Marta Méndez Cross
Marta McGonagle’s first theatrical release was in March 2007, IFC’s “Believe In Me” (with Samantha Mathis, Jeffrey Donovan, Heather Matarazzo and Bruce Dern). Marta played one of the lead players as Sadie York in this inspirational tale of an Oklahoman all-female basketball team in the 1960′s. A promising start, for a young actress who hasn’t been in Los Angeles but two years. Marta McGonagle’s film career began in Texas in the award winning independent films, “Land of Shadowed Sand” and “SideFX“. She was directed by Ain’t It Cool News’ Aaron Morgan, playing an ancient vampire, Angela Rosefe, in “Blind“. Marta then landed her breakout role in “Red Ridge” where she played Isabella, an immigrant forced into sex slavery and prostitution. Soon after that she traveled to Costa Rica for the lead role opposite Joaquim de Almeida in “Blue Sombrero” as a teen who takes over her late father’s (de Almeida) presidency with the help of a rouge military squad. In 2005, Marta made the move to Los Angeles. After spending most the early part of her still very young career doing dramas and horror films, she was finally able to put her sketch/comedy background to use in the comedies “Fist in the Eye” and “Twins“. She also landed her first television roles in Nickelodeon’s “Drake & Josh“, Comedy Central’s “Reno 911“, and as a recurring sketch player in Fox’s “Talk Show with Spike Feresten“. Marta also returned to the stage for ten months performing at the World Famous Comedy Store with the sketch troupe Gumbo. She can also be seen on the web starring opposite Rachael Leigh Cook in, “Half Court Push“, which she and Rachel volunteered for, in support of the Stayfree’s Girls In The Directors Chair series. Coming to your cell phones this summer on Freemantle’s Atomic Wedgie Channel, she is Carmen, in the comedy series “Secret Girlfriend“. In 2008, “The Spot” a film expected to be released theatrically, she stars as Monica a Congo player trapped in an abusive relationship and a dream that might never come true. Marta just finished filming Bavaria Film’s, “Short Cut to Hollywood“, a road trip feature shooting throughout the United States. Bavaria is excited to have added Marta to the stellar cast in this international film as the sexy, free spirited Shannon. She is currently filming “The Winged Man“, scribed by Motorcycle Diaries Academy nominated, Jose Rivera, starring opposite Shalim Ortiz with Ana Ortiz. Once a week Marta gives back to the community through acting by teaching Los Angeles elementary school children about literacy and to never give up in the two-woman play, Sor Juana, through the non-profit organization Enrichment Works.
