Mara Lee Gilbert

Mara Lee Gilbert grew up in Nutley, NJ. She originally wanted to be a heart surgeon (at the ripe age of 8) until she almost fainted watching an educational video of a real heart surgery in her eighth grade science class. She changed her mind and decided to study psychology, following through to obtain her Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice (NYC). However, her interest in drama and performance grew strong during her college years: she performed as the lead in 5 productions on her school's stage, receiving Irene Ryan Award nominations and the prestigious graduate Richard Henry Hommel Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatrical Performances. She wrote and produced a one-act play that was published through the Riant Theatre's Strawberry One-Act Festival Anthology (vol. 6), and taught theater workshops inside one of Manhattan's women's prisons as well as Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center. She decided to pursue this career full-time and has continued to produce film and theater along with her acting.