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Biography
Megalyn Ann Echikunwoke was born on May 28, 1983 in Spokane, Washington. She is of mixed heritage, born of a white American mother and a Nigerian father. Megalyn's father died when she was 4 years old, and her mother moved Megalyn and her siblings to a Navajo Indian Reservation in Chinle, Arizona where they would grow up.
Living on such a remote reservation, Megalyn wasn't able to engage in typical youth pastimes like going to the movies, or hanging out at the mall. She lived a much more organic lifestyle, going on hikes, playing with sheep, and spent a lot of time being introspective and developing a cultural sensitivity towards life that she still holds onto today. Megalyn considers herself very fortunate for the childhood she's had.
At 14, Megalyn enrolled in an arts academy summer camp, and it was there she was discovered by her manager while onstage performing a monologue during a camp play. She began auditioning for roles via videotape, then she and her mother would make long drives from Arizona to Hollywood. At 15, she was cast as the female lead in the television mini-series, Creature.
In support of Megalyn's career ambitions, her family moved to Los Angeles where Megalyn attended high school. She immediately immersed herself in the theatre department, and while in high school, won starring roles in the pilot, Odd Man Out and in the cable feature Funny Valentines, where she worked alongside Oscar nominee Alfre Woodward.
Megalyn has appeared on many hit TV shows in her 10 year career, with recurring roles on That '70s Show, 24, For the People, and starring roles on The 4400, Like Family, and MTV’s Spyder Games. She has also enjoyed a wide range of guest star roles on such shows such as Supernatural, The Steve Harvey Show, ER, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, and most recently, The Game.
In addition to these, Megalyn has been involved in several projects with her best friend and fellow actress Olivia Wilde and Olivia's husband, documentary filmmaker Tao Ruspoli. The latest of these being the 2008 independent film Fix, which follows the journey of filmmakers Bella (Wilde) and Milo (Ruspoli), through Los Angeles on a race to get Milo's brother, Leo (Shawn Andrews) from jail to rehab before he is sentenced to prison for 3 years. Megalyn plays Carmen, Leo’s girlfriend.
Megalyn has also expressed an interest in music as well as theatre and dance. Her recording of the ballad "So Much" can be heard on the soundtrack of MTV’s Spyder Games. Megalyn can also be heard singing background vocals in Tricky's "Au Revoir Emanuelle" on the album Monsieur Gainsbourg: Revisited.
Echikunwoke means "leader of men" which seems quite fitting as Megalyn's grandfather was said to be an Igbo tribal leader. The name serves as an inspiration to Megalyn, who exudes confidence in every task she undertakes.
Megalyn had made a home for herself in Venice, California, and enjoys the lifestyle there, the surf and skate culture, and spending time with her friends.
Source: Invincible, A Megalyn Echikunwoke Fansite
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