MELISSA ARCHER
ACTRESS TECH NERD WRITER PRODUCER VANLIFER
Melissa Archer burst onto the scene in One Life to Live as Natalie Buchanan, a role she created in 2001. In no time, she upended one of Llanview’s most prominent families, revealing shocking truths and delivering over a decade of unforgettable drama. Later, she brought chaos to Days of Our Lives as Serena Mason—until a serial killer took her out… temporarily. Two years later, she returned for her own moment of revenge.
A Dallas native, Melissa booked her first major role at just 17 years old on Wishbone while still in high school. Chasing her passion, she moved to Los Angeles, where she expanded her career from acting to producing and writing. In 2015, she co-founded a production company with friends and starred in, “Viral,” now titled “InstaFame”, which won her Best Actress in a Comedy at the Indie Series Awards. InstaFame: starring Melissa Archer and Jessica Morris, and directed by Sonia Blangiardo.
Her collaborations with Jessica Morris led to Lifetime thrillers like Twisted Little Lies and Betrayed by My Bridesmaid, where Melissa also earned story by credits. She later co-wrote Newlywed Nightmare, proving that storytelling is just as much a part of her craft as acting.
Melissa had the privilege of working alongside Len Klatt and Chris Lunz, two brilliant writers mentored by Madelyn Pugh, the legendary head writer of I Love Lucy. Lucille Ball remains one of Melissa’s biggest inspirations—both in performance and in life. Together, they created, “Here to There,” a sitcom in the spirit of Cheers, set on a commuter ferry. When the pandemic hit, they adapted, shooting a Zoom showcase, directed by Jeremy Licht, which went on to win multiple festival awards.
In 2022, Melissa guest-starred in Saved by Grace, directed by Johnny Remo, alongside Jennifer Taylor and Cameron Arnett. Melissa played alongside Richard Blake, then later cameoed in, The Actor, written and directed by Blake—now streaming everywhere.
Her career spans an impressive list of 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.”
Beyond the Screen
Around 2010, Melissa discovered jailbreaking iPhones—and it changed everything. She immersed herself in tech, learning from some of the most skilled developers and hackers. She’s not just tech-savvy—she’s a builder, a problem-solver, and an innovator. She designs websites, automates workflows, and builds custom web apps to streamline businesses. Whether teaching elders how to use their phones or training teams to work smarter, Melissa is passionate about making tech accessible for everyone.
The Road Less Traveled
A life-changing moment led Melissa to let go of the clutter and embrace the open road. She sold almost everything, bought a converted van, and set out to explore the world on her own terms. Now, she travels with her partner in ‘his and hers’ vans, alongside their dogs Sterling and Grady. Life has never been more freeing. Life has never been more beautiful. You can catch glimpses of her journey through her photography on Instagram or sign up for early access to MA Designs, her shop featuring apparel and accessories inspired by vanlife adventures.
Because some roads are meant to be taken.