# Natalie Morales (actress)
**Natalie Morales** (born 1985) is an American actress, director, writer, and producer known for television comedy roles such as Wendy Watson in *The Middleman*, Lucy in *Parks and Recreation*, and Abby in *Abby's*, and for directing the 2021 feature films *Plan B* and *Language Lessons*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985, Kendall, Florida; raised in a Cuban family[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/) |
| Breakout role | Wendy Watson, female lead of *The Middleman* (ABC Family, 2008), a 13-episode sci-fi dramedy that developed a cult following[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2295540/) |
| Recurring TV roles | Lucy on *Parks and Recreation* (2010–2015, 11 episodes), Michelle on *Dead to Me* (2020–2022, 8 episodes), Dr. Monica Beltran on *Grey's Anatomy* (2024–2025, 12 episodes)[3](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/natalie-morales/trabajos/) |
| Lead sitcom role | Abby, the titular character of NBC's *Abby's* (2019, 10 episodes)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2295540/) • [3](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/natalie-morales/trabajos/) |
| Feature directing debut | *Plan B* premiered on Hulu on May 28, 2021; *Language Lessons* was directed by Natalie Morales, co-written by Morales and Mark Duplass, and won the SXSW audience award[4](https://press.hulu.com/bios/natalie-morales/) • [16](https://www.bestpartproductions.com/language-lessons) |
| Notable film acting | Rosie Casals in *Battle of the Sexes* (2017); Nicole in *Stuber* (2019); Zoe in *My Dead Friend Zoe* (2024)[4](https://press.hulu.com/bios/natalie-morales/) • [5](https://apnews.com/article/a3e99cefc7f0b475a46a3d0354fe32f4) |
| Voice work | Miss Calleros in *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse* (2018); Yolanda Buenaventura on *BoJack Horseman*; Betty DeVille on the *Rugrats* revival[4](https://press.hulu.com/bios/natalie-morales/) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/Natalie-Morales/) |
| Advocacy | Member of Everytown for Gun Safety's Creative Council[4](https://press.hulu.com/bios/natalie-morales/) |
## Early life
Morales was born in 1985 in Kendall, a suburb of Miami, Florida, and was raised in a Cuban family[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/). She attended private school through eighth grade and applied to a magnet school to study law, but a mix-up in the application process left her in public high school, where she enrolled in drama because it was the only elective available[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/). She has described that accident as the start of her career path[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/).
Her first audition, at age nine, went badly: she arrived at a theater casting call with nothing prepared and was asked to sing "I Will Always Love You," a song whose lyrics she did not know[6](https://flamingomag.com/2025/02/27/why-natalie-morales-wants-to-be-the-scorsese-of-miami/). She studied theater at [Miami Dade College](https://www.edgepedia.org/miami-dade-college) and [Florida International University](https://www.edgepedia.org/florida-international-university), moved to Los Angeles in 2005 with two friends from drama class, and developed her comedy skills in theater and sketch work before landing her first screen role, a 2006 guest spot on *CSI: Miami*[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2295540/).
## Acting career
**Television.** Morales's first major role was Wendy Watson, the female lead of *The Middleman* (ABC Family, 2008), a superhero dramedy based on a comic book; the show lasted only its initial 13-episode order but gained a cult following[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2295540/). She was a series regular in the first season of *[White Collar](https://www.edgepedia.org/white-collar-tv-series)* ([USA Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/usa-network)) as special agent Lauren Cruz, promoted from guest star after a well-received debut, and replaced in the second season when a returning actress took the part[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/).
She then built a career of recurring and supporting comedy roles: Lucy, [Tom Haverford](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-haverford)'s girlfriend, on *Parks and Recreation* (2010–2015); Meg on *Trophy Wife* (ABC, 2013–2014, 22 episodes); Claire on *The Grinder* (Fox, 2015–2016, 21 episodes); Anne Garcia on *Santa Clarita Diet* (Netflix, 2017–2019); and Michelle on *Dead to Me* (Netflix, 2020–2022)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/) • [3](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/natalie-morales/trabajos/). She guested on *[The Newsroom](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-newsroom-american-tv-series)*, *Girls*, *90210*, *Powerless*, and *Grace and Frankie*, and starred as the titular bar owner in NBC's *Abby's* (2019)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/) • [3](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/natalie-morales/trabajos/). More recently she played Kate Danton on *The Morning Show* (Apple TV, 2023) and Dr. Monica Beltran on *Grey's Anatomy* across seasons 20 and 21; her character was killed off in the season 22 premiere when a surgical light fell on her[3](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/natalie-morales/trabajos/) • [7](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/greys-anatomy-actor-jokes-after-being-killed-off-reveals-how-they-found-out).
**Film.** Her film debut came in 2010 with a role as a [Wall Street](https://www.edgepedia.org/wall-street) trader in [Oliver Stone](https://www.edgepedia.org/oliver-stone)'s *Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps* and a part in the romantic comedy *Going the Distance*[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/). She played tennis champion Rosie Casals opposite [Emma Stone](https://www.edgepedia.org/emma-stone) and Steve Carell in *Battle of the Sexes* (2017), starred alongside Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani in the action comedy *Stuber* (2019), and appeared in *The Little Things* (2021) with Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto[4](https://press.hulu.com/bios/natalie-morales/). In *My Dead Friend Zoe* (2024), a dark comedy about a veteran coping with the loss of her best friend, she played Zoe, the dead friend of the title; the AP review called her performance her finest as a cynical soldier[5](https://apnews.com/article/a3e99cefc7f0b475a46a3d0354fe32f4). She also appeared in *No Hard Feelings* (2023) alongside Jennifer Lawrence and *Self Reliance* (2023)[8](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621223015).
## Directing
Morales moved behind the camera through music videos, shorts, and the [Funny or Die](https://www.edgepedia.org/funny-or-die) series *James Joyce's Love Letters*, which she created, directed, and starred in with [Michaela Watkins](https://www.edgepedia.org/michaela-watkins), Martin Starr, and [Paget Brewster](https://www.edgepedia.org/paget-brewster)[4](https://press.hulu.com/bios/natalie-morales/) • [6](https://flamingomag.com/2025/02/27/why-natalie-morales-wants-to-be-the-scorsese-of-miami/). She directed episodes of the HBO anthology *Room 104* and of the Go90 series *Mr. Student Body President*, and later an episode of *Mr. Mayor*[4](https://press.hulu.com/bios/natalie-morales/) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/Natalie-Morales/).
Her two feature directorial debuts both arrived in 2021. *Plan B*, a teen road-trip comedy about two high school friends searching for emergency contraception across [South Dakota](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-dakota), was shut down just before shooting in spring 2020 because of the pandemic and resumed filming that fall, premiering on Hulu on May 28, 2021[4](https://press.hulu.com/bios/natalie-morales/) • [9](https://bdnews24.com/entertainment/natalie-morales-makes-her-directing-debut.-twice). During the lockdown, [Mark Duplass](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-duplass), who had seen her *Room 104* episodes, invited her to collaborate on what became *Language Lessons*, a film told entirely through video calls about a Spanish teacher in [Costa Rica](https://www.edgepedia.org/costa-rica) (played by Morales) and her student (Duplass); it was written and shot in about four weeks[10](https://awardsradar.com/2021/09/26/interview-talking-language-lessons-with-natalie-morales/). The film premiered in the Berlinale Special section at the 2021 Berlin International Film Festival and won the Narrative Spotlight Audience Award at SXSW[11](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-203183/) • [4](https://press.hulu.com/bios/natalie-morales/).
Morales has said that leaving her talent agency, which would not set up directing meetings for her, was a necessary step toward directing features[12](https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-business/stories/plan-b-language-lessons). She has also described acting experience as a directing asset, giving her familiarity with what every department on a set does[13](https://www.hola.com/us/entertainment/20230622347182/natalie-morales-no-hard-feelings-special-feature/).
## Identity and recognition
Morales identifies as queer and has spoken about her Cuban roots and about code-switching early in her career to fit what Hollywood expected[13](https://www.hola.com/us/entertainment/20230622347182/natalie-morales-no-hard-feelings-special-feature/) • [14](https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-treatment/stories/natalie-morales-plan-b). She is a member of Everytown for Gun Safety's Creative Council[4](https://press.hulu.com/bios/natalie-morales/).
Her awards and nominations include Imagen Award nominations in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2025, a Gotham Independent Film Award nomination for Breakthrough Performer in 2021, and 2021 wins for the SXSW Narrative Spotlight Audience Award and an Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, plus a 2022 Filmmaker on the Rise Award[15](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/natalie-morales/bio/3030610839/). She has said she wants to make films in and about Miami, her hometown[6](https://flamingomag.com/2025/02/27/why-natalie-morales-wants-to-be-the-scorsese-of-miami/).
## References
1. [Natalie Morales, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/natalie-morales/)
2. [Natalie Morales, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2295540/)
3. [Trayectoria de Natalie Morales, FormulaTV](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/natalie-morales/trabajos/)
4. [Natalie Morales, Hulu Press](https://press.hulu.com/bios/natalie-morales/)
5. [Movie Review: In 'My Dead Friend Zoe,' a dark comedy about PTSD, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/a3e99cefc7f0b475a46a3d0354fe32f4)
6. [Why Natalie Morales Wants to Be the Scorsese of Miami, Flamingo Magazine](https://flamingomag.com/2025/02/27/why-natalie-morales-wants-to-be-the-scorsese-of-miami/)
7. ['I Hope They're Miserable.' Grey's Anatomy Actor Has Jokes After Being Killed Off, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/greys-anatomy-actor-jokes-after-being-killed-off-reveals-how-they-found-out)
8. [Natalie Morales, Apple Snapshot](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621223015)
9. [Natalie Morales makes her directing debut. Twice, bdnews24 (The New York Times)](https://bdnews24.com/entertainment/natalie-morales-makes-her-directing-debut.-twice)
10. [Interview: Talking 'Language Lessons' with Natalie Morales, Awards Radar](https://awardsradar.com/2021/09/26/interview-talking-language-lessons-with-natalie-morales/)
11. [Natalie Morales, SensaCine](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-203183/)
12. ['Language Lessons' and 'Plan B': How first-time director Natalie Morales made 2 films in a year, KCRW](https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-business/stories/plan-b-language-lessons)
13. [Natalie Morales: The actress and director is making her mark in Hollywood, HOLA!](https://www.hola.com/us/entertainment/20230622347182/natalie-morales-no-hard-feelings-special-feature/)
14. [Director and actor Natalie Morales on making her feature directorial debut with 'Plan B', KCRW](https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-treatment/stories/natalie-morales-plan-b)
15. [Natalie Morales Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/natalie-morales/bio/3030610839/)
16. [Language Lessons, Best Part Productions](https://www.bestpartproductions.com/language-lessons)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Mo to Ne*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license