Murisa Harba graduated from Boston University's College of Fine Arts with a BFA in Theatre and a minor in dance before she moved to New York City where she performed and toured in shows such as Sweet Charity, Amadeus, The Rivals and ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars' Roadtrip, which brought her to Los Angeles, where she currently resides and is pursuing a career in film and dance.
Since moving to Los Angeles in 2008, Murisa has found success acting in projects such as the new Jamie Kennedy film Lost and Found in Armenia, which premiered in November of 2012 and had a successful limited theatrical release across the U.S. in major cities. Furthermore, she starred opposite So You Think You Can Dance season 5 winner Jeanine Mason in short film Understudy, performed on Disney's I'm in the Band, Korda's Beautifully Esther, and the Kroll Show on Comedy Central. Her film Adonis won best emerging short at the American Filmmakers Pavilion in Cannes Film Festival 2013.
In 2014, Murisa booked the leading lady role, Angie Winston, in new dramatic web series, F#@K I LOVE U opposite writer/director Lucky Mor. The first 5 episodes screened at a red carpet premiere in August 2014 downtown at the Independent Theatre. In 2015, Murisa was invited behind the camera to direct a few episodes as well as continuing on as leading lady. Second half of Season One premiered in early 2016. Murisa also played leading lady, Kelsi, in new comedy webseries My Super LA Life, directed by Alexi Papalexopoulous. In November of 2014, Murisa booked new Thriller Feature, Deadly Crush, where she spent three weeks filming up in beautiful Yosemite, playing Sophia Ivy. In September of 2015, dramatic web series F#@K I LOVE U won for Best Acting Ensemble at ITV Fest in Dover, VT.
In 2018, Murisa directed and played leading lady in the live version of F#@K I LOVE U: Alive for the Hollywood Fringe Festival at the Dorie Theatre. Her latest role was the lead role of “Claire” in psychological drama THE SHATTERING (Avail on Amazon), directed by Daria Nazarova and produced by Argentic Productions. She has snagged 4 BEST ACTRESS in FEATURE FILM awards for her work in this project at Depth of Field Film Festival, LadyFilmmakers Festival, Studio City International Film Festival and SYTYCA Festival. She also starred in THE GOLDFISH (Avail on Tubi), directed by Homeland producer Ashley Brim and THE SECRET IN THE BASEMENT, directed by Laura D’Antoni.
In March of 2013, Murisa launched her own actors studio called ABOUT THE WORK: a safe place for actors to hone their craft, based in East Hollywood and continues to teach at the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory at the American Film Institute since 2011. She is also a recognized Backstage Expert and authored a book called Acting With Energy: Creating Brilliance Take After Take (Avail on Amazon) which is International Bestselling status in 10 countries.
REVIEWS:
UK FILM REVIEW: “Harba delivers an outstanding performance as a person who seems to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and is living in her own world as a result of the tragedy. She has chosen to live in a world in which the terrible incident did not take place and she can be happy.” -Jason Knight
https://www.ukfilmreview.co.uk/reviews/the-shattering
TAKE 2 INDIE REVIEW: “Containing a noticeable dose of frivolity, the actress’ delivery has us asking if Claire takes any responsibility for the pain both are suffering, and the lack of seriousness suggests she’s not committed to getting better.” - Rich Monetti
https://take2indiereview.net/2021/08/th-shattering/
FILM THREAT: "Harba’s understated performance does not convey Claire’s apparent grief or budding insanity through unbridled anger. Instead, she veers toward desperation, clinging to Eric for attention. The character’s behavior becomes progressively unusual and harmful for herself and her husband." - Andrew Stover
https://filmthreat.com/reviews/the-shattering/
Full Movie Available on Amazon Video
Actress Murisa Harba
Actress Murisa Harba plays “Sophia” in Deadly Crush
Actress Murisa Harba plays Angie in F#@K I LOVE U.
Actress Murisa Harba plays Angie in F#@K I LOVE U.
An award-winning actor and director, Murisa Harba lives to push boundaries. She is a leading acting coach, author, thought leader and speaker in Los Angeles, passionate about empowering actors to elevate their truth in storytelling, ultimately unlocking their creative genius.
Murisa Harba made her directorial debut in 2005 with new play WHITE RABBIT which premiered at the Huntington Theatre in Boston, and then went on to spotlight at A Play Festival For New Works. With Murisa still at the helm, WHITE RABBIT had its Chicago premiere in 2007, a 4 week run at the Bailiwick Theatre, which launched the Bricklayers Theatre Company.
In 2008, Murisa moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television direction. After numerous smaller projects and successful acting and ballroom dance careers, in 2013 Murisa directed a six-episode spy comedy series, SKIDDLE & BANG IT. Murisa was then invited to join and guest direct for Girls On Top Productions for their 2013 holiday series, STRESS FACTOR.
In 2014, Murisa directed dramatic short film, GRUYERES which is now being pitched to fund the feature film length version. Murisa pushed boundaries with her experimental silent short film, DANSARE, in which she directed, acted and danced in, premiered at NoHo Cinefest 2019. She also directed the pilot for new comedic series GAS, written by Matt Vlahakis.
She was then asked to direct 3 episodes of dramatic web series, F#@K I LOVE U, in which she also starred. In September 2015, Murisa's first episode screened at ITV Fest in Dover, VT, and won for BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE, also being nominated for BEST DRAMA. She recently directed TELL YOUR STORY, A PSA on sexual assault and female empowerment.
In 2018, Murisa co-directed F#@K I LOVE U: Alive, the stage play version of the web series at the Dorie Theatre in the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
As an actress and director, she has earned multiple "BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURE FILM" awards for her work in The Shattering (avail on Amazon Prime) at Depth of Field Film Festival, LadyFilmmakers Festival, Studio City International Film Festival and SYTYCA Festival as well as BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE awards for her acting and directing work in popular dramatic series, F#@K I Love U. Up next, she is excited to direct hilarious dramedy BAD THERAPIST slated to go into production this fall.
As a professional dancer and choreographer, she thrives on the different ways our bodies can communicate, leading to the creation of her custom signature techniques, THE CHAKRA APPROACH® which involves tapping into the body's natural energy centers as a way to build compelling performances and THE MACRO METHOD which is an efficient, empowering way to breakdown a script complete with strong choice formulas for actors to nail their auditions in less than 5 minutes.
Critical to Murisa's education and perspective as a director, she founded ABOUT THE WORK Actors Studio, in 2013 on the principle of challenging actors to dig deep within to uncover their truth in performance. Her custom "7 Steps To Elevated Truth" Mentorship Program supports the actor by empowering them to think differently about the craft, digging into what makes them unique and likeable so they can up-level their career. Murisa teaches at the Los Angeles SAG-AFTRA Conservatory, sits on the Conservatory Committee and is also a recognized Backstage Expert regularly contributing articles to the widely known industry publication. She authored Acting With Energy: Creating Brilliance Take After Take based on her signature technique The Chakra Approach®, which is available on Amazon and major book stores.
Murisa has been a speaker at multiple events such as The Confident Entertainer, Art & Heart’s Sacred Artistry and The Visionary Entertainment Leaders Conference. She loves challenging the status quo of how things have been done in the past to rebuild a future where more is possible for our communities.
Murisa Harba has choreographed many music videos, films and video games. Her music video roster includes Derek James, Billy Bob Earl, world-renowned DJ Paul Van Dyk, You Tube Star Rosanna Pansino and more. She choreographed recent feature film BERSERK starring Nick Cannon & Nora Arnezeder in a sultry hustle.
In 2017, she then partnered with MTA and worked with 10 professional dancers in motion capture suits for SONY’s THE LAST OF US: PART II video game where she choreographed the opening number which premiered at E3 in 2018.
In 2020, Murisa choreographed a cross promo with Fox’s MASKED SINGER in conjunction with Warner Brother’s SCOOB! starring Ken Jeong which aired on May 13th on the first commercial break.
She also has her own dance studio in Los Feliz/East Hollywood called Take My Lead LA, where her team choreographs first dances for wedding couples on an on going basis.
She is repped by MTA Creative.
Murisa Harba has been dancing since the young age of 5 years old and started competing around the US in high school with New Jersey's In The Spotlight Dance Studio. She received her BFA in Theatre Studies from Boston University's College of Fine Arts with a minor in ballroom dance and has performed and toured in shows such as Sweet Charity, Amadeus, The Rivals and ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars' Roadtrip. Murisa studied with Tony Meredith and Melanie LePatin at Dance Times Square NYC and went on to compete in International Latin and American Smooth Ballroom around the U.S. and Europe for five years snagging amateur champion titles along the way until landing in Los Angeles in 2008, where she currently teaches. She had the opportunity to help with the opening of Balliamos, the first same sex ballroom dance studio, located in the heart of West Hollywood, where she taught privates, classes, choreographed wedding couples and brought students to competitions.
Murisa also choreographed music videos for artists such as Derek James, Billy Bob Earl and most recently, Grammy nominated artist, globally acclaimed DJ Paul van Dyk. She starred opposite So You Think You Can Dance season 5 winner Jeanine Mason in Understudy, while also choreographing and performing on Disney's I'm in the Band, Korda's Beautifully Esther, and the Kroll Show on Comedy Central. In January 2015, she choreographed a music video for You Tube sensation Rosanna Pansino for a segment on an upcoming episode of Nerdy Nummies. In February 2015, she choreographed and danced in Project Dance 360 for SXSW with Director Lan Bui, with new groundbreaking 360 degree camera technology, yet to hit the commercial market.
In 2016, Murisa choreographed a sultry hustle for feature film BERSERK starring Nick Cannon. She also choreographed and danced in upcoming video game THE LAST OF US: Part II which dropped at E3 in 2018.
In 2020, Murisa choreographed a cross promo with Fox’s MASKED SINGER in conjunction with Warner Brother’s SCOOB! starring Ken Jeong which aired on May 13th on the first commercial break.
Murisa owns her own ballroom dance studio, TAKE MY LEAD LA, located in Los Feliz/East Hollywood area where she enjoys teaching her students and performs regularly in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Palm Springs with E-plus Productions, The Vintage Belles, The Diamond Bettys and other private event companies. She is repped by Lyndsay Farias & Jim Keith @ Movement Talent Agency.
A story of a couple finding their path.
A story of a couple in the beginning.
"I live to push boundaries. I find comfort in the uncomfortable. I seek out the "new." New situations, new combinations, new challenges, anything that will allow me to step out of my comfort zone and prove to myself that I can do something I have never done before and in so doing, prove to others that they can too." -- Murisa Harba
Little known facts:
* I was born in New Jersey to a Bosnian father and American mother.
* I have 2 sons named Johnny Hudson & James “Jimmy” Mason, who are the loves of my life!
* I can juggle.
* I climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2013.
* I love reggaeton music.
* I did two triathlons in '12 and '13.
* I am classically trained in vocal performance.
* My father was a professional soccer player.
In 2012, Murisa attended the premiere for her film Lost and Found in Armenia, starring Jamie Kennedy at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. She also attended the Feel Good Film Festival in '10 for her film Beautifully Esther, directed by Ricardo Korda, and was interviewed on the red carpet with Actors Reporter. Murisa was also chosen to host the Faith Film Festival in NYC alongside Joe Estevez for 12 episodes and was interviewed with NET TV. In 2013, Murisa was featured as Actress of the Month on Haren Yong's popular Gorno-Blonde Blog. Check out the article here! In 2019, Sinema Dünyası did a full episode interviewing Murisa, diving into her career.
Also in 2012, Murisa with Director Alison Mason traveled to Sarajevo, Bosnia where they attended the Sarajevo Film Festival. They also shot footage in Murisa's late grandparents home town in which they created a proof of concept for upcoming feature UPSTAIRS, in which Murisa is slated to play the leading role. While in Sarajevo, they were interviewed by several publications, and did numerous television and radio appearances about the new film which is about a young Bosnian woman who escapes the Bosnian War with her grandfather and their journey to heal emotionally through the struggle of human connection.
Check out the emotionally charged trailer below.
A collection of videos that include, both comedic and dramatic reels, commercial reels and lead roles in music videos.
Episode 5 of F#@K I LOVE U
A collection of assorted videos from film, television, music videos, competition and live performances.
Photography by Dan Dubois, James O'Keefe and Mike Quain.
