سيرة
Nerissa Tedesco is recognized for her work in comedy, drama, horror, crime, family films, music videos, and network reality TV. Her roles range from a Russian palm reader in Ocean's Twelve (2004) to a scheming housekeeper in Dirty Little Deeds (2021), and a medical examiner in 1 Interrogation (2020).
She is also praised for her improvisational talents and mastery of a dozen diverse accents and dialects, such as American Southern in You Should Meet My Son 2! (2018) and three distinct accents in $elfie Shootout (2016). Nerissa secured leading roles in these two films after initially auditioning for supporting parts. Both directors embraced her improvisation, incorporating her spontaneous dialogue and physical comedy into the final edits. In her favorite improv scene in $elfie Shootout, she quickly switches accents while adjusting a costume piece to demonstrate how the garment is worn in each accent's region.
Nerissa trained in improvisation under Kay Cannon at Second City and Shirley Prestia from The Groundlings. She combines this with continuous on-camera training for film, television, and commercials.
Her enthusiasm for creating unique characters began early in her life growing up in Los Angeles. As a teenager, she and her late sister were pioneers of the "valley girl" character before it became widely recognized, performing comedic sketches at benefit events throughout Southern California featuring valley girl mannerisms and speech.
Her diverse character repertoire includes roles as a bag lady, fortune teller, clairvoyant, channel, psychic, drag queen, scientist, medical doctor, Catholic nun, practical jokester, and various quirky personas. Directors often commend her excellent comedic timing.
Nerissa graduated cum laude from California State University, Northridge, with a B.A. in Theater Arts.
Vitals: Height: 5'5". Build: Average. Hair: Auburn, long. Eyes: Brown. Ethnic Appearance: Caucasian, Latina, Middle Eastern, Mixed.
