Natalie Morales

Natalie Morales, born on February 15, 1985, is an accomplished American actress and director. Her career spans across various television series and feature films.
Morales gained recognition for her roles in several television series. In 2008, she starred in the ABC Family series "The Middleman," showcasing her talent as an actress. Following this, she played a main role in the first season of the USA Network series "White Collar" in 2009. Her performances in these shows demonstrated her versatility and ability to take on diverse roles.
Transitioning to the big screen, Morales appeared in notable feature films such as "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" and "Going the Distance," both released in 2010. These roles further solidified her reputation as a talented actress capable of handling different genres.


In addition to her work in television and film, Morales has made significant contributions as a director. She made her directorial debut with the teen comedy film "Plan B," which was released on Hulu on May 28, 2021. Her directorial skills were further showcased in "Language Lessons," a film she co-wrote with Mark Duplass and also starred in. This film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and was released in September 2021, earning critical acclaim for its storytelling and performances.


Throughout her career, Morales has also had starring roles in notable television series such as the Fox comedy "The Grinder" and the NBC sitcom "Abby's." Additionally, she has appeared in recurring roles in popular shows like NBC's "Parks and Recreation," HBO's "The Newsroom," and the Netflix series "Dead to Me."


With her talent, versatility, and commitment to storytelling, Natalie Morales continues to make significant contributions to both the acting and directing realms of the entertainment industry.


Natalie Morales, a native of Miami, Florida, was born into a family of Cuban descent. She spent her formative years in Miami, where she attended St. Agatha Catholic School for her elementary education and later graduated from Southwest Miami Senior High School.
During her time in high school, Morales displayed a keen interest in journalism and storytelling. She had the opportunity to enhance her skills by participating in the University of Miami's Dow Jones Minority High School Journalism Workshop, where she likely gained valuable experience and insights into the field of journalism.


Morales's early exposure to journalism and her Cuban heritage likely influenced her career path and contributed to her success as both an actress and director in the entertainment industry. Her background and experiences continue to shape her work, allowing her to bring authenticity and depth to the characters she portrays and the stories she tells.


Natalie Morales has had a diverse and extensive career in television, film, and web series. Here's a breakdown of some of her notable roles and appearances:

1. CSI: Miami (2006): Morales had a guest appearance on the popular crime procedural series.
2. Pimp My Ride (2006): She lent her voice to a character in the video game adaptation of the MTV television series.
3. The Middleman (2008): Morales landed her first major role as Wendy Watson in this sci-fi dramedy series on ABC Family, based on the comic book of the same name.
4. Quitters (2008): Morales starred in and executive produced this web series, which was selected for the Independent Television Festival in Los Angeles.
5. White Collar (2009): She joined the cast of the USA Network series for its first season, portraying FBI agent Lauren Cruz.
6. Parks and Recreation (2010): Morales appeared as Lucy, the girlfriend of Tom Haverford (played by Aziz Ansari) and bartender at The Snakehole Lounge.
7. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010): Morales appeared in Oliver Stone's sequel to the iconic film Wall Street, playing a role in the ensemble cast.
8. The Newsroom (2012): She guest-starred as Kaylee, the girlfriend of Dev Patel's character, in Aaron Sorkin's HBO drama series.
9. Trophy Wife (2013): Morales joined the cast as Meg, Kate's best friend, in this comedy series.
10. The Grinder (2015): She became part of the cast of this Fox series.
11. Powerless (2017): Morales appeared in several episodes of this NBC series.
12. Santa Clarita Diet (2017): She portrayed Detective Anne Garcia in this Netflix horror comedy series.
13. Abby's (2019): Morales starred in this NBC sitcom created by Josh Malmuth and executive produced by Michael Schur.
14. Dead to Me (2019): She was cast as Michelle in the second season of this Netflix black comedy series.
15. The Morning Show (2023): Morales will portray Kate Danton in the third season of this Apple TV+ drama series.

Throughout her career, Morales has showcased her versatility as an actress, appearing in a wide range of genres and mediums, from comedy to drama, and from television to film and web series.


In 2021, Natalie Morales ventured into directing with two projects that showcased her talent behind the camera:

1. Plan B: Morales directed this teen comedy film starring Victoria Moroles and Kuhoo Verma. The story follows two teenagers on a quest to find the Plan B pill after a regrettable first sexual encounter. The film received critical acclaim, with Morales praised for her direction. Critics, such as Linda Holmes of NPR, commended the balance between comedy and genuine emotion in the film, as well as its surprising narrative twists.
2. Language Lessons: Morales co-wrote and directed this drama film, in which she also stars alongside Mark Duplass. Filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the story unfolds over Zoom as a Spanish teacher (Morales) interacts with her student (Duplass). The film received positive reviews, with critics highlighting Morales' skillful use of the Zoom format to create an intimate and expressive narrative. Katie Erbland of IndieWire lauded Morales' work, describing the film as one of the best examples of the "Zoom film" genre.

Both "Plan B" and "Language Lessons" premiered to acclaim, with the latter debuting at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival before its release in September 2021. These projects not only showcased Morales' versatility as a filmmaker but also demonstrated her ability to navigate different genres and storytelling formats with finesse.

References

1.  Hernandez, Lee (March 25, 2010). "'White Collar' Fires Natalie Morales, 'Parks and Recreation' Hires Her!". Latina. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
2. ^ "From Kidnap Victim to Kicking Butt". Miami Herald. June 23, 2008. p. 8a.
3. ^ "Miami Montage". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19.
4. ^ "Slice of SciFi Interview With "The Middleman" Star Natalie Morales". 5 June 2008.
5. ^ "Independent Television Festival 2008 : Quitters". Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 8, 2009). "Actress joins USA crime series". Reuters. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
7. ^ "Who's that Girl? Natalie Morales Goes from TV to "Wall Street"".
8. ^ Ausiello, Michael (July 3, 2011). "Exclusive: Chelsea Handler's New NBC Sitcom Cuts Three Castmembers in Overhaul". TVLine. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
9. ^ "White Collar Alum Joins Sorkin Show, X Factor Finale Beats The Voice and More!". TVLine. July 3, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
10. ^ "'White Collar' Alum Joins ABC Comedy Pilot 'Trophy Wife'". The Hollywood Reporter. November 26, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
11. ^ Gerding, Stephen (February 2, 2017). "NBC’s Powerless Adds Justice League Member to Cast". CBR.com.
12. ^ Reiher, Andrea (February 9, 2017). "Deputy Anne brings the heat to Santa Clarita Diet". AV Club. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
13. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 8, 2018). "'Abby's' & "I Feel Bad' Comedies Picked Up To Series By NBC". Deadline. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
14. ^ Otterson, Joe (October 17, 2019). "'Dead to Me' Season 2 Casts Natalie Morales (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2019.