Meet Mary Booth of Nashville, TN

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Booth

Hi Mary, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story of modeling and acting started completely by accident. I moved to Nashville, TN, in August of 2015 from Buffalo, NY (Go Bills!!!). I really wanted to travel and see what else was out there. Buffalo would always have my heart, but I needed a new experience and some warmer weather. Thus came the decision to head to Nashville. I spent just about all of my money on a U-Haul and didn’t have a lot saved in my name at the time. A couple months into living here, I came across a random Instagram contest that offered a round-trip flight to Nashville, a hotel stay, $2,000 cash, and the chance to be on an episode of the show Nashville. I solely entered the contest for the $2,000. Unfortunately, I did not win. However, I must have filled out some additional form, as I randomly started getting calls and emails to be on the show Nashville a few months later. I had no idea if this was legit. I had just landed a job in finance, so I didn’t want to risk taking off, so I just told them I’d submit to one if it ever shot later in the day. I must have received calls and emails for about two years straight before I actually decided to submit to one of the castings that finally shot when I was free early in 2018.

I was completely spoiled for my first background role. I remember getting booked as a press reporter. I showed up to this huge buffet spread and was able to eat right away. Once we were all driven over to set, the scene was a super quick shot. We wrapped and got paid that same day. I thought to myself, This is a pretty fun way to make some extra cash! I then began my search for ways to get more gigs like this. I came across an open call on Instagram. I reached out to ask for details, and they gave me an address, date, time, and wardrobe instructions. Once I showed up, the individuals in charge handed everyone a form to write down their measurements and experience. They told all of us we would need to do a cold read, demonstrate a runway walk, and get our headshot taken downstairs with the photographer. If they wanted to move forward, they would call us in three days. I had a little bit of a panic, taking this all in, and went looking for the restroom to think everything over. I had no idea how to do any of this stuff. I was about to bolt and just sneak out the back. I took a couple minutes to collect myself and was like, You know what? I don’t know any of these people. If I’m terrible, I won’t hear from them, and I’ll probably never see any of these people again. If I do well, I’ll get a call and go from there. What do I have to lose? I went back upstairs, did the thing, and to my surprise, I received a call three days later saying that they wanted to represent me. This kickstarted my career in the commercial modeling and acting world.

Fast forward a few years. I showed up to my first stunt training with Jeron Bray. I fell in love with stunts instantly. I am always looking for ways to improve my craft and better myself. This was just another skill set to fuel my fire to make some moves in the industry. Being able to learn falls, choreography, weapons training, and Filipino martial arts, among many other things has been such an exciting experience. Looking back now, if you told me I’d move to Nashville and be doing all of this, I would have said you’re crazy! This move has been the best decision I’ve ever made, and I couldn’t be more thankful to be doing a job I absolutely love!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Is there a reality where any journey is ever really smooth? I’d definitely say the highs outweigh the lows, but you’re going to face struggles no matter what industry you’re in. That’s how you grow and evolve in your craft. Without struggle, there is no progress. One of the biggest struggles you can face in this industry is rejection. You’re going to get a lot of nos. For me personally, if I don’t land the gig, it wasn’t meant for me to begin with. Of course, I’ll take that time to reflect back on what I could potentially do differently and use that as motivation for the next audition. You’re going to have times where you’re landing something consistently, and then there will be times where you’re not landing anything at all. Accepting rejection is part of the overall process. It’s what you do with that experience to create an opportunity to learn and better yourself that will make a difference.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At this time, I am heavily involved in commercial work. Both in the modeling and acting scenes but also in the corporate world. I have been extremely fortunate to be able to balance both careers simultaneously. My current focus has been on excelling in my career as a stunt actress. Being part of the stunt team here in Nashville at Action Design Services has been a huge asset to my growth and development. Everyone on the team has such a unique style and dynamic of their own. I could not be more grateful to train alongside such talented individuals on a daily basis. Stunt work takes persistence and dedication. I train with my team about five days a week. I’ve always been extremely active and adventurous. Stunts have allowed me to thrive in that realm while continuously challenging me. Constantly being able to learn and evolve in this craft has allowed me to test my limits further than I ever have before.

I’m a fairly quick learner, but needless to say, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges along the way. Gearing up for one of my first big fight scenes, I took a fall the wrong way and ended up with an injury to my collarbone. I had to take it easy for a few months (taking it easy is very difficult for me to do, haha). During this time, I still showed up to trainings to watch and take in what was going on. I didn’t want to miss a beat. Whenever I’m faced with an obstacle, I am the type of person who will do anything in their power to persevere and overcome said hurdle.

I’ve been fortunate enough to work on some pretty amazing projects showcasing what I’ve learned thus far. I’ve done some challenging choreography, falls, and wire work. I’ve even been set on fire. To sit back and reflect on what I’m most proud of so far is a difficult question to answer. I am without a doubt my own worst critic. I’ll be the first to call myself out on where I fall short. When reviewing a project I’ve worked on, I’ll always find something I wish I had done better, bigger, or performed differently; the list goes on. Acknowledging what I need to work on allows me to push myself to advance even further. What I am proud of is my overall journey thus far. The experience alone has been so rewarding, and I’m just getting started.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice to those starting out would be to not get discouraged. Accepting rejection is part of the job. What you choose to do with that rejection will be what separates you from others. Take any and all opportunities that present themselves. When I was just starting out, I did a lot of background work and student films. This will allow you to network and gain a sense of what it’s like to be on a film set and how to present yourself. These opportunities can, at times, lead to something bigger. There have been numerous occasions where I’ve been cast as an extra or background actor, bumped up to a co-star or supporting role, and given lines on the spot. No role is any less important from one to the next. You’re constantly learning and networking. Put yourself out there to make those connections, and always be working on improving your craft. Take acting classes. Learn a new skill that can help you transition into a role you want to see yourself in. Take risks. You’ll never know what you’re capable of until you push yourself outside of your comfort zone.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boothy24
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.booth.5876
• Other: https://linktr.ee/marybooth24

Image Credits
Daishawn Hayes
Nick Fantasia
Cooper Alan
Evan Moushon