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Daughter of Charles City native featured in ‘Wicked’ film

Daughter of Charles City native featured in 'Wicked’ film
Marissa Bode, who has family ties to Charles City, plays a pivotal character in the new movie, “Wicked.” Submitted photos.
By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

“Wicked” will be this weekend’s featured movie at the Charles Theatre, and the big Hollywood hit has a unique local connection.

Making her feature film debut in the movie is Marissa Bode, daughter of Charles City native Sean Bode and granddaughter of the late Allan and Patricia Bode, who served the community as a high school Spanish teacher and librarian respectively.

“They were lovely humans,” said Marissa Bode. “I see a lot of myself in different ways in them.”

Marissa was born and raised in Mazomanie, Wisconsin, but has fond childhood memories of visiting her father’s hometown of Charles City, picking cherry tomatoes from her grandfather’s garden and visiting the library with her grandmother.

“I would visit every now and then,” said Bode. “I remember it just being nice and quiet.”

Bode’s grandparents were both heavily involved with the Stony Point Players and that love of performing arts has passed down through the family to their children and grandchildren.

“If they were still around they’d be more than proud,” said Sean Bode. “They’d be so excited.”

Bode’s hometown of Mazomanie has been celebrating her good fortune, organizing watch parties to support their rising star.

“It’s just extraordinary for this to happen to someone in a small town,” said Sean Bode. “I’m happy to share some of that pride with my fellow Charles City people.”

In 2018, Bode left her small Midwestern town and moved to Los Angeles to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, graduating in 2021. A year later she auditioned for a role in “Wicked,” launching her burgeoning acting career into a major motion picture part.

“It just seems to have happened really fast for me,” said Bode. “I’m truly grateful for that.”

The excitement of being cast was quickly met with anxiety as Bode realized that “Wicked” was being filmed in the United Kingdom and that, neglecting her parents’ advice, she did not have a passport.

“My parents told me during that summer to get my passport and I didn’t think I was going to be traveling anytime soon because I didn’t have the funds to do so, especially out of college like that and working part time, so I didn’t think I’d need it,” said Bode. “I was so terrified that they were going to recast the part.”

Fortunately, Bode was able to get her passport and traveled overseas for the first time, where she spent the better part of seven months in London shooting the two-part movie, “Wicked” and its sequel “Wicked: For Good.”

Adapted from the novel and stage musical of the same name, “Wicked” is based on “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and tells the story of the infamous Wicked Witch of the West’s origins.

In the movie, Bode plays Nessarose, the younger sister of the future villain who goes on a journey of her own as the sisters navigate the social dynamics of the magical Shiz University and explore what it is that makes someone “wicked.”

“My personal belief is that nobody is born wicked and a lot of it is just circumstances,” said Bode.

In the story, Nessarose is largely confined to a wheelchair. Bode, who has been using a wheelchair since age 11 following a car crash, is the first actress to play the character who shares that disability.

“I relate to Nessa a number of different ways, especially as a wheelchair user and a college student for the first time,” said Bode.

Being thrust into the spotlight has given Bode the opportunity to raise awareness about how important representation and accessibility is for disabled people, providing a platform where she can encourage people to not be afraid about asking questions about what people who use wheelchairs need.

This activism gives Bode insight into not just her own character, but that of her fictional sister, Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo.

“Prior to Wicked, I was doing my best to advocate. It’s something that’s very important to me,” said Bode. “I do relate to Elphaba’s character in a lot of ways, doing her best to stick to her morals and doing what is right.”

“Wicked” was released in November and garnered positive reviews and a strong box office, launching Bode into the spotlight alongside world-famous personalities like Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh.

“It really has felt like a whirlwind, for sure,” said Bode. “This past month and a half has been much more fast-paced than I’m used to.”

A long-time fan of the stage play, Bode said she is thrilled with how the movie turned out and encourages multiple viewings for fans of Oz.

“It’s been fun to see the little Easter Eggs,” said Bode. “There’s definitely things I didn’t catch on the first watch through.”

Bode also has her own opinion on the subject of singing along to the musical’s songs in the theater.

“I’m not a hater, but also I do understand theater etiquette and maybe not everybody wants to hear that,” said Bode. “There are, I believe, sing-a-long versions coming out so maybe just wait for that.”

Daughter of Charles City native featured in 'Wicked’ film
Marissa Bode is Nessarose and Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in “Wicked.”

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