BIO / RESUME
BIOGRAPHY
Height: 5'8" | Eye Color: Brown | Hair Color: Dark Brown
Originally from Paris, France, Melissa Papel is an Award-winning filmmaker, actress, television host, voice-over artist, and producer whose career has taken her across Europe, Australia, North America, and beyond.
Fluent in five languages and shaped by a truly international upbringing, Melissa has lived and worked in Paris, Sydney, Vancouver, Macedonia, Istanbul, and Los Angeles, bringing a unique global perspective to every project she undertakes. Since relocating to Los Angeles in 2013, she has continued to build a diverse career spanning film, television, hosting, voice-over, and content creation.
As an actress, Melissa has appeared in numerous feature films and television series internationally. She starred in The Precinct, the feature film selected to represent Azerbaijan in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards, and appeared in Thunder Road, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Her television work includes recurring roles and hosting opportunities across Europe and Turkey, where she built a loyal audience both as an actress and presenter.
Beyond the screen, Melissa has established herself as a sought-after voice-over artist, lending her voice to major international brands, commercials, documentaries, audiobooks, and dubbed productions.
Today, Melissa is increasingly focused on filmmaking and creating original content. As a writer, producer, director, and performer, she is passionate about telling meaningful stories that connect people across cultures.
ACTING & HOSTING
FEATURE FILMS
‘Chapel’, by Courtney Paige, Yeehaw Entertainment
Streaming on TUBI | Francesca, Supporting | 2022
‘Dead River’, by Jerry G. Angelo
Rokit Pig Productions | Madame Jasmine, Supporting | 2022
'Cash Collectors', by Dominique Milano
Playmaker Pictures | Vanessa, Supporting | 2022
‘Darkness Falls’, by Julien Seri
Title Media | 2020
'Lagos Landing', by Theo Ukpaa
Tiger Republic Films. | Frida, Supporting | 2018
'The Legend of Wasco', by Arnon Shorr
Viva Pictures | Newscaster | 2015
'Escape Artist', by James Garrett
Vision productions | TV News Anchor | 2017
‘Without Me’ (‘Bensiz’), by Ahmet Kucukkayali
CNM Production | Nihan, Supporting | 2014
'Discarded', by Jeffrey Elmont
Tigertail Films | Sammi, Supporting | 2013
'Off Karadeniz' (« Smyrn-Of »), by Nur Dolay
Orkinos Film | Melek, Lead role | 2010
'The Precinct', by Ilgar Safat
Nariman Film. | Sabina, Female Lead | 2010
TV & COMMERCIALS
Ninja Commercial for Air Fryers (Mom) | February 2024
Saatva Mattresses (Mom) | May 2023
Harry & David commercial (Friend) | September 2022
YouTube Creator Studios | YouTube Q1 2022 | Main Host | March 2022
Mistplay, Vialma, Beauty Bomb, Wella, Cryoshine,
and other social media ad campaigns | 2022
Gashi Feat. Sting Music Video 'Mama'
Playing the Mother/Mama | August 2020 (9.3M views)
Fundies | Main host and actress of several spots for the brand | June 2020
BuzzFeed Video | Comparing French and American Snacks | November 2019
Kantola | Harassment Prevention Training Videos | March 2021
Experian Commercial, directed by Brendan Beachman | Lead | January 2019
SHEIN Fashion Brand (millions of users worldwide)
Host for the live presentation shows | April 2019
Induveca Premium Ham | Diego Sedano / Mala Espina Productions | Nov. 2017
Cinevative CGT DYO TV Spot. | Oct. 2017
Floradyle (Teeth Whitener) Commercial in 2 lengths and 12 languages | Sept. 2017
Freeway Insurance | March 2017
'Arrival : Common Ground', by Marcus Perry/ Paramount Films (''Arrival'' Film Promo)
Nov. 2017
Selling Mega Mansions | 1 episode | June 2017
Undebate: One World', by Julien Seri, Open House Productions | 2016
Clorox | Street Interview - 2016
Weight Watchers National Commercial | 2015
'Real Rob' (Rob Shneider, Out Of Nowhere productions). 1 episode | 2015
'Continuance' TV series, Shadow (1 episode) | 2015
'Vox, Influx', TV series, Lebanese superstar (1 episode) | 2014
'The world of Cycling' | Show Host | Turkish weekly TV show
Aired on Turkish National TV channel : TRT SPOR | (78 episodes) | 2011-2013
'Elveda Rumeli' ('Farewell to the Balkans') | TV series by Serdar Akar
ATV channel- Role: Gülsüm (35 episodes) | 2007-2009
'Les Ch'tis à Hollywood' | role of casting director
4 episodes on French Channel W9 | 2013
'Hollywood Girls' | French Reality TV on NRJ12
role of fashion critic. (1 episode) | 2013
SHORT FILMS & WEB SERIES
‘Too Late’, by Artur Matveev | 2024
‘Always & For Never’, by Melissa Papel | accepted into 22 festivals | 2024
‘To Grieve or Not To Grieve, by Donald Watson | 2024
‘Greg In LA’ | web series (3 epsiodes) | 2023-205
'Thunder Road', by Jim Cummings | winner of Sundance Film Festival | 2016
The Power of the Ring, Giovanni Savoia (PSA against domestic violence) | 2022
‘Geo’, by Darren Miller | 2022
'Christmas Tree', by Emir Kumova | 2017
‘The Good Agent’, by Dan Real | 2017
'There will be peace', by Donald Watson | 2016
‘BlinDate’, by Melissa Papel | 2016
'The Stiletto Sketch Show' | web series (3 episodes) | 2014
'The French Touch' | web series (5 episodes) | 2103
'Nacho Punch', Peter Gilroy | web series (1 episode) | 2013
‘Tu Ez Moi’, by Clarisse Gorokhoff | 2012
DIRECTING & PRODUCING
Produced ‘Too Late’, directed by Artur Matveev | 2024
Directed Always & For Never, produced by GG&M
in association with RokitPig Ent., and WMM | 2024
Directed BlinDate, produced by Mikey Gilmore, Film Boho | 2017
Produced The Good Agent, directed by Dan Real | 2017
Producer on Discarded, feature film by Jeffrey Elmont and Tigertail Films
Producer credit | 2014
Directed 60 Seconds of Solitude | Project Greenlight | 2013
Directed Delete Me, produced by Ali Taskiran | 2012
PRODUCTION COORDINATING
INSPIRED/ NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT
March to December 2021 - Field Coordinator on a series of documentaries in different locations with celebrities such as Oprah, Denzel Washington, Barbra Streisand, Halle Berry…
L’OREAL / NIGHTCALL PRODUCTIONS
September 2021 - 2nd Assistant Director on a L’Oréal Campaign with Eva Longoria and Elle Fanning
ARMANI BEAUTY / CMS PRODUCTIONS
September 2021 - 2nd Assistant Director on an Armani Beauty Campaign with Tess Thompson
LEGENDS OF HOCKEY / NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT
October 2021 - Field Coordinator for a documentary with Hall of Fame Hockey players
DOWNEY WROTE THAT / NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT
October 2021 - Field Coordinator on an interview series with Conan O’Brian, among others
TJMAXX / SMUGGLER
September 2021 - Talent Coordinator on a TJMAXX Christmas commercial
GRAZIA / ULYSSE FROM MARS / IKKS
2018-2020 - Production Manager on music videos and high fashion photo shoots for several brands and artists
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
. Dozens of nominations and Awards for Always & For Never,
and ‘To Grieve or Not to Grieve’ (2024)
. Nomination at the Santa Monica International Film Festival for “The Good Agent” (2017)
. Nomination at the Burbank International Film Festival for “The Good Agent” (2017)
. Nomination at the LA International Short Films Festival in Hollywood for “Christmas Tree” (2017)
. Nomination at the Romford International Film Festival (UK) for “BlinDate” (2017)
. Golden Trailer Award for Most Innovative Advertising for a Feature film for Arrival: Common Grounds
. Nomination to the Festival International du Film sur le Handicap (FIFH) for BlinDate
(Cannes – 2017)
. Best Film at the Hollywood Walk of Fame Festival for There will be Peace
(Hollywood, CA – 2017)
. Best Romance Award at the Universe Multicultural Film Festival for ‘Blindate’
(Palos Verdes, 2017)
. Selected at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film corner for The Good Agent (2017) and Panthère (2004)
. Grand Prize for best short film at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival for Thunder Road
(Park City, UT- 2016)
. Official Academy Awards Selection to represent Azerbaijan in the Academy Awards Foreign Film Category for The Precinct (Los Angeles – 2011) and several other nominations and wins for this feature film. (Lead Part)
VOICE OVER
. Google Pixel campaigns for the phone’s yearly releases – French VO –
January 2019- Ongoing
. Roughly 150 commercials and instructional videos for international clients and brands, worked on as a VO artist including brands like Apple, Google, Mercedes, Ninja, Fitbit, LG, Fuji, Ferrero Rocher, Decathlon, Cirque du Soleil, Hyundai, Amnesty International, Cetaphil, Cacharel, Booking.com, Acana, among others. (Ongoing)
. The Arrangement - Audiobook by David Adam Winkler, published by Rare Bird Books – Role of Colette – February 2022
. LG ‘The Smart Good Life’ – Dubbing of the Mother and LG logo voicing. (Several Million Views)- May 2021
. Ferrero Rocher commercial - Director's cut – English – January 2021
. Mercedes Benz – Rencontres-Grandeurs Natures – 3 webisodes for the Mercedes Marco Polo vehicle. (Aug 2021)
. ‘Amanda’s Dream’ and ‘I love to Help’ – Children’s Bilingual Audiobooks (September 2021)
. Dubbing for Beachbody workout series – VOXX - (July 2021)
. Audiobooks for Audible: 'Le Seigneur des Highlands', 'La Princesse d'Alhambra', 'La Maison Secrète', 'Conquise par un milliardaire', 'La Rose et le Highlander', 'Un Baiser Inoubliable' (2020)
. ‘Los Titeres de Belial’ – Feature Film – Voice of Perephone (2015)
. Bombshell (Oscar Nominated Film) – Dubbing in French of Kate McKinnon's character 'Jess'
(Jan. 2020)
. Fuji Film commercial – French Narration – October 2019
. Official Secrets (Keira Knightley film) – several characters dubbed in French – August 2019
. If Beale Street Could Talk (Oscar Winning film) – Dubbing in French of Victoria and Adrienne
(Jan. 2019)
. Adobe Experience Cloud Commercial - French VO – November 2018
. Apple TV App Commercial – French (September 2017)
. Floradyle (Teeth whitener) Commercial in French – Turkish – English – Spanish
(September 2017)
. French Fries Productions – ZEN TV -Dubbing of interviewee voices in French for a weekly TV show (original language: English) - 2016-Ongoing
. Several Voice Over recordings for various clients through JBI Studios, CA
(projects are kept confidential) - Ongoing
. BellyTwins Productions, Dance Lesson Video. French Dubbing (for the teacher).
Length: 95 minutes
. TV Cats – Online channel dedicated to cats. Dubbing of French voices into English + narrative Voice Over, as well as cartoon voice for the character of Astrochat
. 'Los Titeres de Belial' – Feature Film (80 minutes). Voice of Persephone (French)
. Tablet Iletisim – City Audio Guide recording for the city of Edirne (English -38 minutes), as well several documentary narrations for the company's historical and touristic video presentations (English and French)
. 'Hansel and Gretel' symphony orchestra by Sacha Chaban – narrative voice of the recorded tale (French)
. Cevre Film – Aetna Fire Pump video guide (English)
. Prestij Ceviri - Minyatürk – Audio Tour Guide for a Museum in Istanbul, Turkey
(English and French)
. 'The Last Horsemen of Mount Elbruz'. Documentary (52 minutes). Narrative voice
(English and French)
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
. Cours Florent Theater School training in Paris
. Graduate of Vancouver Film School (Acting for Film & Television)
. Fluent in French, Turkish, English. Intermediate Spanish and Italian.
. Argentine Tango Dancer