Marsai Martin Explained

Marsai Martin
Birth Name:Caila Marsai Martin
Birth Date:14 August 2004
Birth Place:Plano, Texas, U.S.
Years Active:2014–present
Signature:Marsai Martin Autography.jpg

Caila Marsai Martin[1] (;[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).

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

Martin was born in Plano, Texas, to African-American parents[5] 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. The photos were sent out to four agencies and one immediately signed her. 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

In 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. 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 , 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 and the 2023 sequel film .[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]

Personal life

Martin is currently in a relationship with NASCAR driver Rajah Caruth.[29]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2016NinaYoung Girl on Tape
Melody EllisonDirect-to-video
2017Fun Mom DinnerHannah
Lemonade MafiaKira AndersonShort film
2019LittleYoung Jordan Sanders
2021Spirit UntamedPrudence "Pru" Granger (voice)
Liberty (voice)
2022Fantasy FootballCallie ColemanAlso producer
2023Liberty (voice)
Good Burger 2Friendly Customer
TBAG20TBAPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014–2022Black-ishDiane JohnsonMain role
2015–2016Goldie & BearJill (voice)4 episodes
2016The Mr. Peabody & Sherman ShowAnissa (voice)2 episodes
2016–2019Elena of AvalorCaterina (voice)
2018Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtAishaEpisode: "Kimmy and the Beest"
2019Mixed-ishDiane JohnsonEpisode: "Becoming Bow"
A Black Lady Sketch ShowRenieceEpisode: "Born at Night, But Not Last Night"
2019–2020VampirinaFrankie Bolt (voice)2 episodes
2019–2022Aggro (voice)Main role
2022Wild 'n OutHerself1 episode
Iyanna (voice)Episode: "Get In"
The Hair TalesHerself
2023SaturdaysExecutive producer
2024Grey (voice)Main role
Yesi Scala (voice)

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2015 Best Performance in a TV Series – Supporting Young Actress
2016
Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Television Series
2017
2018
Kidscreen Awards Best Acting
2019Shorty Awards
Phenom Award – Entertainment
NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesBlack-ish
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-series)
Black Reel AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy Series
BET Awards[30] YoungStars Award
2019 MTV Movie & TV AwardsBest Comedic PerformanceLittle
Teen Choice AwardsChoice Movie Actress – Comedy
2020[31] NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesBlack-ish
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-series)
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion PictureLittle
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in Motion Picture

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brianna . Kovan. March 21, 2019. Marsai Martin Is Making Big-Time, Big-Screen Moves. March 30, 2021.
  2. Marsai Martin . 31 May 2023 . it's been a minute . 1 July 2023 . 6:29 . Hi everybody, I'm Marsai Martin. .
  3. Web site: Delgado . Sara . Marsai Martin Threw a Shrek-Themed, Star-Studded Party for Her 18th Birthday . August 16, 2022 . . . December 31, 2022.
  4. Web site: TIME 100 Next 2019: Marsai Martin. Time.
  5. Web site: Burkes . Dawn M. . December 10, 2018 . Plano native named one of Time magazine's 'Most Influential Teens of 2018'.
  6. Web site: Teen mogul Marsai Martin on "Little". March 31, 2019. CBS News.
  7. Web site: Meet Marsai Martin, The Youngest Executive Producer In Hollywood. NPR.org. en. April 22, 2019.
  8. Web site: A Brief Explainer Of Marsai Martin For Those Of You Who Don't Know Who She Is. Peck. Patrice. BuzzFeed. April 11, 2019 . en. April 22, 2019.
  9. Web site: MARSAI MARTIN SITS DOWN FOR AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ASSIGNMENT X. January 19, 2017. May 27, 2018.
  10. Web site: Marsai Mart asked was in as Diane Johnson – black-ish. ABC. January 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180129140414/http://abc.go.com/shows/blackish/cast/diane-johnson. January 29, 2018. dead.
  11. Web site: February 22, 2020. NAACP Winners 2020: The Complete List. March 30, 2021.
  12. Web site: January 15, 2018. NAACP Image Awards: The Complete Winners List. March 30, 2021.
  13. Web site: February 5, 2016. 'Straight Outta Compton,' 'Empire,' Michael B. Jordan Top NAACP Image Awards. March 30, 2021.
  14. Web site: TV News Roundup: Amazon Casts 'Black-ish' Star as First American Girl; Tracey Ullman Returning to HBO. Maria. Cavassuto. August 25, 2016. January 28, 2018.
  15. Web site: 'Black-ish' Breakout Marsai Martin to Star in 'Little' for Will Packer, Kenya Barris (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. January 24, 2018. January 28, 2018.
  16. Web site: Film News Roundup: 'Black-ish' Star Marsai Martin's Comedy 'Little' in Development. Dave. McNary. January 25, 2018. January 28, 2018.
  17. Web site: "Black-ish's" Marsai Martin to Star in and Exec Produce Tina Gordon Comedy. January 25, 2018. January 28, 2018.
  18. Web site:
    1. BlackGirlMagic: Black-ish Star Marsai Martin Set to Become Youngest Executive Producer in Hollywood History
    . Harriot. Michael. The Grapevine. January 9, 2019 . en-US. January 29, 2019.
  19. Web site: Marsai Martin Signs First-Look Production Deal With Universal To Develop New Projects, Sets New Film 'StepMonster'. shadowandact.com.
  20. Web site: 'Black-ish' Star Marsai Martin Inks First-Look Deal With Universal (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. February 7, 2019.
  21. Web site: Mandeville, Marsai Martin Team for Fantasy 'Amari and the Night Brothers' (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. May 29, 2019.
  22. Web site: Marsai Martin Sets New Project at Universal With Comedy 'Queen' (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. December 19, 2019.
  23. Web site: Marsai Martin Producing New 'Queen' Comedy with Universal. December 20, 2019.
  24. Web site: Watch The Pups Get Their Powers In This Preciousness-Packed ‘Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie’ Clip . bossip.com.
  25. Web site: 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.
  26. Web site: 'Fantasy Football': Omari Hardwick, Kelly Rowland & Rome Flynn Board Sports Comedy From Nickelodeon And Awesomeness Films. Deadline. April 19, 2022 .
  27. Web site: ‘Saturdays’ Comedy Produced By ‘Black-ish’s Marsai Martin Gets Disney Channel Pilot Order. Denise. Petski. March 11, 2021.
  28. Web site: Marsai Martin’s ‘Saturdays’ Comedy Pilot Picked Up To Series By Disney Channel. Denise. Petski. November 30, 2021.
  29. Web site: Foreman Jr. . Tom . May 18, 2024 . Rajah Caruth earning attention after first NASCAR Truck Series win . June 3, 2024 . JournalNow.com . Winston-Salem Journal.
  30. Web site: Marsai Martin Wins Well Deserved YoungStars Award! | BET Awards 2019. www.youtube.com.
  31. Web site: NAACP Image Awards: Lizzo Named Entertainer Of The Year; 'Just Mercy', 'Black-Ish', 'When They See Us' Among Top Honorees – Full Winners List. Dino-Ray. Ramos. February 23, 2020.