We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marchelle Thurman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Marchelle, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
From elementary school through college, I was often the only one in the room who looked like me. This became my norm, but I didn’t realize how much it affected me until after college. At times, it felt so alienating, and I was always hyper-aware of how others perceived me. I didn’t feel like I could be my full self.
In my late twenties, I did a lot of self-work and became comfortable with being authentically myself. This gave me the confidence to walk into a room, be the only one who looks like me, and own it. I embrace that I may have a different perspective on things and that this is an asset, not a liability. The biggest change from when I was younger is that I now feel comfortable addressing hidden biases. I think we all have them, and it’s important for us to work on eliminating them.
By being honest and authentic, I can effectively navigate rooms where I’m the only one. This journey has also inspired me to create inclusive content, ensuring that whether I’m on set or in pre- or post-production rooms, the team is diverse. It’s always my goal for people to feel seen and valued, and I want to continue building a network of creators that represents everyone.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and moved to New York for college. I attended NYU, where I studied theater at the Atlantic Acting School. After college, I stayed in New York, dedicating my efforts to acting, focusing on short films, plays, and voiceovers.
A few years after college, I was inspired to write, act in, and produce a web series. This experience marked the start of my evolution into a multifaceted creative—an actor adept at writing and producing.
Another pivotal chapter in my career unfolded when I relocated to Atlanta in 2019. Within one week, I booked a role on a network TV show and continued to work on various projects in TV and film. In 2020, Casey Nelson, a fellow actor and filmmaker from my Atlanta acting class, approached me with an idea for a feature film, which I was thrilled about. Shortly after, Casey and I co-wrote, co-directed, acted in, and executive produced the feature film, titled ‘Black White and the Greys.’
To date, the film has screened in 12 festivals across the country, won 10 awards, and received 13 nominations. We also secured distribution, making the film available on Amazon, Tubi, GooglePlay, and YouTube.
I continue to act and create work in Atlanta and New York. Recently, I became attached to another feature film shooting later this year, recorded a voiceover for a national TV campaign, and started working on my next film.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities that were important to my journey were patience, a strong work ethic, and treating others with respect. When I first started acting, I was eager to have a successful career and be at the top of my game. One of the things my first manager told me was that it takes 5 to 10 years to build a career. I didn’t believe her, but plot twist – she was right! It takes time to hone your skills, build connections, and grow as a person. Understanding that it takes time allows you to relax and enjoy the journey. It’s also important to celebrate all the wins, no matter how small, and to take time to look back and see how far you’ve come.
I also think it’s incredibly important to have a strong work ethic. To be clear, that doesn’t mean working until you’re completely burnt out. It means having the self-motivation to put in the time and energy to achieve what you want. There aren’t any shortcuts in life, and when you put in that effort, people recognize it. Ultimately, it’s about choosing to have pride in your work. Your work reflects back on you, and you want it to be in the best possible light.
One of the biggest qualities is treating others with respect. It’s such an easy thing to do and it goes a long way. People will never forget when they were treated with disrespect, and you don’t want to leave a negative image in people’s minds, especially early in your career. Choose to be courteous. Choose to learn people’s names. Choose to treat others how you want to be treated. It will pay dividends because people will be more likely to want to work with you again or recommend you to others. You’ll be able to continue building your network, which is incredibly important.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
“The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz was a pivotal book in my development as a person and as an actor. The four agreements are: Be Impeccable with Your Word, Don’t Take Anything Personally, Don’t Make Assumptions, and Always Do Your Best. The two that resonated with me the most were “don’t take anything personally” and “always do your best.”
When I first read the book, I was shocked to realize that I took everything personally. However, Ruiz’s words were loud and clear: nothing anyone does is because of you. This insight gave me the freedom to shed unnecessary burdens and have compassion for others, as you never know what someone else is dealing with. In acting, not taking things personally is crucial, especially when it comes to not booking a job. Most of the time, not getting a job has nothing to do with you or your performance. Your goal in auditioning is to build relationships and do the best you can at that moment.
The second agreement that hit hard for me is “always do your best.” The biggest lesson in this is that your best changes. When you are healthy, your best may be 100%, but on a day when you are exhausted, your best may only be 60%. You have to honor where you truly are and give yourself grace. For instance, if you are on day three of a horrible cold, you may be operating at 40%. You still do the audition and give the best performance you can. But once it’s done, you let that audition go and do what you need to do to rest and heal your body.
This agreement has really resonated with me this year. Last year, I was trying to operate at 110% when I was really running on fumes, which caused me to burn out. So, at the beginning of this year, I made the conscious choice to lessen my load and rest. Now, coming out of that period, I feel more refreshed and finally have the capacity to start working on my next film. I’ve relearned that you have to honor what your best is every single day.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.marchellethurman.com/
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/marchellethurman
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=826226&mibextid=b06tZ0
- Other: http://www.imdb.me/marchellethurman; https://www.blackwhiteandthegreys.com; https://www.instagram.com/blackwhiteandthegreys/
Image Credits
Emily Lambert Paras Griffin
