Mara Lee Gilbert
- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Mara Lee Gilbert grew up in Nutley, NJ. She originally wanted to be a
heart surgeon (at the ripe age of 8) until she almost fainted watching
an educational video of a real heart surgery in her eighth grade science class. She
changed her mind and decided to study psychology, following through to
obtain her Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College
of Criminal Justice (NYC). However, her interest in drama and
performance grew strong during her college years: she performed as the
lead in 5 productions on her school's stage, receiving Irene Ryan Award nominations and the prestigious graduate Richard Henry Hommel Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatrical Performances. She wrote and produced a
one-act play that was published through the Riant
Theatre's Strawberry One-Act Festival Anthology (vol. 6), and
taught theater workshops inside one of Manhattan's women's prisons as
well as Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center. She decided to pursue this
career full-time and has continued to produce film and theater along with her acting.
