Talent: Marissa Bode. Photographer: Tom Marvel. Dress: Bibhu Mohapatra. Necklace & ring: Alexis Bittar. Headpiece: 831 Minhle from Showroom Seven
Marissa Bode was an after-school art teacher and mentor when she auditioned and landed a major role in the film “Wicked”, based on the cultural touchstone “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” which has spun off books, plays and films enjoyed by generations of children and grown ups.
Cast as Nessarose, the complicated sibling, Bode shares screen time with well-known stars Cynthia Erivo, who plays her big sister Elphaba, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh.
The pretty and talented Wisconsonite was thrust into the spotlight and drew heightened attention for being the first disabled actor to portray Nessarose, who in the play and movie adaptions, has a wheelchair.
Fans eagerly anticipated the film’s second installment, “Wicked:For Good”, which hit theaters November 21st, in time for the holidays.
Typically, on stage Nessarose is cast as an ambulatory wheelchair user, who eventually walks by the end of the play. Casting Bode presented a challenge for the actor and the filmmakers – and the dilemma was addressed with creativity.
Bode, who is paraplegic, embraced her visibility by assuming an artist-activist stance, especially as a voice for the disabled community. “It’s important that disabled be seen so they can be accommodated,”said Bode. “But non-disabled people could do with a reality check about what life is really like for disabled people. “Sometimes it’s not that deep,” said Bode. “Today I’m just sitting down. Before “Wicked” I’ve been called inspiring just for leaving the house; just for going shopping.”
Dress: Maison Met from The Residency Experience. Bracelet & ring: Alexis Bittar. Tiara & earrings: Erickson Beamon from Showroom Seven. Veil: Piers Atkinson from The Residency Experience.
The chance to star in “Wicked” came just as Bode, 25, was navigating a dip in her spirits and feeling sorry for herself. “My boss, who I loved, was leaving,” she recalled. “ We were already short-staffed. One of my favorite bracelets broke. “She was making vegan chili and the top of the pepper container tumbled off and all the peppercorn fell into the chili, she told The Wheelchair Activist podcast.
“To me, things in general with my life weren’t going well.”
We’ve all had those days. The sun is behind the wrong cloud. NOTHING is going right or so it seems. Furthermore, all the auditions can wear a girl out.
And then, “Wicked” happened.
Today, Bode is thriving. Though anxiety kicks in every now and again, her activism brings her joy. “There’s no point in having a platform if I’m not going to use it for the better and uplifting those voices that need uplifting,” said Bode. “Caring about other people is important,” she said.
Dress: Bibhu Mohapatra. Necklace: Erickson Beamon from Showroom Seven. Ring: Alexis Bittar.
Her embrace of activism didn’t happen overnight. “I think I was like 15 when I started caring about people outside myself,” said Bode. She ticked off her areas of focus: Women’s rights, the disabled community, people of color and the plight of Palestinians.
Bode plans to get a car soon and possibly move in with her girlfriend Lauren, who recently graduated from journalism school (and their cats), she said.
She and Lauren met after Bode bravely cycled through a series of less than scintillating encounters via online dating apps. Finally, on Hinge, she and Lauren seemed like a match and after virtually communicating for about a month – what seemed like a long time to Bode (I think queers move more quickly,” she said) , they met in person at the time-honored meet up spot for online daters: the coffee shop.
It was hearts, hearts and smiles. They’ve been together for two years.
I can see Lauren busying herself in the background as Bode and I chat over Zoom.
The subject of marriage has come up. “But that’s far in the future, potentially,” said Bode. “A lot of it is just figuring out where we’re going. Just experiencing more life together in general. Ren (Lauren) just graduated in December, so she’s just figuring out where her career is going.”
Dress: Nardos. Earrings: Burkinabae from Maison Privee.
“We need time,” concurs Lauren from the background with a laugh in her voice.
Bode found her tribe. She also figured out that cultivating a circle of like-minded people and positive self talk, helps her manage her imposter syndrome. “I surround myself with people who are very encouraging and also in the same spheres that I am in, in terms of caring about human rights and caring about other people. Being in those spaces keeps me on track because there will always be that little voice in the back of my head: ‘ Why are there people on the street right now suffering and you’re in the position that you are in? It just seems so unfair right now. “I do have to remind myself that that’s not something I can control and rather it’s systemic and the most I can do is continue to advocate that these systems not exist.”
Living as a differently-abled person brings up issues like what to do when the elevator went out in her building. She couldn’t take the stairs! The workaround was to move in with Lauren temporarily. The car will need to be fitted to accommodate Bode’s body’s needs.
Our talk turned to ramps and I realized making the world traversable and equitable for all is everyone’s business. What about a ramp even if no one in the household needs one right now.
Dress: Nardos. Veil: Binata Millinery. Headpiece: Rinaldy Yunardi from The Residency Experience.
“It shouldn’t always be left up to disabled people, the disabled community,” said Bode. “You can buy a cheap ramp. Why are there no disabled people at the MET gala?
This past summer, she travelled from her home in Los Angeles to Milwaukee to celebrate the wedding of her brotherTristan, who is older by two years and was a strong influence on her growing up. It was Tristan who, when they were both kids in Mazomanie, WI, first led her into theater at age eight, she said.
Her Instagram feed is full of artwork she’s created. “Art is another thing I copied off of my brother,” said Bode. “He majored in art communications. He’s always loved drawing. We would draw for hours at the little coffee table at our parents’.”
In this seemingly close-knit family, everyone can claim a substantive role in Bode’s Wicked moment. In addition to Tristan sparking her early interest in theater; Dad ran lines with her over Zoom so she could practice.
Dress: Lever Couture. Earrings: Denise Pacini from Flying Solo.
Mom took her daughter to see the play “Wicked” as a treat and perhaps to instill encouragement. The budding thespian was 11 years old when a car accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. With a young, female character in a wheel chair, the play had a beneath-the-skin impact on Bode. She rejected the idea that disabled people must be “fixed” to be whole and happy human beings.
Later, her Dad’s love of basketball steered Bode to a full-ride college scholarship to play wheelchair basketball. At the eleventh hour, she declined the largesse. “My heart was really in art and theater,” said Bode, and instead she enrolled in the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Los Angeles. The training proved especially helpful for her when working on “Wicked” which spans two different points in her character’s life, she said. She drew upon her relationship with her brother and her father to imagine what Nessa might experience deep down.
Dress: Lever Couture. Earrings: Denise Pacini from Flying Solo.
“I thought about how I would feel if my brother abandoned me or my Dad who I’m extremely, extremely close to and if he left me in that situation that would be extremely devastating for me if I.never heard from my father for years.This is what happens with Elphaba.
“Nessa doesn’t really hear from Elphaba at all, at all.”
No doubt, eyes will be trained on Bode this fall and she clearly intends to bring as many people in her disabled community, women and people of color into the spotlight with her.
Non-disabled people often see disability as a bad thing, a tragedy, said Bode.”’They just want to be healed.” I don’t speak for every disabled person but it isn’t. Nessa’s true desire is just to be loved. “A disabled person’s greatest desire is to be seen for who they are as a person,” said Bode.
Dress: Nardos. Hat: Binata Millinery. Ring: Alexis Bittar.
Talent: Marissa Bode @marissa_edob
at Authentic Management @authenticmgmt.
Photographer: Tom Marvel @tommarvelphotography.
Creative Director: Cannon @thecannonmediagroup
at Atelier Management @ateliermgmt.
Lighting Director: Murat Ozdemir @1muratozdemir1.
Director of Video: Edsta @edsta.
Production: Winnie Noan @winnie_noan.
Fashion Team Lead: Max Reid @lu3alo at She Is Maia @sheismaia_agency.
Digital Tech: Jonathan Pivovar @jono_digital.
Lighting Director’s Assistant: Hector Adalid @hectoradalid.
Photographer’s Team: Michele Swain @michelewihelminaphotography |
Eric Wallace @polymathicwallace | Helen Chi @misshelenchic.
Grip: George Pepe @gspepe
Marketing Director: Biljana Cvijetinovic @biljana.cvijetinovic
Beauty Team:
Hair Stylist: Linh Nguyen @linhhair
at See Management @seemanagement
using Amika @amika.
Makeup Artist: Brian Duprey @brianduprey
at Judy Casey Inc @judycaseinc
using Makeup For Ever @makeupforever, Viseart @viseart, & Covergirl @covergirl.
Manicurist: Casey @caseynails
at The Wall Group @thewallgroup
using Kiss Nails @kissproductsuae.
Fashion Team: Mario Rubino @mariorubinoo_ | Alice Chan @_alisss.c_ |
Sofia Sinzmeyer @sofiazinsmeyer | Hailey Hendershot @haileyyhendershot |
Mijael Gormes Pinchanski @mijaelpin.
Shot at The Splashlight Studios @splashlightstudios.
Special Thanks to Gabriela Aguilar, Alissa Goodman, Tessa Robinson, Hayley Syrett, Tanner, Fiona Winch, Lauren Auslander.
Special Thanks to Beatrice and Benoit and everyone at Spalshlight Studios.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
