Ana grew up in the northern Brisbane suburb of Cashmere and attended Wavell Heights High School.
Ana played Christine Daae in QPAC's The Phantom of the Opera. She most recently played Christine Daae (alternate) in the World Tour Production of The Phantom of the Opera that travelled to Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong and Singapore. Ana has also performed the role for more than 60 performances on London’s West End at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
In 2006 Ana played the role of Caroline Neville in Titanic (Sydney). She also played the role of Cosette for the 10th Anniversary production of Les Miserables that toured Australia and New Zealand. Other performances include the concert production of Chess (Brisbane), Phantomine (Melbourne), concerts with the Queensland Pops Orchestra and Savitri for Upstart Opera. Ana recorded the role of Fanny Robin from the musical Far From the Madding Crowd by composer Tim Passmore.
Television appearances include singing the National Anthem for the international television broadcast of the 1999 State of Origin, solo performances on Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton, the ABC’s Quest – The Percy Grainger Award with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and Brisbane Extra. International appearances include live television concerts in Shanghai and Seoul.
Ana Marina studied voice at The Queensland Conservatorium of Music and graduated with a Diploma of Music. Whilst at the Conservatorium she performed in a number of operas, including Gloriana, Albert Herring, L’Enfant et Les Sortileges, Elijah and Il Tabaro.
She also studied at The National Actor’s Conservatory (Queensland) where she graduated with an Advanced Diploma of Screen and Stage Acting, and for 2007 has been honoured by the Actors Conservatory with The Outstanding Industry Achievement Award.
Ana Marina is currently working on a solo album.
Favourite Phantom song: “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” because it’s a turning point in moving forward for Christine, so I love to play the emotional journey of this song.
Brisbane audiences are: wonderfully responsive and giving us standing ovations nearly every night!
Pre-performance anxiety – how I quell it: by being thoroughly prepared and with positive thinking.
Favourite shower song: my own compositions…
Best place in Brisbane for a coffee…a picnic…a glass of vino with a view: For coffee I like the Three Monkeys Coffee and Tea House in West End; for a picnic, Mount Glorious. I’m not able to go out much because of the responsibilities of the show, so if I have a glass of wine, it’s usually at home with friends.
If I wasn’t acting/singing/dancing, I’d be: working with animals or I might have been an artist of some sort as I used to draw quite a lot when I was younger. I will take it up again very soon I hope.
Morning or night person? Definitely a night person.
Most embarrassing on-stage moment: during Les Miserables, (I played Cosette) I had to walk backwards and then quickly sit on a chair and one day I missed the chair and fell on my bum.
Complete this sentence: Taking risks is…a fantastic acting tool.
