Interview with Marlo Bernier

Marlo Bernier is a multi-talented American actress, writer, producer, and filmmaker. She is also a US Air Force veteran and the creative force behind Myrna, an original drama television series. Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, Marlo’s journey has been anything but ordinary. After serving in the United States Air Force, she spent time in Germany, performing in various bands before returning to the U.S. and immersing herself in the world of acting. She built an impressive career in Baltimore's theatre scene, starring in acclaimed productions such as Angels in America, Love! Valor! Compassion!, and God’s Country. Later, she made her mark in film and television, with roles in Cold Case, Alias, Las Vegas, and Homicide: Life on the Street, among others. Marlo’s transition in 2007 marked a pivotal turning point, both personally and professionally. As she navigated Hollywood’s evolving landscape, she turned her creative energy toward writing and producing, culminating in Myrna, a deeply personal series exploring the life of a transgender actress rebuilding her career. I am honored to talk to such an inspiring artist who has boldly embraced her truth while leaving an undeniable impact on the entertainment industry.

 

Monika: Marlo, welcome!

Marlo: Hi Monika!

Monika: So, tell me, what does a typical day look like for you these days?

Marlo: Well right this minute I’m attempting to behave during this interview, we’ll see at the end what the verdict will be.

"Under Construction" - a work in oil
 by Shelley Cassidy completed at
 the beginning of the transition
- Summer/Fall '07.

Monika: Your acting portfolio is outstanding, spanning both film and theatre. Could you walk me through some of these achievements?

Marlo: Thank you. First, let me say how flattered I am that you would want to interview me in the first place – I am, in a word, humbled. There are many others who have far exceeded anything I have been able to in my career, but I do feel very fortunate to have had the success I’ve had.

My career on the stage and in front of the lens goes back quite a ways, and just for the record, all of those roles I played were from before I transitioned. So if anyone looks this up they won’t see any *Marlo* credits, but rather only credits for *Mark*.
Monika: What were some of the most important roles and performances from those years, both on stage and on screen?

Marlo: During those years I performed countless times over the course of two decades, on both stage and screen. On stage, (Mark) Bernier repeatedly delivered award-winning performances in roles such as Roy Cohn in Angels in America, Parts I and II, the twins John/James in Love! Valour! Compassion!, and Berg in God's Country, along with memorable guest roles in COLD CASE, Homicide: Life on the Street, Las Vegas, and ALIAS. On the larger screen, I appeared in The Last Time We Were… and in Fincher’s ZODIAC, from which I was cut (all eight days of my work ended up on the cutting-room floor).
I am only left to wonder how horrible I must have been, haha! ***These are partial credits, there were many more, but I don’t want to bore you. Shortly after beginning my transition from male-to-female in 2007, I directed my efforts behind the lens. As to whether or not I’ll one day step back into the frame, well, the verdict is still out on that. But anything is possible.
Monika: I'm curious, which film directors or movies inspire you most?

Marlo: John Cassavetes!

Marlo Bernier, Myrna Creator, Star, Writer,  Producer
  about.me/marlobernier
Photo by Kerem Hanci Photography

Monika: Turning to Myrna now, what's the latest with the project, and could you tell me a bit about it?

Marlo: Thank you for mentioning MYRNA, to bring you up to date and in case anyone’s wondering, we’re in the process of looking to partner with another producer who will be able to assist us in raising the money needed in order to shoot the pilot, we’ve budgeted $30k and that’s really tight.
Basically, it’s a show based (loosely) on my life after transition, here’s the blurb: “After a successful career in front of the camera and on the stage, an actor is willing to sacrifice everything when she finally confronts her true gender identity and transitions from male-to-female. We follow Myrna as she struggles to find work as an actress, wrestles with a manager who still wants to send her out as her former-famous self, Michael, and deals with the drama of her friends' reactions as they make an effort to come to terms with Myrna and her life-altering transition. Myrna is comical, caustic, moving, and deliciously dark. *My career just wasn’t tough enough, so I got up one morning and decided to change my sex.*”

My incredible hair was done by Dugg
Kirkpatrick for GLEE.

Monika: You brought other transgender actors on board for the project, Alexandra Billings, Ian Harvie, and several others. How did you convince them to take part?

Marlo: Well I hope I didn’t really have to do too much *convincing* - haha! But to set the record straight, I only ever wanted trans people, both men and women, to play the roles of trans people. Period. I reached out to them, sent them the script, and I believe they liked it enough to say yes.
And let’s not forget the other members of the cast as well. All of them have been believers in this story/project from the beginning, trans, or otherwise. 

Monika: Does being transgender shape your artistic perception of the world in any way?

Marlo: I’m not certain it does. I mean, I would like to hope that I’ve always been open to the breadth our world has to offer.

Monika: Going back to your roots, where did you grow up?

Marlo: I was born in New Hampshire.

"Glass Houses" not sleeping, just never been
so content. Apr 4, 2007; Foto-Kerem Hanci

Monika: Could you tell me about your childhood? Do you remember the first time you felt you weren't meant to be a boy or a man?

Marlo: I’ve known since I was four. I’ll give you, again, the link to my personal story; it does a much better job than I could here in telling it, with all its wrinkles and warts, in At Least I’ll Own a Dress (there are a couple of other scripts up there as well).

Monika: Many transgender girls say school, college, or university was the most painful period, full of discrimination. Was that true for you as well?

Marlo: No, not really. I mean, for all intents and purposes I had a very decent childhood, etc. I had just become very adept at *hiding*, I’m not trying to dodge the bullet, but it’s explained much more clearly in the link above.

Monika: At what age did you transition, and was it a difficult process? Did you have support from family or friends, and did it affect your career?

Marlo: I began in 2007, my age at that time?!, Monika, please… (hahahahahahaha).

Hair by Dugg Kirkpatrick - what a
gift  I have received in having had
him  work on (my hair) 
for my appearance on GLEE. 

Monika: Did passing as a woman ever pose a challenge for you?

Marlo: I (think) I am fortunate when it comes to this. Meaning, others don’t *read* me as anything other than female. But as with (I’m taking a guess) many of us, when I look in the mirror, I scream out, What kind of KOOL-AID are people drinking?!, Perhaps I have assimilated much better than I personally realize. Listen, it’s a tough road, regardless. And yes, it has affected my career, please see and pray that MYRNA gets produced – we’ll hold nothing back.

Monika: Modern cosmetic surgery has made it possible to transition even in one's fifties or sixties. Do you think that's realistic, and what advice would you give transgender women transitioning at that age?

Marlo: Again with the age question, okay, Monika, I’m (currently) 54 and I began at 47? I think, … I can’t remember, hah! It must be that age thing creeping in on me… Of course, it’s possible. Anything is possible. Believe.

Monika: How do you view the current situation for transgender women in American society?

Marlo: I think, I hope, I believe it is getting better, bit by bit. I think we’ve come a long way in the past decade, especially with the (public) advent of the acceptance of trans kids being able to transition much earlier.

I realize that’s not the case for all, but it appears that it’s becoming more prevalent. Let us hope this continues. There is still much work to be done, and all kidding aside, I hope that a show like MYRNA will assist in opening doors for us all, regardless of age.

Marlo at home.

Monika: Then there are the horrible stories, women like Chrissy Polis, beaten by two teenagers at a McDonald's for using the ladies' room. What do you think it would take to prevent that kind of violence?

Marlo: Again, horrible stories, and the list goes on. We must continue to inform by presenting good solid examples. There are many trans women and men who are doing just that and have been. Seriously, Monika, you’re going to be interviewing till the end of the Mayan calendar. Oh wait…that already came ‘n went. Then I guess you’ve got till whenever…

One's Gender Identity is
invisible   to everyone,
...except you ~

Monika: Are you politically active at all, maybe involved in lobbying? Do you think transgender women can make a real difference in politics?

Marlo: I’m a horrible activist, politician, lobbyist, I’m just a filmmaker.

Monika: How about fashion, do you enjoy it? What kind of outfits do you usually go for, and any favorite designs, colors, or trends?

Marlo: 1) Yes. 2) The ones that make me look skinny. 3) The ones that make me look lean and skinny. 4) Did I say yet, the ones that make me look luscious? (I should shut up now).

Monika: Would you say you're a happy woman these days?

Marlo: Yes, I am. Listen, it is not all roses and red wine out here. But I think that when I finally became brutally honest with myself and stopped hiding, this was when I began to feel free. I’ll leave you with this - “One’s Gender Identity is invisible to everyone… except you.”

Monika: Marlo, thank you so much for this interview!

All the photos: courtesy of Marlo Bernier.

© 2013 - Monika Kowalska

 

You may also like