NYWIFT Blog

By Desirée Rucker

Welcome to NYWIFT, Melissa Roxburgh!

Melissa Roxburgh is a Sagittarian (12/10/92), actress and Canadian. Her parents moved to Canada from the United States and founded a church in Vancouver. Roxburgh is the second oldest of four children; she has two sisters and one younger brother.

While pursuing acting roles in Vancouver, Roxburgh studied communications at Simon Fraser University. She is an alumna of the William Esper Studio.

Roxburgh landed her first major role in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and has worked steadily in television and film. She is currently portraying Rebecca “Bex” Henderson, an FBI Special Agent, in The Hunting Party, a procedural crime drama on NBC.

Melissa spoke to us about her creative journey, family roots, favorite actors, and her directing dreams.

Photo Courtesy of Melissa Roxburgh

You have worked steadily since you were in your teens and you have matured into an accomplished actor.  What keeps you focused and centered?

I think when you’re younger it’s easy to think of success as a goal post or a destination. You do everything you can to reach that point, only to discover it’s never quite what you imagined or quite how you thought it would feel.

Growing up, my parents always tried to instill good morals (as every parent does), but their words became truer the older I got, and more experience I attained. My parents were right, who knew? I realized, specifically, the part that was true was that satisfaction came from within. It came from the people you surround yourself with, the stories you tell, and the stories you tell yourself. It came from the quality of life, not quantity.

I think knowing that makes work, creating, storytelling more quietly interesting to me lately because it won’t matter if two people see it vs two billion people. It’s about the message and the people you get to do it with. 

You’ve had some interesting roles. You were in the films: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days; Supernatural, where you portrayed a werewolf; Marine 4: Moving Target; you were an alien in Star Trek Beyond and a detective in Mindcage. Your television credits include Valor (2017-2018) and a breakout performance as Detective Michaela Stone in Manifest (2018-2023). 

Though you’ve played a number of law enforcement officers, you’re certainly not typecast.  Is there a secret to being seen anew at each audition? 

I’m still working it out! In fact, I have been typecast to a degree. That’s part of the reason I’m eager to create and tell stories of my own that shed a different light on other sides or interests I have. I think it’s amazing playing a tough, no-nonsense character a lot of the time, but there’s a lot more to me that I’m excited for people to see. 

Your current role as FBI Special Agent Rebecca “Bex” Henderson in The Hunting Party, a new procedural crime drama on NBC, is physically demanding. I watched several episodes where there are fight scenes and foot chases. Bex is a “Bad B.” How does embodying “Bex” challenge you as an actor?

I think it’s challenging in the sense that because each episode has a similar arc, I’m always trying to find new and creative ways to bring something different to each episode. She’s also constantly rattling off jargon that doesn’t feel second nature to me in all moments, so trying to be seamless with it.

Other than that, it’s honestly been… fun. I love team leading, I love the collaboration, I love when other’s jump in with ideas way better than my brain can come up with. 

You’ve stated in a previous interview that you are the black sheep of your family. Surely it is not because you have joined the disreputable profession of acting? I’m kidding! Are you the first person in your family to act? Any other members of your family looking to join the industry?

[Laughs] My poor parents would have preferred I do literally anything else, I’m sure of it. I remember the worry and panic in my earlier acting years between my mom and dad about how corrupt my industry is. And to be fair, once again, they may be right in some ways.

However… I think there’s always one person in the family that goes to the beat of their own drum: “identified patient” as a therapist may call it. I feel ok with that title to be honest. It led me into something I’m incredibly passionate about and think I’m really myself in!

My younger sister is also pretty creative and has done some acting. She’s actually working on a project with me at the moment that we’re trying to get developed.

I read in an interview that you were not selected for a role you really wanted.  You were extremely honest in admitting that you were depressed about it. But you dusted yourself off and got back out there.  Any advice for actors who are still waiting for their first role or break?

Yes! Take nothing personally. I’ve been on both sides of the casting process. Sometimes the better actor doesn’t get it. Sometimes the creators go a completely different way than expected. It took me years and a lot of heartbreak to figure this out. Give your 100% and then let it go. So much is out of your control. Usually, the role comes just as you’re at your wits end [laughs].

What would be a dream role for you?

Honestly, I would love to play Gloria Steinem. Originally it was Princess Diana (I’m obsessed with her), but that’s been done now. On top of the fact, I don’t look like her. But Gloria feels like a more plausible part. 

What actors do you admire?

Ooooh so many. I’m really obsessed with Florence Pugh at the moment. She has such a natural strength in all of her work. Jessica Lang, Gena Rowlands, Jessica Chastain, Billy Crudup, Mark Ruffalo, Andrew Garfield, Oscar Isaac, Julianne Nicholson, Kate Winslet, KATE MCKINNON!, Anthony Hopkins…. .the list could go on. 

Do you see yourself directing?

I do! And I have! I grew up behind my mom’s home video camera, attempting to force my siblings and neighbors into movies I had made up. Didn’t go so well. But I also got the chance to direct an episode of Manifest, which quite frankly… that’s mostly what I want to do now. I think directing/producing is more so where I will end up. 

Follow Melissa Roxburgh on Instagram at @mroxburgh.

(All images courtesy of @mroxburgh on IG unless otherwise noted)