Caila Marsai Martin[1] (/ˈmɑːrseɪ/ MAR-say;[2] born August 14, 2004)[3] is an American actress and producer, best known for her role as Diane Johnson on the ABC sitcom Black-ish (2014–2022).
Marsai Martin | |
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_(cropped).jpg) Martin in 2024 | |
| Born | Caila Marsai Martin August 14, 2004 Plano, Texas, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2014–present |
| Website | marsai |
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In 2019, Martin had a starring role in the comedy film Little, which she also produced, becoming the youngest person ever to produce a studio film. The same year, Time magazine named her on its "Time 100 Next".[4] In 2022, she produced and starred in the sports comedy film, Fantasy Football.
Early life
editMartin was born in Plano, Texas,[5] to Carol and Joshua Martin.[6] Martin's acting career started after a glamour pictorial,[7] in which the photographer gave Martin's parents a discount in exchange for her father's promise that he would submit the photos to talent agencies.[7] The photos were sent out to four agencies and one immediately signed her.[7] At age five, Martin landed her first national commercial for Choice Hotel.[8][9] Her family then moved to Los Angeles in 2013, so she could pursue an acting career.[10]
Career
editIn 2014, Martin was cast as Diane Johnson, the daughter of Andre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow Johnson (Tracee Ellis Ross) on the ABC sitcom Black-ish, created by Kenya Barris. For her breakthrough role, Martin has received numerous awards and nominations, including three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series[11][12][13] and a Young Artist Award.[10] She has received six NAACP Image Awards nominations and two Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
In 2016, Martin made her film debut, playing a leading role in the Amazon Studios original film An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win, set in Detroit during the Civil Rights Movement. That same year, she did a voice role for the movie Nina, which tells the life story of American artist and activist Nina Simone.[14] In 2019, Martin starred in her first studio feature film, the comedy Little, for Universal Pictures. At the age of 13, she became executive producer of the film, making her the youngest person to ever produce a movie, as well as the youngest African-American producer.[15][16][17][18]
In February 2019, Genius Productions, Martin's company, signed a first-look production deal with Universal. Martin's first film as part of the deal is StepMonster, a comedy about a teenage girl who is adjusting to life with a new stepmother.[19] She is the youngest person to get a first-look deal at Universal, and the youngest person to get a deal at any studio.[20] In May 2019, it was announced Martin would be producing and starring in the film adaptation of Amari and the Night Brothers for Universal Pictures.[21] In December 2019, it was announced that Martin would be producing the comedy film Queen.[22][23] She voiced the character Liberty in the 2021 film PAW Patrol: The Movie and the 2023 sequel film PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie.[24][25] In April 2022, it was announced that Martin would star alongside Kelly Rowland and Omari Hardwick in the comedy film Fantasy Football.[26] In 2023, she produced Saturdays, a coming-of-age comedy television series for Disney Channel.[27][28]
In 2024, Martin competed in season twelve of The Masked Singer as "Woodpecker" where Jenifer Lewis (who portrayed "Miss Cleocatra" back in season eleven) served as her Mask Ambassador. She was eliminated in the Group A finals alongside Paula Cole as "Ship".
Personal life
editMartin is currently in a relationship with NASCAR driver Rajah Caruth.[29]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Nina | Young Girl on Tape | |
| An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win | Melody Ellison | Direct-to-video | |
| 2017 | Fun Mom Dinner | Hannah | |
| Lemonade Mafia | Kira Anderson | Short film | |
| 2019 | Little | Young Jordan Sanders | |
| 2021 | Spirit Untamed | Prudence "Pru" Granger (voice) | |
| PAW Patrol: The Movie | Liberty (voice) | ||
| 2022 | Fantasy Football | Callie Coleman | Also producer |
| 2023 | PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie | Liberty (voice) | |
| Good Burger 2 | Friendly Customer | ||
| TBA | G20 | TBA | Post-production |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2022 | Black-ish | Diane Johnson | Main role |
| 2015–2016 | Goldie & Bear | Jill (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show | Anissa (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2016–2019 | Elena of Avalor | Caterina (voice) | |
| 2018 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Aisha | Episode: "Kimmy and the Beest" |
| 2019 | Mixed-ish | Diane Johnson | Episode: "Becoming Bow" |
| A Black Lady Sketch Show | Reniece | Episode: "Born at Night, But Not Last Night" | |
| 2019–2020 | Vampirina | Frankie Bolt (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2019–2022 | DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders | Aggro (voice) | Main role |
| 2022 | Wild 'n Out | Herself | 1 episode |
| The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Iyanna (voice) | Episode: "Get In" | |
| The Hair Tales | Herself | ||
| 2023 | Saturdays | — | Executive producer |
| 2024 | Good Times: Black Again | Grey (voice) | Main role |
| Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy | Yesi Scala (voice) | ||
| The Masked Singer | Herself/Woodpecker | Season 12 contestant |
Awards and nominations
editReferences
edit- ^ Kovan, Brianna (March 21, 2019). "Marsai Martin Is Making Big-Time, Big-Screen Moves". Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Marsai Martin (May 31, 2023). it's been a minute. Event occurs at 6:29. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
Hi everybody, I'm Marsai Martin.
- ^ Delgado, Sara (August 16, 2022). "Marsai Martin Threw a Shrek-Themed, Star-Studded Party for Her 18th Birthday". Teen Vogue. Condé Nast. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "TIME 100 Next 2019: Marsai Martin". Time.
- ^ Burkes, Dawn M. (December 10, 2018). "Plano native named one of Time magazine's 'Most Influential Teens of 2018'".
- ^ "Teen mogul Marsai Martin on "Little"". CBS News. March 31, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Meet Marsai Martin, The Youngest Executive Producer In Hollywood". NPR.org. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ Peck, Patrice (April 11, 2019). "A Brief Explainer Of Marsai Martin For Those Of You Who Don't Know Who She Is". BuzzFeed. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ "MARSAI MARTIN SITS DOWN FOR AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ASSIGNMENT X". January 19, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- ^ a b "Marsai Mart asked was in as Diane Johnson – black-ish". ABC. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ "NAACP Winners 2020: The Complete List". February 22, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "NAACP Image Awards: The Complete Winners List". January 15, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "'Straight Outta Compton,' 'Empire,' Michael B. Jordan Top NAACP Image Awards". February 5, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Cavassuto, Maria (August 25, 2016). "TV News Roundup: Amazon Casts 'Black-ish' Star as First American Girl; Tracey Ullman Returning to HBO". Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ "'Black-ish' Breakout Marsai Martin to Star in 'Little' for Will Packer, Kenya Barris (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ McNary, Dave (January 25, 2018). "Film News Roundup: 'Black-ish' Star Marsai Martin's Comedy 'Little' in Development". Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ ""Black-ish's" Marsai Martin to Star in and Exec Produce Tina Gordon Comedy". January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ Harriot, Michael (January 9, 2019). "#BlackGirlMagic: Black-ish Star Marsai Martin Set to Become Youngest Executive Producer in Hollywood History". The Grapevine. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ "Marsai Martin Signs First-Look Production Deal With Universal To Develop New Projects, Sets New Film 'StepMonster'". shadowandact.com.
- ^ "'Black-ish' Star Marsai Martin Inks First-Look Deal With Universal (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. February 7, 2019.
- ^ "Mandeville, Marsai Martin Team for Fantasy 'Amari and the Night Brothers' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. May 29, 2019.
- ^ "Marsai Martin Sets New Project at Universal With Comedy 'Queen' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. December 19, 2019.
- ^ "Marsai Martin Producing New 'Queen' Comedy with Universal". December 20, 2019.
- ^ "Watch The Pups Get Their Powers In This Preciousness-Packed 'Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie' Clip". bossip.com.
- ^ "First Trailer Is Here For PAW PATROL: THE MIGHTY MOVIE Featuring Mckenna Grace, Taraji P. Henson, Chris Rock, Serena Williams And Lil Rel Howery". www.wearemoviegeeks.com.
- ^ "'Fantasy Football': Omari Hardwick, Kelly Rowland & Rome Flynn Board Sports Comedy From Nickelodeon And Awesomeness Films". Deadline. April 19, 2022.
- ^ Petski, Denise (March 11, 2021). "'Saturdays' Comedy Produced By 'Black-ish's Marsai Martin Gets Disney Channel Pilot Order".
- ^ Petski, Denise (November 30, 2021). "Marsai Martin's 'Saturdays' Comedy Pilot Picked Up To Series By Disney Channel".
- ^ Foreman Jr., Tom (May 18, 2024). "Rajah Caruth earning attention after first NASCAR Truck Series win". JournalNow.com. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ "Marsai Martin Wins Well Deserved YoungStars Award! | BET Awards 2019" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (February 23, 2020). "NAACP Image Awards: Lizzo Named Entertainer Of The Year; 'Just Mercy', 'Black-Ish', 'When They See Us' Among Top Honorees – Full Winners List".