Marissa Bode Biography: Parents, Net Worth, Awards, Instagram, Movies, Ethnicity, Height

Marissa Bode is an American actress and disability advocate, best known for making history as the first disabled actor to portray Nessarose Thropp in the blockbuster musical films Wicked (2024) and its sequel.

She has brought authentic representation to major Hollywood projects while advocating for inclusion in the industry.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Marissa Bode
• Stage Name: Marissa Bode
• Born: 28 August 2000
• Age: 25 years old
• Birthplace: Mazomanie, Wisconsin, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actress, Disability Advocate
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Sean Bode
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: None
• Girlfriends: Lauren “Wren” Brooks (since 2023)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $1 million

Early Life and Education

Marissa Bode was born on August 28, 2000, in Mazomanie, Wisconsin, to a Black mother and a white father, identified as Sean Bode.

She grew up in a small-town environment and began acting at age eight in local plays and musicals.

At age 11, she sustained injuries in a car accident on the way to theater practice, which resulted in her using a wheelchair.

She attended Wisconsin Heights School for her early education and later trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Los Angeles.

Her background includes mixed racial heritage, and she identifies as queer; specific details on religion are not publicly disclosed.

Career

Marissa Bode started performing at a young age in community theater productions in Wisconsin, including roles in musicals like Little Shop of Horrors, The Diviners, Peter Pan, and Mary Poppins.

After moving to Los Angeles and graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, she focused on building her career as a disabled actress, taking on stage work and small projects while advocating for better representation.

Her early efforts emphasized authentic storytelling from her lived experience, which helped her stand out in an industry often lacking inclusion for performers with disabilities.

Her major breakthrough arrived with the role of Nessarose Thropp in Jon M. Chu’s Wicked (2024), where she became the first actor to portray the character using a wheelchair on screen, mirroring her real-life mobility.

The film’s massive success and critical acclaim brought her widespread recognition, allowing her to address ableism in media and inspire greater visibility for disabled performers.

She continued this momentum into the sequel and began securing additional film opportunities.

Marissa Bode has established herself as a prominent voice for disability representation in Hollywood through her high-profile work in the Wicked franchise and upcoming projects such as the psychological thriller Snare.

Her advocacy extends beyond acting, as she speaks openly about inclusion, ableism, and the importance of disabled actors telling their own stories.

She remains an influential emerging talent whose presence continues to push boundaries and open doors for underrepresented performers in mainstream entertainment.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @marissa_edob

Personal Life

Marissa Bode is openly queer and has been in a relationship with fellow wheelchair user Lauren “Wren” Brooks, a writer and journalist, since September 2023.

The couple met through a dating app and have been supportive partners, often appearing together at premieres and events.

She maintains a private personal life focused on her career, advocacy, and creative pursuits, while sharing aspects of her experiences as a disabled, mixed-race, queer woman to promote understanding and change.

Filmography

• Wicked (2024)
• Wicked: For Good (TBA)
• Snare (TBA)

Net Worth

Marissa Bode has an estimated net worth of around $1 million. Her primary sources of income include her starring role in the highly successful Wicked films, which provided significant earnings for a debut feature, along with upcoming projects like Snare and any related endorsements or advocacy work.