Marta McGonagle
Acting
Marta McGonagleâs first theatrical release was in March 2007, IFCâs âBelieve In Meâ (with Samantha Mathis, Jeffrey Donovan, Heather Matarazzo and Bruce Dern). Marta played one of the lead players as Sadie York in this inspirational tale of an Oklahoman all-female basketball team in the 1960â˛s. A promising start, for a young actress who hasnât been in Los Angeles but two years. Marta McGonagleâs film career began in Texas in the award winning independent films, âLand of Shadowed Sandâ and âSideFXâ. She was directed by Ainât It Cool Newsâ Aaron Morgan, playing an ancient vampire, Angela Rosefe, in âBlindâ. Marta then landed her breakout role in âRed Ridgeâ where she played Isabella, an immigrant forced into sex slavery and prostitution. Soon after that she traveled to Costa Rica for the lead role opposite Joaquim de Almeida in âBlue Sombreroâ as a teen who takes over her late fatherâs (de Almeida) presidency with the help of a rouge military squad. In 2005, Marta made the move to Los Angeles. After spending most the early part of her still very young career doing dramas and horror films, she was finally able to put her sketch/comedy background to use in the comedies âFist in the Eyeâ and âTwinsâ. She also landed her first television roles in Nickelodeonâs âDrake & Joshâ, Comedy Centralâs âReno 911â, and as a recurring sketch player in Foxâs âTalk Show with Spike Ferestenâ. Marta also returned to the stage for ten months performing at the World Famous Comedy Store with the sketch troupe Gumbo. She can also be seen on the web starring opposite Rachael Leigh Cook in, âHalf Court Pushâ, which she and Rachel volunteered for, in support of the Stayfreeâs Girls In The Directors Chair series. Coming to your cell phones this summer on Freemantleâs Atomic Wedgie Channel, she is Carmen, in the comedy series âSecret Girlfriendâ. In 2008, âThe Spotâ a film expected to be released theatrically, she stars as Monica a Congo player trapped in an abusive relationship and a dream that might never come true. Marta just finished filming Bavaria Filmâs, âShort Cut to Hollywoodâ, a road trip feature shooting throughout the United States. Bavaria is excited to have added Marta to the stellar cast in this international film as the sexy, free spirited Shannon. She is currently filming âThe Winged Manâ, scribed by Motorcycle Diaries Academy nominated, Jose Rivera, starring opposite Shalim Ortiz with Ana Ortiz. Once a week Marta gives back to the community through acting by teaching Los Angeles elementary school children about literacy and to never give up in the two-woman play, Sor Juana, through the non-profit organization Enrichment Works.
