It was a pleasure for Carolyn Topol Talk to have the opportunity to speak with Marie Wilson about her upcoming projects. Marie, who has had significant roles on soap operas Port Charles, As the World Turns, and Days of Our Lives, recently debuted in a co-starring role in Ladies of the Lake (released in May on Amazon Video). In addition, Marie shared as much as she could about her upcoming projects — all of which we look forward to seeing her in.
Carolyn Topol Talk: We’re really excited to be talking to you about your new TV movie, To the Beat. We’ve been seeing a lot of buzz about it online. Would you please tell us about it?
Marie Wilson: It’s a fun dance movie, with so many talented dancers and actors. There are quite a few people that the daytime drama community would know, like Eric Martsolf, Lilly Melgar, and myself. The list is incredible; the cast is amazing! And there’s Jillian Clare. who made her directorial debut. We’re so excited and proud of her. I can’t wait! It’s going to be a really fun movie. I don’t know all the details about when it’s coming out yet, but it’s on its way.
CTT: Do you dance in the movie?
MW: No, I dance off screen — on the side. [Laughs] I’m just having fun. I brought my tap shoes, but I would not go on camera. [All laughing] I left it to the professionals. I didn’t want to ruin the movie.
CTT: Isn’t To the Beat about a dance competition?
MW: Yes it’s about a dance competition. I’m [playing] a mom of twins who are competing in this competition. They are competing against another family. You watch the rivalry, the story behind that, and what’s involved. That’s all I’m going to say because I don’t want to give too much away.
CTT: I’m having a fun visual of ‘Dance Moms Go Wild’. [All laugh]
MW: I don’t know about the wild part but—
CTT: It sounds like a lot of cast members from Ladies of the Lake are in this movie. Is that true?
MW: Yes, Martha Madison, who plays the mother of my girls’ competitor — her daughter is also competing in this dance competition. Then there’s Lilly Melgar who is my sister-in-law on there. And there’s Eric Martsolf, who plays Martha’s onscreen husband, which is kind of funny since they’re brother and sister on Days of Our Lives. It’s kind of nice because anybody who watches daytime will enjoy the different spin on this. It’s a fun ride.
CTT: Going back to Ladies of the Lake — that series is still pretty hot on Amazon Video.
MW: I know; I’m so proud of everybody! I’m so excited for Michael & Barbi Caruso. They put so much heart into this whole movie and I’m just so glad it’s doing so well, and the response is so great from all the fans. The fans are always so supportive. I’m always overwhelmed by their support. So far it’s still doing great; I’m very excited.
CTT: Is there a chance that Ladies of the Lake could go to a second season?
MW: There is a chance. It all depends on the reviews, and how many reviews they get on Amazon. It’s great if people leave reviews, if they would, because that will help push it to another season.
CTT: I really enjoyed it.
MW: It’s fun. It’s a little Desperate Housewives kind of thing. It was a fun miniseries. I really liked it. And the cast is awesome.
CTT: I’m not a binge watcher, but it was easy to binge watch.
MW: Yes, the episodes loaded and moved. I got through it all in one sitting. I enjoyed it — it didn’t feel like it was long, or a chore to watch. It was fun.
CTT: I felt the same way. I thoroughly enjoy the campiness of it too. We know you’ve been doing a little commercial work too. Everybody’s been spotting your new commercial and posting or tweeting about it.
MW: Yes they did! I was like… they found me! [Laughs]
CTT: It was a lot of fun to see you in the commercial.
MW: And I understand Hira [Ambrosino] also has a new commercial out, and someone mentioned that Jen Lilley has a commercial too. I haven’t seen them yet.
CTT: You’ve teased that you have a new project in the works; can you give us a few hints about it?
MW: It’s called Disrupted. I play the wife of a very successful entrepreneur who is a bit of a bad guy. I end up getting stuck in the middle of his issues. I’m trying to word it so I don’t give away too much.
CTT: What kind of genre is this?
MW: It’s a thriller. We’re still shooting. We haven’t shot my part yet. I’m hoping that we’ll be shooting it sometime in July. They have shot a lot of things already, and are still shooting. It’s going to be fun to do with thriller. I’m looking forward to it.
CTT: Is this going to be a TV movie or a feature film on the big screen?
MW: Their intention is to get it to the Cannes Film Festival. So we’ll see how that works out. That’s their objective at this point.
CTT: If they’re looking to next year’s film festival, I’m assuming filming will be completed within the next couple of months?
MW: I think so–I hope so.
CTT: That’s very exciting!
MW: It is it is exciting!
CTT: Then you’ll get to go to Cannes.
MW: That will be fun. I’ve always wanted to go there. It would be such a great experience.
CTT: Is there anything else you’re currently working on, or planning to work on in the near future?
MW: I’m constantly auditioning. There are a few things I’m excited about that I hope will come to be. I’ll let you know if they come through and happen. I also had the Seattle Film Festival present one of the films I was in. I was not able to go, but I heard it went well. In the meantime, I am auditioning and traveling. I’ll keep you posted on the next adventure.
CTT: Any thoughts or possibilities about getting back into daytime?
MW: I always keep the doors open, especially if I’ve had a great experience. Eric [Martsolf] is a great guy and I loved working with him on Days. It’s up to the writers and producers what they want to do, but I wouldn’t close the door on it.
CTT: I also know you do a lot of work with environmental causes. Can you share some of what you’ve been doing?
MW: I am a huge supporter of environmental and animal causes. [Recently] I participated with the California Wildlife Center. It is a rehabilitation center for wildlife. They help fix up animals, and send them back into the wild, if they’ve gotten any injuries. They’ve helped out a lot of birds. I remember once helping them with a baby owl, which was so incredible — it was an incredible experience!
They also rescue sea lions and rehabilitate them and send them back out to their natural home. I think it’s such an important organization, and so needed, especially with all the challenges we have out there. It’s nice to know that there are people taking care of the animals that way.
[Here is the link for the California Wildlife Center: http://cawildlife.org]
It’s so great because I know, at least in the area where I live, there are a lot of animals you find that have fallen out of trees — birds or squirrels — you can take them to this center and they will help feed and rehabilitate them, then send them on their way. It’s nice to know there’s a place you can take these little injured babies.
(Photo Credits: Danika Singfield; Barbi Caruso; Lester Cohen)
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Carolyn Topol Talk would like to thank Marie Wilson for sharing her valuable time with us, once again! It is always a joy to chat with Marie and learn what we can see her in next. We hope you are all looking forward to seeing To the Beat as much as we are!