Marija Danyluk
Interview Highlights
Success can look like telling a story truthfully in the way it should be told. It can also look like being happy with your work.
Perfectionism can only get you so far. It’s better to show up unapologetically as yourself.
Being a woman can be frustrating and terrifying, but when we feel supported and heard, it can also be incredible.
Theatre is a difficult industry. We have to be our own best friends, take care of ourselves, and remember why we do what we do.
Find Marija Online:
Instagram: @marijadanyluk
Marija’s Current and Upcoming Work:
See Marija in We Will Rock You at Theatre Under the Stars Vancouver through August 27!
Bio
Marija Danyluk (she/her) is an actor based in Vancouver, BC, and a 2020 graduate of Capilano University's Musical Theatre Program. She is currently in We Will Rock You with Theatre Under The Stars, her first show back since the pandemic began, but was lucky enough to travel to NYC earlier this year to be a part of a workshop of a new musical: FAYE. Past credits include Maggie Winslow in A Chorus Line (CapU Theatre), Ensemble in both American Idiot (URP) and 9 to 5 (CapU Theatre), and Joyce Chilvers in Betty Blue Eyes (Arbutus Studio).
“I love it when I’m in a space where I can just be, just exist in my womanhood in a creative space.”
Meet Marija
Hayley: We are here with the incredible Marija Danyluk. Marija, please introduce yourself, share your pronouns, and tell us a little about what you do in theatre.
Marija: I am Marija Danyluk, my pronouns are she/her, and I’m an actor based in Vancouver, BC. I graduated from Capilano University’s musical theatre program in 2020, and ever since then, I have been growing my skills as an actor. I’m currently in We Will Rock You at Theatre Under the Stars in Vancouver. It’s my first show back since the pandemic, and I couldn’t be any happier about that. I’m trying to find my way in this industry - now that things are "calming down,” I’m trying to find my bearings, to get to a point where my feet are planted and I can take a full breath.
Amy: Marija, could you please tell us about your journey to doing theatre?
Marija: When I was a kid, The Sound of Music was my everything. I would make my dad watch it with me three times a day. And it is a 3-hour movie, so I am so sorry to him. I have compilations of years of home videos of me going, “Can I see myself?” Wanting my dad to turn the viewfinder around so I could watch myself on the camera.
So from a young age, I knew performing was where my heart was drawn. But I didn’t get a chance to really explore it until high school. I was in my element and felt so fulfilled every day getting to be a part of my school’s choirs, theatre company, and improv team. Then someone in my theatre company told me they were going to Capilano University for musical theatre, something I had never even considered because I kept acting and singing so separate.
Then we had a school trip to New York in 2017. I had just been accepted into the musical theatre program and the acting program at Capilano. The idea of musical theatre was really intimidating for me. I could go into the acting program because I knew I would be comfortable there, but also I felt so drawn to musical theatre. So I was debating, and I asked the universe for a sign to tell me which one I should do. On this trip, we went to the Apollo Theatre. They put on a version of their amateur night for tour groups. My friend and I did a mashup of all these New York City songs. I started singing “Empire State of Mind” by Alicia Keys. I was singing the chorus “In New York…” And in that exact moment, I realized that music was too important to me to just have it be something I do on the side. I thought, “I need to continue my training in this. This is too big a part of me.”
We finished, and a person who had worked at the Apollo since he was about 15 - he’d seen everybody there - he came up to me and said, “Do you want to be a singer?” And I said, “Yeah, I would love to.” And he said, “You’ve found what you need to do. This is it for you.” I was like, “Whoa, Universe, you really pulled through on that one!” I asked for a sign and you gave it. That was what pushed me to go into musical theatre.
Amy: I love that. So you’re at the very beginning of this journey, which is so exciting. From where you're sitting right now, what does success look like for you? What are your dreams for where your career could go?
Marija: There are so many different ways I could go. For me as an actor, telling the truth is really big. I think I would find success through telling a story truthfully in the way it should be told and by feeling like I am contributing to something or having a purpose with the words I’m saying. That’s a big part of it.
I would also love to travel for work. Your eyes get opened to the rest of the world when you travel. That would be a really cool thing. The dreams are big. But what would make me feel successful at the end of the day is being happy with what I am doing on the stage or in front of the camera. I know I’m hard on myself, so success would be me being happy with what I’ve done. And making my parents proud, too! They mean the world to me and have done everything to support me in this career choice, so I hope to one day be able to give back to them all they have given to me.
Marija’s Current Work and Creative Mission
Hayley: Marija, tell us what you’re working on creatively right now.
Marija: Hayley and two other incredible badass women, Julia Sonya Koyfman and Chloe Geller, wrote a musical called Faye, and Hayley asked if I would come to New York to play Faye for a workshop of it. It was the best experience I could have ever asked for. The story itself is so haunting and gives me chills. But to have a part to sing and act that was so complex - I don’t know when the next time I’m gonna play a part like that is. Reflecting on it afterward has me really appreciative that people are out there writing parts like that for women.
And then, We Will Rock You was my first theatre audition back from COVID. It’s definitely been a lot of gratitude to be back in a room. I love Queen, and every night the cast is giggling at how much fun the show is. It’s so nice to have a first show back that’s FUN, I think it was what I needed in this post-shutdown world. But I am also bawling my eyes out just being back onstage at all, so the emotions are truly all over the place.
Amy: Marija, do you have a creative mission that drives you in your career or your life?
Marija: There are two things. One side of it is I’m doing it for my younger self. I always think about the kid who would sit on the bed and write songs for no one, who would put on full shows for no one, who wanted so badly to have that performing need fulfilled. I want to do it for that version of myself, to fulfill the dreams that she had. That’s a personal thing that I always think about.
But then something tangible I want to do, the theme of connection is really big for me. I try to find connection with everybody through humor or storytelling or any kind of avenue.
Hayley: That’s one of your gifts, you bring that to every room you’re in. Every room you inhabit is warmer and more fun and more passionate.
Marija: Thank you! So much of what we do as creatives is based on connection - not only connection to ourselves and the people onstage with us but to the audience. So my mission, along with telling the truth, is for people to feel connected to whatever I’m doing. I never want to do a performance just to do it, I want it to impact someone.
It’s something I try to prioritize in my life too. It’s such a gift that we have to be able to connect with people. I try to use it to make life a little more meaningful. Without connection, it’s just mundane going through life, and that’s not what I’m trying to do. So if I had to put it into a mission, it would be to make connections with people and make them feel something. Or leave better than when they came.
Thoughts on Work/Life Balance
Hayley: How do you think about balancing your creative life with the other things in your life?
Marija: What a beautiful question! I am still in the process of trying to figure that one out.
Amy: Aren’t we all!
Marija: I am in a very fortunate spot because my manager at my day job completely supports me. When I message her and say, “I just got this audition” or “I’m going to New York,” she really prioritizes that for me, and I can’t express how thankful I am for that. So in this current situation, it’s working out beautifully.
But for the future, for what I do for an income while I’m performing, I would love to contribute in some way to the arts. I always try to think about what I could do to make a difference and help. I want my life to be the arts in different facets, and I want to feel fulfilled and have a purpose when I’m not performing. ‘Cause acting, it is not booking constantly.
So what I’m trying to figure out right now is: If I’m not on a stage or doing film, what is going to make me wake up and feel excited? I don’t want to spend my life desperately clawing, like, “I need a show.” For health and overall happiness, I would love to have something that I feel fulfilled doing and that contributes to this wonderful creative world.
I just feel so “baby.” I graduated two years ago, but since it’s been two years on pause, I still feel like I just graduated. I have these ideas of myself, of what’s attainable. And then something happens and I have to reevaluate. Like coming to New York, that’s exactly how it felt. I thought I knew what I wanted and where I was going, and then that happened and I was like, “Never mind! “Back to the drawing board!” because I realized there might be more options for me out there than I initially thought or planned.
Hayley: Getting comfortable with the unknown is so hard. Especially for those of us who are overachievers, it’s scary. It’s hard to make peace with the fact that this career path is different for everybody and there is no standard procedure. You could have a ton of success from an external perspective…
Amy: …and still feel like a baby. It is scary, because it’s unknown and there’s a part of us that likes having a clear path. And also, it’s exciting! You get to create your own destiny!
Marija: In the creative world, we are constantly doing job interviews, and most of the time we don’t get the job. So much of this job is not getting the job and just having to keep going. I honestly sometimes wish that there was something else I really loved doing, but this is it for me. But I’m also like, “Oh Marija, girl! Couldn’t we have loved finance a little bit?”
But at the end of the day, I know that this is what I need to do. And I am constantly trying to find different ways to do it. I was so fortunate that I studied musical theatre, and I’ve been working on film and TV more since graduating, so there are different avenues that I’m excited to explore. At the end of the day, they’re all connected to performing, and that’s what matters to me!
Benefits and Limitations of Womanhood
Amy: Marija, how do you see womanhood fitting into your identity?
Marija: There are a lot of moments where it feels like it’s a hard day to be a woman or anybody who has a uterus. But there are some days when I feel on top of the world as a woman. I’ve been lucky that I’ve been really respected in any position of leadership or power I’ve had, which I know is not the vibe for all women. I have had good experiences, but I also recognize that a lot of the time, it’s not an empowering environment.
With Faye, I was so excited to have an all-woman creative team. It was such a different room to be in. I think everybody’s opinions are important and useful when you’re creating art, but if there’s not a diversity of opinions, then it’s a yes game. Everyone thinks the same way, there’s no other ideas that can even be considered. I’m trying to find the balance of not letting what’s going on in the world completely change my view of my identity. It’s hard because it feels so dismissive right now of women in general. It makes no sense to me, talking about it as if women’s rights are a conversation in which people can have opinions…
So what is it like to be a woman? It’s really frustrating sometimes and terrifying, but then it’s also super amazing. There are so many different sides to it. I wish I had a more clear answer.
Hayley: I don’t think there is one clear answer. Being a woman is such a variable experience. What do you love about being a woman? What is the positive side of that for you?
Marija: I love that there is a different definition for everybody. When I’m feeling confident and empowered and badass, there’s that energy of “I love being a woman!” So what are those moments when I’m totally in love with it? I think it’s the moments I feel supported and heard. A lot of times, it’s in a group of other women when that happens.
Community is very important for me. I love it when I’m in a space where I can just be, just exist in my womanhood in a creative space. Those are the moments I love it, because I’m not thinking about it and it’s not a limitation for me, it just is who I am. If there’s any kind of doubt or worry about my perception as a woman, then I’m not feeling comfortable in my voice and that can only make collaboration harder.
Amy: What unique benefits do you feel women bring to theatrical spaces?
Marija: In the creative spaces I have been in with women, there’s an emphasis on people being comfortable and knowing that they’re in a safe space. I love that women take the time to address that, because in theatre, that hasn’t always been the case. The people in the room all come from different lives, we have different stories and different experiences. Directing a room in one style isn’t going to work for everybody, and women are very conscious of that and ask for what you need instead of just assuming that one thing is going to work.
Not to say that other people cannot have these traits, but I’ve noticed in the rooms I’m in, it’s a lot of consideration of the people there. And I wish it was always like that. Hopefully this next generation, when we’re in leadership positions, we will do what wasn’t done for women in the past. I’m excited to know how I would run a room, because I’ve been influenced by people who handle a room in a way I really respect. So I’m hoping that it trickles down.
I love the idea of appreciating everybody for who they are. Check-ins are happening a lot in theatre, like “Where are you at today?” Saccha Dennis, who directed We Will Rock You, does that. I also experienced that with Faye. And I want to be conscious of that. There are some days where you come in and it’s the best day of your life and other days where it’s a struggle to get to the place of putting on a show. Women have a lot of consideration for the people in the room and who they choose to bring into the room, which I really love.
How to Improve the Theatre Industry and Lessons Learned
Amy: If you could wave a magic wand and make a change to the theatre industry, what would you do?
Marija: Ooh, fun! This is quite niche, but I would take away the idea that you have to fit into what the casting team wants.
Hayley: In terms of people feeling like they have to mold themselves to be in particular types?
Marija: Yeah! Go into the room and don’t be apologetic that you’re there. They want you to succeed. I still have this energy sometimes where I feel like I’m apologizing as I am in the room. It’s that fear of, “I have no clue what you want or if I’m fitting into what you’re looking for.” There are so many things that are dependent on someone else and something you can’t control. For performers, I would love to take away the idea that you have to be what they want as opposed to being yourself. Auditioning can be emotionally and mentally exhausting.
Amy: It’s a fair critique of the industry that a lot of people can do things to address. As performers - it’s hard, but when you show up for an audition, you show up as yourself and let the casting team figure out if who you are fits in the show. But you don’t have to be anyone but yourself. And also, there are ways that casting teams can create safer, more supportive spaces that encourage people to be themselves.
Marija: During school, I hated self-taping because I would try to do something 45 times and not like any of the takes. It was very hard on my perfectionist brain. But since I’ve let go of some of that, sending in a self-tape, making a choice and you either hear back or you don’t, it has been wonderful. In the room, you can see on their faces what they think. And if something doesn’t go the way you’re hoping, you feel this pressure to “win them back.” I love being able to just send something in. I feel like I can make more confident choices as an actor when I’m able to do it without all of the eyes on me. Because when the eyes are there, even though I’m working on it and have come a long way, I find that the little voice in the back of my head is still worried that it’s not what they want.
Hayley: What’s something you’ve learned that you would want to tell your younger self?
Marija: I’m gonna get emotional! So much of my life in performing and in general was trying to be perfect. I wanted to do everything right, I didn’t want to make any mistakes. My senior show, A Chorus Line, was shut down a week before we opened in March 2020, and the last thing I can remember of that time was freaking out about my double pirouette. I loved the process, don't get me wrong, but all of my time outside of rehearsal was spent worrying about what I was lacking.
Then I’m in my bed in the middle of April, not doing anything, and feeling like, “I wish I was worried about my double pirouette, because then at least I would be doing it.” It was such a perspective change for me, and it’s helped a lot. I feel like a different person and a different performer now. We Will Rock You is a full-body marathon, but I’m not as hard on myself anymore as I would have been. I’ve allowed myself to just BE in this process and to have fun. I walked in as unapologetically as I could, trying to give what I can.
If I’m not my biggest cheerleader, it’s not gonna work. You have to be the one who keeps yourself going. Now I know that at the end of the day, I’m going to keep going with this, because I believe in myself in a different way. I’ve let go of perfectionism - not all of it, some of it’s still hanging around. I think that perfectionism has helped me in a lot of ways, it got me to certain points, but it doesn’t serve me anymore. And I’m starting to finally let that go and just be.
Amy: My personal experience is that recovering from perfectionism is truly a lifelong journey that is never done.
Hayley: When you can step away from perfectionism and focus on what you love about it, the gratitude of the act of doing and pursuing, it’s really cute, you know?
Amy: (laughs) It’s really cute.
Marija: Our industry is hard enough. I would never speak to someone else the way that I speak to myself. So why would I do that to myself?
Final Thoughts
Amy: Marija, what are you most proud of in your life and career?
Marija: When I got to Capilano, I had never done a musical. Then we did our first show, Betty Blue Eyes. I auditioned for this character that I wanted to play, but I had never done a show. I was like, “There’s no way.” And then I got the part. I remember being shocked. My first show - to play this lead role that I was so excited about, to be supported by the people in my class and my teachers. I thought I was dreaming. As terrified as I was, I didn’t have a lot of self-doubt in that show. I remember being like, “No time for that! I have to just go!” So I went for it. That was my first musical, and it set me up to have a lot of confidence in myself. It was affirming for me.
Amy: Is there anything else you want to add before we wrap up, Marija?
Marija: I would love to emphasize the importance of being your own best friend. A lot of people don’t talk about the effect that the industry has on our brains and our mental health. Going through that much rejection, what that does to us as people. Social rejection and pain, your brain can’t tell the difference. So when you feel dramatic or over-the-top because of rejection, there are scientific reasons for these emotions. We never got taught that, and I feel like that’s something that’s missing from theatre education.
Amy: How to take care of yourself in the industry.
Marija: That’s something I’m really passionate about. If there’s something that anybody could take away from this, it’s at the end of the day, just take care of yourself and remember why you do what you do. And on the days when it gets hard, I hope everybody can be there for themselves so that the journey is a little easier.
Hayley: And don’t be afraid to lean on your friends who love and support you as well!
Marija: Yes! It is so important to use your community and the people around you. If anyone’s gonna get it, it’s the people who go through exactly what you go through. It doesn’t matter what stage you’re at, it’s just important to take care of yourself so you can continue on the path of creating, collaborating, and enjoying the work freely and openly.
Hayley: Thank you so much for your time, Marija.
Amy: Thank you!
Marija: Thank you so much, you two.
