Marie Westbrook was born in the small mining town of Kellogg, Idaho, and spent her childhood in Soda Springs, Idaho, just a stone's throw away from the eccentric community of 'Ligertown', where a local resident kept a menagerie of wild ligers. This unusual upbringing would later inspire the liger theme in the cult classic film Napoleon Dynamite, set in nearby Preston.
From the tender age of seven, Marie was involved in dance and gymnastics, initially enrolling at Utah State University as a dance major before switching gears and graduating with a degree in Physics/Chemistry Education. After working various jobs, including waiting tables, serving as a physics teaching assistant, and operating a laser beam, Marie taught 8th Grade science for a year. In addition to her many talents, she can proudly claim the unique title of "professional treadmill tester" on her resume.
Marie's foray into filmmaking began at a young age, as she created her own movies featuring spoof commercials, talk shows, and plays with her friends. Persuaded by a family friend to try her hand at modeling, she became a recognizable face in Utah, Idaho, and Colorado as the girl on the Provo Girl Pilsner label. As she continued to hone her craft, Marie decided to focus on acting, studying with local acting coaches and finishing her degree.
Her early acting credits included several independent shorts and student films, before she was cast alongside David Strathairn and Barbara Hershey in the film Paradise. With her days as a treadmill tester behind her, Marie made the bold move to Los Angeles in the fall of 2005 to pursue a full-time acting career. Her striking beauty and natural talent soon earned her prominent roles in a number of independent films, including the forthcoming supernatural thriller Evil Angel, in which she stars alongside Ving Rhames. Marie has also lent her voice to characters in the highly anticipated video game, Star Wars: The Old Republic.
