Aerin O'Connell

Aerin O'Connell was born and raised in Garden City, New York. She was an avid member of her Community Theatre and was in the Garden CIty High School's Honors programs for Theatre Arts. Aerin not only acted in but also directed many plays as a youth. After studying Art History at Marymount Manhattan College, and working for Tony Shafrazi at his SOHO Art Gallery, Aerin decided to pursue an acting career. She did several commercial ad campaigns for local, national, and global companies such as Toys "R" Us and Goldman Sachs. She made appearances on VH1 shows such as "50 Most Fabulous Things" and graced the cover of the NY Times modeling a current Manhattan business venture. A group competing on the hit show, "The Apprentice," chose Aerin for a modeling shoot for its Pontiac ad. After she moved to Los Angeles, Aerin landed roles as the lead actress in many independent films. She teamed up with two co-founders to start Poet Fish Films, an independent production company. Aerin has produced a number of films, including OK, Cheating (which she starred in), Woke Up Crying, and Under the Gun. She was also the co-executive producer of the OJ Simpson documentary and the associate producer of the five-time award-winning feature film, Skyler. This fall Aerin is due to co-star in the film "Heart of a Woman". Aerin dedicates much of her free time as a volunteer, working especially with with children/child care in hospitals and orphanages all over the world. She participated in Katrina Relief efforts and worked with Global Volunteers on various/numerous projects, an organization in consulting status with the U.N. Being a part of an inaugural group in South Africa, Aerin started a daycare & worked with children of the community to develop a talent-based show. Other countries Aerin has volunteered in are Romania, Peru & Liberia to name a few. She is extremely passionate about her charity work and is working on a documentary on Global Child Care. Most recently taking up with the grass roots organization, More Than Me (morethanme.org) in Liberia looking to rebuild the post civil war country & construct an Academy for girls who other wise would be very vulnerable and subjected to child prostitution. This Academy will provide education to ensure these young girls get out of the slums and have an overall better quality of life. Despite her busy schedule, Aerin has found time to indulge in her passion for fashion by attending the Los Angeles School of Style & NYC's F.I.T. to study Business, Image Consulting, and Merchandise Marketing. She is working on the launch of her women's line, Intrepid by A'OC.