We recently interviewed Hannah Marks, the young star currently portraying Lindsay Santino on the new USA show Necessary Roughness. We talked about her previous acting gigs and new starring role.
Hannah has played roles in shows such as Weeds, FlashForward and Ugly Betty, as well as roles in major films like Accepted, The Runaways and the upcoming The Amazing Spiderman. While continuing to act in films, she is starring in the USA show Necessary Roughness. She plays the daughter of a sports therapist who is just trying to find her place in the world. Hannah will soon be on the top of the hottest stars list because of her charismatic acting and sweet personality.
I know you have been acting since age 6, but how supportive has your family been about your career choice?
Hannah Marks: They have been incredibly supportive, I am so unbelievably lucky. My mom used to act, so she knows a lot about what I go through.
I hear you’re not just an actress, but also an aspiring writer, director, and producer. Do you have any plans to write a screenplay or direct any features?
Yes, definitely. I am in the process of writing a couple different projects. Eventually, I would love to see them made and I would hopefully produce and act in them. That would be a dream come true. As for directing, that I would definitely save for after film school!
Tell me about the clothing line you helped create, Mustrd Apparel.
Mustrd Apparel is a vintage-inspired women’s T-shirt Company. It’s all about collaborating with other young artists and giving teenagers a chance to display their art. We just made our summer line, and we’re working on our fall line!
You are also a vegetarian. What made you decide to make that lifestyle change?
I’ve never really eaten meat my whole life, I just never liked it. It actually made me feel sick at times. I’m not going to freak out on someone if they eat a burger in front of me or anything crazy like that though!
You’ve been in many television shows, and movies, including The Runaways recently. Which do you prefer to work on?
Television and movies are both great in their own way. With TV, we have to get everything filmed a lot faster so there is a definitely an exciting pace to it. With movies, we get to take our time and really think about how each scene should be acted and filmed.
You appeared on Showtime’s Weeds, which has pretty controversial themes. Was it difficult to work on the show?
At first, my parents wouldn’t let me do the part. We were warned that some pretty racy moments were ahead for my character. But after hours or convincing my parents that it’s “just acting” they finally gave in. It ended up being a wonderful experience, and it is one of my favorite shows.
It has been announced that you are going to be in the new Spiderman movie, slated to be released next summer. How was it working with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, both well-known actors?
My scenes were with Andrew Garfield. It was a really fun time and I learned a lot from watching Andrew Garfield work. He was incredibly nice and professional. I look up to his career a lot. He has made amazing choices.
Was it exciting to shoot such a highly anticipated film?
Yes! I am a huge fan of Spider-man too. I originally auditioned for a goth character and didn’t get it, but they called me back and gave me a different role! I couldn’t have been luckier.
You currently portray Lindsay Santino on USA’s Necessary Roughness. Would you say your character shares any likeness to your own personality?
Definitely. I was a lot like Lindsay when I was 13, 14, and 15. It’s a difficult age, where you are incredibly hormonal and trying to fit in. I would never have done some of the manipulative, drama queen acts that Lindsay has done, but I definitely fought with my mom and strived to be liked.
What can you tell us about the show?
Necessary Roughness is a show about a newly single mom trying to make ends meet. She lands an incredible job as a therapist for a football super-star and it leads her to many other gigs with high-profile clients. It is not just about football or therapy, though. The show tells incredible stories of betrayal, friendship, love, work, and family. It has an interesting blend of comedy and drama.
Do you have any advice for any young teens or children who want to be an actor or actress?
I would say to keep working toward what you want no matter what. Keep doing projects, keep yourself motivated and really find out what specifically you like to do and what you’re good at. If you do that, how can you not succeed?