Michelle is an AAPI actress, singer, and producer with over 20 years of experience. Her work has been seen on primetime television, streaming series, and films. On stage, she has performed off-Broadway as well as nationally and in many New York City venues. She is a genuine, passionate storyteller with a deep desire to breathe life into narratives that are inclusive of marginalized voices.
Michelle is thrilled to share that her recent collaboration with her husband Martín Solá was an official selection into the 2022 Latino International Film Expo which took place in Naperville, Illinois. We had an amazing time meeting the other Latino independent filmmakers. It was an honor to be among such talent.
Written & Directed by: Martín Solá
Produced by: Michelle Liu Coughlin
Image by: Connor Grady
Michelle had a wonderful time sharing the screen with Olivia Washington in A HOLIDAY IN HARLEM for Hallmark directed by Keith Powell.
Synopsis: Known for transforming fledgling businesses into moneymakers, executive Jazmin Carter returns to Harlem, N.Y., to celebrate Christmas in the neighborhood where she grew up.
Michelle was recently seen as Maxine in the Boomerang Theatre Company’s production of THE KARPOVSKY VARIATIONS directed by Tasha Gordon-Solmon. This play marked Michelle’s return to live theatre since February 2020. It felt incredible to be back on stage again.
Synopsis: Julia Karpovsky’s father is brilliant, talented—and lives half a world away. Growing up among her eccentric and disparate relatives, Julia navigates her way through a family with a missing piece, searching for the elusive notes of her father's clarinet. This musical story traces the Karpovskys' encounters at airport lounges over two decades as they improvise what it means to be a family.
Michelle was thrilled to get the opportunity to work on the film adaptation of SAND DOLLAR COVE for Hallmark directed by Fred Gerber. It was an incredible experience and she was grateful to be back on set again working with a wonderful cast & crew.
Synopsis: Real estate development project manager Elli is sent by her company to acquire the beachfront property they've chosen as the site of their new resort. Brody, the charming local wants to make sure the town's beloved pier remains intact.
Michelle had the pleasure of working on the Indie Short, I LOOK AT YOU ALL written, directed, and shot by my dear friend and filmmaking mentor Hernán Bornás.
Logline: Look inside the fantastic mind of a 10 year old boy as he attempts to unravel the meaning of love, death, and friendship.
Synopsis: Bowie is a lonely 10 year old boy struggling to overcome a monumental loss. Equipped with a fantastic imagination, his best friend and a complete stranger, he attempts to navigate his way through love, death, and friendship, in search of real answers. Ultimately forcing him to confront the possibility that sometimes it’s just the way it is and that’s just the way it is.
Exciting news! I LOOK AT YOU ALL has been officially selected.
Michelle produced and starred in the new short film OVER-THRONE made as part of the Asian American Film Lab’s 72 Hour Shootout #IsolationEdition. It was created under quarantine with her collective The A Team.
The film was selected as one of the top 50 films of the festival. It will air on the Christmas episode (S. #13, Ep. #15) of Film Lab Presents on Spectrum TV in December.
The theme this year? GOING VIRAL! #IsolationEdition.
Michelle had the pleasure of participating in the Plays In The House program titled Free Speech: Performing Artists and the Power of the Spoken Word which was conceived by Peter Flynn and produced by Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley. Each artist was asked to read a piece of literature that was relevant, important, and personal to express their response to this moment in our country. It was beautiful and felt so right for the time.
The poem I shared was by Krista O’Reilly Davi-Digui “A Life in Progress”:
Fear is loud and bossy. She can be vicious at times. And the worst of it is that she often mingles truth with fiction. But you must learn to challenge the stories she feeds you. You get to be the boss of your thoughts. You can learn to question whether or not everything she tells you is truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Since you have done the work to deepen self-awareness and self-compassion, when she throws all your past failings in your face you won’t crumble because you already know you are imperfect…AND you are beautiful and resilient and worthy of building a thoughtfully crafted life.
James Kim Photography