Hello I am Maria Riboli. Since I was just a little girl I knew I wanted to be in this business, even when I couldn’t really understand what that meant. But I’ve always performed. I started with small school plays when I was maybe 6 years old and I never stopped. I’ve done a lot of theater both in Europe (all over Italy, Paris and London) and here in NYC. I started as an actress but I’ve gradually transitioned into directing as well. I was in my late teens/early twenties when I started directing theater plays.
I directed films as well and that is just absolutely fascinating to me. I know it sounds pretty cliché, but this passion has always been in me. I remember going to the movies and just knowing that I wanted to be in that world, I wanted to create it, I wanted to make people feel what I was feeling, sitting there in the dark watching these incredible adventures unfolding before my eyes.
Voice Overing Away… #Actress #ActressLife #VoiceOver #UndercoverSuperhero #OneTakeMaria pic.twitter.com/TkjFUjtnma
— Maria Riboli (@Maria_Riboli) August 23, 2016
Did you study acting
Absolutely and I’ll never stop. I don’t think you ever stop learning and as an actor you need that external eye to keep pushing you. I’ve trained in Europe with some incredible teachers, from all different backgrounds, from Grotowski to the Japanese ‘Theater Noh’, to the Russian Theatre Academy “Viera Kamissergevscaia and to The Living Theater, and it was thanks to them and Judith Malina, who asked me to come to NY for one of their shows, that I arrived in the Big Apple.
Once here I studied at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute with some of the best teachers in town, from Robert Castle to Dan Grimaldi, to Penny DuPont…the list goes on and on. I love researching and training and being able to grow as an artist. I’ve also been teaching acting for more than 15 years and I have my own acting studio in NY (www.mariariboliactingstudio.com) and I find it to be incredibly inspiring to train actors. I love pushing them to their limits, to show them that they have none. Training is essential. You can’t call yourself an actor if you don’t train and when you do, you have to go deep. It’s not about showing up once a week for a few hours and read some scenes together, it’s about building a character, going home and working on your craft, on your technique, getting together with your scene partner and creating something together. It’s a lot of hard work, but so incredibly rewarding.
Maria Riboli as Claire in Locked in you
What acting technique do you use
As I was mentioning before, I’ve studied many different techniques and I took something from each and everyone of them, but the one that I personally use (and teach) is the Method by Strasberg. Personally, this is the technique that gives me strength as an actress. If something happens during a show or a shoot, I’m never left on stage or in front of a camera feeling that I don’t know what to do. Because the Method gives me the tools to truly build a character who is now in me and who I understand completely. It’s ‘from the inside out’, it’s about connecting to your emotions and bringing them up and use them in whatever scene you have, and also being able to let them go at the end of the day. I always do the Relaxation technique before a show or a shoot to clear my mind and I follow that with sense memory exercises specific for the character so that I can truly get to know her and understand her.
Do you take courses to improve your craft
I’m a fan of private coaching because when I start working on a project I need the external eye to push me into new directions. But I think anything from workshops to weekly classes are essential to keep you sharp and motivated and I also believe they will inspire you to do more, to study more, to create something on your own…
What acting books do you read
I would definitely suggest starting with anything by Stanislavski, from “Building a character” to “An Actor Prepares”… if you’re serious about this business you should read them all… I would also recommend “A dream of passion” by Lee Strasberg and if you’re into the Method then read Strasberg’s Method As Taught by Lorrie Hull. Try different teachers and see what resonates with you. From “Meisner on Acting” by Sanford Meisner to “Respect for Acting” by Uta Hagen.
Maria Riboli & Chase Hemphill in Locked in you
How do you keep fit as an actor
I always say to my actors that if you don’t know who you truly are, you’re gonna get lost in this business. Actors are a combination of so many different people and if you don’t know your true core, it can be mentally and emotionally draining. It took a long time to get there and a lot of self-research and acceptance to be able to say, “Ok, this is me”. You have to keep your focus on the reason why you’re in this business and if the reason is not because you love the craft, then this is not for you.
I do meditate and it helps keep the thoughts quiet (even for a few seconds, but for those few seconds it’s pure bliss). I also find it very important to observe and learn from everything you see. Go see plays, movies, concerts, art galleries, surround yourself with art. I personally also find inspiration all around me and I let that feed me. From a walk in the East Village to a wall covered in graffiti, to a stunning sunset on the water…I take it all in, I feel it.
Physically I do run and swim, there’s something about swimming that for me is very Zen. I love the water and how peaceful it is. I do eat healthy, but yes, I do of course cheat and enjoy every bite of my cheating meals, but when I’m in a project I truly pay attention to what I use to fuel my body. I need energy, not a sugar rush. I’m also known to always bring very healthy food on set for my crew. I don’t have sodas on set and usually very fresh organic meals.
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
When I approach a role the first step for me is to create a very solid back ground story for her, going into details that will probably never make it to the screen or the stage, but that will keep me grounded once I bring her to life. I do read the script over and over and I always find something new, and that is something very stimulating for me. I love to rehearse, both as an actress and as a director. I’m the first one in the room and the last one to leave it, I could work for hours and hours, it never tires me. I also like to create a background story with the other characters (actors) and work together as well. To me when I work on a role it’s important to understand every aspect of ‘her’, from the way she dresses to the perfume she wears, to her favorite food or music…all these details give me strength.
Directing Meet me here
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person
I’m a very visual person so the moment I read a script, I can usually start to see my character and the more I work on her the more she starts coming to life. Something I do when I read a script is to pay attention to what the other characters are saying about me. It gives me a lot of clues on who I am. I then always try to understand her, I never judge her. If you judge your character, you disconnect…and you will never be able to bring him/her to life. I try to relate to whatever is happening with her on an emotional level. We all go through life, we all feel a big arc of emotions and those emotions connect us.
How do you stay fresh on set
By the time I’m on set I know I have my character, I know I understand her and I can feel her. I do stay very focused when I’m on set and try to keep my mind quiet. There’s a lot of madness on a set and you need to keep your focus. Sometimes I use music, or visuals, or small objects to keep me connected. I do keep more for myself (depending on the character of course).
Describe a memorable character you played
You’re asking me to pick my favorite child 😉 This is a hard one to answer, but I think I’m gonna pick Claire, she was from a short film I directed and produced as well, called “Locked in you” back in 2014. There was something so beautifully broken and raw about her. She was a painter and even though you don’t really see that during the short, I started taking painting classes. I’ve been painting ever since and every time I sit down in front of a canvas I know she’s there.
Directing Locked in you
Explain one creative choice you took on set
I believe all choices you make as an actor are creative and I love when they come out during rehearsal so that you can really take them in and make them yours. I love having activities so I’m always the one bringing props and apparently food…
What do you want most from a director
To be challenged. Being a director myself, it can be hard for me to put that hat down…so I need a very strong figure who will show me things I haven’t thought of, who will let me try new things and with whom I can have a dialogue, someone who will allow me to bring his/her vision to life through my own work.
What actors do you long to work with
So many…but I would love to work with Cate Blanchett and also Eddie Redmayne.
Why
I love how deep they go with their characters and how much truth they bring to the table.
What advice would you give to actors
Do it for the love you have for this art. Study, train, find your tribe and start making things, start reading plays, write them, workshop them, get a camera and shoot movies during the weekend…go out there and make some art, let your passion guide you.
We all have a story to tell…tell yours.
Briefly write about your career
I have a strong background in theater, but I’ve been working on TV and Film for many years now and every field in this craft is so incredibly stimulating to me. I know I’m attracted to broken characters, the ones who truly have a story, the ones with that spark in their eyes. I find them so beautiful. You can find all my info (and social media links) on my website at www.mariariboli.com
