Marissa Chanel Hampton: A Life in Motion, and The Balance Behind the Art

There’s a quiet sophistication to the way Marissa Chanel Hampton builds a character. On screen, she crafts performances with a meticulous balance of strength and vulnerability; in the booth, she shapes entire worlds through voice alone. It’s the same disciplined sensibility that carries her through half-marathons and wellness routines — a commitment to endurance, detail, and emotional honesty. As she explores new creative territory across film, television, and audiobooks, Hampton is proving that her storytelling fluency is as expansive as it is intentional.

We sat down with Marissa to chat about her creative process across mediums, the art of adaptation, and why wellness has become an essential part of how she shows up — both as an artist and as a woman.

You star as Gail in It’s Not Like That premiering January 25th. What drew you to her, and what parts of her emotional world did you feel most connected to as you stepped into the role?

Gail is hilarious, like her I try  to be the friend who is always going to tell you like it is, ask the right questions, encourage you to be honest with yourself, and be there when you need me. I cherish my friendships deeply, and I loved Gail’s investment in her friendship with Lori played by the wonderful Erinn Hayes. 

When you’re immersing yourself into a character on screen, what does your internal process look like? Do you build from research, personal experience, physicality, something else entirely?
It depends on the role. Some roles require extensive detective work, dialect work, script analysis, historical research etc. while others it’s a much more pared down process that I build through personal experience. Sometimes it’s that first wardrobe fitting and literally feeling l what it’s like to “walk in their shoes”, building the character from the ground up. I don’t have an exact science but the joy of discovery in that initial building process is what makes this job the most fun. 

What was the most surprising thing you discovered about yourself while playing Gail?
This wasn’t an entirely new discovery, but playing Gail reminded me just how much I love making television. I love the industry as a whole, but I really love TV and peering into the lives of characters episode by episode. It’s a unique form of intimacy.

You’re also an audiobook narrator. How does your creative process differ from your process on set?
Audiobook prep as a narrator is research heavy. I always do multiple reads of each novel before I step into the booth. The first read is always just as the casual reader, the next two reads are focused on gleaning as much info about each character as I can, highlighting anything that needs pronunciation verification, background info pulls so I know exactly what I am saying i.e. historical references etc. I even utilize the help of a dialect coach, as well as watch videos of local/native speakers if the setting of a piece is very distinct.  It sometimes feels like studying for an open book test, the quality of your notes and organization is what makes or breaks the experience! 

Is there a particular audiobook you’ve narrated that you would love to see adapted for the screen? And if so, who would you play, and who would you cast in the other major roles?

I’d have to pick Jewel Me Twice by the wonderful Charish Reid! I would love to play Celeste St. Pierre and would cast Joel Kinnaman as Magnus. 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to adapt a book into a film or series? What challenges should they be prepared to face during the process?
We readers are a very opinionated bunch! It never ceases to amaze me just how incendiary onscreen book adaptation choices can be. These stories are near and dear to our hearts, there’s an ownership fans feel that creates a special but very picky fan base.

I think the best adaptations are done by those who cherish these stories just as much as we readers do. 

Wellness is a key part of many artists’ lives. What does “luxury” mean to you in terms of wellness and self-care?
Luxury to me doesn’t necessarily mean out of this world  expensive, it’s a feeling. I love an at home spa day using my fanciest products. Or investing in great quality workout gear that once you factor in cost per wear, and how good I feel in it, means I’m hitting the gym and moving my
body more. 

How can people get involved in giving back to their communities, especially during the holidays? Are there any specific initiatives or organizations you’re passionate about supporting?
It can be overwhelming to decide where to give your time and or money as there are so many areas of need. I have several areas of focus that I like to give to, but right now I am focusing on food insecurity and volunteering at multiple local food banks and making financial donations to food banks in cities that have been impactful on my journey:  the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Gleaners Food Bank, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. 

Social media plays a huge role in the entertainment landscape today, from casting to audience connection. What’s your own relationship to social media as an artist?
I view each social media platform’s role differently, and I definitely take LONG breaks from all of them. My goal with all my social media is authenticity, I show the highlight reel for sure but you’re also going to glimpse me here and there being plain ol unvarnished me. I sometimes love sharing the journey of certain  jobs, from booking to the screen, other times I prefer to post my dog, a nondescript cactus, and call it a day.

Looking ahead, what kinds of roles or projects excite you most, and how do you hope to continue growing as both a screen actor and narrator?
Next on screen I would love to do either another period piece of some sort or something horror related! I’m looking forward to doing some thriller and romantasy narration in 2026. Being an artist, especially as an actor, feels like being a forever student. I hope that as I move forward in my career, I continue to take on work that excites and challenges me and demands that I constantly seek new training and tools as a creative.

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Photo Credit:

Photographer: Storm Santos

Stylist: Anna Shilling

Hair: Tiffany Daugherty

Makeup: Josephine Bouchereau