Natasha Lee Martin
Actress/Director/Playwright/Professor
Jersey City, New Jersey USA
Where do you look for inspiration?
Children/ The absurdity of everyday life / People in high power positions who do not take themselves too seriously.
What’s your favorite line from a play?
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken” – Oscar Wilde
What play or production changed your life?
Hidden A Gender by Kate Bornstein. I played Al/Kate in it about 10 years ago and since a mentor of mine, Dr. Noreen Barnes, had worked with her in the first production at Theater Rhinocerous in 1989, I had the good fortune to interview her about the role. She is a fantastic inspiration for artists of what it is to be a human, regardless of self-imposed/societal identities, and to truly persevere in life. More about her work: http://katebornstein.typepad.com/
Is there anything you still dream of doing?
Turn our country’s artistic commerce away from this eco-capitalist system.
I feel most like myself when I ….
Am onstage exploring other psyches.
What is your best escape?
Sailing and teaching it to young people. The only time we are truly free of technological chatter and imposed media; to breathe and just be…
What’s the one thing nobody knows about you?
I am obsessed with unicorns (yes I admit I had those pastel and medieval posters all over my room when I was younger). If I am alone at night I will sleep with the corner of the blanket rolled up over my head from when I was a child and afraid of whatever “thing” would get me. I still do it out of habit because the blanket has magical protective powers — obviously.
Natasha Lee Martin holds an MFA in Performance Pedagogy, and has enjoyed performing and teaching for the past 15 years. She has appeared in television and film roles on FOX, TLC, DISNEY, NIPPON TV JAPAN & stages throughout the USA. She is a Guest Artist / Asst Professor of Performing Arts. www.natashaleemartin.com
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