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Who Is Ted’s Marissa Shankar? A Career Explainer
Meet Marissa Shankar, the scene-stealing queen of Ted!
On January 11, Ted, the highly-anticipated prequel series from Ted creator Seth MacFarlane, debuted on Peacock and gave fans another opportunity to experience the foul-mouthed teddy bear we almost remember from our childhoods.
However, we can’t give all the credit to Seth – the series couldn’t have happened without the hard work of its fantastic cast. Arguably, no actor has gotten the attention of Peacock audiences more than Marissa Shankhar, who memorably plays the role of Sarah, Blaire’s friend who stays with the Bennetts due to a flight cancellation and leaves a lasting impression on everyone in the house!
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Here’s everything you need to know about Marissa Shankar.
Who is Marissa Shankar?
We must hand it to Ted’s casting department – they nailed it with Marissa. Call her an “unknown” if you want (we prefer “up-and-coming”), but Marissa Shankhar is living proof that Hollywood dreams can become a reality with the right dedication and mindset. Although she only has a few independent films to her credit, she already has experience in front of and behind the camera, as she has shown interest in directing over her young career.
A quick YouTube search for “Marissa Shankhar” yields her personal audition tapes highlighting the dedication and drive that eventually propelled her to her prominent role in Ted. As an actor in her 20s, these self-tapes offer a tantalizing glimpse into Marissa’s past, and her performance in Ted is sure to put her on Hollywood’s radar!
Movies and TV Shows with Marissa Shankar
Besides her guest role in Ted, Marissa has a few prominent roles under her belt – and judging by her performance in the Peacock original series, we’re sure we’ll see her much more in 2024 and beyond!
Marissa burst onto Hollywood’s radar in 2021, thanks in no small part to her performance in the starring role of the small horror film Nighthawk. In 2022, she played a role in the gritty independent thriller Expunged. The film’s plot is chilling: Five inmates are released from prison with promises of freedom if they traverse 16 miles, with an entire town tracking them down. Yikes, indeed.
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Arguably, her most impressive undertaking was directing the drama series Every Day (2021), proving that she has the talent behind the lens just as much as she does in front of a camera!
A few well-received shorts round out Marissa’s still-blooming Hollywood career, but nobody can argue that she’s garnered her most significant exposure yet thanks to her role as Sarah in Ted.
Ted is now streaming exclusively on Peacock.
