Behind the Scenes with: Marla Sokoloff

From making her debut on the iconic cult-classic Full House as the rebellious Gia Mahan to portraying the youngest of Joey Tribianni’s seven sisters, Marla Sokoloff has played many roles in the film industry. Throughout our conversation, I can confidently confirm that Marla’s journey taught me that there is no limit to success, and we have the power to achieve our own wildest dreams. 

On February 5th, 2024, Marla Sokoloff graciously granted me the opportunity to interview her and learn about the trajectory of her Hollywood career and the valuable lessons she learned along her path to success. 

At the start of our interview, I asked Marla how high school helped shape her career today, to which Marla replied:

“Wow, that’s a great question. I mean from a very young age, I knew what I wanted to do. I mean, I was really lucky to have this drive to be creative, and I knew I wanted to be in a creative industry. So for me, by the time I got to high school, I was already acting! I started Full House when I was only 12 years old.  However, it took me out of school a lot, you know, to be on TV, and so when I was around a sophomore, I decided that I wanted to go to ‘normal’ school, I didn’t want to be an actress anymore. So, I went to school, I went to prom, I did all of those fun things that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do if I continued to act in my early years.” With a sense of closure, Marla revealed, “I think high school for me was a departure. A departure from what I am doing now, but it allowed me to feel like a ‘normal’ kid!”

Continuing our conversation, I asked Marla to explain how she entered Hollywood and how she discovered acting was her passion. Marla, grinning, answered:

“So, I grew up in San Francisco, and I did a lot of community theater, and a bunch of smaller plays growing up. I always, as I mentioned before, loved to let loose and express my creativity. So, one day, my mom met an agent up in San Francisco, and she was like, ‘You know, you should bring your daughter to Los Angeles to see if she could try acting professionally.’ My mom was not interested at all, but I ultimately convinced her to do it, and my mom was like, ‘Okay, fine. You get one month. Let’s go try and see what happens.’ I was honestly so excited. And guess what? I ended up booking Full House soon after we got situated in LA in that one month!”

Following that, I asked Marla what advice she would give students who are seeking to explore a career path similar to hers. Marla, without hesitation, answered:

“I always say learn as much as you can. Which is great for students at any age. I would say, for acting specifically, take as many classes as you can, make sure you really love it because there are a lot of times where it can become draining and difficult, but if it is truly your passion, just continue to work for your dream.” Marla continued, “If you want to be a director, read a bunch of books, watch a lot of movies. If you want to be a writer, write ALL of the time. We are all very fortunate to be in this day and age with a surplus of technology where anyone has access to learn and grow their passions. I also think one of the most important aspects to success is always asking the question. You never know if your answer could be a ‘no,’ but your answer can also be a ‘yes.’ So, take the risks and ask questions. No matter the answer, you will learn and you will grow. It is an unpredictable cycle, yet it is also up to the individual how they approach rejection and success.”

Segueing into behind the scenes, I asked Marla if she could provide us with the inside scoop of what it is like to work on iconic stages and screens. Reflecting, Marla responded:

“I mean for Full House I was just such a big fan of the show before I was even on it, so just getting that opportunity to audition was so exciting for me. And, when I got the part, even more ridiculously exciting because that show at the time was a very big show… It was THE show, so it definitely gave me the confidence to keep going. Similarly, I was a huge fan of Friends, and when I got the audition I was dead-set on getting that part because I wanted to be on the show so badly. I mean everyone was so nice on both of the shows, everyone had really treated me so kindly. I would say those two jobs (Full House and Friends) were probably some of my most memorable work. Oh, I would also say working on the show The Practice was one of the biggest life-changing shows for me as well. A huge life transformation!”

Proceeding with our conversation, I asked Marla what it was like to work with such well-known stars on big projects. Marla replied:

“I think Full House is a great example of what working with a great cast is like. I mean as a cast, we were able to reconvene how many years later? It was very difficult to maintain our friendships over the years since we all went in our own directions; however, when we all reunited for Fuller House it was like no time had passed at all. Everyone was just so kind. I actually still talk to Jodie (Stephanie Tanner) and Andrea (Kimmy Gibler). I love those girls!” 

Marla continued, giggling, “I can’t lie, it was all also very intimidating. Working on Friends, the cast had all been working together for eight years already, and I just remember being very quiet during that filming because I was always so nervous to say something stupid! I actually remember running into Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani) at an event, and he was like ‘Marla, hi! How are you?’ and I honestly could not believe he remembered me!” Marla added, “A really cool fact about Friends and Full House is that both shows, including Fuller House, filmed on the same stage, stage 24 on the Warner Brothers lot!”

Continuing, I asked Marla which of the characters she played does she relate to the most. Marla said:

“I did this movie called Whatever it Takes, a teen comedy from the early 2000s with Shane West, James Franco and Jody Lynn O’Keefe, and it was just a fun, high school movie, and I just remember really relating to my character, Maggie Carter. She was very grounded, with a good head on her shoulders. Very different from my role as Gia!”

Nearing the end of our interview, I asked Marla what her comfort movie was, and without any hesitation, Marla replied:

“I love Clueless. I mean it is one of those movies, you know?! I literally saw it in the theaters three or four times when it first came out, and I recently saw it with my daughter, and it is simply so amazing how it still holds up so well, all of these years later. All of the funny moments are still there, all of the actors are so amazing. It’s just iconic.”

Concluding our interview, I asked Marla if she could go back in time, what advice would she grant her high school self? Marla enthusiastically replied:

“This is such a great question because I say this to my daughters all of the time: Do not rush your life. Looking back, I wanted to grow up so quickly, always looking ahead, never living in the moment. So, I would say take a pause, slow down, and enjoy the little things around you. Such timeless advice.”

In conclusion, I would personally like to thank the one and only Marla Sokoloff. Thank you for instilling in me the ability to reach for my goals. Thank you for taking a chance on me, and answering my array of questions. Thank you for being a role model, showing anyone and everyone that there is no one direction to reach success, but rather the way we approach it. Your ongoing dedication to paving the path for young dreamers to reach for the stars is truly commendable. Thank you for everything!