Mary Chieffo is a renowned queer actor and producer, globally recognized for her captivating portrayal of the Klingon Commander and Chancellor L'Rell in the popular Paramount+ series Star Trek: Discovery, as well as her iconic character's appearance in Star Trek Online.
Born with a passion for the stage, Mary received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the prestigious Juilliard School in 2015, alongside the esteemed Elizabeth Smith Voice and Speech Prize and the Saint-Denis Prize for "Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Drama".
As a member of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Actors' Equity Association (AEA),Mary has accumulated an impressive list of acting credits, including guest roles on NCIS and Girls5eva, as well as leading roles in Bespoke Plays' staged readings of Heretics, Analogue, Lady Face, and Systems.
Mary is a dedicated member of The Road Theatre Company, Impro Theatre LAB Ensemble, and a frequent collaborator with the all-female/genderqueer Ripley Improv.
In addition to her acting endeavors, Mary has ventured into producing, writing, and starring in various projects. One of her most notable accomplishments is Operation Othello, a feminist, gender, and color-conscious VR adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, which premiered at the Cannes XR and Raindance XR festivals in 2018.
Mary has since developed her unique interpretation of the infamous villain Iago, which was showcased in Iago: The Green-Eyed Monster, a Musical AR Experience co-created with Josh Nelson Youssef and premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2022. This project earned a Webby Award for Metaverse, Immersive & Virtual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in 2023 and was a Tribeca X Finalist.
Mary also stars in the short film Every Morning, a queer sci-fi love story written by and co-starring her partner Madi Goff. The film received several awards, including the Women In Media Parity In Action Badge, River Bend Film Fest WINNER Spirit of the Fest Award, Indie Short Fest WINNER Best Acting Duo, Best Original Score, Outstanding Achievement LGBTQ+ Short, and LA Independent Women Film Awards WINNER Best Composer.
