Young actress from Harlingen turning heads in high places

HARLINGEN — Mariana with her voice musical and clear spoke quietly and without reservation about her sudden success for a short film.

“I really wasn’t expecting it,” said Mariana Donnelly, 12, a sixth grader at Memorial Middle School. Mariana, who goes by the stage name “That’s so Mariana” has just won Best Performance for a short film at the Los Angeles Web Series Festival, more commonly known as the LA Web Fest.

The film “Black and White Canvas” by director Luis Antonio Rodriguez tells the story about a biracial girl struggling with systemic racism. Mariana was able to use her own experiences to build a convincing character.

“I have people calling me names and making racist jokes when it’s not really funny,” said Mariana, who is of African American, Irish and Liberian heritage.

In the 1960s and 70s concerned citizens spoke with great energy and conviction about racism in the United States. There was the Civil Rights Movement and landmark legislation, and young people in high school and college classrooms explored these matters and were concerned about real change.

And yet almost 50 years later Mariana still hears racial slurs.

“They think it’s funny,” she said. “The teachers probably notice it but they haven’t said anything about it. Nothing’s really being done here.”

In the film, Mariana’s character “McKella” deals with her struggles through writing and drawing and painting.

“I was thinking about the experiences that I went through in real life and putting it in the film and feeling what I usually feel when people tell me (a racial slur),” she said. “I do dance, volleyball, and I like to try other sports but volleyball is my main one.”

“She also does music,” added her father Trevor, himself an accomplished musician and entertainer.

“She plays violin in orchestra,” he said. “She also sings and raps, and she also has her own makeup products.”

That’s right. Mariana has her own cosmetic line of perfume and mascara and lip gloss and other products.

So Mariana at 12 years old is a singer and a dancer and a musician and an award-winning actress, and as talented and experienced as she is, her success in Los Angeles earlier this month took her by surprise.

“I was thinking, ‘Oh, a short film,’” she said. “Like, ‘I’m probably not going to get anything out of it.’”

And then the announcement. Her Facebook page, “That’s so Mariana” says it all.

“Wow!! I’m still at a loss for words. Woke up this morning feeling beyond grateful. Last night was truly magical.”

Her parents Trevor and Vanessa Donnelly are beaming with pride.

“I’m still blown away,” said Trevor. “I’m still soaking it in. I think it’s surreal because she’s still just a carefree 12-year-old, and she’s going on with her life and she just happens to be hitting these milestones.”

Kimberly Banda, her publicist and dance instructor is very proud.

“Mariana is breaking barriers and inspiring everyone around her, especially SBS Dance Studio,” said Banda, who owns Step By Step Dance Studio in San Benito.

“She is talented, hardworking, a wonderful role model, a music icon, and an award-winning actress,” she said.

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