'Stalked by my Doctor': Anna Marie Dobbins brings to life the empowering all-American woman
Annie Marie Dobbins' empowering rendition of a woman standing up for herself in the Lifetime show Stalked by My Doctor: Patient's Revenge is a feast for the eyes.
Yet, she is so much more than a damsel in distress who sets her mind to right a couple of wrongs. It's not that hard for Anna to identify with her character Melissa; she has been an actress, a dancer, and a philanthropist for the longest time now. She says the reason behind taking up the role was that it is "an actress’s dream to be able to develop a character with many dimensions."
Speaking to Meaww, she opened up abou her passions, dreams, and plans in the near future. Here are excerpts from Anna's conversation with us.
Actress, dancer, and philanthropist – how did all of that happen?
I grew up dancing because my mom owned a dance studio. I have always loved being on a stage and entertaining. At 13, I got interested in acting and the TV and film world. I sought out my first agent and started working professionally soon after. I trained hard in dance and acting throughout middle school and high school. I have my bachelor’s degree in dance from Birmingham Southern College. After graduation, I moved out to Los Angeles and have been here full time 4.5 years. I have always been raised to give back. Growing up, mom’s dance studio partnered with Make a Wish offering dance classes to their kids. I have always had a passion and desire to help. I teach dance to underprivileged kids here in Los Angeles and it is such a joy watching the influence dance has on kids. There are many charities I donate to and support. I feel it’s so important to donate anything you have to these organizations (money, time, goods, etc).
Tell us a little bit about your role in Stalked by My Doctor: Patient's Revenge
My character’s name is Melissa. She was such a fun role to play! She has many twists and turns to her character. It’s an actress’s dream to be able to develop a character with so many dimensions.
Was it a challenge playing the role of Melissa?
There are always challenges with every role you work on. One of the challenges was the time. We shot the movie in only 14 days. So you can imagine the rollercoaster of emotions you put one character through in a short amount of shooting time. I would have a fight scene in the morning, emotional crying scene at lunch, and a passionate scene at night. It was fun to see how far I could push myself each day to see how many emotions I could squeeze out. Luckily, I had an amazing director and cast who kept this film full of energy every day.
Would you say there are certain similarities between you and Melissa? If not, what are the most striking bits of differences?
She is a good student, friend, and daughter who has a loyal heart. Melissa wants to do what’s right and sticks up for her friends and teachers. She is your All-American girl who works hard to achieve her goals pushing beyond extremes for what she feels is right even if it means taking matters in her own hands. I feel like I can relate to Melissa a lot as I based her off of my own upbringing as well as pulling in some character traits of my friends who are very independent, strong women.
Who has been the strongest inspiration in your life?
My parents are my rock. They are both entrepreneurs running their own companies, who also devote their time to family and helping others. They motivate me to reach for my dreams.
If you weren't an actor or a dancer, what profession would you be in?
I love interior design and decorating. I constantly watch HGTV, it’s so addictive.
What inspired you to work with the Make a Wish Foundation?
The kids. All of the kids in this foundation are just so thankful for any and all the support and help. They are so happy and grateful for the smallest favors or gifts. They make you realize the things we, as healthy individuals, take for granted every day. They make me stronger and, as a result, I have more fight in me.
Who are your idols in the industry?
One would be Reese Witherspoon. Not only is she a talented actress, she is very grounded, humble, and a powerhouse mom. She has been in the industry for many years and has been able to be in the spotlight so gracefully. Another is Cate Blanchett. She has been in some of my favorite movies and I love her work. Talk about a well-rounded actress!
Any future projects that we can look forward to?
I will be shooting a horror web series soon and I have a couple of projects in the works. So stay tuned!
