashil, once wrote in an Indiewire article, "Even though it sometimes feels like it we’re not all fighting for the same slices of pie, we need to all work together to make the pie bigger... Let's make that pie huge."
ODT: What other projects are you working on?
MCG: Currently creating and writing a new play with fellow CalArts alums.
ODT: Where can people find you?
MCG: Stay up to date @maryclairegarcia on IG, @gmaryclaire on Twitter, and page Mary Claire Garcia on FB. www.maryclairegarcia.com
