Morayo Orija, a talented individual, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and spent her early childhood in the vicinity of Helen Chambers Park, a park named after her maternal grandmother, a renowned civil rights and social activist. Her father, of Nigerian descent and a chief in the Yoruba Tribe, like his father and grandfather before him, has been a long-time resident of the United States.
At the age of six, Morayo relocated to North Carolina with her parents and three siblings, where she excelled academically and athletically, particularly in basketball. Although acting was not a significant part of her early life, her parents consistently exposed her and her siblings to live theater, films, and music. Morayo expressed her artistic side through sketching fashion designs and original poetry, and she recalls numerous attempts at singing in her home and church youth choir, although she admits her singing voice was not her greatest strength.
The desire to act and direct emerged in her after attending a school play in junior high, and she pursued theater in high school, earning the title of "Most Talented" from her senior class. Morayo received recognition in drama competitions and pageants during her high school years.
She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an experience she holds close to her heart. During her time at UNC, Morayo temporarily left the arts to pursue her passion for politics, serving as Speaker of Congress. She switched majors from Communications with a Film Concentration to Political Science with the intention of attending law school. After college, she took a job on a Pennsylvania State Senate campaign, hoping to one day run for office herself.
However, a campaign defeat led Morayo back to North Carolina, where she rekindled her interest in acting. In Charlotte, NC, she studied with Lon Bumgarner and Marilyn Carter. When not training, she worked professionally with a traveling children's theater company, Stageworks Theatre, and performed locally with the Psychotic Pooch Improv Troupe.
Eventually, Morayo sought the challenge of a bigger market and moved to Los Angeles, CA, where she studied and trained at the world-renowned Stella Adler Academy. Since relocating to L.A., she has kept her love of theater alive by forming the Cobblestone Theatre Company with friend Sam Marin, of Cartoon Network's "Regular Show."
Morayo continues to create original works as a playwright and children's book author. Two of her plays, "Josephine," a one-act about late actress Josephine Premice, and "Medio Pollito," a re-telling of the Spanish folktale, were performed for L.A. audiences.
In her free time, Morayo supports organizations that increase voter access and benefit children's arts opportunities. She also supports international efforts to affect women's rights and poverty. One of her favorite activities is hosting parties that benefit charities.
