Shane Marriott always harbored a love for performing, but he didn’t pursue it until snagging a chemistry degree. So, he traded in elements and compounds for call sheets and long set hours, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Shane will be starring in the highly anticipated drama series The Porter, slated for premiere on CBC Gem and BET Plus later this month. Set amid the roaring ’20s and inspired by real events, The Porter hones in on an ensemble of characters fighting for liberation. It showcases when Canadian and US railway workers joined forces to create the first Black union.
Recently, I had the privilege of chatting with Shane about how he fits into The Porter‘s seasonal narrative, his dream role, acting advice and what’s next for him.
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This interview is edited for length and clarity.
Melody McCune: We at GGA love a good origin story. What’s Shane Marriott’s origin story?
Shane Marriott: My whole origin story is “taking chances on yourself.” I wanted to act, but I went to school for chemistry because of my parents and trying to beat what society paints on you.
I got my chemistry degree and worked in the field for a couple of years. After that, I still wasn’t happy, and I knew I wanted to do acting, so I saved up for a couple of years. I took a chance on myself and jumped straight into the field. I studied it for a year before getting an agent. The rest is history. It’s been picking up, finding work here and there — it’s been good, so far.
MM: Let’s talk about The Porter. Can you tell me what it’s about and how you got involved with the project?
SM: The Porter is a story based in the 1920s. Actual events inspire it, and it follows the journey of an ensemble of characters who have dreams. They hustle across borders, trying to fight for liberation, both on and off the railroad. It’s a story of empowerment and idealism.
It highlights the moment when railroad workers from Canada and the United States joined together to give birth to the world’s first Black union. It’s set primarily in Montreal, Chicago and Detroit, just after World War I, and it depicts some Black communities’ fight for change. There’s drama and the ordeal of the union workers fighting for equality.
I got involved with the project through the audition process. They did casting across Canada and the States. Then, the pandemic happened. I forgot about the project, but then I got a call from my agent saying I booked for Sticks. I heard back from them a year later.
MM: How does your character, Sticks, fit into the show’s overall narrative?
SM: Sticks works with one of the queenpins in the story, Queenie, played by Olunike Adeliyi. He’s a bruiser, her henchman. He’s not a man that says a lot, but his presence brings authority. They come from Chicago, run their own business and get involved with one of the main characters, Junior Massey (Aml Ameen). He’s fighting for his freedom, and he comes to us for work.
MM: Describe this season using three words.
SM: Liberation. Drama. Cliffhangers.
MM: Do you have a highlight or a favorite scene from your time on the show?
SM: Yes, a couple of scenes. They’re climatic, so I’m not sure if I’m allowed to talk about them but let’s say there will be some deceiving going on.
There’s also a great love story intertwined with that. The dance ensemble was good. Everyone was on point, and the costumes looked fabulous. The wardrobe department did an excellent job of getting costumes for that period. We had cars from the 1920s. But the dance ensemble opening up the show was great.
MM: Is there a cast member you wish you had more scenes with?
SM: I wish I had more scenes with Aml Ameen. He was great. I wish I had scenes with Ronnie Rowe, who plays Zeke Garrett, but our characters don’t cross. He’s excellent as well. I wish my character had a little bit more one-on-one time with Queenie herself. That would’ve been good, too.
MM: What can audiences expect from The Porter?
SM: You can expect to hear some truth behind Canadian history, how the portermen opened the doors for immigration. They fought for union rights amongst workers in Canada. This is the stuff they don’t teach us in school or even shine a light on, so we’re going to get a glimpse of real Canadian history.
They tell us that Canada was the place for freedom, but people struggled over here, too. They had to fight for their freedom and rights. Those portermen paved the way and opened the doors for us.
MM: Do you have a dream role?
SM: My dream role is to play Sidney Poitier in a biopic.
MM: Oh, that would be amazing!
SM: I’ve been saying this since I started, that if there’s one thing I want to audition for, it’s that role when they put it on film. With his recent passing, I have a feeling it’s going to come sooner than later.
He paved the way for a lot of us Black actors. We weren’t just conformed to specific roles — we got to play leads. It’d be great to explore his life and act in a period piece from that time, like the ’50s and ’60s. That would be my dream role if I had the chance.
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MM: We’ll put it out into the universe. Manifest it! What else is on the horizon for you, career-wise?
SM: I have two things on the horizon. There’s Reacher for Prime Video. I’m in one episode. My character, Officer Aucoin, helps Reacher find someone he’s looking for. I also have Firestarter coming out. That one will release this summer. It’s a remake of that 1984 Stephen King movie starring Drew Barrymore. They’re remaking it with Zac Efron and Ryan Kiera Armstrong. I play a control room guard, so my scenes primarily occur during the climax when she’s in the Salem asylum.
MM: Do you have advice for aspiring creatives looking to break into the industry?
SM: You got to love the art. It’s going to be challenging. There are going to be many days where you’ll be down on yourself, or you won’t think you’re good enough, but if you keep practicing and working at it, everything will work out. The roles that are meant for you will come to you. Don’t look at every “no” as you’re doing something wrong or you’re failing because you’re not.
With failure comes lessons and growth, so take each failure as a part of your journey. Trust me; there are some roles where it’s a good thing if you don’t get them.
Don’t give up. Keep going. It’s not a quick walk to fame. It’s a lot of work, memorization, auditions, “no’s,” not receiving feedback. You don’t know if you’re doing the right thing, but you can’t be the judge of that. You might not get roles because of whatever reason. There are millions of factors; it might not be your acting. You got to love it, or it’s going to be a miserable, daunting journey.
MM: Have you binge-watched anything interesting lately?
SM: I’ve binge-watched BMF, the story of Big Meech, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
MM: I’ve been meaning to watch that.
SM: That one’s good, with Ashton Sanders, Siddiq Saunderson and Shameik Moore. I’ve also binge-watched Your Honor with Bryan Cranston.
MM: Name your top five favorite films.
SM: Ricochet, with Denzel Washington. Bad Boys with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Shawshank Redemption. Good Will Hunting. Avatar.
MM: Shane, thank you so much for chatting with me! Congratulations on The Porter! I’m excited to see it.
SM: Thank you for your time, Melody!
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Be sure to follow Shane on Twitter (@_ShaneMarriott) and Instagram (@shanemarriott_). On Monday, February 21, The Porter premieres on CBC Gem and BET Plus. You can also catch Shane in Firestarter, in theaters and on Peacock on May 13.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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