Although she has just finished her basic studies, the young Montenegrin actress Marija Maša Labudović already has several notable roles behind her. With the graduation play "The God of Massacre", which she performed with her classmates Vuleta Markoviće, Omar Bajramspahić and Jelena Đukić, she managed to draw attention to herself, but she also had great roles in the plays "Three Sorrels", "Bokeški D minor", "Why are we staying?" in the province". She got the chance to play in the sequel to "Biser Bojana", and she decided to upgrade her knowledge, so she enrolled in postgraduate studies in Belgrade.
A former volleyball player who can also play the piano, she is sure that important roles are still waiting for her, and until then she will continue to improve, not only when it comes to acting. He speaks several languages and is currently learning to play another instrument. About roles, acting, hobbies, Maša talks to Vijesti...
Due to the pandemic that has been going on here for almost a year, everything stopped, so there were no plays, festivals, or concerts. However, you decided to take advantage of the year and enrolled in postgraduate studies in Belgrade. How much will a change of environment open some new doors for you?
I sincerely hope they do. Every change in our business is a risk, but if used in the right way, it can only be a profit. Working on yourself is key, both in this business and in life in general. I "took a risk" and went. I've been in Belgrade for several months now, and I can tell you that I really like the change. New acquaintances, new work methods, new colleagues... you need to get out of your comfort zone.
You have been a member of the ensemble of the Royal Theater for some time, how much of the role in the play "God of Massacre", which was produced by the Zetski dom, is responsible for that, because it is known that wherever you play it, a ticket is asked for more?
The play "God of Massacre" is my graduation play, and at the same time my favorite role. I am bound only by wonderful emotions for that show, for the process itself. And I've been feeling a big void for a long time because of the whole situation, because of the impossibility of playing. I think that this role, the play, allowed me to express my abilities, effort and desire to work, and that Zetski dom recognized it.
In addition to the play "God of Massacre", I also worked on "Why are we staying in the province" and "False memories" in the theater of the same name.
My colleagues, who worked on this project with the same enthusiasm and love for the theater, are also to blame for the success of that play.
Many of your colleagues, after graduating from college, wait a long time to become part of an ensemble. How exactly does this kind of attitude towards the actors discourage them?
Endured-saved. It should not discourage us, we should wait anxiously for our chance and grab it when it comes.
You had the opportunity to play in the plays of other theaters. How difficult is it for an actor to get a role in a theater that already has an ensemble?
I think it is not difficult as long as there is interest in young staff. Each actor brings with him something new, something he knows how to refresh the ensemble. Montenegro is a small country with a small number of theaters, and every ensemble I "fell into" welcomed me in the nicest possible way, and I thank them for that. As long as there are castings, there is hope.
We saw you in the movie and series "Biser Bojane". Every year, a certain number of young actors leave the class, but not all of them have a chance to get a role that will be significant for them. How difficult is it for a young actor to get a role in such a regional project?
Gorine 2017, I performed my play "Tre sorelle" on the summer stage in Tivat. Director Milan Karadžić was at that performance, who noticed me and called me for his film "Biser Bojane 1". That was kind of my casting for that series. In the second part of the series, my whole class plays. Milan Karadžić is one of the directors who likes to "discover" new, young actors and gives them the chance to express their talent.
Lately, Montenegrin actors have been quite involved in projects that are filmed in Serbia ("South Wind", "Anger", "12 Words", "Notebook", "Truths and Lies"), but what I can notice are mostly men. Why is it harder for actresses to land a role?
A great question that I don't have an answer to. I would ask directors, casting directors, etc. this question. I think we have very talented actresses, strong women who still haven't been given a chance. I believe that my colleagues share the opinion with me that we are always interested in projects outside of Montenegro.
Do you go to castings and how much can an actor/actress hope for a role?
I support every casting, passed or not. It is also one type of experience that is essential. I go to every casting, so if I pass, then I think about what to do next. Unfortunately, there are few castings in Montenegro, because there is little filming. After every casting, the actor has that feeling inside him - I could have done better.
After casting, many actors get small roles, appear for a few minutes in a series or movie. Do you think there are big and small roles or is each one important to you?
That's the advantage of this job, no role is small. Every chance is important, no matter how many lines there are, no matter how many scenes there are or not, I believe that responsibility and respect must be felt for every role that is played, even if it is one that we did not expect. The most important thing is the process, because after each play/series/film, a trace remains, the process of creating that role remains engraved. Even when we are not satisfied with the role, we often play/watch with joy because we remember the process from which it "emerged".
What kind of role do you wish you could get, and which one would you never accept?
I would not accept a role, a project that goes against some of my moral convictions. Which propagates the wrong values, and which is done for the wrong motives.
And I wish... there are many roles from literature that I would like to play. And as far as the film is concerned, I would like to collaborate with foreign directors in foreign languages, considering that I speak German, Spanish, English. That would be a great challenge for me, but also a pleasure.
Due to the pandemic, the theater was also forced to adapt to the situation, so many performances can be viewed on the YouTube service. How do you view this type of adjustment and how much the audience is missing in such moments?
Theater is theater, it has no meaning without an audience. I don't really like watching plays on the screen that are still playing. That makes sense to me only if you watch plays that "went out" and were cult. But because of the whole situation that has befallen the world, I've been watching a lot of shows online this year. It's definitely not the same feeling, and I played the play "Bokeški D minor" that was played online, it's sad to play a play that filled the hall for 20 people at every performance.
Thanks to the courage of Milena Radulović, I feel more protected
For some time now, one of the main topics in the media has been the story of actress Milena Radulović, who was sexually exploited by an acting teacher. How do you view everything that happened and how much such events degrade the profession?
I give great support to my colleague, and I think it is a great courage to say that. But it is important that we started talking about it, and that we will be protected in some way, because now every move to exploit the actress or any kind of mistreatment of women will stop, or I hope it will. Indeed, with this move of hers, I feel more protected and more secure in my own skin, and I thank her for that.
Sport has a healing power
When you were younger, you played sport - volleyball. Are you still training today?
Not as much as when I was younger, but volleyball is definitely my sport. I believe that sport has a healing power for me, I also like to play tennis with my colleague and best friend Omar Bajramspahić, and sometimes I also go boxing. In addition to sports, I also play the piano, and I also recently started taking drum lessons. I find various activities that help me improve, even if they are short-term.
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