Can't Live Without It - Mallory Adams Rediscovers Herself Through Acting

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Written by: SHP Staff Writer

Mallory Adams was a very smart yet incredibly shy little girl who never dreamed of becoming an actress. While most kids her age were acting out their imaginations on the playground, Mallory kept her nose glued to her books. From elementary school all the way through college she excelled in honors programs and kept her distance from the stage and any sort of public scrutiny. She flirted with the idea of being up on that high school stage, entertaining the audience with her wit and charm under the bright lights, but she never mustered the courage to try out. In college she enrolled in her first acting class, only to drop it the very next day.

I kicked myself later because I wanted to do it and knew I only dropped it because I was scared to go up in front of people.

The newfound desire for theatrical expression only grew stronger with the regret of passing on that opportunity. Mallory was determined not to let that fumble stop her. Three weeks later, she contacted her former Acting 101 teacher and asked if there were any community theatre opportunities she could look into - something small and safe to dabble in without the pressure of putting it all out there for the world to see.

She sent me an ad for Verve Studios. I took private coaching with Amanda Melby for about a month and then enrolled in her scene study class. I only meant for acting to be a hobby. A year later, my father passed away and it changed my whole perspective on life. I was really close with my father and I went into a depression. Amanda helped me out and encouraged me to continue coming to class. Acting became a huge emotional release for me.

Suddenly, this young woman who had her life's path clearly established in her head was having an awakening of the soul. In the middle of graduate school, where she was on track to become a dietitian, she realized that what she really wanted to do was act. Acting had become such a strong outlet for her that she could no longer live without it.

I've always had a strong creative outlet. I grew up playing the piano and creating my own compositions. In college, I didn't do anything creative and I just about went crazy.

She developed her craft and nurtured her passion for acting while still aiming for her degree. She became a registered dietitian for women, infants, and children, and also taught a class on principles of human nutrition at Phoenix College. If that wasn't enough, she signed with Dani Green and has been pursuing acting professionally ever since.

In 2009, Mallory starred in the Synthetic Human film Pattern: Response. The dystopian science fiction mystery gave Mallory the opportunity to play two very different sides of a seemingly normal housewife. The character of Alexandria was pivotal to the sinister plot, and her haunting stare and beaming smile instantly gives the audience the sense that something is off.

There's a little part of me shown in every character I portray, even the villainous or dumb blonde characters. And of course, there are characters you want to play because you can relate to them so much. I would love to play Catherine in the play Proof. The play centers on Catherine, whose brilliant mathematician father recently passed due to mental illness, and she fears she is inheriting his mental illness. While I've never questioned my sanity, I understand her grief and lack of direction.



Mallory has gone on to act in several films over the past few years, but the road has not always been an easy one. Along the way, there have been many situations where her eagerness to explore the world of acting has caused her to leap before she looked.

I think when I was first starting out I accepted a lot of roles because I was excited to get cast or because it was paid. My agent called me and had a long talk with me about how it is important to be choosy with your roles. She instructed me that doing buyouts, participating in shows about hot-topic political concerns, or controversial topics can hurt your career by turning potential directors off from using you. I think about that conversation every time now when accepting roles. It's important to weigh the topics that are personally important to you with what may hurt your career.

Working in the Arizona film community has been a rewarding experience for Mallory. She attends as many local networking events as possible to meet directors, writers and producers and see what opportunities are on the horizon. Her experiences have also opened her eyes to some of the limitations faced by every serious actor within the community.

There are so many talented people in the Arizona film community. And since the community is relatively small, it's easier to make connections. I think having the acting community be so small it becomes a double-edged sword. It is easier to meet people, however, there are very few in the community that make a living acting. There are less professional opportunities as well. It makes managing your schedule between working and doing what you love tough sometimes.

Fortunately, Mallory flies high in the face of these challenges. She holds true to her passion and herself and always looks forward to the next opportunity to show it. There are many people in the local community who inspire her.

I've done 48-hour film challenges with James Leatherman but I would like to do a more challenging scene. I think he's really talented. I hear about Leann Dearing all the time but have yet to meet her. I would love the opportunity to work with her.

When Mallory becomes interested in anything in her life, she studies up as much as possible. Acting was no different than nutrition in this respect. When she wasn't busy teaching or acting, she was studying the screen. Several film stars have given her an appreciation of the nuances of professional acting. However, her strongest influences are the people she has in her life.

I love Audrey Hepburn in the role of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, and I would love the opportunity to portray her. Of course, growing up I always wanted to be Kate Winslet in Titanic too. I think I've had a slight girl crush on her ever since.

I have a lot of Hollywood idols whose talent I deeply respect. To name a few: Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Meryl Streep, Daniel Day-Lewis, Phillip Seymour-Hoffman and, surprisingly, I've been a big fan of Ryan Gosling's for the last 10 years.

However, my influences and mentors are much closer to home. My father influenced me a great deal and Amanda Melby has been a true mentor. She has given me a lot of acting advice and personal advice.

There is much more to Mallory than you could imagine. This smart and beautiful actress has a lot of interests off the stage as well as secret desires for the future of her career.

I'm a huge nerd who has two degrees in Nutrition and loves to learn about biochemistry. I love school. I also love to play the piano. I love horseback riding and, when I have time, I love being with my horse, Tough Character. When it comes to film, I would LOVE to be in a western and do my own stunts!



Mallory's upcoming projects include playing Ben Affleck in the Arizona premiere of Matt and Ben at the Mesa Arts Center, February 9th through the 23rd. She is scheduled to play Damsel in Catbrain Film Factory's short film Damsel. She is also looking forward to helping the My Arizona Health Channel by using both her knowledge as a registered dietitian and acting experience to host a show titled The Inside View. She shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Acting makes me feel alive. It's kind of a paradox, but I feel that by portraying other characters I end up learning more about myself. Acting is a way of self-discovery for me.



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