Mariama Whitton is an Ethiopian actress, graphic designer and creative who was adopted from Ethiopia when she was 3 and a half. In 2022 she made her main stage debut playing Vimsy in the successful run of Orange Thrower written by Kirsty Marillier and directed by Zindzi Okenyo. The play then went on to win the 2022 Nick Enright Prize for playwriting. Mariama also starred in the production Silenced at FlightPath Theatre. She has also appeared in music videos and commercials including for: Ubereats Drumstick; Postmates; Fitness First; and Tylenol.
In 2019 Mariama graduated from the full time acting program at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Notable roles at WAAPA include Jennifer in Moliere’s The Misanthrope, Nina in Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull and Lady Montague in Romeo and Juliet. She also played the role of Gugu in the short film The Docks produced by WASA and in partnership with Channel 9.
At 21 she graduated with her Masters in Design at UNSW Art and Design in 2016. In 2014 she graduated with a Bachelor of Digital Media Studies (with Distinction) from Central Queensland University. In 2011 she completed her ATCL (Associate Trinity College of London) in performing.
In 2021 she created and designed the online magazine meraki which interviews actors and creatives.
It interviews professional working actors and creatives working across TV, film and theatre. Topics discussed include self-taping and booking work; building resilience; rejection; how to financially support yourself; creating your own work; mental health; and, life outside of acting. Each issue of the magazine focuses on one particular actor and is designed to express and reflect the individuality of the actor while maintaining consistency with the overarching design theme.
You can keep up to date via the website and instagram https://meraki-magazine.com/ @meraki_mag_au
In 2013 she self published a book titled the Alphabet of Human Emotions which is a double sided alphabet book, aimed to inspire and motivate people. It does this through photography and quotes from people who achieved extraordinary feats and overcame obstacles. She hopes that this book will encourage others to do the same.
Mariama currently works as a freelance graphic designer. For graphic design and acting enquiries you can contact her via this website.