Marja-Lewis Ryan

Last updated
Marja-Lewis Ryan
Born (1985-03-19) March 19, 1985 (age 38)
Brooklyn, New York
OccupationWriter, director, producer, and actress
NationalityAmerican
EducationTisch School of the Arts
Notable worksThe Four-Faced Liar

Marja-Lewis Ryan (born March 19, 1985)[ citation needed ] is an American writer, director, producer, and actress. [1] [2] [3] She is best known for writing, co-starring, and co-producing the LGBT drama film, The Four-Faced Liar , which won multiple awards, including Outstanding First Narrative Feature at L.A. Outfest. She is the executive producer and showrunner for the sequel to The L Word , called The L Word: Generation Q , which premiered in December 2019. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Early life

Ryan was born in Brooklyn, New York. She received an honors BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where she studied at The Atlantic Theatre Company's Acting School. [3] [6]

Career

In an interview, she described her interest in writing as stemming from her time at NYU. She and her friends figured that "you have to make your own work." And so she wrote her first script for them to workshop as actors. [3] As for her thematic interests, she recounts what happened after The Four-Faced Liar got released: "I had the opportunity to go into meetings with crazy big people. The one question that came up repeatedly was 'what kind of work do you want to do for the rest of your life?' The first time someone asked me that, I answered it so truthfully that I shocked myself. I said, 'I just want to write dark comedies for women that don't ostracize a male audience.'" [6]

In the early 2000s, she was a member of a theater company in Los Angeles, Theater of NOTE, where she received positive critical reviews as a writer and director. [7]

She wrote, co-starred, and co-produced The Four-Faced Liar in 2010. Ryan received the Maverick Award from the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival in 2016. [2]

She wrote and directed the film 6 Balloons , released in March 2018, and is drafting the reboot of Splash starring Channing Tatum and Jillian Bell.

Ryan is the executive producer and the showrunner for The L Word: Generation Q , the sequel to The L Word , currently in its 3rd season. Showtime. [5] [4] More recently, she signed a deal with the Showtime network. [8]

Personal life

Ryan is an out lesbian. [3] [9]

See also

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References

  1. Riendeau, Danielle (February 9, 2010). "Interview with Marja Lewis Ryan". AfterEllen . Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Rampell, Ed (March 2016). "Open Letter to the Motion Picture Academy & LAWTF". Hollywood Progressive.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Film Fest Darling Marja Lewis Ryan Talks 'Four-Faced Liar': Interview". Pride.com . 2010-11-08. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
  4. 1 2 Otterson, Joe (2017-11-20). "'The L Word' Sequel Series Taps Marja-Lewis Ryan as Showrunner". Variety . Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  5. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (2017-11-20). "'The L Word' Sequel Taps Marja-Lewis Ryan As Showrunner At Showtime". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  6. 1 2 Fardon, Joshua (July 2019). "Marja-Lewis Ryan - Drama". Connotation Press. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  7. Gordon, David (April 15, 2015). "Rebecca Pidgeon Gives New Life to David Mamet's Broadway Play The Anarchist". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
  8. Goldberg, Lesley (2021-07-20). "'The L Word' Showrunner Inks Showtime Overall Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  9. Troisi, Dayna (December 5, 2019). "Lez Do It Again: Exclusive Interview With "The L Word: Generation Q" New Cast & Showrunner". GO . Retrieved 31 March 2020.

Further reading