Meet Maria Tornberg: Photographer Actor Writer

There is no way I can talk about risk without talking about how I risked my life when I jumped out of my bedroom window during a home invasion a few years ago. As horrifying as that and my devastating injuries I suffered were, the following months of recovery triggered a profound self discovery journey that forced me to take a good look at my life. The vision of me jumping in blind faith, was showing me how brave I really am, and always have been. I realized that I have been taking huge risks my whole life. Even though, at times, the fear was overwhelming, it never stopped me from my true calling; to find freedom. I was always scared, but my desire to live was always greater. And for many artists, creating art is the way we breathe, feel free and feel alive. Choosing a life as an artist, is in itself a huge risk. It means risking financial stability, risking feeling exposed and rejected and also facing the risk that we may be misunderstood and isolated at times. I took a huge risk when I left my country, Sweden, at fifteen years old, and moved to Paris on my own to work as a fashion model. Years later after having worked and travelled around Europe, I risked what I knew and had worked for, when I left the modeling profession behind and moved to New York, went to drama school and pursued a career as an actor. And when I got an offer by a theatrical agent in Los Angeles, I jumped on the opportunity and packed my bags. After a couple of years in Los Angeles I decided to risk it all again by moving behind the camera and make my on films and do photography. After getting a lot of fantastic feedback, I decided to start my own photography business. I started from scratch and risked the “illusion” of safety but within three months, my business was thriving and I have been working steadily as a photographer ever since. Today I am able to share all my experiences as a model and actress with so many aspiring actors and help them with their careers. I believe the word “risk” is often about; loosing what you think you know and feel familiar with, loosing the illusion of safety and the idea of yourself and others that you are attached to. Sometimes the risk you take, the leap you make, is what will catapult you into the truth of yourself and what you are meant to do. The biggest risk you take by believing in yourself, to bet on yourself when no one else does and when the odds are stacked against you, is that you might “fail”. When I was very young, I thought that taking risks could mean; to fall flat on my face, make a fool out of myself and find out that I was not talented after all. But “failure” is only the attachment we have to other people’s judgements. The seed that has been planted in you is your own unique calling and you are risking betraying yourself by not listening to your true purpose. Today I believe that the worst risk you can take is to not take the risk of following the highest calling. If you don’t fail, don’t take the leap of faith, don’t follow your dreams; you’re risking a life without true fulfillment and meaning. Taking Risks is scary but also exciting and always worth it. And as the Finnish author wrote: “For if you’re not afraid, how can you be really brave?” -Tove Jansson