Interview with Actor Anna Maria Wright - The RV Book Fair 2025

Hello Anna, you started in theater and shifted to film during the pandemic. What was that transition like for you?

When I made the transition during Covid I kept an open mind acknowledging that I’d never done film acting before and might love or might hate it. Allowed myself to give it a shot with no expectations or pressure of myself. I was 16 and trying to decide if I wanted to go the broadway route or try film. I tried film and haven’t looked back, though musical theater will always hold a special place in my heart. Due to starting during the pandemic, I had such a huge leg up. I had just moved to a small town in Louisiana, and up until covid you had to go in person for every audition. Meaning there was practically no way I would realistically be able to do film because I would be at least 4 hours one way from where the auditions are held. If it weren’t for the pandemic I would have had to move to LA or NYC to have this career. Unlike theater auditions, I got to self-tape from anywhere, which I absolutely love. It allows me to travel and work from other places which has been amazing. 

You also produce projects like Engaged-ish. What excites you most about being both in front of and behind the camera?

Producing “Engaged-ish” was such a fun experience. I loved producing because I got to call all the shots. It was so fun organizing the shoot, hiring everyone, casting, and getting to oversee the editing process. I wore many hats on that film. As an actor we only have so much say. We show up when we’re supposed to, do a great job, then leave. It’s in the hands of the director and editor how the final project ends up. So it was great being able to make sure the story stayed true to our vision after the acting was over. What excites me most about acting is getting to step into someone else’s shoes and explore different versions of myself. I’ve played characters who are very opposite of who I am. I’ve found it creates more empathy and understanding. I love getting to take my own experiences, the experiences of others, and research to create nuanced performances. It’s a blast. 

In the HIGH MOON trailer, you play Tory. What drew you to this character?

Tory is a strong, bold young woman who dreams of being more. She stands out and she knows it, but she doesn’t let the opinions of others or “way of life” in her town stop her from thinking bigger. I love that even the wardrobe and hair and makeup for this character is so different from everyone else - it really helps tell that story. I also love working on drama/thrillers so when I heard monsters were involved I was super excited. I was also drawn to this character because of how she summons courage and strength in the face of fear. She keeps going despite all she’s been through. 

The trailer teases a lot of suspense. How did you prepare for those intense moments on set?

I love working on projects with a lot of suspense. To prepare for those I breakdown my script and run my scenes a lot. I run it many different ways and see which one I like the best. I never judge the character and making sure the audience is rooting for me is important in storytelling with characters like these. For the more emotional scenes I go slower. I really make sure I have a strong “why” for the scene. If I can’t necessarily connect with the words to create an emotional response, I dive deeper into character development. I also like drawing from my own experiences to help in times where the vulnerability needs to be there. I run the scenes a lot and find so much power in stillness. That seems to be the answer to most things.

What’s your process for bringing a new character to life?

The script tells me so much about the character. So I take the script and then put so much of myself into it. If I can’t relate to what’s happening I ask friends and family if they’ve had that experience or know of someone who has. I also love to do research on the era or situation to help me bring my character to life. Occasionally there's songs that remind me of the character and I play with that as well. Understanding and building my characters' world helps me create rich, meaningful, and fun performances. 

What advice would you give to aspiring actors trying to break into the industry today?

Don’t be afraid to just start. If you don’t try it you’ll never know. Don’t let the opinions of others stop you and know whose opinions you actually value. Get into acting classes. (Side note - I did just create an entire course for new and young actors who are wanting to break into film. It takes you step by step with everything I had to learn from experience. It’s called The Actors Blueprint).

Anna Maria Wright is a SAG-E award-nominated actress represented by J Pervis Talent. She is also the producer of the award winning short film “Engaged-ish”. Anna Maria began entertaining audiences at the age of seven when she joined a semi-professional children’s chorus.

Her love of theater was discovered when she was offered a strong supporting role in a homeschooling musical theater company in 2017. After several years in theater, she pivoted to film during the 2020 Pandemic.

Find out more at https://www.imdb.com/es/name/nm15004677.

Article published in The Relatable Voice Magazine - December 2025 as part of The RV Book Fair 2025. Downolad the full magazine at https://www.relatable-media.com/the-relatable-voice-magazine