LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
When actress Mary Galloway when to school in Qualicum Beach, she wasn’t the outspoken character she appears to be in her recent TV and film roles.
“I was super shy and quiet and you could barely get me to talk in a group of people let alone perform in front of them,” said Galloway, who currently lives in Vancouver.
Beyond a host of other projects, Galloway is currently writing the script for a dramatic feature film with actor and friend Katherine Ramdeen. Both girls recently starred in the hit TV show Supernatural.
The script they’re writing is called Down Beat and the girls have entered it into the contest Let’s Make a Movie, where online votes will help them reach the top five, and a grand prize win could secure them funds to produce the film and screen it at the Cannes Film Festival.
Galloway and Ramdeen will star in the film, which will surrounds the infamous Highway of Tears where dozens of Aboriginal women have disappeared since 1969. Galloway is a member of a First Nations band herself, and said she feels its important to shed more light on the situation and continue to spread awareness. She and Ramdeen will play two young female cops who are investigating some of the cases. The two actors are also keen on writing a script with two female leads that doesn’t involve love.
“They’re always out to find a boyfriend or husband or something, so we thought let’s make a shift and do something a little different.”
Growing up in Qualicum Beach, Galloway was an avid dancer and loved performing on stage. But it wasn’t until she moved to Vancouver after graduation that she fell in love with acting.
“I found an acting school and I thought I’d give it a try and I just loved it so much — you can’t stop me from acting now,” she laughed.
Her first gig was a Worksafe B.C. commercial and before she knew it she was starring in feature films including Ancient Lights.
Her first speaking role was in Supernatural, which has been screened all over the world and garnered her Twitter followers in places like Italy and Greece.
She said she has always been proactive about finding work, constantly apply to both paying and non-paying roles for experience.
Some of her most recent work includes playing a nurse in The Untold Stories of the E.R. airing on T.L.C. in the fall.
Galloway said she is hopeful and optimistic about winning the Le's Make a Movie contest and was in fourth place as of the weekend. The girls were recently featured on Breakfast Television on the recommendation from the people behind the contest. Once they make the top five it will be reviewed by a panel of industry professionals.
In order to vote for Down Beat, visit www.letsmakeamovie.ca and click on Watch. For more on Galloway visit www.marygalloway.com.