Meet Heidi-Marie
Heidi-Marie Ferren is an award-winning Cherokee/Sioux-Polish-American writer, producer, actor and singer/songwriter who is currently staffed on the hit Shonda Rhimes ABC show, Station 19. Heidi is a 2023 Disney/ABC Fellowship recipient and her original pilots & screenplays have garnered awards & recognition from over three dozen film festivals worldwide. Heidi recently served as Showrunner’s Assistant and Head Writer under Showrunner/Creator, Jim O’Doherty (Third Rock From the Sun, Grounded for Life) developing two new comedy series’ and a feature. She was a finalist for the prestigious Josephson Entertainment Fellowship and winner in Screenwriting at the Beverly Hills Film Festival for her pilot about the New York City Carpenter’s Union. Heidi is also an Executive Producer and Co-Creator of the Series The Countdown, which premiered at the Nashville Film Festival and has currently received over 15 awards for best new series pilot and women’s empowerment story. She is a producer on the series, This Boy’s Vida: Made in America, which premiered at HBO’s New York Latino Film Festival.
In the comedy world, Heidi-Marie is the other half of “The Blonde Jokes” duo, which was a finalist in sketch comedy for NBC’s Bring The Funny and the winner of Best Sketch Comedy for two years running in LA Theatre. She recently Produced a feature directed by Ryan Cunningham (Amy Schumer’s Growing, Broad City, Ziwe) that is currently set to premiere at soon to be announced top tier festival. Heidi has her BFA from Southern Methodist University, her MFA from the University of Delaware’s Professional Theatre Training Program and her MBA from Keller School of Business in Chicago.
In addition to her work for the screen, Heidi has served United States and Allied Service Members and Veterans as the last and longest reigning Miss USO, performing and speaking across the globe as an ambassador and steward of gratitude in over 1,000 venues and before 4 U.S. Presidents. As a recording artist, Heidi’s credits include performances with Taylor Swift, Lady GaGa, Joan Jett, Patti LaBelle and Lee Greenwood. Heidi continues to support Service Members through time, song and service as an Ambassador, Performer, and Volunteer. As a former foster youth and survivor of homelessness and assault, she has also passionately dedicated herself to helping young people use their story for good. She is currently a Court Appointed Advocate (CASA) for foster youth and an advocate in the fight to end human trafficking and combat the epidemic of violence against Indigenous women throughout Canada, the United States, and Latin America. Part of her story was recently featured in the best-selling book Brave in Real Life to support the efforts of Brave Global, an organization Heidi has partnered with to end the exploitation of young people and protect them from human trafficking rings.