Melissa L. Williams emphasizes the importance of believing in yourself

Melissa L. Williams is proof that with hard work and ambition, anything is possible. She always knew acting would be on her life path, taking her to high places within her career. 

“At a young age, I just knew I wanted to be an actress; even then, I knew this is what made me feel most alive. I got started in church plays and community theater,” Williams said. Viewers can catch Williams in the Tyler Perry hit shows on BET and BET+ “The Oval” and “Ruthless,” where she plays Ruth.

”It was a blessing to know that my work ethic brought me to this point, and upon finding out, I was reminded at that moment that God was and is still in control. He opens doors that no man can shut,” she said.

She emphasizes how much of an impact Tyler Perry has had within her experience working with him.

“Working with Tyler Perry has been a dream and inspiration; not only does he support and believe in me, but I am fortunate to learn and grow from him,” she said.

For this upcoming season of “The Oval,” Williams made sure fans knew that this would be the season to watch. “First, if you have not seen the trailer yet, watch the trailer for season 2! TP is not playing, OK?! It’s going to be an insanely wild season,” she said. 

Aside from Williams being a multi-dimensional actress, she also had her impact on community outreach. The Young Storytellers is an arts education non-profit operating primarily in Los Angeles, where the program focuses on writing, literacy, and self-confidence.

“I got introduced to Young Storytellers about 2 years ago, and I volunteered mostly at Foster Elementary School. It’s a semester long program where students get to work one on one with their mentor on scripts that are entirely their own, and then actors perform those for the students, and their peers live,” she said. 

“It’s important to uplift the next generation and make sure their voice is heard. 95% of teachers noticed an improvement in their kids writing skills!” As Melissa spoke with Contrast, she emphasized her excitement about what is next for her future.

“I am looking forward to working with more talent that I admire, producing my own projects, and the continuous growth in my craft.”