I first noticed Marie Matiko (Chinese, Japanese and Filipino heritage) in The Art of War. An American action-thriller starring Wesley Snipes. I was immediately impressed with her looks. Then found out she also was in The Corruptor with Chow Yun-Fat. Thought she looked quite different there. She’s played everything from an Arms Dealer, Japanese Mafia boss, an animated shaolin monk, an Old West Cowgirl, a Buddhist nun to a prostitute.
Find out what’s she’s up to nowadays at her official site (also a gallery there) or read an extensive interview @ Yolk.com. More interviews: Xenaville.com and AsianConnections.com.
Marie grew up in Southern California and studied Environmental Engineering at UCLA. She declined an ROTC shcolarship when she landed her first professional audition as Gigi/Mimi in the 1st National Tour of MISS SAIGON. Upon the end of tour, she returned to LA to pursue a film career and supported herself by being an Auto Show model. Within three years, she attained her gaol of being a female lead in a major Hollywood studio film. She starred opposite Wesley Snipes in Warner Brothers’ THE ART OF WAR where she was nominated for Best Actress in a Feature Film for an Ammy Award (the Asian-American Film and TV Awards).
When she’s not shooting a feature or auditioning for new roles, Matiko runs VIVACE, a non-profit performing arts school in Chinatown dedicated to nurturing pride, discipline, and passion in Asian-American youth.
She has spoken at Harvard for the Asian-American National Conference on Law and Public Policy addressing how media shapes public perception and policy. Additionally, she has been asked to speak at UCI, UCLA, universities in Asia, film festivals, the National Association of Asian Professionals on the Asian-American perspective in the Entertainment Industry and was the celebrity spokesperson for the Califronia Democratic Asian-American Coalition. She also sits on the board of advisors for a developing cable network, Word Asia, and the San Diego Asian-American Film Festival.
“My whole goal as an artist,” Matiko concludes, “is to make America a more colofrul place while having a lot of fun.”
(this bio from www.matiko.com)