Meiling "Mei" Melançon (Japanese: 明依) (born March 3, 1980) is an American actress, screenwriter and former fashion model. She has appeared in feature films as well as indie productions, television shows, and more than 100 commercials as a model and actress. She has also worked as screenwriter and producer.[1]
Early life
Melançon was born in Manila, Philippines.[2] She left at the age of 2, and was raised in mainly Japan, Hong Kong and Korea. She is of Chinese and Japanese descent through her father, and French descent through her mother.[3] As a child she traveled throughout Asia and Europe. At the age of five her mother taught her how to play the guitar, and she was later in a children's band called Blossoms. In an interview with Giant Robot editor Eric Nakamura, Mei spoke about her non-traditional strict upbringing. She was not allowed to watch most films and television, only classics and that they were not allowed to listen to popular music due to religious reasons.[4]
Melançon co-wrote the thriller American Romance in 2014. She has also co-written a short film entitled "Stephany + Me", with Ben Duhl, co-starring Tara Summers, directed by Peter Shanel.[9] She produced and starred in a PSA written by comedian Todd Glass that has been covered by The Huffington Post, Perez Hilton among other news outlets.[10] Melançon has also written articles for Giant Robot Magazine.[11]
