Melissa Gratia is not your typical Actor.
She has excelled as an artist, despite the challenges of literally having been raised in a barn. Growing up she regularly acted, directed, and on occasion, wrote plays and short films that were performed locally and professionally. At the age of 17, Melissa moved to Hollywood CA, where she attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. There, she excelled not only in acting for film and theatre, but also stage combat (rapier, dagger, broadsword, quarterstaff and unarmed), dance and movement, accents (SAP, southern, british, cockney, new york/italian) and improvisation. Since graduation, Melissa has been working professionally and successfully as an actor in Los Angeles CA and Austin TX. She has been in a several feature films (“Jerico,” “It Got Out,” “Funemployment”), commercials (“Gunn Auto” “Verizon Wireless,” “Walden University,”), music videos (“Sweet Spirit’s – Baby Doll,” “Jada – American Cowboy”), web series (“Extinction Event,” “AA with Milky”), dozens of short films (“Mars 2728, “The Visitor,” “Boiler Room”), PSA’s, and plays. Melissa’s interests also include modeling, where she has worked several runway shows for “Seventeen Magazine,” “Farouk/CHI Hair Systems,” “Framesi,” and “Beth Minardi” among various other Print work.
Her style; whether that be in her smile, timing, sweet nature, or humor is often compared to that of Carole Burnett. And, at the exact opposite end of that, Melissa’s unique use of her body, her flexibility and double jointedness allow her to transform into creatures that may not be of this world, much like Doug Jones.
Melissa’s dedication, imagination, and spirit enable her to plunge into mystical worlds, full of enchantment and wonder – that our normal day-to-day, adult lives often forget to see. But, through her, the audience can forget for a moment, and believe.
AWARDS
Monologue Slam 4; “Battle of the Sexes”, Slam Champion, 2009
Competed with 10 other people with a 5 minute monologue. A monologue from “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” by Steve Martin was used.
“Best Performance”
Melissa won “Best Performance” as the sassy maid Nicole in Moliere’s “The Would-Be Gentleman” on the AMDA Stages in 2008
