As you were going through school and singing, were you involved in choir?

Oh yes, I was in choir. Interestingly, I didn’t get into an organized choir outside of church until high school. And the reason is because I was living in a different school district and I was not able to join the choir because nobody came to my school to recruit me. To make a long story short, when I was in high school, I joined choir, and it was a wonderful experience. Then on to college, I was in the university choir as well as the madrigal singers. And while there, I started doing a few private parties. I would hire myself out. I was a wedding singer. {laughs} Shortly thereafter, a movie came along where I was able to sing. And the movie launched my singing career and my acting career.

Was that your first movie experience?

Yes, it was my very first movie experience. It was The Color Purple.

The Color Purple

I remember that movie. I was an adult before I watched that movie, and I’m glad I waited. I remember people talking about the movie when I was a teenager because I see it came out in 1985. I felt like the movie would have been inappropriate for me to watch as a teenager, and so I waited till I was in my mid-twenties to watch it. And I’m glad I did. So how did that movie opportunity come up for you?

Well, I was working and singing here and there. I was doing musicals with the local little theater. I was trying to get my feet wet. I was living with a family my senior year of college, and everybody knew I was singing. There was a neighbor to this family I was staying with, and they said, “Hey, we know Maria really likes to sing, and there’s a movie they’re auditioning for.” They gave me the address. This neighbor reminded me recently that I didn’t really want to go. I was like, “They’re not gonna wanna pick me.” I almost didn’t do it. But they told me, “Get over there! Do it! We know you love this!”

The Color Purple Photo by Warner Brothers

So I went over to the cattle call {laughs}and didn’t get picked. A lot of my friends were there with me. My friends left because we weren’t looked at or asked to sing or anything like that. I was like, “Man, I hate to lose out. I’ve waited so many hours today.” So I went to the casting director again and asked her, “Would you at least keep my photo on file?” And I said, “Oh, and by the way, I sing too.” The casting director said, “What do you know?” I sang God Bless the Child in her ear. I was so bashful back then. {laughs} After that, she asked if I knew any gospel. I said, “Sure.” She told me to take a couple of minutes, work something up, and come back. The next thing you know, I’m on stage getting a screen test, singing. They called me the next day, and they booked me to be in the choir scene. I was like, “Wow, this is not what I was auditioning for,” but I did it. Then I had to audition again for the solo spot.

This story is really indicative of how I have maneuvered and navigated through life. I even remember when I was a kid–I remember vividly when I was three years old–I remember specific incidences where I was headstrong–shy, but headstrong. And so I thought that this was a natural thing for me to do to go back up to her and ask her to keep my photo. And thank God that happened because I probably wouldn’t be having this conversation with you now.

Reunited with fellow castmate Danny Glover (The Color Purple)

Maria, that is such a good story, and thank you for sharing that. That’s a story that demonstrates how you didn’t give up. Most people in your position probably would have just said “okay” and left. And the really interesting thing is that this story is reminiscent of a movie I saw recently. I don’t want to spoil it, but High Strung Free Dance, which is available for preorder, has a story about a dancer who did something very similar to what you just shared. So that proves that story is not as crazy or unrealistic as some might think. This really happened to you, and look at you now.

Yes, these kinds of things do happen, and it happened to me. It’s so funny. A friend of mine told me that if you ever look in the dictionary and see the word perseverance, you’ll see a picture of Maria. {laughs} I remember my mom would tell me as a kid that I was so pushy. My response to that was, “Mom, I’m not pushy. I’m just persistent.” My mom was a lot more laid back than I was, and I’ve always had that quiet, silent type thing. I don’t know what it is except for faith. I think you have to have faith that if it’s meant for you, it’s meant for you.

And believe me, I’m not trying to take anything from anybody else. ‘Cause it was really interesting after that experience to go back and see all my friends who left. Some of them I didn’t see again or hear from until after the movie was out. I’m sure some of them had to be wondering how in the world I did that since they were there with me. I’m sure they had to feel some kind of way about it. I think I might have been upset at myself if I had just left after I was sitting next to someone who had gotten to spend eight hours on the set of a movie that went on to be a really big movie. I would have been a little bit beside myself.

That is such a great story, Maria, and what a way to begin your career with such bravery and courage. So from that experience, did you continue to act?

As a result of that movie where I ended up becoming a featured extra…I didn’t think too much about that part. I was just excited to be in a movie. Someone suggested I sing a song with the band that performed at our wrap party. I was kinda like, “okay.” I did, and then the next day, I got a call from the band, and they were like, “Hey, we’d like for you to come join us.” I was over the moon. All I really cared about is that I got to be with a professional band. My mom and dad wouldn’t let me join a band till I graduated from college. But I’m so glad they did that because people were asking me to be in bands when I was in high school. My mom and dad were like, “Absolutely not. You wait till you get your college degree. Then you can do whatever you want to.”

So I went to join the band and did a weekend with them. And because it was right on the heels of the completion of The Color Purple filming–it hadn’t been released yet–the timing was perfect. The people who asked me to be in this band were so specific with timing. They realized that if they got the girl who was featured in The Color Purple…I didn’t know enough about the movie to know that the scene where I sang was a climactic part.

Oh, yeah, it definitely is. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that movie, but I remember that part very well.

That first weekend was really quite an experience. It was in a jazz cellar. The line to get in was up the stairs, out the door, around the corner, down the block…I remember walking in and going, “Wow! What are all these people here for?” And someone said, “You.” I was like, “What?!” It terrified me so much I can’t even put it into words. But that one weekend went so well that they asked me to join the band full-time. So that started my singing career. I basically put acting on hold because I was so busy singing, and that was my focus.

I had no agent. I didn’t know anything about the business. I was so green. I didn’t know anybody. I was just happy to be singing. So time passed, and if you start thinking in four or five years how many people passed through that jazz cellar…we had so many famous people coming through. It was really the only place in Charlotte, North Carolina where you could go to hear jazz music. The exposure was amazing, and I did get an agent. Different projects were being offered to me, and I had an audition. And that’s how I segued back into acting. I’ve always had this ping-pong game going back and forth with acting. Fortunately, at this point in my life, I juggle all three which is singing, acting, and voiceover work. And if I could dance, it’d be something else! {laughs} I mean I’ve got rhythm, but as for being a trained dancer…{laughs}

So with all of this, what was your next project? What was the next one where you decided you were going to jump back into acting full-time?

Photo by Anthony Ragland

The second project was a TV show that I did, and that was The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles with George Lucas. There was a gap between The Color Purple and this project. I realized it was a no-brainer and there was something to this acting. So I decided to start studying. I studied commercial acting, TV, and film…I didn’t go full-time. I just took all these classes. I even studied music theory to keep the music alive. I was studying profusely and working. And it was this second project that told me I needed to get serious about this because I realized I didn’t know all that I thought I knew. I had a stroke of favor on that first project, and this second one showed me how much I didn’t know. So that’s what catapulted and motivated me to study the craft. And I started booking a lot after that. {laughs}

I wasn’t even aware there was a show called The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

I think it ran a couple of seasons. I think the show was a little ahead of its time, and finding a time slot that works can be difficult sometimes. Each episode was like a movie in a way. It was full-on and really good.

Working with George Lucas…

Oh yeah! My first two experiences were at that level, and I think I thought everything was supposed to be like that. It set such a high bar for me, which I think is a good thing. Every time I do a project, I know what it could be, and it makes me really grateful that I had those experiences at first. And I think it also made me a better actor as well.

I see you did some work with Tyler Perry as well. I see you were on The Have and the Have Nots.

Yeah, that was a fun project.

I have talked with many people who have worked with Tyler Perry, and they always say it’s amazing. But I’ve also been told that he shoots things differently. I understand there’s a lot of block shooting.

Yes, and he shoots fast. He has a lot of plates spinning at the same time. I enjoy working with him simply because he knows what he wants and he gets what he wants. He knows his niche. It’s kind of like he created it, so he should know it, right? He knows what results he wants, and he gets it.

Daddy’s Little Girl

You worked on a movie with him too, right?

Yeah, Daddy’s Little Girl. I think I’ve worked on one movie and three TV shows with him. Two of them are non-existent anymore: House of Payne and Meet the Browns. Each one was a great experience. You’re gonna get professionalism, and everyone’s warm and inviting and engaging.

I know you’ve been on some major TV shows as well. Army Wives, Devious Maids…

House of Payne

Oh, let me tell you, that {Devious Maids} was one of the most fun shows I’ve ever been on. Let me put it to you this way. They were completely scandalous all over the place, but my role on that show I so enjoyed. I played a lawyer. I was Ana Ortiz’s lawyer, and to be able to work so closely with her–because mostly all of my scenes were with her–the bond we had was so sweet. I love her so much.

with Ana Ortiz

There are so many shows on right now that I want to be on so bad or so good because when you love the show itself and you binge-watch, you really connect with the characters a little differently. You don’t have to wait to feel like you really know them. Case in point. There was one time I was auditioning for the TV show Quantico. I was sitting there beside a young lady who was actually on the show Orange is the New Black. I was sitting there, and I said, “Hey, girl, how ya doing?” And she said the same thing back to me. I realized I had never met this woman. But because I had watched the show and saw her on the show, I had gotten into her character. She was so good in her role. But I was going, “I don’t know her, do I? I’ve never met her!” And she felt the same way because she had seen my work. But we had Ana Ortiz in common. So we took a little selfie and sent it to Ana. It was hilarious! Point being, when you binge-watch, you feel so connected. So I would say that Devious Maids is a good one to binge on. It’s a really cute show.

Saints & Sinners

You’ve also been on a show that wasn’t always available in my area, but I may have discovered that it finally is. Saints & Sinners.

Oh, yeah, that’s on Bounce TV. I know so many of these networks and services are a la carte now. You have to get an app to watch it, and I’m not even sure how to access all the shows available. I was on the first three seasons of that show. They’re in their fourth season now. I was a detective. I told someone recently that I am just now starting to go out for mothers and those kinds of roles–I can’t believe I’m doing that now–but I always have tended to get the detective, the doctor, the lawyer…I have that kind of authoritative presence and nature.

Hidden Figures

You were a part of Hidden Figures as well. My family and I loved that movie. Historical films are really big with me.

Oh, that reminds me of my mom. She loves history. We filmed that movie in Atlanta. That part I was in was the very beginning. I was the narrator that segued from her as a little girl to her becoming an adult. That was a really cool spot. And it opened up so many people’s curiosity. Kind of like, “What else don’t we know?” People started researching a lot of things as a result of that movie.

That’s amazing. I mean, you’ve been part of a lot of projects over the years where I have seen you and didn’t even realize it till now.

Saints & Sinners

That’s interesting. My sister and I were talking about this earlier. There’s a show on now that I auditioned for called All Rise.

Oh my goodness, I love that show!

Drop Dead Diva

My sister looked at the lead and thought, “I never have seen her before.” I said, “I guarantee you, once you get to know who she is, you’re gonna go back and see a long trail of everything’s she been in.” And I have decided that’s gonna be me one day. I mean, this is what I get all the time. “Aren’t you on television? You look familiar.” I get that ALL the time! So when God is ready for me to be in that particular role that is my big lead role, I bet I’ll hear, “Where’d she come from?” The masses don’t know you until you’re exposed to that great degree. When you get your own TV show or major radio show, people then begin to wonder where you came from. In reality, that person has been grinding and working all this time.

with Ana Ortiz

That’s exactly right! It’s one of the reasons I love interviewing actors like you. So often, we’ve seen you in things and haven’t even realized it.

Unless it’s an independent film, I’m not the lead role. I’m proud and very grateful for every bit of work that I choose to do. I have actually turned down several things over the years when I didn’t feel it was right for me.

I love your story, Maria. It is the story of most working actors out there today. If you’re not an A-lister, we often don’t know your name. But it doesn’t mean we don’t recognize you, even if we can’t remember where we’ve seen you. Most actors don’t live in the massive mansions that cost millions of dollars.

Photo by Kenneth Dolin

Oh, yes, that bubble can burst very quickly. You know, I can walk down the street and pass maybe three or four star’s homes and not know it. Everybody is living regular, day-to-day lives. They might live in a nice house–that’s all relative–but that nice house is like a million dollars. When it comes to these mansions people think of and like to talk about, I can’t even count how high your mortgage would be if you lived in one of those. Most of us are everyday people, but it’s cool that we get to do what we love for a living, And I think that’s a very privileged place. I strongly believe we’re here on assignment. Now whether we use the assignments correctly or not, that’s a different story.

I’m with you completely.

Singing 9-5 with Dolly Parton

We are all here on assignment and we get to help lift people. I know for a fact…I remember this, but I don’t know how old I was when I said it. But I remember saying, “God, I do want to be rich and famous, but I don’t ever want to be famous to the point I can’t go down the street and go to the grocery store.” I remember praying that prayer. Be careful what you pray for! If you pray for patience…I won’t go there. That’s a whole other interview. I remember saying that I don’t want this isolated, under-the-microscope, “Glass Menagerie” life. That won’t work for me. I need to be able to talk with the people. I need to be able to inspire people because I have a story and a testimony. I want people to know I did it, and they can too. You gotta be willing to work hard. You gotta be willing to focus. You gotta have faith.

That’s usually the part that people don’t want to hear. People will come to me and ask how I got started. They want to do what I do. They will tell me how lucky I am, and I tell you…luck has nothing to do with it. It’s not that I magically bumped into these people and took a picture with them and had a meal or a coffee. People see the fun part of my work. The hard part is what goes on behind-the-scenes when I’m interviewing people and posting these interviews. And promoting them.

Saints & Sinners cast

I know what you mean. Even with singing and acting, even though I have representation, there’s a certain amount of admin that I’ll do. When I get an audition, I have to travel to the city if I’m not already there. I’ve got to memorize my lines, sometimes on the plane. If I need to be put on tape for an audition, I’ve got to find someone who can help me do that. I gotta do emails, phone calls…I’ve got a schedule, and I’ve gotta get in the car or on the plane to get to the place where I need to be. I’ve also got to pay these people who help me do what I’m doing. People don’t see that part. They see the part where you’re on television, and they don’t know all the groundwork you did to get there.

But getting back to what we were talking about earlier, I am truly enjoying the fact that I get to live a regular life and that I am accessible to the people. I think it helps people realize that they can have a more realistic view of what it is and what it can be.

with Marc Zammit, Actor Lew Temple

Before we get to your recent Hallmark movie, let’s talk briefly about Homeless Ashes, a project that I know has been in the works for a while. How many years has it been?

Marc Zammit, the creator of this project, has been writing and rewriting the script for a long time. I don’t remember how many drafts of the script he has done to this point. I wanna say this project has been in the works for about four years now.

That sounds about right. I know he did some crowdfunding because I actually gave a small amount towards it.

Photo by Anthony Ragland

Oh, yeah, this man is amazing. He has invested so much time in this to get it right. He’s been fine-tuning it and this and that. I told him recently, “Not only are you directing and writing it, you’re starring in it. And you were the casting director because you hand-picked most everybody in it. And now you gotta go and promote it on the festival circuit. And you crowdfunded it! I don’t know how you do this, man. You are a supersonic Renaissance man.” He has a strong faith as well.

How did you get connected with this project?

Believe it or not, when used in the proper manner, social media can work well, and that was how it happened. Mark had reached out to me on Twitter. He had been following me and keeping up with my projects. He was complimenting me here and there on different things. So he was brought to my attention, and I wondered who he was. I realized he was in the UK, and I thanked him for following me. And that started a dialogue between us. We got into some very deep conversations, and a few years ago, he said that he was writing a movie, and he would love for me to be a part of it. I was like, “Yeah, okay. In the UK. Sure.” I kind of blew it off. But he kept coming back.

Photo by Kenneth Dolin

So then I decided I would filter him through my manager. So I had him reach out to my manager and send the script over. And my manager was like, “Hey, this guy is serious.” So I was like, “Let me read the script myself.” I was on a plane when I was reading it and I remember saying, “This is such a sweet story.” I was laughing and crying. So I called my manager and said, “My heart tells me to do this film if he’s gonna take me over to London.” I really wanted to do it. But I knew before I did this I needed to talk to him in person. We arranged a phone call and were on the phone a good thirty minutes. And I knew he was going to be a friend of mine for life. I had asked him why he chose me since I didn’t have a British accent. He told me he wanted his movie to be international, so he picked me and Lew Temple, an actor who was from The Walking Dead. Lew lives in Los Angeles. So Lew and I are the only two in it from America.

What Mark told me is, “I saw The Color Purple and looked into your eyes, and I just stopped and thought there was something about your eyes and I had to have you for my movie.” Some thirty years later, The Color Purple is still doing miraculous things for me. It just shows me that anything at all is possible. You never know when you plant a seed how it’s gonna blossom and sprout. You never know whose life it’s gonna touch and what that’s gonna manifest. The more I live, the more I am faithful, hopeful, and the more I am a dreamer.

That is amazing how that happened for you, Maria! Homeless Ashes is one of those movies I look forward to seeing eventually. I’ve been watching the progression of this movie for at least three years now.

It was a great experience for me making this movie. I feel like I have family in the UK now. That’s how good a time I had bonding with these people.

I know it will eventually make its way to some platform so we all can see it, but with independent films, I know it has to go through the film festival circuit before that happens.

© Ron T Young photography

It has a heavy subject matter, but what’s really cool about it is–and I think this is a fine line that writers and directors have to deal with if they want their film to be universal–is that it is telling a story more than just showing how it was a movie made in London or the United States. So often, you don’t really pay attention to where the movie was made. But sometimes, that will stand out for various reasons. With Homeless Ashes, you don’t feel like this is just a British film. What you feel is the story. I think he touches on a lot of things that can resonate with a lot of different people.

Now this past holiday season, Hallmark snatched you up for your first Hallmark Christmas movie, A Christmas Love Story. And that was very exciting for all of us as well as you, I’m sure. Were you a Hallmark fan before making this movie?

with Kristin

ABSOLUTELY! {laughs} My sister really turned me onto Hallmark about three years ago. She said, “Oh my gosh, all I do is put on pajamas, get a blanket, and drink hot chocolate and watch Hallmark movies!” And I was like, “I’m coming! Move over! Scoot over, I’m coming!” It just makes me feel so good. If you want to tell yourself how to feel and feel good and warm, that’s what you do. Watch Hallmark movies. It makes your life so much lighter and flowery.

I completely agree! And one thing I really like is that the quality of the Hallmark movies has improved so much. I’m not one who ever complained about Hallmark movies. It’s a feel-good movie and even if the writing wasn’t the best or the acting wasn’t the best, I wasn’t really going to say anything. But now the quality has risen incredibly, and it’s been amazing to see that. And now actors like Kristin Chenoweth are coming to do these Hallmark movies…how amazing is that?

Photo by Anthony Ragland

You know, when a lot of movie actors started coming to television, that is when they started seeing the value in this medium. Then you have Netflix and Amazon and all these different platforms. First of all, we need to work to make a living. But the other thing is that we get to do quality, and we don’t have to feel embarrassed any more for doing these projects with these networks and platforms. For Hallmark to have that quality and caliber that keeps getting better and better every year, that’s great! I hope they keep it in the vein of quality and always fighting to make it even better and richer. And I’d be happy to star in one of them!

How did the opportunity come about for you to be in this Hallmark movie?

A Christmas Love Story

Well, I auditioned for it. They were filming in my home state. My agent in Atlanta reached out to me, and I was like, “Oh my gosh, how cool would that be to film something at home?” When I auditioned for it, it just felt natural, and I had a sneaking suspicion that I had a good chance of booking this one. Not to brag or anything, but sometimes you just feel something. Every now and then I get that feeling, and I actually book it. I think honestly because it was my home state and they knew I could be local, that was one of the factors that went into me booking this role. I’m not one of those actors who feels, “Oh, I’m that good. They picked me.” Sometimes they might have picked someone else, but that person had a conflict and you’re next in line after two other people. I don’t believe in luck. I believe that things are meant to be. I don’t believe in coincidences. But the fact of the matter is I don’t get too out of my head or into myself to think that’s it all that. So I know there may have been a couple other variables. I did make sure to tell my agent to let them know I was from North Carolina. I really wanted to come back and film something in my home state. The casting directors had fortunately seen my work before. I had auditioned for them quite a bit for commercials, and now they’re casting for film. So it’s cool to see how everyone is expanding their businesses.

Photo by Kenneth Dolin

As I looked through the cast list, I think for most of them, it was their first Hallmark movie. And I love it when Hallmark introduces us to some new people in their movies. Because when Hallmark goes back to film there again, we might see some of the same people pop up again. So please tell us a little about your character in A Christmas Love Story.

I played Carol, the executive assistant to Scott Wolf’s character, Greg. He is Kristin Chenoweth’s love interest. What I will say is that I was very sweetly surprised when I read the full script because it had some nice new twists to it. It has all the beautiful elements of Hallmark in its storyline, but it takes a little different route. Before it aired, I kept telling my sisters how I couldn’t wait for them to see it. It’s so touching.

I know that the person who wrote it–Nicole Baxter– she has written some of the very well-known and successful Hallmark movies over the past couple of years.

I tell you that the warmth on that set was very different than what I’m used to. And I’m not exaggerating here. This is a different kind of warmth. People are gonna be friendly. We’re all so happy to be there at the party and working, but this particular experience, I’ll never forget. I remember saying to myself, “There’s something extra about everybody.” I didn’t know what it was exactly, but the sincerity of literally looking you in the eye and talking to you in a certain kind of way…there was something very special about that cast. From Kristin, to Scott, to all of them, to the director…I mean, everybody! Even the writers, the producers, everybody had that something that was like a sparkle that I really enjoyed being around. The energy was really sweet.

How great to hear that, Maria. Ideally, that’s what the executives and everyone at Hallmark want for every one of their movie sets. It sounds like they accomplished that with this movie. They want it to be like that, not just for the leads, but every person involved to have that positive experience.

with mom and sisters

Absolutely, all the way down to the extras, it felt that way. So I felt really honored to be a part of this. I remember saying that this was the kind of atmosphere I loved. This is where I belong. I felt so at home. Everybody was totally sincere. Everyone worked really hard, but they had this calm demeanor of enthusiasm and “let’s get this done.” Everybody was high-fivin’ everybody. I felt like part of the team, and everybody was on the team.

How lovely to hear you talk about your experience like this, Maria. I’m not even trying to get you to say these things–I don’t do that anyway. But you’re just offering this information, and it’s so great to hear.

This experience will stay with me for the rest of my life. These kinds of experiences and reports must be an affirmation for all of them at Hallmark.

Photo by Kenneth Dolin

Absolutely! And it excites me too because I hear it over and over again. While I have never visited a working Hallmark movie set, I do believe this. I think a bad day on a Hallmark set is usually better than an okay day on other sets.

Say it, say it, say it!

Issues are going to come up, but if you’re all on the same team, you can work through those issues together.

Yes, and because we’re all on a team together and everyone makes the adjustments…that’s gonna happen when you’re dealing with blocking. You gotta figure that out. And sometimes, there might be a line change so that it can fit the blocking change. One of the things I often do–and I do my best to do this all the time–if I have any extras around, I do my best to disarm whatever fear they may have. I have made more friends with extras on set. I try to stay in touch with them and keep up with their careers as I can because I remember I will never forget how I felt being an extra. I always say to put yourself in their shoes and let them know they can do what you’re doing too. It’s just a progression of time. It’s a timing thing and they don’t need to worry. They just need to keep working and grinding. I make sure that I ask people’s names. I sit down and eat with the extras during lunch or whatever. I make sure that they know I am one of them. Everyone’s in a different place in the scheme of things in the equation, but we’re all on the same team. I want everybody to feel what Hallmark made me feel. I wanna pass that on.

Photo by Alex Johnson, III

Well, A Christmas Love Story has been one of my top favorites that I was looking forward to, and it did not disappoint. Kristin Chenoweth was the big reason I was anticipating that movie. I would probably tune in to just hear her sing the phone book. {laughs} I just love her!

{laughs} You and me both!

So in addition to this, do you have anything else coming up that you can mention?

Well, I had a Christmas CD that came out recently. It came out in November, and it is called “Merry Christmas My Dear.” The arranger/writer I worked with, Noel Freidline, I’ve worked with him for a little over nine years now. He has made beautiful arrangements of some traditional Christmas songs. In addition to working with him, I’m most excited because there are strings! I’ve always wanted strings on my recording. So when they heard me say that, the producers were like, “Let’s get strings in there.” When I know that I can listen to the CD over and over and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy, that’s the best. You can go to my website and see some of the music videos that go with it. I also did my very first annual Christmas show this past month. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. It’s where all the Broadway shows come. They helped to back us. And it was at a place that used to be a church, and it’s now a seven-hundred plus seat theater {McGlohon Theater}. Really, everything came full-circle because my first CD release, I did a concert in that same theater. Noel and Maria is our brand. Both of us have a good following in the region.

For people who might not be familiar with your style of music, what style would you classify your music?

Singing with fellow castmate Margaret Shug Avery Tribute to The Color Purple 25th Anniversary Celebration

Well, outside of it being a Christmas CD, it’s jazz/adult contemporary. And there’s also a gospel tinge, or course. I used to be compared to Anita Baker a lot a long time ago.

Are there any originals on the album?

We do a lot of rearrangements. We took the traditional Christmas songs and rearranged them. We love classic songs, and we just took our favorites and rearranged them. I’m going to be working on a project somewhere down the road–we’ve already starting working on it–of arrangements of Carol King, Karen Carpenter, and Carly Simon songs. I call it Carpenter, King, and Simon. Karen Carpenter was one of my favorite vocalists of all time, outside of Natalie Wilson. Her whole stage persona and style are just incredible. Karen Carpenter’s voice is like butter to me. I used to listen and wanted to just get that tone. So I’m into the classics.

Wow, well it sounds like you had quite a 2019, Maria, and I look forward to everything coming your way in 2020.

Thank you, Ruth, and thanks to all the Hallmark fans for the support of our movie, A Christmas Love Story. I can’t tell you how much that movie and that whole experience meant to me.

Without a doubt, Maria is genuinely one of the most fascinating people I’ve interviewed in quite some time. While I almost always come away from an interview with energy and enthusiasm, interviewing Maria was an experience that is typically uncharacteristic when facilitating a “first interview.” Very often, I am familiar with my interviewee and his/her work before scheduling the interview, but my conversation with Maria was more or less my introduction to her gifts as well as her persona. Because my friend, Becca, had recommended Maria so notably, I was thrilled to chat with her, but I didn’t expect to connect with her on such a profound level. While I have been known to delve thoroughly into the careers and lives of those I interview, those weighty chats often take place after the foundational interview. However, with Maria, from the inception of our chat, I believe we discovered an immense kinship that united us on a spiritual level. When that happens, it can only be described as supernatural, and I, for one, am eternally grateful for the scope and content of our conversation. Maria was willing to share generously of herself with my readers and me, and she never quibbled when I explained why the interview was experiencing a delay in posting. And for this interviewer, that is something that humbles me like nothing else. My focus is invariably to respect and highlight my interviewees with positivity and authenticity, but when they take the time to genuinely care about me and demonstrate forbearance with me…those are signs of a rather exceptional person indeed.
I hope that everyone enjoyed watching Maria in A Christmas Love Story last month on the Hallmark Channel. If you did miss it or wish to revisit it, I recommend that you keep your eyes peeled for the time when Hallmark may choose to replay it (they will be airing past Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel every Friday evening this year) and/or purchase the DVD or digital copy. While this is Maria’s first Hallmark movie, I tend to think it will not be her last. Moreover, while we await her next project, feel free to visit her links below and even consider buying her Christmas CD or perhaps following her on social media. Maria possesses the specific demeanor and incontestable talent that align with the values and quality of the Hallmark network and its programming, and I greatly anticipate her next film with them, whenever that may be. Until that time, I would invite us all to follow the inspirational, benevolent Maria and support her every step of the way. There is no doubt in my mind that she will continue to follow the steps that God has ordered for her in her artistic journey, and I am unmistakably gratified to be joining her web of support.
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