Melanie Chandra is an actress and producer passionate about fostering empathy through her work. She uses her talents in front of and behind the camera to amplify powerful narratives championing women and minority voices.
She is best known for her series regular role of "Malaya Pineda" in the CBS medical drama CODE BLACK and for her starring role as "Mel" in the path-breaking Comedy Central movie HOT MESS HOLIDAY, which she also executive produced alongside Surina Jindal and Kal Penn.
Melanie was born in Illinois and graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering while practicing improvisational comedy on the side. Post-graduation, she landed a high-profile corporate job, which she eventually quit to pursue her childhood dream of acting. Her credits include guest star appearances on Rules of Engagement, Parenthood, Nashville, Law & Order SVU, and New Amsterdam, large recurring roles on Netflix's Brown Nation and HBO's The Brink, and the independent feature film Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talismans of Souls, an official 2023 Sundance Film Festival selection.
Early in her career, she also became one of the five faces of Bare Escentuals' "Be a Force of Beauty" campaign, making her one of the first Indian American women to ever be the face of a global cosmetics campaign.
Melanie also co-founded the not-for-profit Hospital for Hope India, which provides healthcare services to under-served villagers in rural India. She holds a 2nd-degree black belt in Karate and is a trained pianist.
Photo Credit: Corey Hayes