Bess Motta is an award winning actress, singer, and fitness instructor and motivator born in Los Angeles, CA. Bess is known for appearing in the James Cameron science fiction film classic, “The Terminator”. As the lead instructor, choreographer and motivator for the long running television exercise program, “The :20 Minute Workout” Bess has inspired people all around the world to enjoy exercise and a fit lifestyle.
Francis Lederer, Noreen Corcoran and young Bess Motta – Anta Academy of Performing Arts
As a pre-teen, Bess was active as a competitive ice skater. At the age of 13 she began studying with film and stage actor, Francis Lederer. Raised in Woodland Hills, California she attended Taft High School in the San Fernando Valley. Bess starred in the theater productions of “Once Upon A Mattress” and “Annie Get Your Gun” and she was active in summer productions and drama competitions with other young San Fernando Valley actors Mare Winningham and Val Kilmer.
Career:
At 18, Bess was cast in the role of Sylvia in the San Francisco production of “The Great American Backstage Musical”. British actor, Anthony Andrews came to see the production and decided to produce the show at London’s Regent Theatre with Bess as the sole American in the show. Bess’s powerful singing style was often compared to Judy Garland.
After returning from England, Bess began teaching aerobics classes in Brentwood, CA and because of her dance and musical background, she quickly built a large and loyal following. She came to the attention of the creator a new exercise show, “The :20 Minute Workout”. Bess starred in and choreographed the iconic television show and is often credited with putting TV aerobics on the map. The program ran in international syndication for many years and in Canada, ran on CityTV multiple times daily for over 10 years.
In 1984, director James Cameron cast Bess in the role of the bubbly, walkman wearing Ginger Ventura, in “The Terminator”. Bess performed her own stunts in the film, which in 2008 was added to National Film Registry of the Library of Congress as a work of enduring significance to American culture.
Bess Motta as Judy Garland in THE BOY FROM OZ
In 2016, Bess starred as Judy Garland in the west coast premier of THE BOY FROM OZ at The Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles. The show ran for 77 sold out shows to rave reviews.
Bess won the LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayl of Judy Garland and Best Featured Performance from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, in addition to multiple awards from Los Angeles theater critics.
Additionally in 2017, Bess co-starred with Zendaya in the television show K.C. Undercover. See IMDB for additional film and television credits.
As a fitness personality and motivator, Bess has been a celebrity spokesperson for multiple clients including: Kraft Foods, Converse, Evian, Crystal Light and Coppertone.