"I loved working with Merissa on One Night. She has natural talent, amazing instincts, and true presence, not to mention a great work ethic and top notch professionalism. I look forward to working with her again in the near future!" ~Michael Knowles, writer/director/producer
"Merissa Morin is just the type of actor I created my studio for: very talented, very passionate, and very professional." ~Scott Freeman, teacher/owner of The Freeman Studio
“Merissa Morin is an actress of great depth and talent. She deeply understands that the art of acting is not to act which is what makes her characters so compelling and memorable. Merissa's ability to express the roses and the thorns of humanity is a gift and her sense of truth is inspiring. And she’s as beautiful a person as she is an actress!” ~Robert Colt, teacher/founder of Inside Game
"I had the honor of working with Merissa in my Committed Impulse classes. She is a creative force, open to the present moment, and willing to go the distance to unfold a nuanced and spontaneous performance." ~Josh Pais, actor/teacher (Ray Donovan, Joker)
"Merissa has the innate ability to emotionally turn-on-a-dime with any direction thrown her way, especially if you're shooting super 16mm and your film stock and time are both limited. Her talent is boundless, as is her patience, creative curiosity, and commitment to extracting her personal best. She is a luxury to any project and a pleasure to work with!" ~Alex Lubliner, filmmaker (Pretty)
About Me
I believe that art and storytelling can be powerful instruments to help facilitate seismic shifts in beliefs that we hold to be fact and therefore "truth." Music and stories have the ability to push through people's barriers and allow them to see parts of themselves through others' perspectives. I am so lucky to be able to continue nurturing my inner child and emotional capacity and share what I've learned with people near and far.
I am proud to consider myself an artist in many senses of the word. I grew up in a family of musicians and learned to sing and harmonize from a very young age. Piano lessons strengthened my musical ear, and early acting experiences encouraged my passion for playing make believe. I graduated from a musical theater magnet high school in South Florida and then from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA degree through CAP21. Also being a singer-songwriter, I perform with my sister Chloe as The Morin Sisters with originals and covers. We switch up our instruments depending on each song and style.
Emboldened by the vigor of New York City and inspired by my family's long time involvement in children's musical theatre, I set out to create my own company based off of my mother's (and grandfather's). Performing for kids through the use of puppets and humor never ceases to amaze me. It has reminded me to keep my sense of wonder and awe, and to never to stop being curious enough to learn.
The invaluable experience of creating my company Penny and the Puppettes inspired me to develop the short film PUPPET SEIZURE, which is loosely and wackily based off of myself and my family's company. Completion of the film is expected for 2021. The perfect segue to a new chapter in my creativity- filmmaking.
