We recently chatted with actor Shane Marriott who will be starring as Sticks in the new and highly anticipated drama series, The Porter, set to make its premiere this February 21st on CBC and BET+.

Shane has amassed a significant body of work in major film and television productions including, Murdoch Mysteries (CBC/Netflix), Crossword Mysteries (Hallmark Channel), Titans (HBO Max), Hudson and Rex (CityTV),
Grand Army (Netflix), Marry Me This Christmas (Amazon Prime) and Awake (Netflix).

We asked Shane about The Porter, how he got into acting and what he’s learned about the craft along the way. Check out our conversation below.

What can you tell us about The Porter?

Shane Marriott (SM): Inspired by real events and set in the 1920s, The Porter follows the journeys of an ensemble of characters who hustle, dream, cross borders and pursue their ambitions in the fight for liberation – on and off the railways that crossed North America. It’s a story of empowerment and idealism that highlights the moment when railway workers from both Canada and the United States joined together to give birth to the world’s first Black union. Set primarily in Montreal, Chicago and Detroit as the world rebuilds after the First World War, The Porter depicts the Black community’s fight for change – but if change isn’t coming for them, they will come for it. By any means necessary. It’s a piece of Canadian history that doesn’t get told or taught in schools.

When did you decide that storytelling and acting was something you wanted to do? 

SM: I knew this was something I wanted to form the 7th grade but 6 years ago was when I decided to go all in with it. I was working night shifts at my job as a chemist and something had happened with an acid bath and the ventilation. I called the supervisor because I didn’t feel safe breathing that in and I was told to go back to work, everything was fine. At that moment I realized that my employer did not care about my health or wellbeing plus I was unhappy in that environment. So I told myself I might as well take a chance on something I love to do, not what I had to do. It turned out to be the riskiest but best choice of my life.

What advice would you give to people pursuing acting? 

SM: If you don’t love it, don’t do it. It is not easy and it is not going to go how you plan, especially if you do not have tough skin for it. Every role isn’t for you, so get use to the word “No.”Your acting career is a journey, you have to enjoy every moment from no auditions, to being placed on hold, to bookings. Take classes, keep a positive mind and do not compare your path to anybody else. Focus on what you can control which will include reading, studying film, other actors work and experiencing life because that’s where the real acting lessons occur. Everything you do from here on out will contribute to your art so approach each day like that and continue to be a sponge, soaking up all of life’s lessons.

What was your first acting role? 

SM: My first acting role was for Killjoys. I was a masked guard with a one liner, but you know the saying ,”there are no small parts!”

What do you enjoy the most about acting?

SM: The thing I enjoy most about acting, aside from the experiences, is having somebody empathize with your work, what you are feeling and going through on screen. Now a day’s the average person has a very short tolerance towards videos, 15 seconds and then it’s onto the next. To have someone take time out of their day, escape their reality to be a part of yours is an amazing feeling especially after the time you put into creating this story/life. I look at it as if what we do is a sense of relief for some people for example; you could be having a challenging day and your favorite movie/ television show is on. I almost guarantee that it will change your mood in some shape or form and brighten up your day even if it’s for that moment.

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The Porter will premiere on CBC, BET + and CBC Gem on February 21

Follow Shane Marriott on Instagram

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