MELISSA ARCHER
ACTRESS TECH NERD WRITER PRODUCER VANLIFER
Melissa Archer created the role of One Life to Live's Natalie in July 2001. It didn't take long for Natalie to shake up one of Llanview's most prominent families when she revealed that she, not Jessica, was Viki's daughter. In late 2002, the family was in for another surprise when they discovered that Natalie and Jessica were twins. For over a decade, Natalie spoke to the hearts of many while wreaking havoc at the same time. Later, Melissa visited Salem as Serena Mason on "Days of Our Lives," creating chaos everywhere. Her character was eventually strangled by a serial killer seeking revenge but came back for a day with her own revenge two years later.
Born and raised in Dallas, TX, Melissa landed her first major acting role on Wishbone at the age of 17 while she was still in high school. After completing high school, she followed her acting dreams to Los Angeles. In 2015, she formed a production company with friends and produced and starred in their first project together, “Viral,” now titled “InstaFame.” She won Best Actress in a Comedy in the 2016 Indie Series Awards for her role in "Viral," starring Melissa Archer and Jessica Morris, and directed by Sonia Blangiardo.
Later, Melissa partnered with Jessica Morris to star in “Twisted Little Lies” that aired on Lifetime. Another project they worked on together was “Betrayed by My Bridesmaid,” also on Lifetime, for which Melissa received a story by credit. Additionally, Melissa received a story by credit for "Newlywed Nightmare."
Melissa had the fortune to meet a wonderful group, including two writers, Len Klatt and Chris Lunz, who studied under Madelyn Pugh, a former head writer for the “I Love Lucy Show”. Lucille Ball has been a huge influence on Melissa’s acting career and approach to life. The writers asked her to work with them on their project, “Here to There,” a situational comedy like Cheers but set on a commuter ferry. “Here to There” features an incredible cast, including David Gregory, also a “One Life to Live” alumnus. During the pandemic, the team got creative and filmed the showcase on Zoom, directed by Jeremy Licht, with brilliant editing and technical directing by Matthew Parlapiano. The show won several awards on the festival circuit and continues to grow a following.
In 2022, Melissa guest-starred in an episode of “Saved by Grace,” directed by Johnny Remo. The show stars Jennifer Taylor and Cameron Arnett, gifted actors who were a ton of fun to work with. Melissa played alongside Richard Blake, who later asked her to play a cameo in a film he wrote, produced, and directed called “The Actor.” A brilliant film that can be seen on all streaming platforms.
Melissa has been involved in numerous projects, including “Wishbone,” “One Life to Live,” “Days of our Lives,” “Excuse Me For Living,” “West End,” “Coach of the Year,” “Beacon Hill,” “Youthful Daze,” “Sweet Dissolution,” “Wraith,” “South32,” “Viral,” “Deadly Exposé,” “The Bay,” “Ladies of the Lake,” “Twisted Little Lies,” “Here to There,” “Saved by Grace,” “The Actor,” and “Melissa Is A Dork.”
Around 2010/2011, Melissa got into jailbreaking iPhones, which changed her life. She met incredible developers and hackers and learned more than she ever thought possible. While not a full coder, she enjoys exploring software beyond the norm and tinkering with electronics, taking them apart, and fixing them. She also develops and designs websites using low code. She’s obsessed with Google AppSheet Apps and automation. She loves teaching tech, whether helping elders with their phones or people within a company wanting to learn how to be more efficient. She also enjoys helping other actors by coaching them for auditions or being a reader in their video auditions.
After a major life event, Melissa decided to focus more on finding peace in her life, grounding in nature, and traveling far and wide. She got rid of almost all of her things and bought a converted van. She travels alongside her partner in ‘his and hers’ vans with her dog Sterling and his dog Grady. Life has never been more beautiful. You can see Melissa’s photography on her Instagram or sign up on the waitlist for the products in Melissa’s store - MA Designs, featuring apparel and accessories inspired by Melissa’s vanlife experiences.