“Stay humble and hungry … work hard and treat everyone nicely.”
Marie Tredway looks for an opportunity to use “her art, her craft” to uplift, inspire and build. Playing Nurse Trini on NBC and Wolf Entertainment Wednesday hit, Chicago Med and an alumnus of Carthage Theatre, she states, “artist activism” is important in delivering a social message thru arts.
Marie is an award-winning director and actor in the Chicago and Milwaukee area. She has also performed in numerous works, earning multiple awards, including a Kennedy Center’s 2018 American College Theatre Festival Award for Distinguished Performance as Fannie Lou Hammer, in the Carthage production, “A Seat at the Table.”
Originally studying nursing at a college in Illinois, Ms. Tredway first learned about Carthage when she saw a production at a regional theater festival. She was so impressed with what she saw, that at the age of 30, she applied to the College, auditioned for a scholarship, and transferred to Carthage. As a non-traditional student and mother of two, she graduated Magna Cum Laude, made the Dean’s list four times, and won multiple scholarships and awards along the way. [ Source: Carthage College ]
What inspired you to be an actor? I’ve always loved performing but it wasn’t until I went back to school later on in life that I realized that not only was I good at acting but that it could be a tangible profession. A mentor at the community college I was attending opened my eyes to the possibility.
How long have you been acting? I’ve been dancing and performing since I was three but I would say my first legit acting performance was nine years ago in the Rocky Horror Show.
How do you prepare for the role? At Chicago Med, I read the entire script when I first receive it so I can understand the tone of the episode, I look over my lines once I get my sides and memorize them as soon as possible so I can get to the real work: motivation, objectives, etc. We don’t get to rehearse for a lot of time like in theater, so you have to do a lot of your prep before even coming on set.
Other than in Television, have you done Theatre? I worked in theatre for the first two years of my professional career. I also got my theater performance degree at a liberal arts college and did theater the entire time there.
What role would you like to play? In Theatre, In Television? I’ve always wanted to do Medea on stage. As for television, I would love to be a series regular on a crime drama or sardonic comedy.
Having worked on screen and on stage, do you have a preference, and why do you prefer it? I love both; they’re vastly different and I appreciate the contrast.
Every actor has a “dream role”, (series of questions) (a) if you have not done it yet, what would it be? I would love to be in a superhero movie or the main character of a breezy romantic comedy. We always see Asian American actors as funny or wise sidekicks but I am ready for the main character roles! (b) And if you have achieved your “dream role” what was it? (c) And how did you achieve to be able to get your dream role? (d) Is it realistic to have a “dream role”? Absolutely! You have to dream big in order to constantly set higher goals and manifest your dreams into reality!
How much compromise does an actor have to do to survive in this business? I think in the beginning, you have to compromise a little bit on your idea of what the typical “Hollywood dream” is. You have to work the jobs you need to in order to continue your craft while balancing rehearsal/shooting/ etc. It’s very rare that you sign a major motion picture or the main cast role on a tv show for your very first gig.
What advice do you usually give to young actors? Learn, learn, learn! Take acting classes, further your education if possible. Also, my mantra is “Stay HUMBLE and HUNGRY” Treat everyone you know with kindness and never be complacent.
What can you tell them about the entertainment industry that they should be prepared for? It’s not all glitz and glamor. Filming is long days, lots of “hurry up and wait”. Take every job as a learning experience no matter if it’s a student film or a big movie. Also, be aware of burnout. Don’t say yes to every project that comes your way if it sacrifices your physical/mental/financial/spiritual health.
If you were not in the entertainment business of acting, what do you think you find yourself doing? Directing for sure. However, if not in the entertainment industry at all, maybe some sort of social media/blogger presence or consulting. If worse comes to worse, I can always go back and get my nursing degree! Haha!
