Marina Mazepa

Marina Mazepa

Marina Mazepa is a Ukrainian-American actress, model, dancer, and internationally recognized contortionist, born on May 7, 1997, in Konotop, Ukraine. She gained widespread international recognition for her unique and often unnerving performance style on various talent competitions. After studying at the Academy of Circus and Variety Arts in Kyiv, she became a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance Ukraine in 2016 and France's Got Talent in 2017. Her breakthrough in the United States came in 2019 during the fourteenth season of America's Got Talent, where her contortionist-dance routines, which often fused ballet, horror, and extreme flexibility, made her a memorable quarter-finalist. Her physical prowess and ability to perform extreme body movements made a seamless transition into horror and action film roles. She made her film debut in 2021, showcasing her specialized skills in three major releases that year: as the ancient witch Mary Elnor in The Unholy, as the monstrous Lisa Trevor in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, and most notably as the physical performer for the main antagonist, Gabriel, in James Wan's horror thriller Malignant. In Malignant, she utilized her unique ability to contort and crawl backward, a practical effect that was central to the character's terrifying presence, earning her a nomination for a Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Villain. More recently, she has expanded her career in television, appearing as one of the assassin twins, Gretel, in the John Wick prequel miniseries The Continental (2023) and in the upcoming Marvel series Agatha All Along (2024).

Person History