Jump to content

Marissa Bode

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marissa Bode
Bode in 2024
Born (2000-08-28) August 28, 2000 (age 24)[1]
Mazomanie, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma materAmerican Musical and Dramatic Academy
Occupation
  • Actress
Years active2013–present
PartnerLauren Brooks (2023–present)

Marissa Bode (/ˈboʊdi/ BOH-dee; born August 28, 2000[2]) is an American actress.

Bode was paralysed in a car accident at the age of 11, and uses a wheelchair for mobility. After graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, she gained recognition for her portrayal of Nessarose Thropp in the musical films Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025). Her casting in the role marked the first time a disabled actress portrayed the character. For her performance, she received nominations at the 30th Critics' Choice Awards and 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Early life and education

[edit]

Bode was born in Mazomanie, Wisconsin. At the age of 11, she became disabled following a car crash, and has since had to use a wheelchair for mobility.[3] She started acting at school and starred in local productions, with her first role being that of an orphan in The Prince and the Pauper.[4]

She graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and currently lives in Los Angeles.[5]

Career

[edit]

Stage

[edit]

Bode has performed onstage since the age of eight in local productions such as Little Shop of Horrors, Peter Pan, and Mary Poppins.[6]

Film and television

[edit]

Bode wrote, directed, and produced her first short film in 2021, called You're Adorable.

In 2022 it was announced she would play Nessarose, Elphaba's sister and the Wicked Witch of the East, in the Wicked film adaptations, making her feature film debut. She made history for being the first wheelchair user to play the character, who also uses a wheelchair.[7] Bode shared her excitement for the role and for being able to represent disabled women of colour in the film: "To be that representation for not only disabled people but disabled people of colour is so exciting and so surreal".[8] She also praised the accessibility of the Wicked set, finding it to have been designed with a wheelchair user in mind. The set had a disability coordinator, Chantelle Nassari, who is also a wheelchair user, who would visit sets before Bode to anticipate any issues Bode might have around the set so they could be fixed beforehand.[9] Director Jon M. Chu stated that making the set accessible was "one of the most enlightening and beautiful processes I've ever gone through. You need accessibility, not just when we're on set behind the scenes, but you need to present accessibility in Oz itself."[10] For her performance, Bode received several nominations as part of the film's ensemble cast—which includes Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum—and with her inclusion in the film's Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture nomination at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards, she became the first ever wheelchair user to garner a nomination in any category at the SAG Awards.

As part of the marketing campaign for the film, Mattel, one of the collaborating brands, released seven dolls of the main characters including Elphaba, Glinda and Nessarose with removable outfits and accessories and built in the likenesses of the actors.[11]

Personal life

[edit]

Since September 2023, Bode has been in a relationship with Lauren Brooks.[12]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Carsleepers Cassie Hairston Short
2019 No Roles Written Kalliope
2021 You're Adorable — Short; writer, director, and producer
2024 Wicked Nessarose "Nessa" Thropp Feature film debut
2025 Wicked: For Good Post-production

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2024 Astra Film Awards Best Cast Ensemble Wicked Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Acting Ensemble Nominated [13]
Michigan Movie Critics Guild Best Ensemble Nominated [14]
San Diego Film Critics Society Best Ensemble Nominated [15]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Best Ensemble Nominated [16]
St. Louis Film Critics Association Best Ensemble Nominated [17]
New York Film Critics Online Best Ensemble Nominated [18]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Ensemble Cast Nominated [19]
2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Pending [20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ @marissa_edob (2019-08-28). "I'm 19 Ladieees! Here's some selfies of me as an 18 year old that are taking up space on my phone (these all look the same but are we surprised)" – via Instagram.
  2. ^ @marissa_edob (2019-08-28). "I'm 19 Ladieees! Here's some selfies of me as an 18 year old that are taking up space on my phone (these all look the same but are we surprised)" – via Instagram.
  3. ^ Moe, Doug (2019-04-01). "Madison student and actress hasn't let spinal cord injury stop her from taking the stage". Channel 3000. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
  4. ^ Sharpe, Josh. "Interview: Marissa Bode's Journey to the Big Screen in WICKED". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  5. ^ Aarsvold, Marcus (2024-06-04). "Small town Wisconsin actress defies odds, makes it to the big screen in Wicked film". WMTV15. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  6. ^ Studio, Actors (2024-10-08). "Actress Marissa Bode Shines as Nessarose: A Milestone for Diversity and Inclusion in Hollywood Casting". Actors Studio. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  7. ^ Stephan, Katcy (2024-09-19). "Marissa Bode Teases Nessarose's Expanded Arc in 'Wicked' Films: 'She's Not Just the Bratty Little Spoiled Sister'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  8. ^ EDITOR (2024-10-04). "DIVA exclusive with Wicked's Marissa Bode". diva-magazine.com. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  9. ^ "Marissa Bode Says Wicked Crew Asked 'Right Questions,' Built Accessible Set: 'Safe Space' to Be 'Vulnerable' (Exclusive)". People.com. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  10. ^ Carly Levy (2024-09-23). "'One Of The Most Enlightening And Beautiful Processes:' Wicked's Director Opens Up About Bringing Accessibility To The Big Screen For Nessarose". CINEMABLEND. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  11. ^ "Mattel will release 'Wicked' dolls to coincide with film adaptation". Broadway News. 2024-08-14. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  12. ^ Comiter, Jordana (9 November 2024). "Meet the Real-Life Loves of the Wicked Movie Cast (Can You Guess Who Is Married to an Olympian?)". People. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  13. ^ "The 2024 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  14. ^ "Michigan Movie Critics Guild Announces Winners for the Best of 2024". Michigan Movie Critics Guild. 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  15. ^ "2024 San Diego Film Critics Society Nominations". San Diego Film Critics Society. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  16. ^ "The 2024 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Nominations". Next Best Picture. 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  17. ^ "The 2024 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. 2024-12-07. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  18. ^ "The 2024 New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) Nominations". Next Best Picture. 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  19. ^ "The 2024 EDA Award Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  20. ^ Grein, Paul (2025-01-08). "Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande & Jonathan Bailey Among Nominees for 2025 SAG Awards: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
[edit]
Retrieved from "http://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=Marissa_Bode&oldid=1270405900"