The Reacher star chats with us ahead of season 3… 

Maria Sten is not just another face on the screen; she's a force to be reckoned with, captivating audiences with her compelling performances and diverse skill set. Currently gracing the screens in the Amazon action-crime sensation Reacher alongside Alan Ritchson, Maria's return for Season 3 has fans eagerly awaiting more of her portrayal of Frances Neagley: a character described as the female counterpart to the iconic protagonist. With Seasons 1 and 2 dominating Prime Video and garnering the top spot for the streamer, Maria's presence has undoubtedly been a driving force behind the show's success.

But Maria's talent doesn't end with Reacher. She's made her mark in the industry with notable roles such as Liz Tremayne in the cult favourite Swamp Thing; sharing the screen with a stellar cast under the executive production of James Wan. 

Beyond her acting prowess, Maria isn’t scared to put her own pen to paper, contributing to ABC's acclaimed series Big Sky from David E. Kelley. With her talent already earning accolades through prestigious programs like The Black List / Women In Film Episodic Labs and Christina Hodson and Margot Robbie's Lucky Exports Pitch Program, you could say she’s a “Sten” of all trades…but you’d be mistaken to believe she’s stopping there. 

Venturing into filmmaking with her debut short film, When It Burns, (which she not only wrote but also directed, produced, and starred in the project), Maria proves that her career path extends beyond its duties. Rather, it is what she lives and breathes. 

No doubt, Maria Sten isn’t here to play. Steadfast in her mission to tell real stories with real people and real passion, she talks with Rollacoaster on all things acting, growing up and using her platform to advocate for representation in the industry…

Hey Maria! How has this year been for you so far? 

MS: Hi! So far, it’s been good! Busy promoting Reacher season two, shooting Reacherseason three and writing a feature, so I can’t complain. 

We’d love to know about your upbringing...what were you like as a kid growing up in Denmark? How did your home life inform the person you are now? 

MS: I was very curious and adventurous, and I had way too much energy. Between gymnastics, horseback riding, track and field and sleepovers with friends, I was always busy. And I think I very much still have this need to stay active and have new experiences, which does bleed into my work ethic. 

What did you want to be when you grew up? When did you discover your true passions? Do you have any role models you look up to or that inspire you? 

MS: My first childhood dream was to be a cowboy. I’ve been riding horses since I was three years old, and I was obsessed with the Wild West and Westerns growing up. I then shifted into the performing arts, when I was about 13 when I saw the musical FAME in London for the first time, and that dream to express myself through my own instrument has been true ever since. But I did move to Wyoming a few years back, so still keeping the cowboy dream alive too. 

Actress, writer, director, model, dancer...you already wear so many hats. Do you find there is a particular sector of your career you feel the most “at home” within? 

MS: Probably, acting. That’s the work that comes most intuitively to me. I think like an actor, even as a writer and director. I always emphasise and gravitate towards the character journey and the character relationships in any given project. I also write from a desire to see more of the characters on screen that I — or someone who looks like me — would like to have the opportunity to play. But it’s all connected. Each hat I wear makes me better when wearing another. 

What inspired you to leave Denmark and your career in dancing and modelling to pursue a career in the US as an actor and writer? Any plans to go back? 

MS: Growing up in Denmark, there were not a lot of people who looked like me, and I felt that I would have a hard time getting work as a performer in Denmark. So initially, I wanted to leave because I was just looking for opportunities, but as I said before, I’m curious and adventurous by nature, and I did have a desire to go out and see the world. But I definitely still consider myself Danish, and I do go back to Denmark every year to spend time with my family. 

How would you describe your experience within this industry thus far after switching career paths? What has been your favourite part of being an actor/writer/director? Any special moments you’d like to share? 

MS: The thing I was missing most when being a dancer was leaving something behind. Dance is an immediate art form, and often an impermanent one. You perform, you (hopefully) leave an impact, but then it’s done. Working in film and television allows people to revisit and enjoy the work in perpetuity, which I think there’s something very satisfying about. I also very much enjoy the creative control you have as a writer that you don’t have as much of as an actor. 

You’ve been using your platform to showcase representation in this industry: why is this important to you? 

MS: I want kids of colour to grow up and feel like no matter what aspect of our society or corner of the world we are in, there is a place for them. I want them to feel like they belong. I know it’s a cheesy answer, but I think anyone who understands the experience of not being represented will understand what I mean. Hopefully, everyone else will too. 

What advice would you give your younger self with the insight you have now? 

MS: “Go on, kiddo. You belong here. Keep on dreaming up your own road.” 

What was the first job you booked? 

MS: As an actor, it was the lead in Syfy’s anthology series CHANNEL ZERO: THE DREAM DOOR. To this day, it’s one of the best production experiences I’ve ever had. 

Did you expect your career to take off like it has? Have you had any “I’ve made it” moments? 

MS: After I booked my first job, I had a brief moment of that, but I’m generally always feeling like I should be doing more and I should be working harder, so those moments are rare for me. I do try to remind myself to be grateful, even when I continue to challenge myself to build further. 

Tell us about Reacher! Now returning for the third season, what were your initial expectations about joining the project and how have they changed now? 

MS: When I signed on, I don’t think I expected the show to be as massive a success as it has become. It’s pretty surreal. But we have great creatives who know exactly what the show is and where it lives, and there’s a comfort in that. I don’t think I have any expectations per se, I just try to stay on my feet and see what more crazy action stunts they can throw at us, haha. 

What would you say are the biggest similarities and differences between yourself and your character, Frances Neagley? 

MS: Similarities... I don’t think I’m as guarded as Neagley, but it does take me a while to let people in. Once I do though, it’s very hard for me to let people go as well, which I think is a quality that Neagley shares. Where we differ is probably her level of emotional self-awareness versus mine. I sometimes think of Neagley as a version of myself if I hadn’t done the work to process the various traumas that I’ve experienced in my life. She understands love and loyalty all the same though, she just shows it differently. 

What can we expect from season three? Are there any scenes you’re excited about in particular? 

MS: Wish I could tell you, but I can’t :) 

What has been your biggest takeaway from filming this project? 

MS: Probably handling the action of the show. I do my own stunts and work very closely with the stunt team in terms of training, so they’re able to design stunts around my character’s traits, as well as my own abilities, which of course makes my dance background very helpful, so that’s been really exciting to get to explore so much on this show. 

You also recently wrote on Big Sky...Where do you want your writing to take you next? Do you have your sights on any new projects? What would be your dream role? 

MS: I’m currently working on something that ticks a lot of dream boxes for me, but I don’t want to jinx it, so let’s chat about that another time, haha. 

Being both an actress and a writer, what – to you – makes the difference between a good script and a great script? 

MS: Hmm... Hard to say. I think you just know it when you read it. But good markers of a great script to me are: a great character journey, when things feel true inside the world of the script and for the characters in it, and when something feels unexpected. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time? Do you find it advantageous or hindering to set yourself specific goals? 

MS: I find it perhaps limiting to set specific goals, but I am always dreaming of the future and what I’d like to do with it. But I try to make myself focus on what’s right in front of me and what I can control, in terms of my creative output. I find that to be the best way to get to the dream part.

Photographer: Valerie Burke

Photography Assistant: Victoria Ansell-Gauvin

Styling & Creative Direction: Brandon Laughton

Fashion Assistant: Sara Lewis

Makeup: Lou Swinden-Payne

Hair: Duyen Huynh

Prop Stylist: Daniel Onori

Manicurist: Khristinne M

Words: Ella West