Happy days for Marsha

MARSHA Thomason as Nessa Holt in US TV series “Las Vegas”

The Chronicle’s countdown to the 20th anniversary of Oldham Sixth Form College tonight features one of its best-known graduates — US TV star Marsha Thomason
SHE may be a high-flying star in the states but Marsha Thomason still remembers her days at Oldham Sixth Form College with affection.

She was one of its first students when it opened — and 20 years on she is now starring in the hit US show “White Collar”, with everything from “Playing the Field” to “Lost” and “Las Vegas” in between.

Speaking to the Chronicle from New York, where the series is being filmed, she said: “I love Oldham Sixth Form College — it is my happiest educational moment.

“We were the first students in the brand new building which was very appealing. It was just a wonderful experience: we were allowed to wear our own clothes, we were out of uniform, we were allowed to call the teachers by their first names.

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“It was a very nurturing experience. I excelled — I loved it.”

Marsha (36), from Moston, loved performing from an early age and explained: “My mum took me to Oldham Theatre Workshop when I was 11.

“I started acting and I was there until I was about 17, appearing in the plays and auditioning for TV jobs.

“The first gig I got was the (Saturday morning children’s TV show) the 8:15 From Manchester and it just kind of went on from there — I never really stopped.”

She did English language, media studies and theatre studies at Oldham Sixth Form College and said: “It was such a creative place.

“Matthew Millburn (now head teacher at Saddleworth School) was our theatre teacher and he was very encouraging. While I was there I started a film in London about homeless kids. He was very supportive, as was the whole college.

“He allowed me to go, put my studies on hold and make that film which was a pivotal moment in my career.”

While studying English at Manchester Metropolitan University, Marsha’s TV work included parts in “Prime Suspect”, “Brazen Hussies” and “Pie in the Sky”.

The Manchester City supporter went on to play Shazza Pearce in “Playing the Field” and nurse Jacqui Richards in “Where the Heart Is”.

Her big break in the US came in the movie “Black Knight” (2001) with Martin Lawrence. Marsha said: “I have been here ever since. I did a bit of backwards and forwards for a couple of years but I have been here pretty much full-time.”

Here means Marsha, married to lighting technician Craig, splitting her time between New York and Los Angeles.

“My husband is a Manchester United fan which you can imagine is fun in my house at the moment,” she joked as the Premier League title race nears its end.

In 2003 Marsha starred in the Disney film “Haunted Mansion” with Eddie Murphy before landing high-profile TV roles as Naomi Dorrit in “Lost” and Nessa Hold in “Las Vegas” with Hollywood legend James Cann.

“I have worked with so many great actors. Working with James Caan on ‘Las Vegas’ was amazing. He is such an amazing guy.”

But there is one role that Marsha’s friends back home can’t see her in, much to her disappointment: FBI agent Diana Berrigan in “White Collar”.

“I have been working on ‘White Collar’ for four years. It is a shame because it is a hit in America and around the world, but when they aired it in England it was on Bravo or another channel which is now defunct.

“When I speak to friends in England, nobody gets to see it. I am incredibly frustrated about it — I don’t know why it isn’t on.”



DID you attend Oldham Sixth Form College? What are your memories and what are you doing now?
Email karendoherty@oldham-chronicle.co.uk