Amazon Prime Video is has been putting out a lot of great content lately between shows like Carnival Row and Jack Ryan, and one other interesting project that’s been running since 2016 is the Billy Bob Thornton-starring Goliath.
I recently had a chance to speak with one of the stars for the new third season, Marisa Echeverria. You should be able to stream said third season on Amazon Prime Video now! And be sure to check out my full interview with her below!
Below is the official synopsis for Goliath:
“Once a powerful lawyer, Billy McBride is now a washed up ambulance chaser, who spends more time in bars than the courtroom. When Billy reluctantly agrees to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the massive law firm he helped create, a vast and deadly conspiracy comes to light. Billy and his team end up in a life-or-death trial against the ultimate foe, which could end up helping Billy find redemption and exact revenge on the firm.”
Echeverria: Recurring star in Goliath, Season 3. Hi, Nancy. How are you?
LRM Online: Good. Hi Marisa. How are you doing? Happy Friday.
Echeverria: I’m great. Happy Friday.
LRM Online: So I’m actually excited to talk to you because I’m actually a fan of Goliath. And to talk to someone that’s going to be in Season 3 is pretty exciting.
Echeverria: It is so exciting. I’m a fan too. I’ve been watching the show from the beginning. And I feel so lucky to be a part of it.
LRM Online: Since we’ve both been fans, and I understand you’re from LA. You’re from what, Glendale area? And how much did you enjoy seeing Goliath and all the local views, streets? I mean-
Echeverria: Oh my gosh.
LRM Online: It’s home.
Echeverria: Yeah, that’s one of my favorite things. My dad worked downtown for his whole career, so especially when they’re downtown, we always were very excited to see that and the West side, and it’s so great.
LRM Online: Tell me about this new season. What can you tell me? It looks like it’s kind of out of the city though.
Echeverria: Yes. They shot most of it sort of Santa Clarita, Lancaster area because it does deal with central California and the water crisis of the Valley there. I think it was great that they were able to go up there and shoot on location too.
LRM Online: That is so funny. I’m actually in Lancaster right now.
Echeverria: Oh, wow. That’s perfect.
LRM Online: Yes, I’m actually here. How exciting. So tell me about your character in this season. What can you tell me?
Echeverria: Her name is Violet Webster, and she’s a salt of the earth character. She’s really rooted in her community, and she’s just someone who’s trying to help. There’s a problem, and she’s trying to have a small part of the solution. Where she delivers water to residents who are without water, and who are trying to scramble in any way possible to get drinking water and water for bathing. So Nina Arianda’s character, Patty, kind of comes upon her and I get sort of swept up and educate her on what’s going on in the area. And later on in the season as you watch, I get swept up in their case. And then I won’t spoil the ending. But that’s how it starts.
LRM Online: Okay. So, do you get involved in the whole law aspect in this?
Echeverria: Yeah. So it’s out today on Amazon Prime Video. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but yeah. I become the lead plaintiff in their class action lawsuit.
LRM Online: Did you have any scenes filming with Billy Bob Thornton? Can you tell us a little?
Echeverria: I did. The whole cast is so great and Billy really is the leader in that way and he’s so down to earth. He gets along with everybody in front of the camera, behind the camera and it’s a very relaxed set. Which is always something that I’m grateful for on a job, as it was just a wonderful collaborative group and he certainly lead the way on that.
LRM Online: Is there anything that you’re able to take away from the experience of filming with him or around him that you learned and taking away with you from that experience?
Echeverria: Anytime that I’m on set with actors that have that kind of experience and that kind of legacy, I definitely try to soak in something new. And with Billy I feel like especially being a fan of this series of things, what he can do with sort of a smirk or you know, to kind of wrinkle of the corner of his eye. I was looking for that I was looking for his energy onset. He really comes to it, everything is so fresh and ready to live in the moment and be relaxed, but also be so professionally attentive to what is going on for his character and for all of us in the scene. And I just appreciate his presence of mind in that way.
LRM Online: Mm-hmm (affirmative) The Ocean Lodge Inn is a trademark. Is that still in this season?
Echeverria: Oh, you know what? Because he’s in a different area, I think it’s a different kind of place that he’s saying in. Don’t quote me on this, but different. I mean, he really is. He’s a distance from home in this season. And I think that plays to the theme of as well. He’s always a little bit of a fish out of water, but I think now because it is taking place in the central Valley and that’s kind of amplified in this season for him.
LRM Online: Oh, okay. So definitely some changes for sure.
Echeverria: Yeah, for sure.
LRM Online: Okay. All right, do you mind if we talk a little about you? I mean, you are some talent. I understand, if I’m not mistaken, you started with music then went on with theater.
Echeverria: Yes, yes. I started as a singer and it led me to theater, which led me to television and film. So it was all in the same family in a way, but I definitely took that circuitous route. I think it’s a lot of my families influence. My grandfather on my father’s side was a mariachi violinist. So there was that music there. And also my mom really instilled in me a love of MGM musicals. And I grew up watching the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals and of course all the Rogers and Hammerstein movie musical. And loving Carol Burnett musical segments and things like that. So, that was kind of my early childhood.
Then I got into a choir that became very well known in the Los Angeles area and we did a lot of Hollywood kind of thing as well as the Los Angeles opera. I did a few of those and that was instrumental in leading to theater. And, and then I did go through school and wound up attending and getting a fellowship to NYU graduate acting program. And staying in New York and doing theater for quite some time and some television there. And I made my way back home to my roots in LA and have been really enjoying the transition to television and film.
LRM Online: So why have you found more challenging when it comes to doing television now versus to doing theater?
Echeverria: I think that wrapping my head around the different kinds of collaborations is what was the trickiest thing for me in a way. Because is theater a lot of times I was helping to develop a show from the ground up practically. Obviously the script had been written but… Oh, you may not be able to hear me in the tunnel here and may cut out for a second. So in theater they bring the script to the table, but they can even work on it as you’re rehearsing and you’re developing your character. You’re finding your character, it feels like a marathon. Whereas in television, a lot of times you’re coming to the table… Pretty much 95% of the work you can do is get your lines memorized, you’re ready to go. And it’s really in the moment of meeting the other actor that you get to find a little bit of magic and start to play and do the scene.
And if you’re lucky, you kind of are there and available for those moments as unexpected things can happen that are set up that work for the peace in a great way. And that I found a lot on Goliath probably because they have established such a great rhythm and I felt welcomed as part of that. So that’s always really great when that happens. But I think with TV and film it’s about everybody. Everyone who’s on the set. So it’s all the camera people, care and makeup. It’s wardrobe, the gaffers than all the PAs. Everybody’s working together to create this piece together. And it took me awhile to wrap my head around how big a community that is. Then once I got that rhythm, I felt like I was flying.
LRM Online: Gotcha. And to finalize, is there anything you can share? Obviously right now promoting Goliath, starting today on prime Amazon. Is there anything else that you’re working on or maybe going to start working on?
Echeverria: Yeah, I’m guest-starring on an episode of Shameless coming up. That’s a terrific fun show.
LRM Online: Yes, I’m a fan of that too. You have good taste.
Echeverria: Some really fun stuff. So I’m excited about that. So that’ll be upcoming in December, I believe.
LRM Online: Oh my gosh, that’s so exciting to hear. I love Shameless too. I know you were a part of it. I wasn’t sure if for the upcoming season, I didn’t want to…
Echeverria: Yeah, yeah.
LRM Online: Oh well congratulations on all your success and these successful shows. Like I said, I actually watch and I really enjoy and look forward to them.
Echeverria: Thank you Nancy. My really dear grandmother’s name was Nancy and my middle name is Nan after her. So one of my favorites.
LRM Online: Oh, my family actually for short call me Nan too. We have a lot in common there. Even my location in Lancaster at the very moment because of family. How funny. Okay, well again, thank you so much Marisa. I wish you have success on this, these projects and coming up and I’m looking forward to interviewing you again to discuss other projects.
Goliath Season 3 is currently available to watch on Amazon Prime Video!
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