She’s the breakout star of the cult banking drama who went on to play Amy Winehouse and has now been handpicked by Steven Soderbergh for his latest thriller. But at 23, a shock diagnosis changed her worldMarisa Abela finds it very difficult to go to the gym. Not for the usual reasons – lack of time or motivation – but because she says the reception she gets there is “insane”. The actor lives near the City of London, and her local gym is nestled between the gigantic, glinting glass offices of the capital’s financial district – which also happens to be the natural habitat of Yasmin Kara-Hanani, the hyper-privileged and extravagantly troubled junior banker Abela plays in the hit BBC drama Industry. And it’s not just while she’s exercising – that swarm of real‑life bankers desperate to tell Abela how much they love the show means meals out can be an issue, too. “If I tried to go to a salad bar at lunchtime in the City ” she trails off, looking slightly dazed.Abela isn’t just h...
Marisa Abela, known for her role in "Industry" and her portrayal of Amy Winehouse in "Back to Black," discusses surviving a serious illness which gave her clarity, her experience playing wealthy characters like Yasmin in "Industry", and her upcoming role in Steven Soderbergh's "Black Bag" alongside Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender. She reflects on the challenges of being recognized, her Bafta nomination, and the privilege she sees in certain London circles.
