Biographie
Merritt was born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. With a career spanning over 20 years in film, dance, and music, she began her professional acting journey at age ten, working regionally in television and film.
Her roles often highlight and elevate Native, Indigenous, and Black stories and voices. Merritt's work includes Sundance Film Festival favorites, acclaimed independent films focused on the African diaspora, and various indigenous roles on network television.
She is best known for her lead role as AJ Jackson, a two-time National Champion and member of the 2016 Oklahoma University gymnastics team, in the Netflix sequel "Full Out 2: You Got This." Another notable performance is in Julie Taymor's 2020 Gloria Steinem biopic "The Glorias," where she delivers a dramatic monologue and shares a scene with Alicia Vikander.
In the 2020 ABFF official selection "Tazmanian Devil," Merritt played the romantic interest opposite Abraham Attah, portraying a supportive sorority sister. Her vocal and musical skills are featured as a church choir singer, line dancer, and sensual "it girl."
Merritt also appears as the misguided teen "Tina" in FOX’s "Deputy." She co-starred in season 1 of AMC’s "The Son" and season 3 of USA’s "Queen of the South," performing entirely in the Comanche language in "The Son."
Her interests and skills include multi-style dance, violin playing, singing, training in Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, fishing, hiking, figure skating, studying languages and psychology, playing tennis, surfing, and embracing new adventures and learning opportunities.
