Morayo Orija

Morayo Orija was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and spent her early childhood living near Helen Chambers Park, a park named for her maternal grandmother, a civil rights and social activist. Her father is Nigerian and a chief (as is her grandfather and great grandfather) in the Yoruba Tribe, however he's lived in the United States for many years. At the age of 6, she relocated to North Carolina with her parents and three siblings where she excelled in academics and sports, namely basketball. While acting was not a part of her early life, her parents always exposed the children to live theatre, films and music. She exercised her own artistic side through sketching fashion designs and original poetry. She remembers numerous attempts at singing in her home and church youth choir, but admits her singing voice was not her greatest strength. After attending a school play in junior high, a desire to act and direct immediately formed. She pursued theatre in high school and was voted "Most Talented" by her senior class. In high school she received recognition in drama competitions and pageants. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and still holds the experience and school close to her heart. While at UNC, she temporarily left the arts to pursue her other love of politics, where she held office as Speaker of Congress. She switched majors from Communications with a Film Concentration to Political Science with the intention of attending law school. After college, she took a Pennsylvania State Senate Campaign job hoping to run for office herself one day. Instead, a campaign defeat led her back to North Carolina where she rekindled her interest in acting. In Charlotte, NC , she studied with Lon Bumgarner and Marilyn Carter. When not training, she worked professionally with a traveling children's theatre company, Stageworks Theatre, and performed locally with the Psychotic Pooch Improv Troupe. Eventually, she wanted the challenge of a bigger market and moved to Los Angeles, CA, where she studied and trained at the world renowned Stella Adler Academy. Since relocating to L.A., she's kept her love of theatre alive by forming the Cobblestone Theatre Company with friend Sam Marin, of Cartoon Network's "Regular Show." She continues to create original works as a playwright and children's book author. Two of her plays, Josephine, a one-act about late actress Josephine Premice and Medio Pollito, a re-telling of the Spanish folktale, were performed for L.A. audiences. She spends time supporting organizations that increase voter access and benefit childrens' arts opportunities. She also supports international efforts to affect women's rights and poverty. One of her favorite activities is to host parties that benefit charities.