From Lawyer to Rising Hollywood Star
What happens when a law school mock trial reveals you’re living the wrong story? For actress Marie Wetherell, that single moment of clarity changed everything. Instead of arguing cases, she realized she wanted to become the powerful female characters she admired on screen—and she’s already proving she belongs there. She became a lawyer but went for the silver screen.
Marie’s breakout role came in Taylor Sheridan’s hit series 1923—the prequel to Yellowstone—where she portrayed the unforgettable Tarred and Feathered Woman. Now her career is accelerating with Croatoan, a psychological thriller inspired by the real-life mystery of the lost Roanoke colony. In the film, Marie plays Mary, the ex-wife of Dean Richardson, portrayed and directed by Britt Bankhead. Marie also landed the lead in a post-apocalyptic thriller called Run that is coming out in 2026.
Her passion for performance didn’t appear overnight. As a young woman inspired by Nicole Kidman’s performance in The Interpreter and Jessica Chastain’s fierce role in Zero Dark Thirty, Marie followed parallel paths—Model U.N., law school, and even lobbying at the Idaho Statehouse. With a prominent political family behind her, a legal career seemed like destiny… but the screen is where she finally discovered her voice.
In this inspiring Women Road Warriors interview with Shelley Johnson and Kathy Tuccaro, Marie shares why acting is both a deeply personal journey and a team sport, how every audition becomes an opportunity for growth, and what it truly takes to reinvent your life’s direction. Her story is a reminder that clarity can strike in an instant—and when it does, it’s never too late to pivot toward your passion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmn1D6um60Y
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Transcript
This is Women Road warriors with Shelly Johnson and Kathy Tucaro.
Speaker A:From the corporate office to the cab of a truck, they're here to inspire and empower women in all professions.
Speaker A:So gear down, sit back, and enjoy.
Speaker B:Welcome.
Speaker B:We're an award winning show dedicated to empowering women in every profession that through inspiring stories and expert insights, no topics off limits.
Speaker B:On our show, we power women on the road to success with expert and celebrity interviews and information you need.
Speaker B:I'm Shelley.
Speaker C:And I'm Kathy.
Speaker B:Imagine going to law school and during a mock trial, realizing you'd missed your calling.
Speaker B:You really wanted to act.
Speaker B:That's exactly what Marie Weatherill realized.
Speaker B:As she attended the University of Idaho College of Law.
Speaker B:She decided she wanted to play strong female characters in the movies.
Speaker B: ed woman in Taylor Sheridan's: Speaker B:Weatherell's projects have also included the film Croatoan, a thriller centered around the mysterious historical disappearance of the Roanoke colonists.
Speaker B:Marie plays Mary, the ex wife of Dean Richardson, played by Brit Bankhead in a film directed by Britt Bankhead.
Speaker B:Marie's passion for acting is deeply rooted in her fascination with strong female characters.
Speaker B:Inspired by Nicole Kidman's performance in the Interpreter and Jessica Chastain's portrayal in Zero Dark Thirty, Marie initially pursued careers related to those roles, which included participating in model United nations, earning a law degree, and lobbying at the Idaho State House.
Speaker B:Marie comes from a prominent political family in Idaho whose influence was part of why she decided to go to law school.
Speaker B:We have Marie on the show with us to learn more about her trajectory.
Speaker B:Welcome, Marie.
Speaker B:Thank you so much for being on the show with us.
Speaker D:Thank you for having me.
Speaker D:I'm happy to be here.
Speaker C:I'm just gonna say wow.
Speaker C:I'm speechless.
Speaker D:Just wow.
Speaker D:Oh, thank you.
Speaker E:Yeah.
Speaker E:Marie, you really are amazing.
Speaker E:Your career definitely took a total pivot.
Speaker E:Not something you normally hear about.
Speaker E:If you wouldn't mind, you could tell us more.
Speaker E:Did you like theater when you were.
Speaker B:A child or was this something that was just an aha moment to you?
Speaker D:You know, I grew up going to the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.
Speaker D:My parents were very involved, but I was so shy growing up that, you know, there was no way I was gonna get up on stage and act in front of, you know, hundreds of eyes.
Speaker D:So for me, working behind the lens or in front of the lens was.
Speaker D:It just felt a little bit safer in some ways.
Speaker D:So I really started this journey with modeling and commercial work, which led into film and television.
Speaker D:But I would say I overcame that shyness and really sort of blossomed into who I am today.
Speaker D:In college, in, in law school, much later in life.
Speaker E:Well, for being shy, becoming an attorney and participating in trial law and all.
Speaker B:Of that, that had to have been a challenge.
Speaker D:Yeah, it was.
Speaker D:You know, my, my dad's a great mentor, He's a trial attorney, so I've learned a lot from him.
Speaker D:But it is.
Speaker D:You are kind of on stage in a trial.
Speaker D:You know, as an attorney, you're playing to the jury, which really is your audience.
Speaker B:How hard is that to do?
Speaker D:Being a lawyer?
Speaker E:Yeah, and playing to the jury, I mean, you don't know really what to expect sometimes.
Speaker D:Yeah, it's definitely a skill set.
Speaker D:Even picking a jury, you know, you win your case by selecting a jury in voirdier and that's really a great skill set to have.
Speaker D:Um, just with the questions you ask people and you know, really figure out who they are and if they can be non biased and really look at the evidence presented in court and come to a, you know, unbiased, unprejudiced opinion.
Speaker E:Sure, that's hard to deal with human beings.
Speaker E:And being in a courtroom, you've got.
Speaker B:A lot of pressure.
Speaker E:You have to know the law and you have to make your case and you have to do it well.
Speaker E:And of course, when you're watching TV law, like Law and Order or anything like that, you know, it seems like the attorneys just have everything sewed together.
Speaker B:Does that take a while to do?
Speaker D:It does.
Speaker D:And I don't even necessarily know if you really have it all together when you go to trial because so many things happen that you just sort of have to be prepared for the unexpected.
Speaker D:But yeah, knowing the law, knowing your case, knowing, you know, we do defense work, so knowing the plaintiff's case and kind of have an idea of what they're trying to prove.
Speaker E:So sure.
Speaker E:Yeah, I would think that would have given you really good prep.
Speaker E:Being in front of the camera, there's.
Speaker B:A lot of pressure.
Speaker E:But being an attorney and defending your.
Speaker B:Client, that is a horrible, a whole lot of pressure.
Speaker E:Because if you don't do it right, they could go to prison.
Speaker D:Yes, thankfully we don't do criminal work.
Speaker E:Oh, okay.
Speaker D:Yeah, we've mainly we just use civil work.
Speaker D:I, yeah, I commend people that are criminal defense attorneys or prosecutors.
Speaker D:That's very hard job.
Speaker D:But even civilly, I mean, it is hard when you're dealing with other people's lives, other people's money is, you know, real world consequences.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah.
Speaker D:And I, I transitioned to film because it's pretend.
Speaker D:Right.
Speaker D:I don't have to have that kind of pressure on myself.
Speaker D:It's another form of pressure.
Speaker B:Sure.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E:But I would think that gave you a good prep, if you will.
Speaker E:You'd been able to weather the storm in other positions where you had to perform really well and think on your feet.
Speaker E:And there's a lot of that that goes into the movies, doesn't it?
Speaker D:Oh, yes.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:I developed a great worth work ethic in law school.
Speaker D:And just being a lawyer and the pressure of that business, you know, is very akin to the film industry.
Speaker D:You know, when it comes down to it, it's.
Speaker D:It's a business and people are there to make a return.
Speaker B:Sure.
Speaker D:We're also there to entertain, but, you know, we want to continue to make movies.
Speaker D:Oh, yeah.
Speaker D:It has to be successful at the end of the day.
Speaker E:Well, you have to.
Speaker E:You have so many different elements.
Speaker E:You've got the people that you have to act with, the fellow actors and everything.
Speaker E:And then you have to follow the directive of the director and you want to please the director.
Speaker E:And sometimes, I would imagine, as actors and actresses encounter.
Speaker E:Sometimes directors can be pretty tough.
Speaker D:Yeah, they can be.
Speaker D:You know, if they have a vision, you know, it's your job as an actor to execute that vision to the best of your abilities.
Speaker D:And, you know, thankfully, I've never had an issue with, you know, a bad director at all.
Speaker D:I've always worked with wonderful people.
Speaker D:But I, I could imagine if you didn't get along with the director, that would, that would be challenging on set.
Speaker E:It would.
Speaker E:And you hear stories about that or you read them anyway, Hollywood magazines and everything.
Speaker E:So where did you start?
Speaker E:You said you started modeling.
Speaker E:Was that your entry point?
Speaker D:Yes, yes, it was.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E:So where would our listeners have seen you?
Speaker E:Were you on any covers of major magazines or in any particular commercials or.
Speaker D:I've done, I've done quite a few commercials, but no, modeling was.
Speaker D:I never, you know, made it big as a model.
Speaker D:I did the local modeling within my region, so mainly Idaho, Utah, the Pacific Northwest.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:And local commercials there, a few national spots.
Speaker D:But really my career sort of took off when I moved to Texas.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:Did you take acting classes?
Speaker D:I did, yeah.
Speaker D:Right when I.
Speaker D:Literally right when I graduated law school, I enrolled in acting classes.
Speaker E:Okay.
Speaker D:And I've been taking them ever since.
Speaker C:Oh, you still do?
Speaker D:Yeah, I train weekly with Lar Park Lincoln.
Speaker D:She is my coach.
Speaker D:She's an actress.
Speaker D:She was in the Friday the 13th series, Knots Landing.
Speaker D:Oh, Nate.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:So I've.
Speaker D:I've been training with her every week for four years, literally since I moved to Texas.
Speaker D:I just, I think you constantly grow as an actor and there's never enough you can learn.
Speaker E:Oh, absolutely.
Speaker C:That kind of reminds me, I listened to a podcast, well, Howard Stern the other night, and he was interviewing Jon Bon Jovi.
Speaker C:And even though John is, however, old now and he works in his restaurant and he washes dishes from Monday to Friday, nine to five, that's what he does.
Speaker C:But he still takes singing lessons still to this day, even though as big as he is and all this stuff, he says no, there's always something more to learn and you got to keep working on yourself and not let your ego think that you have it all.
Speaker D:Right.
Speaker D:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker C:So I thought that was pretty impressive.
Speaker D:It is.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:I 100% agree with that.
Speaker A:Stay tuned for more of Women Road warriors coming up.
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Speaker A:Welcome back to Women Road warriors with Shelly Johnson and Kathy Tuccaro.
Speaker B:If you're enjoying this informative episode of Women Road Warriors, I wanted to mention Kathy and I explore all kinds of topics that will power you on the road to success.
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Speaker B:Imagine sitting in a law school mock trial and suddenly realizing you're in the wrong story.
Speaker B:That spark, that moment of clarity, set Marie Weatherell on an entirely different path.
Speaker B:Instead of arguing cases, she wanted to be the strong female characters that she admired on screen.
Speaker B:And she's already making waves.
Speaker B: ed woman In Taylor Sheridan's: Speaker B:And her momentum isn't slowing down.
Speaker B:Marie stars in Croatoan, a psychological thriller rooted in the real life mystery of the lost Roanoke colony.
Speaker B:She plays Mary, the ex wife of Dean Richardson, portrayed by Brit Bankhead, who also directs the film.
Speaker B:Marie's passion for acting runs deep.
Speaker B:Inspired by Nicole Kidman in the Interpreter and Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty, she once pursued careers connected to those roles.
Speaker B:Model U.N. a law degree, and even lobbying at the Idaho State House.
Speaker B:Coming from a prominent political family, law seemed natural.
Speaker B:But the screen is where she found her voice.
Speaker B:And she'll tell you, every audition is growth, every role is collaboration, and acting is a team sport with a deeply personal journey.
Speaker B:Kathy and I are learning a ton.
Speaker B:Marie, in our last segment, you were talking about constantly training for your roles.
Speaker E:So what did you learn when you started taking acting lessons?
Speaker E:Certainly it's quite the pivot from being a lawyer.
Speaker B:What was it that really had you grow?
Speaker E:Because, I mean, you've made some tremendous progress here.
Speaker D:Thank you.
Speaker D:You know, I would say first and foremost was being able to emotionally open up and be vulnerable.
Speaker D:You know, being a lawyer, you have walls, and I, you know, compartmentalize my life a little bit.
Speaker D:You know, when I do legal stuff, I put on that hat.
Speaker D:When I do acting stuff, I put on that hat.
Speaker D:It crosses over here and there.
Speaker D:But really the main thing for me was just surrendering and, you know, you, you can't be embarrassed.
Speaker D:I've learned that everybody on set is there to make a movie or a good series.
Speaker D:Nobody is judging you.
Speaker D:You know, you're all there for the same reason.
Speaker D:So you just to be completely open and free in your character, really, I think, is what I learned.
Speaker D:First and foremost.
Speaker B:That's a tough one.
Speaker E:And I applaud you from going from having to have your walls up to having your walls taken down and being vulnerable.
Speaker E:That had to been Difficult to make that transition.
Speaker E:And certainly when you're on the set, you have to follow the director's calls on what he wants, he or she wants.
Speaker E:But the interpretation, I'm sure that they.
Speaker B:Want to see that in a performer.
Speaker E:The interpretation that they can bring to a particular role.
Speaker D:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker D:I mean, I'm sure they have an idea, you know, directors, what they're looking for.
Speaker D:But if you bring something a little special or something a little different that maybe they hadn't thought of, that's what makes you really stand out as an actor.
Speaker D:Just bringing it up a notch.
Speaker D:Right.
Speaker D:See?
Speaker D:Staying true to the story, but giving it a little bit more.
Speaker E: tarred and feathered woman in: Speaker E:That's pretty incredible.
Speaker D:It was amazing.
Speaker D:Yeah, I was on set for one day.
Speaker D:I wish it was longer, but it was an amazing role, an incredible set, you know, great cast, great director.
Speaker D:I would love to do more.
Speaker E:Well, the whole series with Taylor Sheridan and the prequel to Yellowstone, was it a little daunting?
Speaker E:Because, I mean, you're dealing with some major actors.
Speaker D:It was.
Speaker D:I mean, it is and it isn't.
Speaker D:When you get to set, you realize, you know, they're actors just like you.
Speaker D:They might have more credits to their name and have been doing it a lot longer, but everyone is just so incredibly kind and welcoming that it's just a job at the end of the day, and everybody's there to do a good job.
Speaker E:Sure.
Speaker E:How do you handle auditions?
Speaker E:Because I've been a performer, and auditions, ah, they can be grueling.
Speaker D:They are.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:It's kind of one of those things where you've just.
Speaker D:You get your sides, you do the audition.
Speaker D:I try and give myself no more than five takes max when I do auditions, because you can kind of get into the mindset of, you know, it's gotta be perfect.
Speaker D:I've gotta get this right.
Speaker D:If I fumble here, I've gotta redo it.
Speaker D:But I think it loses the authenticity and spontaneity when you do it over and over and over again.
Speaker D:Um, so I. I limit myself with how many takes I do, and then, you know, I send it in.
Speaker D:And you've kind of just have to forget about it to an extent and just move on and keep auditioning for other projects.
Speaker D:And if you get a callback or if you book it, wonderful.
Speaker D:But you.
Speaker D:I can't dwell on it.
Speaker D:And I always tell myself, you know, the role that I'm auditioning for, it might not be the role that they have in mind for me.
Speaker D:So you're never really auditioning for the role that you're going for.
Speaker D:There's so much, so many roles.
Speaker D:They've got a cast in projects, and I just try and make a good impression every time.
Speaker D:So casting directors remember me, you know, I always.
Speaker D:I want to have great relationships with casting directors and even directors and producers.
Speaker D:If it's not this project, it might be a next one, Right?
Speaker E:Yep.
Speaker E:So, basically, you never want to close the door on any opportunity because you never know what might come around the next bend.
Speaker D:Right, Right.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:Never close doors, always, you know, keep them ajar, follow up.
Speaker D:I, you know, try and stay in contact with people that I've auditioned for, actors I've worked with, casting directors, producers.
Speaker D:Just keep.
Speaker D:Keep your network, market yourself, because you are your own business.
Speaker E:That's where I think that you, having been a lawyer, probably helps with some of the.
Speaker E:That kind of philosophy.
Speaker B:You.
Speaker E:You have a more businesslike approach to what you're doing.
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker D:Yes, I do.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:It.
Speaker D:It really is a business.
Speaker D:I send, you know, postcards out every so many months or, you know, emails, following up with people.
Speaker D:Instagram is a huge contact for me, where I reach out to people or share things to just constantly stay in people's minds and I think is important.
Speaker E:Top of mind.
Speaker E:That's.
Speaker E:Well, you know, when you think about it, they see so many people and so many pretty faces.
Speaker E:It's like, what do you do to stand out?
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E:But it sounds like you've been able.
Speaker B:To do this, and you have another movie this year that's pretty cool.
Speaker B:It's called Croatoan.
Speaker B:And it's a thriller.
Speaker D:Yes, Croatoan, A horror thriller.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:It's loosely based on the lost colony of Roanoke, and just the mystery surrounding that and how it, you know, continued into present day, I guess, with the.
Speaker D:With the film that we did.
Speaker B:So what is the backstory on Roanoke?
Speaker B:Some people may not be familiar with the colony.
Speaker B:What happened to it?
Speaker D:They.
Speaker D:They disappeared.
Speaker D:I. I honestly don't know.
Speaker D:I.
Speaker D:There's talk of maybe there was, you know, famine, whether they moved to a different location, if there was a massacre, potentially.
Speaker D:But they've never found any bones, so.
Speaker E:Wow.
Speaker D:Literally this whole colony just vanished.
Speaker C:Maybe the aliens took them to another planet.
Speaker E:Yeah, aliens.
Speaker D:I know.
Speaker D:I feel like Stephen King did a book or a movie on it.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker D:Gladly.
Speaker D:Remember?
Speaker D:Sounds.
Speaker E:Sounds like something he write.
Speaker B:No doubt.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E: o is this based in, what, the: Speaker D:It's present Day, present day.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:So just how that mystery has followed that area.
Speaker E:So you play Mary, the ex wife of Dean Richardson played by Britt Bankhead.
Speaker B:What's Mary like?
Speaker D:Mary is a loving mother and a little later in the film, maybe not so much, but I'm not gonna give it away.
Speaker E:Ooh, a little bit of a character shift there.
Speaker E:Okay.
Speaker D:Just a little bit.
Speaker E:That had to been fun to play.
Speaker E:You go from one type of a character to another type of a character.
Speaker D:Yes, Yes.
Speaker D:I love it.
Speaker D:I love making horror films.
Speaker D:They're so much fun.
Speaker A:Stay tuned for more of Women Road warriors.
Speaker A:Coming up.
Speaker F:Dean Michael, the tax doctor here.
Speaker F:I have one question for you.
Speaker F:Do you want to stop worrying about the irs?
Speaker F:If the answer is yes, then look no further.
Speaker F:I've been around for years.
Speaker F:I've helped countless people across the country, and my success rate speaks for itself.
Speaker F:So now you know where to find good, honest help with your tax problems.
Speaker F:What are you waiting for?
Speaker F: -: Speaker B:Industry Movement Trucking moves America Forward is.
Speaker E:Telling the story of the industry.
Speaker B:Our safety champions, the women of trucking, independent contractors, the next generation of truckers, and more Help us promote the best of our industry.
Speaker B:Share your story and what you love about trucking.
Speaker B:Share images of a moment you're proud of and join us on social media.
Speaker B:Learn more at truckingmovesamerica.com.
Speaker A:Welcome back to Women Road warriors with Shelly Johnson and Kathy Tucaro.
Speaker B:Picture this.
Speaker B:You're deep into law school, briefs piled high, mock trials underway.
Speaker B:And instead of feeling inspired, you feel a pull towards something completely different.
Speaker B:That's exactly what happened to Marie Weatherell.
Speaker B:In the middle of crafting legal arguments, she realized her true passion wasn't in the courtroom, it was in front of the camera.
Speaker B:And she's already proving she made the right choice.
Speaker B: appeared in Taylor Sheridan's: Speaker B:Her next big leap?
Speaker B:A starring role in Croatoan, a thriller built around the chilling disappearance of the Roanoke settlers.
Speaker B:She plays Mary opposite Britt Bankhead, who also directs the film.
Speaker B: lled Run that's coming out in: Speaker B:So that's going to be exciting.
Speaker B:Marie's journey has been fueled by her fascination with fierce, complex women.
Speaker B:Women like Nicole Kidman's Diplomat and the Interpreter.
Speaker B:Those performances shaped her early ambitions, leading her through Model UN lobbying and law school.
Speaker B:Before she trusted her instinct to shift into acting.
Speaker B:And now she's all in embracing every audition, every challenge, and every chance to grow.
Speaker E:Marie, what are your favorite roles?
Speaker B:I mean, how many have you had so far?
Speaker D:Oh, my gosh, I, I've had maybe between 15 and 20.
Speaker D:Gosh, I don't know off the top of my head.
Speaker D:Um, but I've, I've really fell into the horror.
Speaker D:Horror genre when I started and I continue doing that as well now.
Speaker D:But I love, I would love to make, you know, a Hallmark Christmas movie or a western and just sort of bring that other side of me out.
Speaker E:Sure.
Speaker D:And also a political action packed thriller or something like that.
Speaker D:You know, along the lines of Zero Dark Thirty or Sicario.
Speaker D:Yeah, all of those, those great movies and shows.
Speaker D:Gosh, even House of Cards.
Speaker D:I loved that show as well.
Speaker D:Oh, yeah.
Speaker E:Oh, absolutely.
Speaker D:Mm.
Speaker E:And you don't wanna be typecast?
Speaker D:No, no.
Speaker D:So I always try and do projects that I haven't done before.
Speaker D:I haven't tried that character side of myself.
Speaker D:I'd like to challenge myself.
Speaker E:How do you prepare for that kind of broad reach, if you will, to be able to be different characters?
Speaker E:Is this something you learn with your acting coach?
Speaker E:You just say, okay, I want to be able to do this genre or let's work on this so that you're able to bring that out?
Speaker D:Yeah, a little bit.
Speaker D:When we, when we first sat down and talked about her training me and everything, she has a very great method of saying, okay, let's look at your look.
Speaker D:And what, what does your look portray just right now?
Speaker D:Like, what are the roles that you typically get cast for or called into audition for?
Speaker D:And we sort of break it down like that at the beginning.
Speaker D:So to build your resume and then once you've got a little bit more behind you start going for the roles that maybe casting wouldn't necessarily look at you for.
Speaker D:Like, for me, I have the, you know, witch, vampire, mean girl type of base, I guess.
Speaker D:So I constantly get called in for those auditions.
Speaker D:But playing the softer side, the best friend or the romantic lead, I would love to do something like that.
Speaker D:So I, I might soften my appearance in some regards or mannerisms.
Speaker D:I think movement helps as well.
Speaker B:Sure.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E:You have to be always very much aware of yourself and I think maybe that's part of what acting brings out.
Speaker E:Because people do things naturally.
Speaker E:They're not aware of what they're doing necessarily.
Speaker E:But you always have to be very much aware, especially when you're on camera.
Speaker D:Oh, yes.
Speaker D:Every movement has to have a reason.
Speaker D:It has to have a purpose.
Speaker D:You can't just flail around for no reason.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:So it's a fine balance between being present in the moment and natural, but also being completely in control of what you're doing.
Speaker E:Constantly thinking.
Speaker E:Now, when you're on set, do they have teleprompters?
Speaker E:I'm sure our listeners would wonder how this works.
Speaker E:Do you have to memorize a lot of the script or do you have something you can look at?
Speaker D:No, I memorize the whole thing.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:I mean, I know some actors use cue cards.
Speaker D:Teleprompters would.
Speaker D:Those would be more, I believe in like a commercial setting.
Speaker D:A commercial or broadcast.
Speaker D:But film, television.
Speaker D:No, you memorize everything.
Speaker B:That's a lot if you have a big role.
Speaker D:Oh, yeah.
Speaker D:It can be quite a lot because you kind of also have to memorize the other characters lines as well.
Speaker D:So you know when to come in your cue words and you just have to know the scene.
Speaker D:But thankfully, I mean, on bigger budget shows, you're not filming 12, 20 pages a day.
Speaker D:It's going to be a few scenes here and there.
Speaker D:So it's not like you're memorizing 20 pages of dialogue.
Speaker E:Sure.
Speaker E:Not like you're on stage in theater where you have to know about things, Right?
Speaker D:Yeah, no, very different.
Speaker E:And depending on the role because you're interacting with other people and it's interesting.
Speaker E:It's probably easier to memorize because.
Speaker E:Versus some really dry topic like law.
Speaker E:Can you imagine memorizing a script for law?
Speaker D:I know they try and make it interesting.
Speaker D:Throwing in.
Speaker D:Throwing in some big legal words.
Speaker D:Some Latin.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E:People be sitting there saying, what did she just say?
Speaker D:What was that?
Speaker D:That's why writing is so important.
Speaker D:You know, if you're a good writer, it's pretty easy to memorize good writing.
Speaker D:Like Taylor Sheridan.
Speaker D:He's an amazing writer.
Speaker D:So it's very easy to, you know, memorize.
Speaker D:Be totally prepared for his programs.
Speaker B:He's relatable.
Speaker D:Mm.
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker D:And it just.
Speaker D:It flows.
Speaker D:The dialogue just naturally flows.
Speaker A:Mm.
Speaker E:What do you see is your next goal?
Speaker E:Because you've.
Speaker E:You've done some pretty prominent roles here.
Speaker D:Thank you.
Speaker D:I would love to be on a series from beginning to end, whether it's a long series or, you know, a limited series.
Speaker D:I just think being a part of a project for you Know, three to six months would be really incredible.
Speaker B:Plus, you get to know the cast really well.
Speaker D:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker D:They become a little family and you can learn.
Speaker E:Yeah.
Speaker C:And you probably make lifetime friendships.
Speaker D:Oh, absolutely.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E:Just working with more experienced actors and actresses too.
Speaker E:That has got to be.
Speaker B:I would be a sponge.
Speaker E:I would be observing what they're doing, you know, what a great experience all the time.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:I love watching whenever I can, just the older actors on set.
Speaker D:When I worked on Mosaic, that was the first major set I believe I really had ever been on in Park City.
Speaker D:And just observing and watching Sharon Stone work for a day was invaluable.
Speaker E:Sharon Stone, she's an.
Speaker E:She's an amazing lady.
Speaker D:I know.
Speaker D:I would love to emulate her career.
Speaker E:She's a member of medsa.
Speaker E:I mean, the lady is really, really smart and very talented.
Speaker D:Very.
Speaker B:Uh huh.
Speaker E:So what would you say is your most interesting experience?
Speaker E:And where would you like to have that all day?
Speaker D:I read so many.
Speaker D:Right.
Speaker C:What's your best experience so far?
Speaker D:Oh, my gosh.
Speaker D: Well, working on: Speaker D:It was, it was just such an incredible day.
Speaker D:Gosh.
Speaker D:What else, man?
Speaker D:Every.
Speaker D:I have a. I have a special experience, I would say, on every set and project I've been a part of.
Speaker D:It's hard to pick.
Speaker E:Well, yeah, it's kind of like a pick your favorite child.
Speaker E:That's kind of hard to do.
Speaker D:They're all so unique and different in their own way.
Speaker B:They really are.
Speaker E:Well, I'm looking at all your credits.
Speaker E:I mean, you got a lot.
Speaker E:You've done a lot in the course of just a few years.
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker D:I. I have to remind myself that sometimes, you know, you think, gosh, this is taking forever.
Speaker D: ll time professional actor in: Speaker D: to Texas at the beginning of: Speaker D:So it's been what, four and a half years?
Speaker D:Five years.
Speaker D:That's a short amount of time.
Speaker E:Oh, yeah.
Speaker E:And you bring a lot to the table.
Speaker E:You've got athletics, you're champion golfer, America's cup team, champion swimmer, equestrian, ice skating marksman, yoga, paddleboarding, wake surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, skiing, volleyball, basketball, tennis.
Speaker E:Whoo.
Speaker D:My dad shoved us outside his children, which is a good thing.
Speaker E:Oh, yeah, it is.
Speaker D:I know.
Speaker D:He honestly ripped out every TV in the house one summer and told us to get our butts outside.
Speaker E:That's good.
Speaker E:There are too many kids that sit in front of the TV with their video nowadays.
Speaker C:All the gamers.
Speaker C:Oh, my God.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:We weren't allowed to play video games and we didn't have cable, so I only had channels, what, 2, 9, 12, whatever, 6, 7.
Speaker E:You know, kind of like people 60 years ago.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:Didn't grow up with cable at all.
Speaker E:So would you say that that gave you an advantage, maybe more with your imagination and doing things that are more innovative and really growing as a person?
Speaker D:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker C:Yeah, I would think so too.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:It's healthier, believe it or not.
Speaker D:It is.
Speaker D:And it was sort of.
Speaker C:You look at the kids today and they, they got no social skills.
Speaker C:All they're doing is gaming and videos and their phones and their, Their, Their.
Speaker C:Their iPads or whatever.
Speaker D:It's.
Speaker C:I think it's.
Speaker C:I think it's awful.
Speaker C:I really do.
Speaker D:I notice it in business a little bit with the younger generations.
Speaker D:They're afraid to pick up the phone and call people.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah, that.
Speaker E:That's a good way.
Speaker E:That's a good way to scare them.
Speaker D:It's really.
Speaker D:Call.
Speaker E:What?
Speaker C:I gotta talk to you.
Speaker D:I don't.
Speaker E:I'm not calling.
Speaker D:Why can't I send an email?
Speaker D:And it's like, no, I need you to call them.
Speaker C:You know, it's.
Speaker C:It's really interesting that I'm working with a different department, this set.
Speaker C:And the maintenance boys, there's about 30 of them.
Speaker C:And I'm just like.
Speaker C:I'm an outsider.
Speaker C:I'm just know.
Speaker C:So I go into the toolbox meeting before work, everybody, we just kind of go over what's.
Speaker C:What's the night about?
Speaker C:And before.
Speaker C:As soon as you walk in for the first 20 minutes before the.
Speaker C:The general foreman comes in, nobody talks to each other.
Speaker C:There's 30 grown men, every single one on their phone.
Speaker C:Not a.
Speaker C:Not a peep.
Speaker C:No.
Speaker C:No conversation.
Speaker C:And I wish I would have had my phone and to.
Speaker C:Just to take a picture because I'm like, oh, my God, where is this world going?
Speaker C:Like, not even a.
Speaker C:You walk in, they don't acknowledge you.
Speaker C:No hello?
Speaker C:No.
Speaker C:Like, ah, really?
Speaker E:Oh, yeah.
Speaker E:We've lost our social graces and communication is going out the window.
Speaker D:It really is.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E:So you actually are a step up on that, Maureen.
Speaker E:The fact that you're a performer and you have to communicate and in a different kind of way.
Speaker E:You're relatable and people are drawn into your character.
Speaker E:But then you also know accents like Russian, German, Texan, Australian and American.
Speaker E:All of this, I mean, that requires communication.
Speaker E:And if you didn't know how to talk properly or talk to someone, you.
Speaker B:Wouldn'T be able to do that.
Speaker D:Oh, no, I wouldn't at all.
Speaker D:You're absolutely right.
Speaker D:Yeah, Yeah.
Speaker E:I think it's a lost art.
Speaker D:It is, it is.
Speaker D:I think, you know, maybe we'll see.
Speaker D:Finishing schools come back again.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:How to speak.
Speaker D:How to speak.
Speaker E:And say please and thank you.
Speaker E:That's something that's lacking too.
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Speaker A:Welcome back to Women Road warriors with Shelly Johnson and Kathy Tucaro.
Speaker B:Some people spend years searching for their purpose.
Speaker B:Marie Weatherell discovered hers in a moment of unexpected clarity.
Speaker B:Right in the middle of law school.
Speaker B:While everyone else was sharpening legal strategies, Marie realized she wanted something entirely different.
Speaker B:To bring powerful female characters to life on screen.
Speaker B:And she's doing exactly that.
Speaker B: pearance in Taylor Sheridan's: Speaker B:Now she's stepping into a major role in Croatoan, a suspenseful new film tackling one of America's oldest mysteries, the disappearance of the Roanoke colony.
Speaker B:Marie plays Mary opposite actor director Britt Bankhead.
Speaker B: at's scheduled to come out in: Speaker B:Marie once believed the path to life's impact ran through law and politics, especially growing up in an influential Idaho political family.
Speaker B:But acting called louder.
Speaker B:Today, she sees every audition as a workout.
Speaker B:Every role is a chance to evolve and every set as a team effort.
Speaker B:Marie, where do you want to go from here?
Speaker E:I know that you said you'd like to be on maybe a TV series.
Speaker B:A little bit longer.
Speaker B:Where, where do you see your career headed?
Speaker D:You know, I would love for everyone to know my name.
Speaker D:Like I don't need to be famous, famous, super famous.
Speaker D:Obviously that would be an incredible and amazing, but I would like to be a full time working actor and be able to make a living at this full time.
Speaker D:And it's hard, but that's that's the goal is to truly be a performer, a full time performer.
Speaker E:It's challenging.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E:So you're a working attorney in addition to doing all of the rest of this?
Speaker D:Yes, so I work as a paralegal for my dad's law firm, part time, 100% remote, which allows me to do all of the film and series work.
Speaker E:Well, when you're on set, you're working some long days, so you would have to have some flexibility with what you're doing.
Speaker D:Oh, yeah.
Speaker D:You know, having a flexible day job is invaluable.
Speaker D:There's no way that I would be able to do this and make a living.
Speaker D:I think that's why so many actors, you know, they'll have a job and they book something and then they've got to quit.
Speaker D:But thankfully I'm in a position that I don't have to do that.
Speaker D:My parents fully support me and understand if I book something and have to take off for weeks or months at a time, I just do it.
Speaker E:That's cool to have that kind of flexibility.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E:Do you ever envision yourself to be in a show like Law and Order playing an attorney?
Speaker D:Absolutely.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:That would be amazing.
Speaker E:You've had some really good mentors.
Speaker E:Your uncle Mike Wetherill worked in Washington as chief of staff for Senator Frank Church and he was a fourth district judge in Idaho.
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker E:And your father was a highly regarded civil defense litigation attorney and past president of the Idaho State Bar.
Speaker E:So, I mean, if you had any questions, I'm sure that they could coach you too, right?
Speaker D:Absolutely.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:I have many mentors and contacts that if I had a question about law and politics, I could, I could call.
Speaker E:Because it seems like shows like Law.
Speaker B:And Order, a lot of the attorney shows are still really popular.
Speaker D:They are, yeah.
Speaker D:It's.
Speaker D:It's the drama.
Speaker B:It is the drama.
Speaker E:And then when you actually hire a real life attorney, it's like, how come my real life attorney.
Speaker B:So boring.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker D:I know, I know.
Speaker D:They expect all of us to be so mean and cutthroat, but in the end we're really not, you know, we just, we have a good job.
Speaker B:Well, that's, that's what you want.
Speaker E:Absolutely.
Speaker E:The attorney that's going to get you.
Speaker B:The results you need.
Speaker C:I grew up watching Matlock.
Speaker B:Oh, okay.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:That says my age.
Speaker D:My dad loves, loves watching Rumple, those old shows.
Speaker E:Rumple, the bailiff.
Speaker D:Yeah, yeah, my dad loves that.
Speaker E:And his phrase when he was talking about his, when he is talking about.
Speaker B:His wife, she who must be obeyed.
Speaker D:Oh, my dad says that all the time.
Speaker B:Does he?
Speaker D:About my mom.
Speaker E:That's funny.
Speaker E:So where can people see you?
Speaker D:My work.
Speaker D:There's.
Speaker D:I have some shows on Prime.
Speaker D:Gosh, where else?
Speaker D:I think all of them are on prime by now.
Speaker E:Amazon.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E:And in which shows are those?
Speaker D:I know Ghost Party is on Prime.
Speaker D:Bad Bitch is actually coming out on Prime.
Speaker E:Ooh.
Speaker B:Do you play the lead or likely.
Speaker D:I would say a supporting lead.
Speaker D:I'm a mean girl.
Speaker D:Very nice.
Speaker B:That has to be fun.
Speaker B:I want to be a mean girl just once in.
Speaker B:In the movies.
Speaker D:I know.
Speaker D:I. I kind of.
Speaker D:It's easier to fall into and lean into those characters a little bit because they're so opposite of who I am that.
Speaker D:I don't know.
Speaker D:It just.
Speaker D:It seems easier in a way.
Speaker D:Um, what else is on Prime?
Speaker D:Oh, I think the majority.
Speaker D:The majority of the films on my IMDb art you can find on Amazon prime, whether you can watch for free or rent.
Speaker B:All right.
Speaker E:And people can also check you out at your website, which is mariewetherell.com and that's spelled W E T H E.
Speaker B:R E L L. Mariewetherell.
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker D:All E's.
Speaker B:Well, this is really fascinating.
Speaker E:I think that I really wish you luck, and I'm amazed at your versatility and all the different things you've done.
Speaker D:Thank you.
Speaker D:Thank you.
Speaker D:I appreciate that.
Speaker D:It's been fun.
Speaker E:Yes, absolutely.
Speaker B:Now, are you.
Speaker E:You live in Texas, you said.
Speaker E:Are you shooting a lot of these movies in Hollywood, or are some of the productions being done in Texas?
Speaker D:A lot.
Speaker D:A lot.
Speaker D:I would say the majority of what I have filmed has been in Texas.
Speaker D:Yeah, there's a lot.
Speaker D:There's a lot of work in Texas.
Speaker D:More than people realize.
Speaker E:Yeah, I think a lot of people think that the silver screen, that's Hollywood, but a lot of things are being shot other places.
Speaker E:So is this being shot primarily around Austin or a lot of the productions?
Speaker D:Yeah, it's kind of been all over, I would say, you know, in the Fort Worth area, the DFW Metroplex, and then down in Austin would be the main areas that I have filmed in.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker E:Yeah.
Speaker E:I think producers are spreading across the country.
Speaker E:It adds a new perspective, and I think it's a lot of.
Speaker C:A lot of work in Atlanta, too.
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker D:Yeah, it's.
Speaker D:It's really about, you know, the tax incentives, and I know sb22 just passed in Texas, so hopefully our, you know, film incentive budget will go up to 500 million, and that will really make us a player with film and TV on.
Speaker D:On the Same level as Trump, Georgia.
Speaker D:So I'm, yeah, I'm really hopeful in this next five years that there's going to be a lot of work coming to Texas.
Speaker B:That'd be great.
Speaker D:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker E:Well, it takes a lot to get a production off the ground and costs.
Speaker B:Play a huge role.
Speaker E:And certainly if there are incentives, tax incentives and all of that that the states can offer, it makes sense.
Speaker E:And what a great opportunity for performers.
Speaker D:Oh, yeah, it's, you know, it's so expensive to try and make it in this business as an actor that being able to stay in, you know, a regional market just, it helps cost wise with everything.
Speaker D:And the amount of money that Hollywood brings into Texas, it's just so much.
Speaker D:But you know, right now I really don't, I don't know if I would be able to afford to live in Los Angeles.
Speaker E:That's pricey.
Speaker E:Well, Kathy, he lived in that area.
Speaker E:That was pricey.
Speaker C:Yeah, I just left.
Speaker C:I spent three years there.
Speaker C:It was crazy expensive.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:I now live in Minnesota where it's half, half the cost.
Speaker D:Yeah, I would do a six month on, six month off.
Speaker D:I've got family friends that live out there that let me stay with them anytime I'm filming anything.
Speaker D:But I don't know if I could afford to purchase permanently move there at this time.
Speaker D:That's why it's just so great that they're taking their projects elsewhere.
Speaker E:This gives tremendous opportunities for really talented people to get their feet wet, cut their teeth on something, hone their craft.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:And actors in Texas, we are just as good as actors in la.
Speaker E:That's right, absolutely.
Speaker E:Well, I definitely wish you luck and encourage people to check you out on Amazon prime and of course your website, mariewetherell.com when I first saw your photo.
Speaker B:I'm like, I have seen her before.
Speaker E:I mean, you've got a very recognizable face, which is great.
Speaker D:Thank you.
Speaker D:Thank you.
Speaker B:Well, I'd love to see you as a lawyer on one of the big TV crime shows.
Speaker B:And I can sit back and say.
Speaker E:We talked to her, we had her on our show.
Speaker D:That's right.
Speaker D:That would be amazing.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:Wish you all the best, honestly.
Speaker C:And just up and keep rising up.
Speaker E:Yes.
Speaker E:Before you go, do you have some nuggets for maybe our listeners who are aspiring performers?
Speaker B:What do you recommend?
Speaker E:Because I know that you kind of took a pivot.
Speaker E:Most people don't, but some of the elements are still pretty consistent as to what people need to do.
Speaker D:Yeah, I would say, you know, definitely enroll in some form of acting class.
Speaker D:And, you know, start small and see if you like it.
Speaker D:See if this is something you really want to do, because it's a lot of hard work.
Speaker D:But get involved in your local community, whether it's student films or those 48 hour, you know, competitions, network, meet people and just go out and film, make movies, have fun.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:And just if it is something you truly do want to do and pursue professionally, find a coach or a class that you enjoy.
Speaker D:I would.
Speaker D:That's something I learned.
Speaker D:You know, taking acting classes is kind of like going on dates.
Speaker D:You might not really mesh with the teacher or vibe with the environment.
Speaker D:And there's no, you don't have to stay.
Speaker D:You can try another class or a different coach.
Speaker D:So I learned that and I would definitely recommend that you try many different.
Speaker D:Many different coaches and classes.
Speaker E:Good idea.
Speaker E:Yeah.
Speaker E:You don't always get the right vibe with a coach and I think that's important.
Speaker E:To be able to bring the best out in you, you have to respect the coach.
Speaker E:And also they need to respect you and be able to bring the best out in you, you know?
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker D:It's very much a two way relationship.
Speaker D:It really is.
Speaker E:Yes.
Speaker E:And you may not always like what they have to say, but you have to kind of bite your tongue and say, okay, let's try it this way and see what happens.
Speaker D:Yeah, you gotta.
Speaker D:You have to be flexible and be able to take direction and, you know, be coachable.
Speaker D:I guess I'm.
Speaker D:My dad would always tell me I'm very coachable.
Speaker D:Um, and I think that helps with acting.
Speaker E:Absolutely.
Speaker E:And that makes directors jobs a whole lot easier too.
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:They can change things last minute and you've got to just be able to roll with it.
Speaker E:That's right.
Speaker E:Yep.
Speaker E:Be coachable, not be a prima donna.
Speaker D:Who doesn't want to listen, Right?
Speaker D:No, never.
Speaker E:This has been wonderful.
Speaker E:Marie, thank you so much for being on the show.
Speaker C:Yes, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker D:Thank you for having me.
Speaker D:It's been great.
Speaker D:We'll have to do it again.
Speaker E:Absolutely.
Speaker E:Good luck and we wish you great success.
Speaker D:Thank you so much.
Speaker B:We hope you've enjoyed this latest episode.
Speaker B:And if you want to hear more episodes of Women Road warriors or learn more about our show, be sure to check out womenroadwarriors.com and please follow us on social media.
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Speaker A:You've been listening to Women Road warriors with Shelly Johnson and Kathy Tucaro.
Speaker A:If you want to be a guest on the show or have a topic or feedback, email us@sjohnsonomenroadwarriors.com.
