Performer Julia Marley On Working With Ariana Debose And Youtube Series ‘Behind The Resume’

What a triple-threat!

From dancing, to acting, to singing, Julia Marley can truly do it all. You might notice her from her theatre career, her Nickelodeon debut role on ‘The J Team’, and her rising Youtube channel.

We had the amazing honor of talking with Julia about her favorite theatrical role so far, her love of songwriting, and more!

When did you first develop a love for acting? 

J: “I’ve been performing in musicals for as long as I can remember, and I started dipping my toes in on-camera work when I was around 12… this might come as a surprise, but my love for TV & film acting didn’t truly come until 2020. 

I was 17 years old when I was blessed with the opportunity to dance in the Netflix movie musical “The Prom.” Being on that set and getting to work alongside and witness some of the biggest powerhouses in the industry was completely surreal. 

Ariana DeBose is one of my biggest inspirations to this day. Her talent, work ethic, humility, and passion is palpable. Getting to chat with her and witness her magic was my ‘see to believe’ for TV & Film. The feeling of your dreams and passions expanding is so beautiful. From that moment on, I knew I wanted TV & Film to be a large part of my journey – especially projects that incorporated song and dance.”

In your theatre experience, what was your favorite show and why? 

J: “When I was 14, my biggest dream came true: I was cast in a show at the regional theatre in my town: Cabrillo Music Theatre (now called 5-Star Theatricals.) I portrayed a Junior Storyteller in the brilliant Stephen Schwartz musical, “Children of Eden.” This experience was completely life changing and magical in every sense of the word. 

The joy that rushed through my veins while waiting in the wings was exhilarating. I knew at that moment that the rest of my life would consist of following my dreams in the arts. It was a subconscious promise and commitment to myself and my dreams. 

Looking back, it’s incredible how much my dreams have only expanded. Every milestone only opens another world of possibilities. Being` a part of “Children of Eden” was a pivotal experience in my journey, and my gratitude to Lewis Wilkenfeld (director/producer) and everyone apart of Cabrillo Music Theatre, is endless.”

What aspect of dancing do you find the most magical? 

J: “I find myself in a lot of classes where there are students from all around the world. While they might not understand English, they pick up the steps with ease. It amazes me how dance is the language understood by all; no matter your nationality, race, sexuality, or gender identity.

A huge part of my life is mentoring and teaching performers with special needs, and I’ve been working with the organization Allwayz On Stage for the past eight years. When the pandemic started, I began teaching weekly zoom musical theatre dance workshops for our group. Dance brought our community together in such challenging times. Witnessing the joy on our performers’ faces when a song they loved started to play, and watching them challenge themselves and grow was deeply fulfilling. The human connection and joy that dance provides is what I find to be the most magical.”

Do you have any techniques for portraying a believable character? 

J: “The more that I was able to understand the motives behind my character “Nina” from the Nickelodeon movie “The J Team,” the easier it was to play her. Over the course of the filming process, it began to feel that becoming Nina was simply tapping into another version of myself. 

I’ve found that developing a backstory for my character is extremely helpful. Something I learned in an acting class is that you should never judge your character; instead, find similarities between you and the person you’re portraying, and do your best to put yourself in their position and understand their circumstances and reactions.“

When did you first start songwriting and what was your inspiration? 

J: “I vaguely remember starting to write songs when I was pretty young. For my dad’s birthday, I rewrote the lyrics to “Imagine” by John Lennon. I’ve always loved writing, whether that be in the form of short stories, songs, journal entries, etc.”

Songwriting has always been a beautiful form of self expression. It’s essentially marrying my journal entries to a melody. I think when I started, I just enjoyed the creativity and satisfaction of writing something you’re proud of. Like Kristin Chenoweth once said, “We sing when we can’t speak anymore.” 

Do you have a favorite dance style? 

J: “Definitely hip hop! I remember coming across Millennium and ALDC LA videos on YouTube and completely falling in love. I was in awe of the confidence and athleticism of the dancers, and it truly just looked like so much fun! 

Discovering hip hop and beginning my training in LA back in 2017 was when I really fell in love with dance. When I started I could hardly pick up a single step, but my love for the style and the inspiration I got from the dancers around me impacted me in so many ways – not only as a dancer, but also as a person. 

I joke that when I’m in hip hop class, I become my alter ego. I’ve watched the confidence I tap into when performing, especially in front of the camera, spill over into other areas of my life. My 13-year-old self would’ve never imagined I’d be featured in the same videos that made me fall in love with dance.“

What advice would you have for aspiring performers? 

J: “You weren’t given your passion and dreams by mistake. The world is a better place when you share your gifts and step into your purpose. Never diminish the power and impact of your art and voice. 

The ‘too good to be true’ is so real. It’s so possible. We must show up as who we wish to see in this world. Allow yourself to dream in all caps.”

Where can we follow your amazing journey? 

J: “YouTube! Filming, editing and producing videos for my YouTube channel is one of my favorite things that I do. I love sharing my journey through vlogs and behind the scenes videos! 

I also have an interview series on my channel called “Behind the Resume,” where I chat with accomplished artists on their journeys, hardships, dreams, and the advice they’d give to aspiring performers. I am in awe of the guests that have been kind enough to share their stories, and am so excited to continue fostering and sharing these impactful conversations. 

“Julia’s Journal” is another series on my channel – these are sit down videos where I talk about what’s been on my mind, and what I’ve been journaling about. I love observing and analyzing life and the lessons that come from new experiences. I’m also a journal fanatic, so these videos are so fulfilling for me to create!”

Ananya Vinay– Movie/Entertainment Reporter- Ananya Vinay is a rising high school senior from Fresno, California. She is a budding scientist who enjoys exploring the whys of the world. Ananya also loves writing in all forms, especially poetry. When she’s not writing, you can find her with her nose in a book, inventing stories, or sometimes arguing with her younger brother.  Ananya won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2017. She is the author of a poetry collection, Dewdrops on the Mind, and has work published or forthcoming in the Ice Lolly Review, Apprentice Writer, and Teen Ink. She is a passionate teacher and believes in using education as a tool for equity.