"I’m curious about how we work. Why we’re here. What we’re doing to each other, with each other. And I know on a fundamental level that I am so much more capable than I can imagine."

Actress & Disability Advocate Marilee Talkington sat down with Helga Davis to talk about her journey towards a life in theater, how she continues to innovate in that space as a low vision actress, and how important it is to be a resource and voice for her community. 

Marilee Talkington is a professional actor, writer, director, and filmmaker.  She is also an activist and thought leader in the Disability Justice and Arts movement and is the Founder and Executive Director of Access Acting Academy, which is a 1st-of-its-kind professional actor training studio for blind and low vision actors. She is one of the 1st legally blind women in the United States to earn an M.F.A. in Acting (American Conservatory Theater) and has originated over 80 characters on stage and screen with leading roles at Tony Award winning theaters under the direction of Broadway directors.  She has also recurred and guest starred on multiple television shows on NBC, CBS, CW, and Apple TV+.  

Marilee is a MacDowell Fellow, California Center for Cultural Innovation Grantee, Winner of the A.C.T. Carol Channing Trouper Award for dedication and excellence,  a recipient of the 2020 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award, one of Park Armory's Artist/Activist 100 years / 100 women, and most recently the voice at the Guggenheim museum that describes the approach to the architectural masterpiece. 

www.marileetalkington.com | www.accessacting.com | imdb.me/marileetalkington | @anartistwarrior

Marilee Talkington is a commissioned artist of Park Avenue Armory’s collaborative project 100 Years |100 Women.

The Coda features a new work titled, "The Experiment" in collaboration with Marilee Talkington and Helga Davis.