Skip to content
Motif

Mary Lankford Poiley

Actor and producer

Mary Lankford Poiley, sometimes known as Mary Lane, radiates a rare spark in the entertainment world, weaving her talents as an actress, model, and producer into a career that feels both grounded and electric. Hailing from a place steeped in storytelling tradition, she stepped into the spotlight in the mid-1990s, quickly earning a reputation for breathing life into complex characters. Her standout roles in gritty horror flicks like Last Shift (2014) and Missionary (2013) reveal a knack for blending raw intensity with quiet depth, while her work in Exhume (2017) proved she could hold a scene with little more than a glance. Off-screen, she channels her creative fire as CEO of Skyrastudios, mentoring young artists through acting workshops that emphasize craft over flash. Her modeling portfolio, too, tells a story of versatility, with campaigns that lean into bold individuality rather than fleeting trends. Colleagues call her a chameleon, someone who slips into roles with an ease that feels almost instinctual, yet her advocacy for indie filmmakers and underrepresented voices shows a heart firmly rooted in community. Occasionally credited as M.L. Lane in avant-garde projects, she's tackled everything from stage to screen, earning praise for her "stillness that speaks volumes," as one director put it. Whether she's embodying a haunted soul in a psychological thriller or shaping the next generation of talent, Mary Lankford Poiley crafts her legacy with a steady hand, blending artistry and purpose in a way that resonates long after the curtain falls.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
2 on Motif · 3 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 32% in 30 days

Where can I watch Mary Lankford Poiley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, all 2 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Subscription and free streaming for Mary Lankford Poiley's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

3 credits, 2 with a Motif page.

  • Exhume (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    as Reporter

  • Last Shift(2014)

    Producer · as Birdie

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • Missionary(2013)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

Career shape