Michelle Krusiec is an award winning Taiwanese-American director,
writer and actor whose passion for storytelling keeps her constantly
creating and innovating.
Building on her lengthy and versatile acting career, Michelle is a
genre leaning director, blending myth, folklore and archetypes with
her own personal and often funny take on female centered experiences.
She’s a current director in the Warner Brothers Discovery Episodic
Directing program and she’s an alumnae of the prestigious AFI
Directing Workshop for Women. Michelle’s work has screened at top
Academy Qualifying festivals, spanning over 25 film festivals
including Fantasia, Beyondfest, Brussels Fantastic, Palm Springs,
HIFF, LAAPFF.
Michelle’s horror short NIAN was commissioned by 20th Digital Studios
and premiered as the Season three opener of Hulu’s BITE SIZE
HALLOWEEN. Nian’s awards include Best Midnight Short at Palm Springs,
Mark Braunstein Maverick Nomination at Woodstock, Young Audience Award
at Court Metranges, Honorable Mention at Female Eye, Best Supernatural
Short for Another Hole in the Head.
As a writer, Michelle co-wrote TIGER MOM ACADEMY starring Ken Jeong,
produced by Shaun Redick (Get Out). Michelle’s darkly comedic
solo-show MADE IN TAIWAN landed her a talent deal with Touchstone ABC.
Michelle was singled out as a Top Ten Rising Artist by the Hollywood
Reporter at the HBO US Aspen Comedy festival where MIT premiered.
Michelle has taught acting and directing at notable film schools like
Chapman University, Arizona State and as a UCLA Regent’s Lecturer.
As an actor, Michelle is the only Asian American to be nominated for
the Best Actress Golden Horse, the Chinese Language Oscar in Asia, for
her role as “Will Pang,” in SAVING FACE opposite Joan Chen. Notable
credits include “Anja” in FAR NORTH opposite Michelle Yeoh and as the
icon Anna May Wong in Ryan Murphy’s series HOLLYWOOD. Recent roles
include the real-life Miss Young in A MILLION MILES AWAY (AMAZON) and
she plays head master “Suki Lai” in the upcoming dramedy TIGER MOM
ACADEMY. Theatre credits include THE CHINESE LADY at the Chance
Theatre for which she received an OCG nomination, WILD GOOSE DREAMS at
the Public Theater, KING OF HELL’S PALACE (Workshop) at the Goodman
Theater in Chicago and the International Broadway tour of CHINGLISH.
A vocal advocate for AAPI issues, Michelle’s work has been recognized
by the White House, California State Assembly and the Museum of
Chinese Americans in NYC.
