From a young age, she knew she wanted to act, even if she didn’t yet know what that path would look like. That early spark led her from Minnesota to Los Angeles and back home again, guiding her through realms as varied as education, military service, theater, poetry and motivational speaking.
Perdue’s journey began in Minnesota, where she earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota and served in the Army Reserves. Her varied background as an educator and a veteran formed the foundation she would later draw on as an artist and speaker.
“I always knew that I wanted to act in some way, shape or form,” Perdue said, recalling her earliest artistic ambitions. At the same time, she felt a strong pull toward working with youth, a calling that would continue to shape her work.
After graduate school, Perdue moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, studying at the Ruskin School of Acting and becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild, the professional union for film and television actors that remains an important part of her artistic identity.
It was in California that another form of expression found her: spoken word poetry. While preparing for an audition for “The Vagina Monologues,” she began writing a monologue that poured out in verse, opening a new chapter in her creative life.
When Perdue returned to Minnesota with her family, her artistic presence began to grow locally. She was featured as a poet at Twin Cities events, where her performances drew attention not only for their emotional power, but also for the clarity and confidence of her voice.
After one performance, a woman invited her to speak at a fundraiser for Zonta International. Perdue initially imagined an intimate gathering, only to discover she would be addressing hundreds of people. Following the event, audience members approached her to ask if she was a professional speaker.
That moment marked the beginning of her path as a professional speaker. She went on to become an area director for Toastmasters International and a certified speaking coach, expanding her influence beyond performance spaces and into leadership and development work.
Perdue’s speaking career, grounded in theatrical presence and poetic insight, quickly became a defining part of her artistic identity. As a resilience speaker and poetic storyteller, she helps audiences connect more deeply with themselves and others, using personal narrative as a tool for clarity, confidence and growth. Her ability to merge theatrical techniques with motivational messaging allows her to captivate audiences with both vulnerability and strength.
Alongside her work as a performer and speaker, Perdue is also a published author. Her book, “Rise and Shine! How to Live a Life of Resilience and Perform at Your Potential,” reflects the same commitment to intentional living, self-discovery and perseverance that underpins her creative and speaking work.
Testimonials from clients and colleagues describe her as a “captivating,” “engaging” and “inspiring” communicator whose presence can shift a room within minutes.
While her speaking career continued to grow, Perdue never stepped away from acting. She has appeared in films including “Turnipseed,” a project based on the true story of John Turnipseed, in which she portrayed his mother. The role left a lasting impression, in part because it allowed her to meet the woman she was portraying and to honor that life with care and authenticity.
“Success is how you show up in the world.”
“It meant so much to me to be able to ask her questions, to really understand who she was,” Perdue said. Her dedication to truthful storytelling reflects the depth and intention she brings to every creative challenge.
Perdue’s artistic pursuits have also been shaped by profound personal experience. In 2017, she received a life-altering breast cancer diagnosis, a moment that reshaped her understanding of resilience and purpose. Rather than retreat, she transformed that experience into art.
She wrote “Thrive,” a one-woman show composed of three one-act plays centered on the lives of Black women navigating breast cancer. In performance, Perdue inhabits multiple characters, showcasing range, empathy and emotional intelligence. The production was accepted into the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, a competitive platform that will allow the work to reach new audiences.
For Perdue, success is not measured by traditional benchmarks such as fame or awards, but by how an artist shows up in the world. “Success is how you show up in the world,” she said. It is a philosophy rooted in intention and authenticity, where purpose and expression are inseparable.
Her work as a speaker, artist and mentor reflects that belief, inviting others to find strength in vulnerability and clarity in their own stories.
Beyond the stage and screen, Perdue works as a teaching artist in the Twin Cities, bringing poetry and performance into schools and women’s correctional facilities. Through these programs, she helps students and incarcerated women write and perform their own spoken word pieces, encouraging self-expression as a tool for healing and empowerment.
Looking ahead, Perdue continues to expand her creative vision. Future projects include writing an ensemble play and developing her first feature-length screenplay, a project that would allow her to star in a film of her own making while creating opportunities for other performers. She also hopes to deepen her engagement with communities affected by breast cancer, using art as a bridge for connection and care.
Perdue’s path, from drama club stages to keynote platforms, from poetry written on a living room floor in Los Angeles to performances at major festivals, reflects the resilience she encourages others to cultivate. Across disciplines, her work is guided by a belief that storytelling and creativity are essential human tools, capable of transforming pain into power and uncertainty into connection.
For Michelle Perdue’s speaking reel, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNwe7FnVzyM&t=1s. For her acting reel, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK_6BgPN278&t=3s. To purchase her book, visit https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Rise+and+shine+by+Michelle+Perdue&i=stripbooks&crid=381MY550YBQKA&sprefix=rise+and+shine+by+michelle+perdue%2Cstripbooks%2C108&ref=nb_sb_noss.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.