A native of Riverside,
California, Martin started acting at age seven, thanks mainly to her
Aunt Rhonda, who was nanny to the late Michael Landon's children. 'I
was a real ham, and being the center of attention made me happy,' says
the actress, who wangled an audition for Landon's 'Father Murphy'
series. A small role on that show touched off her career.
Steady work continued
throughout her childhood, which, she says, remained normal. 'I don't
think the child actor syndrome will hurt me because my family is so
grounded,' maintains the daughter of a department store buyer father
and a kindergarten teacher-turned-producer mother. Yet her life
changed when, at 13, she landed the role of Becca Thatcher on the
series 'Life Goes On' and began on-set schooling. 'It was hard. I was
treated a little differently when I went back to school to visit old
friends,' she admits.
Happily, college is
an equalizer. 'What I do is no big deal,' says Martin, who deferred
her studies twice before, as a freshman, when she starred in the title
role on the series 'Christy' as a young schoolteacher, and as a
sophomore, when she starred as psychology student/intern Kathy Goodman
on NBC's 'Crisis Center.' While she had to do so again, she affirms, 'I'm
in school for the love of it, and I feel no pressure to get straight
A's. Show business is such a roller-coaster life. I'd like to have my
degree and a lot of options.'
Martin's television
movie credits include 'Her Hidden Truth,' 'A Daughter's Courage,' 'If
Someone Had Known,' 'Breaking Free,' 'The Face on the Milk Carton,' 'Her
Last Chance,' 'Secret Witness,' 'A Friend to Die For,' 'Hidden in
Silence,' 'Blue Heaven' and 'About Sarah.' She guest-starred on such
series as 'thirtysomething' and 'The Tracy Ullman Show' and had a
recurring role on 'The Hogan Family.' Her feature film credits include
'Jumpin' Jack Flash,' 'Troop Beverly Hills,' 'Matinee' and the
animated 'The Goofy Movie' (as the voice of Goofy's girlfriend).
Martin recently wed
Columbia University law student Keith Christian. In her off-hours,
Martin, who someday hopes to open a photo gallery in New York, hones
her photographic skills. She also enjoys frequenting museums, watching
Saturday morning cartoons, dancing and traveling. Her birthday is
October 16.
