Rising Stars: Meet Melanie Au-Yeung of Sherman Oaks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Au-Yeung.

Hi Melanie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Toronto and grew up moving between Northern California and Canada. I always knew I wanted to return to California to pursue dance, which led me to Chapman University, where I double-majored in Dance and Communication Studies. After graduating, I began dancing professionally and feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities that followed—from performing in a Super Bowl commercial choreographed by Mandy Moore to appearing in a Gucci campaign and my first musical, Singing Revolution, where I met my fiancé, Mitchell. Special thanks to Michael Donovan Casting for introducing me to the love of my life.

In 2019, I worked on a music video choreographed by my now-manager, Amber Ford. Her belief in and support of me sparked my transition into acting and opened the door to auditions that aligned with my growth. Since then, I’ve booked my first feature film—the Lifetime movie The Life I Can’t Remember—along with multiple short films and my first musical feature.

Most recently, I had the opportunity to direct, choreograph, and produce the dance portion of the newly released music video “Samurai” by Bensley feat. MYLK. Bensley, a Canadian artist now based in London, collaborated with my brother Simon, who filmed footage while touring through Japan and Korea. The video blends his performance footage, MYLK’s animation, and my dance shoot in Los Angeles. It was a dream project that brought together artists from around the world – and especially meaningful to collaborate with my brother, as we’ve created passion projects together for years. Like during the pandemic, I spent over a year back in Toronto, where we created constantly and watched a lot of Brooklyn 99.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like most artists, my journey hasn’t always been smooth- but that’s part of what makes it so meaningful. Throughout my career, I’ve faced several long-term injuries. When I was 17, I was in a serious car accident and dealt with concussion and whiplash symptoms for two and a half years. At the time, I didn’t fully understand how to properly care for a head injury. As dancers, we’re conditioned to push through pain, and I continued rehearsing and training when I should have allowed my brain to rest. That experience changed my perspective, and now I try to encourage others to take concussions and recovery seriously. Earlier in my training, I also fractured both knees while competing and spent time on crutches- they are way less fun than they look. Those setbacks ultimately pushed me to develop an identity outside of dance, which has been essential. In this career, it’s vital to cultivate joy and balance beyond your art, and I’ve always worked to nurture strong family relationships and friendships alongside my creative life.

The most difficult experience of my life was losing my father to lung cancer when I was 20. I was still in university, navigating grief while my family was thousands of miles away. I often wish I had more time with him and that he could see the woman I’ve become. He was an avid runner, so in his memory my mom, sister, brother, and I ran a half marathon together- no small feat for someone who truly dislikes running. It reminded me what a gift it is to have a family that supports and lifts each other up. We’re not perfect, but the depth of our love is immeasurable.

Professionally, it took years to sign with my first agent. I spent seven wonderful years with my dream dance agency, and at the start of 2025 everything felt like it was falling into place: I auditioned for a major musical film in Toronto, had a callback for another musical, and booked a dream job dancing backup for a major artist at the Rose Bowl. Within days, the concert was canceled indefinitely due to the Palisades fires, I didn’t book the musical or the film, and while driving to Ashland, Oregon – already emotional about starting long distance with my boyfriend – my agency unexpectedly dropped me. It was devastating at the time, but losing that representation ultimately reignited my drive to advocate for myself and trust that the right opportunities will come. For years I worried I had started too late, wishing I had pursued dance, singing, and acting more seriously when I was younger. With time, I’ve realized that everyone’s path unfolds at its own pace. I’m deeply grateful for the resilience these experiences have built, and I truly believe the best is still ahead.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m most proud of the growth I’ve experienced in acting over the past few years. My manager saw potential in me early on, and I truly thrive in supportive, encouraging environments- she took a chance on me, and it changed everything. I trained at the Margie Haber Studio, have an incredible acting coach who also happens to be my fiancé, and have dedicated myself fully to developing this craft. Seeing that commitment turn into real momentum has been incredibly rewarding, and last year I had the opportunity to star in my first musical feature film as a lead.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The industry has evolved tremendously since COVID, particularly with the shift to self-tapes. In some ways, it’s been a positive change- offering greater flexibility, the chance to be considered for more opportunities, and the ability to submit your best work through multiple takes. At the same time, it’s made me truly cherish in-person auditions and the unique energy of being in the room.

I’ve also loved seeing broader representation and a wider range of stories being told. It means so much to see projects like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Never Have I Ever, and The Summer I Turned Pretty feature strong, funny, and multidimensional Asian female leads. I hope the industry continues to grow and expand in this inclusive direction.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanieauyeung/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melaniemauy/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-au-yeung-975002102/

Image Credits
mariposa pictures/Beth Hawkes, Simon Au-Yeung, Julie Joseph