Marlene Marie is entering a decisive chapter in her career, one defined by herself. With campaigns for luxury brands such as Jimmy Choo, Harrods and Alaia; and acting roles in films and television dramas, success is finally here. Discipline, patience and long-term vision rather than luck have shaped her ascent. In this exclusive interview with our Editor-in-Chief, Julia Pasarón, Marlene reflects on her upbringing, her creative philosophy and the conviction that continues to guide her as she carves her own path at the highest level of the industry.
Marlene is half Italian, half Indian. She grew up in London in a working-class environment with limited access and opportunity. “My mum left home at 17 and raised my sisters and me alone, while living with a disability,” she explains. “What I witnessed growing up was absolute resilience, day after day.”
That environment didn’t seem conducive to a future like the one she now inhabits.
“When you grow up without access, the lives you see on television feel abstract, almost fictional. They are not presented as something that could be available to you.” At the time, the mid-to-late-1990s, racial and social diversity were largely absent from consumer media. “In communities like mine, there was a widespread feeling of indifference, of disillusionment. People internalised the idea that certain worlds simply weren’t for us.”
Marlene, however, wasn’t going to let anyone squash her dreams. “From an early age, I had a very prolific imagination, a huge curiosity for life and an instinct that my circumstances were not the full story. I knew that if doors didn’t exist for me, I would have to create them.
Her mother remains her central influence. “She is my reference point for strength. Watching her persevere shaped how I understand responsibility, endurance and love.”
Marlene studied at RADA and for years, she worked quietly, mostly on independent projects, often not just acting, but also contributing creatively. At the time, mainstream modelling work in the UK was elusive, so she debuted in India. “During the mid-2000s in the UK, I was often told I looked too 1990s. Ironically, that classic minimalism is now in great demand.”
Talking about the ‘90s, her resemblance to supermodel Yasmeen Ghauri – who was one of the first women of South Asian descent to appear on the cover of Vogue – is uncanny. “I admire her deeply. She shifted perceptions simply by existing unapologetically in spaces that hadn’t made room for women like her yet. I guess you can say that we are very different women, with a similar purpose.”
In acting, she faced similar constraints. As it happened to our Winter 2025 issue cover star, Indira Varma, after her first film, Kama Sutra, Marlene was mostly being offered hyper sexualised roles. “That is not what I wanted,” she states, “so I began advocating for myself, for instance, asking to be cast for other roles. Most of the time, after seeing my range and abilities, my character was swapped.”
Around five years ago, she got signed with well-known talent agencies Body London and Allied Artists, allowing her access to more substantial jobs. Since, she has acted in a TV series and multiple films, the latest being the uber successful docu-drama The Real Fatal Attraction, released on Netflix at the end of last year.
Her modelling career has taken a similar path. Last year she landed campaigns for brands such as Kurt Geiger, Jimmy Choo, Elemis, Harrods and Yoko London among others. “It’s been a powerful moment of alignment,” she reflects, “I do believe that nothing is out of my reach now.”
Her mixed heritage provides her with a huge versatility in both modelling and acting. “I can represent many different people because I relate to them,” she shares. “Empathy is central to my work, it guides how I inhabit characters and now I show up creatively.”
After a breakthrough 2025, 2026 is already shaping up as her strongest year yet, with major campaigns and new film and television roles confirmed. Unfortunately, she has been sworn to secrecy, so even my best efforts are deflected.
Marlene is living proof that the environment in which you grow doesn’t have to determine who you are or who you can become. “Your circumstances don’t define your potential,” she asserts.
She wants to inspire other girls and women to pursue their dreams. “Many women, especially from ethnic minorities, low economic backgrounds and those living with a disability, are subtly told not to aspire. I want my presence to disrupt that conditioning.” Marlene is clear in her language. “Talent, beauty and elegance are not Eurocentric.”
Marlene goes even further. “I believe that these people bring authenticity, emotional intelligence and perspective. That is not something to be hidden, it’s a superpower.”
The grit that stems from her life experience gives depth and range to her acting. “I can identify with certain characters, give a more real, more raw performance because I have genuinely experienced what is written on the script. I don’t have to imagine them, I recognise them.”
Regardless of the difficulties encountered in the early stages of her career, Marlene has not become a hard woman. On the contrary, she is kind and generous. “I think it is very important to never lose your softness. Softness is not a weakness, it’s a sign of strength.”
Marlene is equally vocal about change beyond the industry. She believes that schools should include classes on self-development, offer therapy, basically “equip children with the tools necessary to build self-confidence. Academic achievement alone is not enough.”
Although Marlene has undoubtedly, achieved quite a lot already, I have the feeling that she has just got started. This is an ambitious woman who has carved her own path and is committed to widening it for others. She is determined to have her opinions heard, and loudly. “I aim to write and direct my own material; that’s how I can take full ownership of my narrative.”
TEAM:
Interview: Julia Pasarón @julia_pasaron
Photographer: David Titlow @david_titlow
Fashion: Lily Lam @lilylailam
Hair and Make-Up: Hamilton using Philip B & Chantecaille @lordham
Photography assistant: Mo @mosesohallloran
Fashion assistant: Greta Chiesi @gretachiesi
Postproduction: Frisian @frisianpost
Location: Motherlight Studios @motherlightstudios
LEAD IMAGE:
GUCCI Horsebit necklaces, rings, bracelet and drop earrings in yellow gold
GALVAN Venus even gown by Galvan
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