Margaret Bowman
Nominated by Jo Edna Boldin: I met Margaret over 20 years ago when I cast her as Matthew McConaughey’s mother in an Unsolved Mysteries episode. When I am asked if the TBone Waitress in HELL OR HIGH WATER is an actual waitress, I have to laugh and say “no Margaret Bowman is just that good of an actor”.
1) Has there been a Casting Director that has encouraged and/or supported you in your career? Yes. JoEdna Boldin. She cast me very early on in my career. She has encouraged me from the beginning, being kind but truthful in her criticisms and complimentary when she felt it called for whether I got the part or not.
2) What work are you most proud of? MRS. FAVERSHAM in THE GOOD OLD BOYS, directed by TOMMY LEE JONES. He co wrote the screenplay from an ELMER KELTON book. It was very early on in my acting life and I was surrounded by Academy award winners. I did what my agent had advised me to do months before: keep my mouth shut and my eyes and ears open. Learn, learn, learn. Invaluable advice. Of course there is also THE T-BONE waitress in HELL OR HIGH WATER. What a hoot. You can't beat good writing, good directing and good people sharing the scene with you.
3) How did you get your SAG-AFTRA card? I had returned to Houston after summer school at THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS in Pasadena, CA, knowing what I wanted to do as a second career, my first having been raising 6 children as a stay at home mom. I was AN ACTOR. I was, I believe the phrase is "green as grass", but what the heck. My instructor had advised me to start out in professional endeavors and watch out world here I come. I had never worked a day but set out to find the best agent in the Southwest, which led me to THE SHERRY YOUNG AGENCY, and that dear woman who gave in to my cover letters and phone calls and granted me an interview. I told her I wanted my SAG card because "I'm A PROFESSIONAL". She said that I also had brass b - - - and she'd take me on. After a few months she called and said she's booked me on an industrial shoot that would get me my SAG card. I came back down to earth long enough to do the job and VOILA, that most prized of possessions became mine. I was truly, in my eyes, a professional. Surely goodness, mercy and a lot of work would follow. HA!!!
I ask myself if I had it to do over again would I. YOU BETTER BETCHA I WOULD.
4) What was your first IMDBPro credit and how did you feel when you saw it?
My first recognition as a "Pro" came from my work in THE FULFILLMENT OF MARY GRAY in 1989 when I played a nosy, into everybody else' business, neighbor. I'm still thrilled to have this "Professional" recognition from the upper echelon doers and makers of this industry.
5) How has IMDBPro helped you market yourself to filmmakers?
Since I've been listed on IMDBPRO I've been cast in a major film with no audition required. The producer was able to contact my agent and say "We want her". That's the great advantage to being registered with IMDBPRO: access to your agent's contact information. If they can't contact you they can't use you. I consider myself a Professional Actor and I want that consideration from the others in this industry.
5) Any funny casting room stories? A story not so funny but burned into my memory nonetheless. I'd gone to Dallas to audition for a sweet role in a major motion picture. My call time was 8:30 PM so I decided to have a nice dinner before the read and head back to Houston International afterward. What did I choose to eat? Mexican food, one of my favorites. WRONG. By the time I was called in to read for the director, producer and writer I had broken out in a cold sweat, started shaking, and was afraid I'd barf in the casting director's lap. I was sick in the worst nuance of the word. To make matters worse I'd been sent the wrong sides. I had to call a halt to the proceedings and slink out of the room. That casting director did call me back for several years.
6) Tell us a fun fact about you outside of acting: I sang bass in a women's barbershop quartet for many years. I EMCEED a Competition at ROYAL ALBERT HALL in London, England. I raised 6 children with a wonderful man to whom I was married for 68 years. I have a beautiful great grand daughter who wants to follow in an acting career of her own and so far is exhibiting the talent and dedication to perhaps make it. I've met so many lovely and talented people, and a scant few that were not so lovely. in this crazy, fun career and I wouldn't trade a minute of it.
1) Has there been a Casting Director that has encouraged and/or supported you in your career? Yes. JoEdna Boldin. She cast me very early on in my career. She has encouraged me from the beginning, being kind but truthful in her criticisms and complimentary when she felt it called for whether I got the part or not.
2) What work are you most proud of? MRS. FAVERSHAM in THE GOOD OLD BOYS, directed by TOMMY LEE JONES. He co wrote the screenplay from an ELMER KELTON book. It was very early on in my acting life and I was surrounded by Academy award winners. I did what my agent had advised me to do months before: keep my mouth shut and my eyes and ears open. Learn, learn, learn. Invaluable advice. Of course there is also THE T-BONE waitress in HELL OR HIGH WATER. What a hoot. You can't beat good writing, good directing and good people sharing the scene with you.
3) How did you get your SAG-AFTRA card? I had returned to Houston after summer school at THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS in Pasadena, CA, knowing what I wanted to do as a second career, my first having been raising 6 children as a stay at home mom. I was AN ACTOR. I was, I believe the phrase is "green as grass", but what the heck. My instructor had advised me to start out in professional endeavors and watch out world here I come. I had never worked a day but set out to find the best agent in the Southwest, which led me to THE SHERRY YOUNG AGENCY, and that dear woman who gave in to my cover letters and phone calls and granted me an interview. I told her I wanted my SAG card because "I'm A PROFESSIONAL". She said that I also had brass b - - - and she'd take me on. After a few months she called and said she's booked me on an industrial shoot that would get me my SAG card. I came back down to earth long enough to do the job and VOILA, that most prized of possessions became mine. I was truly, in my eyes, a professional. Surely goodness, mercy and a lot of work would follow. HA!!!
I ask myself if I had it to do over again would I. YOU BETTER BETCHA I WOULD.
4) What was your first IMDBPro credit and how did you feel when you saw it?
My first recognition as a "Pro" came from my work in THE FULFILLMENT OF MARY GRAY in 1989 when I played a nosy, into everybody else' business, neighbor. I'm still thrilled to have this "Professional" recognition from the upper echelon doers and makers of this industry.
5) How has IMDBPro helped you market yourself to filmmakers?
Since I've been listed on IMDBPRO I've been cast in a major film with no audition required. The producer was able to contact my agent and say "We want her". That's the great advantage to being registered with IMDBPRO: access to your agent's contact information. If they can't contact you they can't use you. I consider myself a Professional Actor and I want that consideration from the others in this industry.
5) Any funny casting room stories? A story not so funny but burned into my memory nonetheless. I'd gone to Dallas to audition for a sweet role in a major motion picture. My call time was 8:30 PM so I decided to have a nice dinner before the read and head back to Houston International afterward. What did I choose to eat? Mexican food, one of my favorites. WRONG. By the time I was called in to read for the director, producer and writer I had broken out in a cold sweat, started shaking, and was afraid I'd barf in the casting director's lap. I was sick in the worst nuance of the word. To make matters worse I'd been sent the wrong sides. I had to call a halt to the proceedings and slink out of the room. That casting director did call me back for several years.
7) Tell us a fun fact about you outside of acting: I sang bass in a women's barbershop quartet for many years. I EMCEED a Competition at ROYAL ALBERT HALL in London, England. I raised 6 children with a wonderful man to whom I was married for 68 years. I have a beautiful great grand daughter who wants to follow in an acting career of her own and so far is exhibiting the talent and dedication to perhaps make it. I've met so many lovely and talented people, and a scant few that were not so lovely. in this crazy, fun career and I wouldn't trade a minute of it.