Marissa Chanel Hampton is a model, actress, audiobook narrator, and overall entertainer that uses a multifaceted approach to the arts, a knack she has had since childhood. She and I discussed her role as Gail in the new family drama romance series, “It’s Not Like That”, her experience starring in the indie adaptation of Eric Jerome Dickey’s “Friends and Lovers”, and why her role Claudia Aberlan in the TV series “Creepshow” was most memorable . She also expressed her love of reading, the curation of Ink and Paper Soul, the importance of family and community, and how she maintains it all.
Let’s start off with your background. Where are you from and how did you grow up?
I’m originally a Californian, born and raised in Orange County. Early on, I started splitting my life between Indiana and California, so I consider myself 50/50 Hoosier and Californian with down to earth midwestern hard working values, with the open mindedness and adventurous spirit that so many of my fellow Californians share.
What started your creative bug and what area did you gravitate toward first?
I was raised around the arts; they were always encouraged. Even before I started theater and acting as a kid, I was in art classes, pottery, painting, you name it. I was signed up for it and I loved it.
Your professional debut was in the TV series, “Scandal”. What was going on during that time and how did it feel to get your foot in the door?
My degree is in theater. After I graduated, I moved to L.A. and made it my singular focus to end up on a Shonda Rhimes show come hell or high water. I was networking my butt off, in every acting class, found myself right back in a long-term program at the Second City Conservatory in Hollywood and just really working hard at the time. I was auditioning weekly for every show in that TGIT block that dominated Thursday night TV at that time, and it just takes one yes. I eventually got my yes, and it was a special experience to have your first job be your favorite show.
Let’s talk about the series, “It’s Not Like That” and your role as Gail. In what ways was the approach to this role different from others and did you pull from your own personality for it or is Gail completely different from you?
Gail is great. She is funny, a straight talker, and someone who is going to be there whenever you call on her and let you know (gently) that you might need to reevaluate now and then. We are similar in that regard for sure. I do find that often there is a little piece of me in many of the roles I play. Not always, but often.
What is your take on romance as a whole and navigating it in real life vs. via social media?
Social media isn’t real! So much of social media is a highlight reel. I don’t really take it into account when it comes to romance! I like human connection and getting to know folks in real life to see if there is a spark. I consider social media more like window shopping. It is just a preview.
Over the last few weeks, people have been going crazy over Marvel’s “Avengers: Doomsday” trailer leaks/releases, especially after this latest X-Men reveal. Having worked on “Captain America: Brave New World” and having that credit under your belt, do you have any thoughts?
No, NONE AT ALL. I’ve loved comic books and the Marvel Universe my whole life. I’m so grateful I got to play a teeny tiny part inside of that world and would absolutely love to again but no thoughts at all, just a lot of excitement, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
You have played a lot of different types of characters. What role has been most memorable and why?
Claudia Aberlan, on Creepshow (segment: Public Television of the Dead) was the most fun. I loved coming to work every day, running around like Scooby Doo gang on a soundstage, screaming, brandishing a sword. It felt like the full transformation down to the wig, the period clothing, and everyone involved was such a treat. I am a horror movie fan, and the original Creepshow movie is one of my favorites. It was five star experience as a fan and actor.
Do you have a genre preference? Which one has been the most challenging thus far?
Not really. I have gotten to bounce around quite a bit and I really like that as an actor, constantly mixing things up. Comedy is hard. It is a lot of fun but it is hard. There is a rhythm to it and when it clicks, it clicks and when it doesn’t, it…doesn’t.
When it comes to horror storytelling, what types of horror films are you most interested in? Slasher, supernatural, monsters, etc.?
I don’t love torture porn; my favorite horror films are supernatural or monster movies. That spine-tingling, don’t-turn-off-the-lights, something-going-bump-in-the-night, type of movie will always be my preference when it comes to horror films.
Atlanta has changed quite a bit and a lot of people who once lived there have tried other cities like Houston, Charlotte, Los Angeles, etc. Explain the similarities/differences between Atlanta and Los Angeles, culturally and as entertainment hubs for creatives like yourself.
Both cities offer creatives so much. There is a shared vibe of somebody you meet one day could the very next day be someone on the come up in the sense that the right opportunity could change your life in an instant. There is “dreams come true” energy about both places. L.A. really taught me my sense of self and bolstered my work ethic as it has a very particular level and type of grind in the industry. Atlanta taught me balance and helped me find a richer life outside of work.
What have you learned about yourself and how have you changed post-pandemic?
I have always enjoyed solo time; I can go days without speaking. The pandemic really pushed me to maintain my friendships on a deeper level by really evaluating who I wanted in my life, and how important actively reaching out and maintaining those relationships was. I knew I was an introvert, but the pandemic made it very easy to disappear into yourself, and I loved that but learned how to balance that with being a good friend.
How did you manage your time during the SAG-AFTRA strike? Also, tell us about your “Strike Scrapbook”.
I was on the picket line in L.A. and at strike rallies in Atlanta whenever I could be, standing with my fellow union members. I also took a vested interest in creating art off screen during that time, just to keep myself sane. I got back into fiber arts, quilting, knitting, etc. I have a strike quilt that I need to finish!
I also used that time as a check in. What did I want as an actor, a human being, and what did I want my life to look like when we came back from the strike? Using that period for reflection helped make riding out the strike much more manageable!
What was the last book you read?
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology. This collection is fantastic, it’s thought provoking, haunting, funny at times and I even found myself gritting my teeth having a physical reaction to some of the stories. The audiobook is also excellent. I picked it up last November for Indigenous History Month and got behind on my TBR pile but recently I have been working my way through my purchased but unread books. This one is a keeper.
Tell us about “Ink and Paper Soul”.
It started as a place to write about what I’d read because truthfully, I really missed English class discussions and debates on books. I tend to post more photos these days more than anything but there is something so dear to me about talking about books and sharing what I loved or didn’t love about them and connecting with people who love reading books just as much as I do.
We’ve interviewed several voice actors over the years and it’s been interesting to hear how they approach it vs. on-screen acting. Tell us how you got into audiobook narration and about some of those projects you’ve participated in.
A friend passed my name along to a casting director, that casting director had me audition for a few projects and ever since then I’ve hit the ground running. I’ve narrated quite a few romance titles, some thrillers, and scholarly essays. I’ve narrated for Kennedy Ryan, Farrah Rochon, Charish Reid, and many more. It is an entirely different art form and it offers the actor an opportunity to really be in the driver’s seat creatively in ways that sometimes you aren’t always able to be with on screen acting.
Speaking of books, you recently starred in the indie adaptation of Eric Jerome Dickey’s “Friends and Lovers”. How did the project differ from the book and what was your experience like working on it?
Book to screen adaptations always differ a bit from their source material but I thought Friends and Lovers was so well and lovingly done. I was very familiar with Eric Jerome Dickey’s work and was so glad he was honored this way. Working on the movie was a delight. Simone Missick is a favorite of mine and getting to be in scenes with actors that you love as a fan is always such a cool perk of the job. It was a very welcoming set.
How do you hone in on specific social justice causes when there is so much going on in the world today? Does it get overwhelming? Also, what are some of the causes you are most passionate about and why?
There is definitely a lot going on, but I think we lose ourselves and our souls when we let the overwhelm cause us to tune out. Social justice and civil rights are big issues for me so supporting the ACLU and the Innocence project whether that is by talking about them or donating to help support their work is important to me. I also think the work that Doctors Without Borders does is truly heroic, and aid workers must be protected in conflict zones.
Also food insecurity in the United States is heartbreaking and not something we have to accept in this country, so I try to donate or volunteer with food banks in all of the cities that have helped shape me (The Atlanta Community Food Bank, Gleaner’s Food Bank in Indianapolis, Indiana, Second Harvest Foodbank of Orange County). There are more. That is just the tip of the iceberg. I firmly believe giving a damn is one of the most important parts of being a human being.
How important is community/family to you and how has it, along with traveling/nature been beneficial to your life and mental health?
Family and community are very important to me. I am the kind of person who voluntarily hangs out with my parents. Rick and Marie are a great time! I love cooking for my loved ones and sharing memories around the table. They are the most important thing to me. I spend as much time with my family as I can.
Traveling, getting to see the world, and meeting new people is something that feeds my soul. I enjoy flying, wandering new cities, and exploring museums. We all need a little adventure in our lives and traveling does that for me.
Getting outside is the difference maker in my mental health, hiking, walking, running you name it. No matter the season I try to get outside as much as possible to reset and clear my mind.
I’m going to throw a few names out there. Say whatever comes to mind.
A) Colts
Immense Suffering. Being a Colts fan is pure suffering at this point, but I’m a ride or die fan for life. For the Shoe!
B) Marissa’s Big Day
It’s your parents’ first time living too! My mom is a writer, and it’s been amazing to see her live her own dreams, publishing her first book this past year and with her second coming out soon.
C) Rose Rollins
*THE VERY BEST* Rose is so talented and she works damn hard. I’ve had the pleasure of watching her work both as a friend and on set a tiny bit as a coworker on her show Long Slow Exhale, and she’s a force. Grateful for her mentorship and friendship.
D) Kerry Washington
Grateful, for her example. She was the first person who looked like me to lead a show right as I was coming out of my undergraduate training and having conversations about where black women fit into the TV landscape at that time. It made this career path that much more real to see her every week in primetime leading a hit TV show.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about “stardom” and what has been your biggest takeaway while on your creative journey?
That it is the brass ring, the be all and end all. What I have seen is that fame and stardom are a little bit both prize and cost. The biggest win for me in this journey is repeatedly getting asked to tell stories and have people say they resonated with my work. The “stardom” aspect is still something that I am more observing rather than living and it certainly appears to entail a high level of scrutiny.
Tell us something about yourself that most don’t know.
I have the soap gene. Cilantro tastes like dish soap to me and I can taste it immediately in any dish. It ruins everything for me and it is such a tragedy.
Aside from the upcoming It’s “Not Like That”, what is up next for you and how will you make 2026 better than 2025?
I have got two more books in the Bayou Dreams series by Farrah Rochon that I have narrated coming out this year and I can’t wait for folks to get to read/listen to the rest of this series set in Louisiana.
I am making 2026 better than 2025 by embracing what life throws at me and really taking the time to be present and notice each moment of joy.
Follow Marissa Chanel Hampton @marissachanelhampton on Instagram or visit her online at marissachanelhampton.com.
Words + Interview By Tyrone Davis
Photos: Storm Santos
Wardrobe Stylist: Anna Shilling
Makeup: Josephine Bouchereau
Hair: Tiffany Daugherty
