Since coming to New York from Scotland at age 17 to showcasing her first film at Sundance, Mariana has had quite a ride. Now she finds herself in LA acting in a hit TV show (Glow) while still finding time to direct. We sat down with her one rainy winter's day at JAM favorite Botanica in Silverlake to find out more about her passion for directing and acting.

JAM: How did the directing come about? Was that always something you wanted to pursue?
MP: The plays that I was doing in New York were so good and when I got to LA in my early twenties, the stuff I was auditioning for was so bad that I said "I have to make a film." Making my film "Good Dick" was sort of a rebellion in 2006-7 and it went to Sundance in 2008.

JAM: What was it like for you to direct, write, star and produce your first few films?
MP: I felt like I knew how to do all those things the best. And I didn't need to explain anything to a director. I knew what to do as an actress. In "Bitch" I wrote this part where I had to be a dog, I couldn't ask another actress to do that. I didn't want to put anyone through what needed to be done.
JAM: Did you find that risky at all to wear all those hats?
MP: Art is risky, and I got over that a long time ago. And I only see those jobs as a challenge, and that feels so good to me.
JAM: What do you find inspirational to you as a director?
MP: My mother is the reason I do everything. She's an incredible mother. She's always good in the scariest spaces and then so loving, so helpful, so accepting. She encourages bravery.
JAM: Tell me about the documentary, "The Lion's Mouth Opens." It centers around you and Hutchinson's Disease?
MP: We made it in a matter of two months, and it went to Sundance and HBO bought it and it all happened very quickly. It was nominated for the Emmy and Oscar shortlist which meant we were doing a lot of campaigning and raising money. We raised enough money to help create the biggest advancement the research has had in 50 years.
JAM: How did your latest film "EGG," which premiered January 18, 2019, come about?
MP: One of the producers and stars, Alysia Reiner (Orange Is The New Black) and her husband and the head of Comedy Central, Michelle Ganeless, wanted to do this beloved script that they had been working on with the writer for like 10 years. When I read it, it was the most perfect fucking thing I ever read. On page ten I called my manager and told him to say yes.
JAM: 85% of the crew was female on "EGG?"
MP: Yep, everyone was a woman basically. So fun.
JAM: You play Reggie Walsh on "Glow," what is it like to be on a show with such an amazing female cast?
MP: It's very healing for the entire cast. I haven't ever had that, even in a play, where I want all for them to have the happiest lives...I want the best for them all. It's having 14 women all say "I'll die for you." It's a euphoric place. We don't get to see that in the world everyday.

JAM: Did you ever think you would be doing wresting?
MP: I had no fucking idea it was going to be a lot of gymnastics and rolling around and landing on your back and all that stuff. When they said training, I thought they meant running on treadmills and lifting weights. No, you have to do flips and if you are off by an inch you can die. Any you can be with another person and both die.
JAM: Women in film, what has been your take on it, and how do you think things can improve?
MP: I think the work Geena Davis has done with the numbers is really interesting. Me and all my women friends, Bryce Dallas Howard is directing Star Wars, we could have directed when we were 19 but we weren't given the chance but, also, we were 19!