Marsai Martin | |
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_(cropped).jpg) Martin in 2024 | |
| Born | Caila Marsai Martin (2004-08-14)August 14, 2004 (age 20) Plano, Texas, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2014–present |
| Website | marsai |
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Caila Marsai Martin[1] (/ˈmɑːrseɪ/MAR-say;[2] born August 14, 2004)[3] is an American actress and producer, best known for her role as Diane Johnson on theABC sitcomBlack-ish (2014–2022).
In 2019, Martin had a starring role in the comedy filmLittle, which she also produced, becoming the youngest person ever to produce a studio film. The same year,Time magazine named her on its "Time 100 Next".[4] In 2022, she produced and starred in the sports comedy film,Fantasy Football.
Martin was born inPlano, Texas[5] to Carol and Joshua Martin.[6] Martin's acting career was launched with a glamour pictorial,[7] in which the photographer gave Martin's parents a discount in exchange for her father's promise that he would submit the photos to talent agencies.[7] The photos were sent out to four agencies and one immediately signed her.[7] At age five, Martin landed her first national commercial forChoice Hotel.[8][9] Her family then moved toLos Angeles in 2013, so she could pursue an acting career.[10]
In 2014, Martin was cast as Diane Johnson, the daughter of Andre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow Johnson (Tracee Ellis Ross) on the ABC sitcomBlack-ish, created byKenya Barris. For her breakthrough role, Martin has received numerous awards and nominations, including threeNAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series[11][12][13] and aYoung Artist Award.[10] She has received six NAACP Image Awards nominations and twoScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
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In 2016, Martin made her film debut, playing a leading role in theAmazon Studios original filmAn American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win, set in Detroit during theCivil Rights Movement. That same year, she did a voice role for the movieNina, which tells the life story of American artist and activist Nina Simone.[14] In 2019, Martin starred in her first studio feature film, the comedyLittle, forUniversal Pictures. At the age of 13, she becameexecutive producer of the film, making her the youngest person to ever produce a movie, as well as the youngest African-American producer.[15][16][17][18]
In February 2019, Genius Productions, Martin's company, signed a first-look production deal with Universal. Martin's first film as part of the deal is StepMonster, a comedy about a teenage girl who is adjusting to life with a new stepmother.[19] She is the youngest person to get a first-look deal at Universal, and the youngest person to get a deal at any studio.[20] In May 2019, it was announced Martin would be producing and starring in the film adaptation ofAmari and the Night Brothers for Universal Pictures.[21] In December 2019, it was announced that Martin would be producing the comedy filmQueen.[22][23] She voiced the character Liberty in the 2021 filmPAW Patrol: The Movie and the 2023 sequel filmPAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie.[24][25] In April 2022, it was announced that Martin would star alongsideKelly Rowland andOmari Hardwick in the comedy filmFantasy Football.[26] In 2023, she producedSaturdays, a coming-of-age comedy television series for Disney Channel. The show was canceled after one season.[27][28]
In 2024, Martin competed inseason twelve ofThe Masked Singer as "Woodpecker" whereJenifer Lewis (who portrayed "Miss Cleocatra" back inseason eleven) served as her Mask Ambassador. She was eliminated in the Group A finals alongsidePaula Cole as "Ship".
Martin is currently in a relationship withNASCAR driverRajah Caruth.[29]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Nina | Young Girl on Tape | |
| An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win | Melody Ellison | Direct-to-video | |
| 2017 | Fun Mom Dinner | Hannah | |
| Lemonade Mafia | Kira Anderson | Short film | |
| 2019 | Little | Young Jordan Sanders | Also executive producer[30] |
| 2021 | Spirit Untamed | Prudence "Pru" Granger (voice) | |
| Paw Patrol: The Movie | Liberty (voice) | ||
| 2022 | Fantasy Football | Callie Coleman | Also producer |
| 2023 | Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie | Liberty (voice) | |
| Good Burger 2 | Friendly Customer | ||
| 2025 | G20 | Serena Sutton | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2022 | Black-ish | Diane Johnson | Main role |
| 2015–2016 | Goldie & Bear | Jill (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show | Anissa (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2016–2019 | Elena of Avalor | Caterina (voice) | |
| 2018 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Aisha | Episode: "Kimmy and the Beest" |
| 2019 | Mixed-ish | Diane Johnson | Episode: "Becoming Bow" |
| A Black Lady Sketch Show | Reniece | Episode: "Born at Night, But Not Last Night" | |
| 2019–2020 | Vampirina | Frankie Bolt (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2019–2022 | DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders | Aggro (voice) | Main role |
| 2022 | Wild 'n Out | Herself | 1 episode |
| The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Iyanna (voice) | Episode: "Get In" | |
| The Hair Tales | Herself | ||
| 2023 | Saturdays | — | Executive producer |
| 2024 | Good Times: Black Again | Grey (voice) | Main role |
| Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy | Yesi Scala (voice) | ||
| The Masked Singer | Herself/Woodpecker | Season 12 contestant |
Hi everybody, I'm Marsai Martin.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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