Marsai Martin Reflects on Her Rise in Hollywood and Industry Challenges

LOS ANGELES, April 10, 2025 — At just 20 years old, Marsai Martin has transitioned from child producer to influential mogul, reflecting on her journey in Hollywood and the challenges faced by young Black women in the industry. “I was still so small. I didn’t even know what I was really walking into. I didn’t feel nervous at all,” Martin recalled in an interview with Variety.

Martin made history when she became the youngest person to sign a first-look deal with a studio at the age of 14, a milestone that followed her successful pitch of the comedy film “Little” to Universal at the age of nine. The film, released in 2019, co-starred Regina Hall and Issa Rae, earning a modest $48 million worldwide.

As she reflects on her early career, Martin acknowledges the bruises she has endured in the competitive entertainment landscape. Despite her triumph with the 2022 sports comedy “Fantasy Football” on Paramount+, she experienced disappointment when her Disney Channel comedy “Saturdays,” which she executive produced, was canceled after just one season.

“Now I’ve seen things, and I understand what it’s been like for other Black women before me, the obstacles that they had to go through,” Martin said, her tone shifting to a more serious reflection. “You hear it all the time, but you don’t really know until you actually go through it.”

She expressed a sense of pride in offering representation in her work, particularly with “Saturdays.” “The fact that I got the opportunity to put three Black girls in those spaces is really dope,” Martin said, referencing the show’s leads, Danielle Jalade, Daria Johns, and Peyton Basnight. “At the same time, it made me realize the things that I need to continue to push through and change within our industry.”

Martin, who began acting at age five and gained prominence on the ABC sitcom “Black-ish,” faced uncertainty when the series ended after eight seasons. “I wanted to say yes to any and everything, only because I didn’t know what was next,” she recalled about her thought process during that challenging time.

Recently, Martin was presented with an opportunity to star in a Netflix film, which she believed could lead to more significant roles. However, she was uncomfortable with the level of sexual content in the script. “I’m like, I don’t want to have to show my goods for y’all to see that I’m grown, and I don’t think I should have to,” she remarked. After careful consideration and discussions with her parents, Joshua and Carol, Martin opted to decline the role.

Instead, she pursued another project that aligned with her values while also producing an untitled independent film featuring Courtney B. Vance, centering on the dynamics of an estranged father and daughter. “Sometimes we don’t see our parents as human until something clicks where you’re like, ‘Oh, wow, they’re just like me!’” Martin explained.

Currently, she stars in the action-thriller “G20,” which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 10. In the film, she plays the rebellious daughter of a U.S. President, portrayed by Viola Davis, who faces a terrorist attack during a diplomatic summit. “Her power is just being her — she didn’t even have to say much,” Martin said, praising Davis’s commanding presence on set.

As she navigates her future in the industry, Martin is also focused on her production company, Genius Entertainment, which has several projects in the pipeline, including an adaptation of the fantasy book “Amari and the Night Brothers”. “It’s like our ‘Harry Potter,’” she said, excited about the project. She is also working on a comedy inspired by her experiences in her hometown of Dallas.

“As new adults, that’s one of our real first jobs,” Martin said, reflecting on her journey, and how it might have differed had she not gotten into Hollywood before reaching adulthood. With her mix of ambition and resilience, Marsai Martin continues to redefine what it means to be a young Black woman in Hollywood.