Marissa Orjalo

Filipina Canadian interdisciplinary and multiracial actor Marissa Orjalo grew up in the Greater Toronto Area and is based in Toronto, Canada. From a very early age Marissa became immersed in the arts, with a special emphasis on theatre and musical performance. She has been acting in film and television since the age of five, appearing in ReGenesis, The Smart Woman Survival Guide, and Going Up. Through an array of versatile training and invaluable experiences, Marissa is highly respected as an actor, composer, singer, dramaturg, and sound designer in the Toronto theatre community. She is of Scottish, Irish, French and Filipino descent and passionately advocates for ethnic inclusion within the arts industry and beyond.

At age 7, Marissa began specializing in Operatic vocal lessons. Subsequently, she began piano training with The Royal Conservatory of Music under the instruction of Lorna Brain (voice) and Jo Anne Westover (piano). She now holds a Level 10 Certification from the Royal Conservatory for Voice as well as a Level 8 in Piano Performance. Marissa further explored her vocal pursuits, finding a deep seated love for musical theatre in her hometown. Selected credits include: Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, The Music Man, Hairspray, and Godspell.

Marissa continued to pursue her artistic passions in secondary school, and gained further experience by attending The Stratford Festival School, first joining their Musical Theatre Company, and then their Theatre Performance Intensive Company; a rigorous and extremely selective annual training opportunity for young actors.

In 2019, Marissa graduated from Sheridan College and The University of Toronto earning an Advanced Diploma in Acting Technique and an Honours Bachelor's Degree of Arts in Theatre and Drama respectively. She graduated with High Distinction, and is currently fostering her artistic endeavours through academic research with her pursuit of her Master of Arts at her alma mater. She was graciously awarded the Joseph Armand Bombardier 2021 SSHRC award to fund her research in the history of Filipinx beauty on Canadian stages.

Alongside her acting and scholastic pursuits, Marissa is an Artistic Educator with Studio 180 Theatre, and the Head of Outreach and Development with fu GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company. She was invited in 2019 to participate in the year-long actor enhancement program with Factory Theatre under the guidance of Nina Lee Aquino and Natasha Mumba.

Marissa is also writing with Carlos Bulosan Theatre's "Disconnect(ed) Collective," with an expected premiere date in 2023 for their piece entitled Pedestal Pinays. She additionally received an Ontario Arts Council grant for developing her play entitled Cradle Me If I Should Die.

Marissa is excited to be making her Netflix debut in 2022. Recent film and television credits include Penelope in UnPerfect Christmas Wish (2021), and Abby in Remember Me, Mommy (2020). Recent theatre credits include Hermia/Snug in A (Musical) Midsummer Night's Dream (Driftwood Theatre), Lucky in FEARLESS (fu GEN Theatre), Kumustahan 2020 (Carlos Bulosan Theatre), The Trick to Walking Backwards (Project Immortelle), MH370 (fu GEN Theatre). Upcoming: Nina in Lucky (Marie Leofeli Barlizo).

In her spare time, Marissa enjoys attempting to play the violin, knitting, snuggling her two cats, writing scripts, listening to Schubert, and helping her sister Christina with self tapes (which is in itself a full time job). She also has a strong affinity for whales.