Melissa Karimzadeh

Melissa Karimzadeh is a Toronto-based actress, writer, and director known for her bold voice and commitment to authentic storytelling. Her creative journey began with writing "truly horrible one-woman plays" she fearlessly performed at school assemblies - an early sign of the courage and humor that now define her work. She trained at Toronto's Young Centre for the Performing Arts before immersing herself in the acting scenes of Los Angeles, taking classes at The Actors Circle and dropping in at Upright Citizens Brigade to hear local stars spill advice to novice dreamers like her.

Most recently, Melissa stars as the enigmatic Gemma in TLN's psychological thriller Emerge. She credits her evolution as a performer to one simple truth: "To be a better actor, start by being a more honest and courageous human being."