Martha Van Der Bly
- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Martha Van Der Bly is an cosmopolitan, multi-layered and sophisticated actress. Her ability to breathe life into complex characters, her sense for comedy and her passion for authentic storytelling have resonated with audiences across borders. Having lived and worked in New York, Dublin, London and Amsterdam, Martha's journey as an actor is a testament to her versatility, dedication to the craft, integrity, curiosity, and passion for exploring different worlds through storytelling.
Born in Groningen, The Netherlands, Martha's Dutch, Czech, and Austrian heritage serves as a wellspring of inspiration in her artistic endeavors and an appreciation for different perspectives. Starring as the lead in the primary school musical, Martha's love for acting began at a very young age. With her comedy act 'Dumb & Blond', she was selected for the finals of the Martini Cabaret Festival.
Martha's acting career took root in Dublin, where she embarked on her professional acting journey with a solid background in the theatre, while obtaining a Ph.D. From Trinity College Dublin. In Dublin Martha took acting courses at the Gaiety School of Acting and Filmbase and was a member of The Attic for many years, honing her craft in weekly meetings lead by Graham Cantwell and Rachel Rath.
In the theatre, she starred as the German Beatles photographer Astrid Kirchherr in The Man Who Gave the Beatles Away - The Alan Williams Story' (New Theatre Dublin), was Sister Concepta in the comedy How to Marry a Monkfish (New Theatre Dublin), as the lead Electra in Euripides' Electra (Players Theatre Dublin), Luisa (lead) in Carl Sternheim's The Knickers (Players Theatre Dublin), as Claire in Jean Genet's The Maids (Players Theatre Dublin) and Ms. Foxhill in Tennessee William's Suddenly Last Summer (Focus Theatre Dublin) alongside Aidan Turner.
Martha was Annabella (lead) in John Ford's Tis Pity She's a Whore (Theater aan 't Spui, The Hague), Anna in Maxim Gorki's The Lower Depths (Gasthuis Theater, Amsterdam), Magdalena in Garcia Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba (Lord Stanley Theatre, London) and Eva (lead) in And Then They Came for Me - The Story of Eva Schloss and Ann Frank' performing for almost two years with the play, including a tour in South Africa.
In Dublin she starred in numerous short films and worked on Ghostwood, starring Robert Sheehan). Martha was Lori in Irish film 8,5 hours and Daphne in Life in One Day from Emmy-nominated Dutch director Mark de Cloe. Martha was Zlatka in the experimental short film Zlatka directed by Grammy-winner Em Cooper, performed as Fernando Pessoa in 'Ultima Pessoa', nominated best film 48hrs Lisbon and Martha's role as the German Woman in the comic commercial Forum Bank was a smash hit, including being shortlisted for the Cannes Lions.
In pursuit of broader artistic horizons, Martha recently moved to New York to study at the prestigious William Esper Studio. The Two-Year Professional Actors program training in the Meisner-technique is an unique opportunity to further study the truth of the human condition. As an artist with an insatiable thirst for creative exploration,
Martha remains open to challenging roles that push the boundaries of her abilities. Martha's journey in acting is a testament to her passion, authenticity, and the joy she finds in the art of acting, her first love.
It is just the beginning!
Born in Groningen, The Netherlands, Martha's Dutch, Czech, and Austrian heritage serves as a wellspring of inspiration in her artistic endeavors and an appreciation for different perspectives. Starring as the lead in the primary school musical, Martha's love for acting began at a very young age. With her comedy act 'Dumb & Blond', she was selected for the finals of the Martini Cabaret Festival.
Martha's acting career took root in Dublin, where she embarked on her professional acting journey with a solid background in the theatre, while obtaining a Ph.D. From Trinity College Dublin. In Dublin Martha took acting courses at the Gaiety School of Acting and Filmbase and was a member of The Attic for many years, honing her craft in weekly meetings lead by Graham Cantwell and Rachel Rath.
In the theatre, she starred as the German Beatles photographer Astrid Kirchherr in The Man Who Gave the Beatles Away - The Alan Williams Story' (New Theatre Dublin), was Sister Concepta in the comedy How to Marry a Monkfish (New Theatre Dublin), as the lead Electra in Euripides' Electra (Players Theatre Dublin), Luisa (lead) in Carl Sternheim's The Knickers (Players Theatre Dublin), as Claire in Jean Genet's The Maids (Players Theatre Dublin) and Ms. Foxhill in Tennessee William's Suddenly Last Summer (Focus Theatre Dublin) alongside Aidan Turner.
Martha was Annabella (lead) in John Ford's Tis Pity She's a Whore (Theater aan 't Spui, The Hague), Anna in Maxim Gorki's The Lower Depths (Gasthuis Theater, Amsterdam), Magdalena in Garcia Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba (Lord Stanley Theatre, London) and Eva (lead) in And Then They Came for Me - The Story of Eva Schloss and Ann Frank' performing for almost two years with the play, including a tour in South Africa.
In Dublin she starred in numerous short films and worked on Ghostwood, starring Robert Sheehan). Martha was Lori in Irish film 8,5 hours and Daphne in Life in One Day from Emmy-nominated Dutch director Mark de Cloe. Martha was Zlatka in the experimental short film Zlatka directed by Grammy-winner Em Cooper, performed as Fernando Pessoa in 'Ultima Pessoa', nominated best film 48hrs Lisbon and Martha's role as the German Woman in the comic commercial Forum Bank was a smash hit, including being shortlisted for the Cannes Lions.
In pursuit of broader artistic horizons, Martha recently moved to New York to study at the prestigious William Esper Studio. The Two-Year Professional Actors program training in the Meisner-technique is an unique opportunity to further study the truth of the human condition. As an artist with an insatiable thirst for creative exploration,
Martha remains open to challenging roles that push the boundaries of her abilities. Martha's journey in acting is a testament to her passion, authenticity, and the joy she finds in the art of acting, her first love.
It is just the beginning!
