Mela Hudson

Personal life

Hudson was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York to a Michael Marinucci Jr., and Carol Ann Dalrymple. She has a brother, Michael, who is five years older, and a twin brother, Vincent. At the age of four, she belonged to the Estelle and Alfonso Performing Arts Program, and the Betty Jean Studio where she performed on stage in huge venues such as the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. She started acting at the age of eight when she was cast as the lead in her elementary school's play. She attended a private Catholic school called Holy Trinity from first grade to third grade, then finished elementary school at Brinkerhoff Elementary. She then attended Van Wyck Junior High, and then John Jay Senior High School where she continued to act on stage, as well as build sets for the productions. She graduated from high school in 2005.

Progressing to motion picture, she then studied acting at Dutchess Community College where she focused her skill in multiple student films. In 2009 she was introduced to the New York Talent Club where she started to obtain professional on-set experience working in independent films, TV commercials, and music videos that were being shot locally. She has trained professionally at the John Pallotta Studio of Acting, and Jordan Bayne's Permission Playground in New York City. Mela is most proud of learning from the great Dustin Hoffman, and Kevin Spacey in their Masterclasses.

Career

Mela Hudson originally picked "Nikki Holister" for her stage name because she felt her real name would get her typed-cast. In July 2015, she announced via social media that she was permanently changing her name to "Mela Hudson".

On September 11, 2012 Professional Models and Actors Consolidated announced that out of 75 nominees nationwide, Mela was the People's Choice Award winner at the Coleman Awards.

Hudson appeared in Deborah Harry's music video for "Mother" as an 80's zombie.

Mela appeared in David Cross' film Hits which premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2014. Rather than selling the film rights to distributors, the movie was sold to Bit Torrent through their "bundles" program. According to The Verge, it is the first feature film to be distributed in such a way. Cross also launched a Kickstarter campaign at the same time for the movie's general release using a pay what you want methodology which would then distribute the movie to more theatres.

In October 2014, Hudson announced that she was creating her first animation film, Tomboy. She had written it as a short story at first, but then soon after decided to adapt it to screen.

Philanthropy

In September 2013 Mela started volunteering her time annually with the Toys for Tots Foundation, Guns and Hoses, a local organization created in honoring policemen and firefighters who lost their lives in 9/11, as well as Play For Your Freedom an organization focused on helping veterans suffering from PTSD through wellness workshops. In an interview she said, "These things have always been important to me in my life. It is important that we use our position to do good in the world." Some of Hudson's charities include those devoted to fighting hunger, domestic violence, and suicide prevention.