RSVP Montgomery

Amanda Morrison

Some girls dream of becoming a movie star. Some girls dream of becoming a bride. For Carrie MacLemore, this was the year she achieved both, and unlike the title of her first feature film, she is far from a Damsel in Distress.

This soft spoken Southern belle, now New York actor, was born in Brandon, Mississippi and moved to Montgomery with her family as a pre-teen. Even before her days as a student at Trinity Presbyterian, she developed a passion for acting. Movies like My Fair Lady captivated this young brunette’s imagination as early as age six, but it was a viewing of independent film Best in Show at the Capri Theatre in Cloverdale that inspired her to uproot and finish her schooling in New York City. 

With the support of her parents, she studied acting at prestigious institutions including New York’s T. Schreiber Studio with Peter Miner. Carrie landed guest appearances on hit television shows including Gossip Girl, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and The Guiding Light. It was a unique audition that garnered Carrie a featured role in her first film debut, Damsels in Distress. The petite-framed actress delivered a solid reading and grabbed the attention of Oscar nominated director Whit Stillman. “It is rare for the writer/director to be in the room so early on in the auditions,” she further explained. “As I was reading my lines I could see him mouthing the words.” 

Many up-and-coming actors would have been caught off guard under these circumstances, but Carrie found his presence in the room to be a source of inspiration. She connected with his rare brand of humor and passion for his creation, and while she left with a good feeling, with the chance of rejection ever present, she tried hard not to think about it. 

Elated yet composed, Carrie received a call back for her second Damsels audition. She read for a different part, and while it is common for roles to be shuffled around, she soon learned this was not a typical second round. In fact, it concluded with directives for wardrobe fittings and rehearsal schedules, which led the unassuming Carrie to ask a very important question: “Does this mean I got the part?” 

To her joy, she did. As Whit Stillman returned to the director’s chair for the first time in 13 years, he chose Alabama’s Carrie MacLemore to play the role of Heather; the gorgeous pal of four female undergrads. Damsels in Distress is a comedy centered on the trials of this collegiate foursome who become fast friends and seek to make life better for the entire student body. The film debuted to rave reviews at both The Venice Film Festival and The Toronto International Film Festival.

Of her character, Carrie says Heather is “the friend who states the obvious.” While excited to perform comedy, her greatest lesson from Whit was one of subtlety. She learned that a calm delivery is best for making this quirky brand of humor believable to audiences.

Sony Motion Pictures is scheduled to release the film mid-March of 2012. In the meantime, Carrie is scheduled for Los Angeles shortly after the New Year where she will enjoy magazine shoots with her fellow cast mates in Glamour and Town and Country. She also plans to audition for several roles while visiting L.A. 

Personally, Carrie is enjoying her time as a newlywed to Montgomery’s Streeter Wiatt, whom she blissfully wed this past August. They met three years ago on a blind date to a Debutante Ball and she is thrilled to be married so they can finally live in the same place. Though the couple resides in New York, they are fortunate to have a one-stop destination for visiting family. Carrie and Streeter’s parents and grandparents all reside in the Montgomery area, so the pair can be spotted in the River Region throughout the year. 

Unlike some celebrities, Carrie is bold to admit her faith in Christ and says it is “paramount” to her identity. In fact, it’s what keeps her balanced during the audition process. As far as choosing roles, she agrees this can sometimes limit her choices but says that it’s “tricky in a practical way” and she “feels blessed to have a team of people who respect her boundaries.” 

Carrie sweetly advises to those seeking fame in this genre, “Make sure you really want it enough to stick with it.” She has been in the business long enough to experience a variety of struggles, including living away from home, and she’s seen several of her peers become burned out from the process. 

In contrast, Carrie’s limelight is only growing. Of her performance in Damsels, Elle Canada says, “She is soon to be a familiar face and in the pages of your favorite glossies.” By never giving up and believing in herself, she has both the career and man of her dreams, and the red carpets await her demure disposition in flawless fashion. Be sure to watch for Carrie MacLemore as Damsels in Distress hits theaters everywhere this spring. 

Carrie’s Counsel: advising Alabama’s young actors

• Get involved in school or community productions
• Develop good taste in films
• Go through a list of top film classics
• Read good books
• See live theater 

Go Back >