# Vella Lovell

Vella Lovell (born September 13, 1985) is an American actress, known for playing Heather Davis in The CW comedy-drama series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend as well as providing the voice of Mermista in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Khadija in The Big Sick, and Mikaela in Mr. Mayor.

## Early life

Lovell was born in Southern California and raised in New Mexico. She is of African-American, Jewish, and European descent.
Lovell attended Interlochen Arts Camp and graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy. She then went on to graduate from New York University and the Juilliard School.

## Career

Lovell had minor roles in TV series Girls and Younger before joining the cast of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend in 2015. In 2017, Lovell had a supporting role in the romantic comedy The Big Sick. She also had a small role in the Netflix movie The Christmas Chronicles.
In 2018, she voiced Princess Mermista in the Netflix series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Earlier that year, she appeared in the Music Video for Cher's cover of SOS by Abba.
In 2021, she played Mikaela in Mr. Mayor on NBC, created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. She also starred in the Comedy Central parody A Clusterfunke Christmas with Cheyenne Jackson, Ana Gasteyer and Rachel Dratch.
She currently plays Emily Price in the FOX sitcom Animal Control, created by Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg and Dan Sterling.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2012 | 18 Actors | Morning After Girl | Short |
| 2014 | Three Dates | Danielle | Short |
| 2015 | Bears Discover Fire | Nurse | Short |
| 2015 | LFE | Anj | TV movie |
| 2016 | Cat Ladies | - | Short |
| 2017 | The Bachelor: Nick Viall in Peru | - | Short |
| 2017 | The Big Sick | Khadija | |
| 2017 | Literally, Right Before Aaron | Jen | |
| 2018 | All These Small Moments | Miss Tucker | |
| 2018 | The Christmas Chronicles | Wendy | |
| 2018 | Confidence | Girl | Short |
| 2019 | Speed of Life | Laura | |
| 2019 | Friends-In-Law | - | TV movie |
| 2020 | The Great Work Begins. Scenes from Angels in America | Harper | TV movie |
| 2021 | A Clüsterfünke Christmas | Holly | |
| 2023 | Your Place or Mine | Becca | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2015 | OM City | Sarah | Episode: "Something Great" |
| 2015–2019 | Crazy Ex-Girlfriend | Heather Davis | Main cast |
| 2016 | Girls | Adele | Episode: "Old Loves" |
| 2016 | Younger | Taylor | Episode: "A Night at the Opera" |
| 2017 | Flip the Script | The Development Exec | Episode: "Shelf Life" |
| 2018–2020 | She-Ra and the Princesses of Power | Mermista (voice) | Recurring cast |
| 2019 | Dollface | Alison S. | Recurring cast: season 1 |
| 2020 | Grace and Frankie | Nicole | Episode: "The Laughing Stock" |
| 2020 | Magical Girl Friendship Squad | No Tattoo Barista/CBD Monster (voice) | Episode: "My Fated Guardians" |
| 2021–2022 | Mr. Mayor | Mikaela Shaw | Main cast |
| 2022 | As We See It | Salena | Main cast |
| 2022 | So Help Me Todd | Lea Luna | Episode: "So Help Me Pod" |
| 2023–present | Animal Control | Emily Price | Main cast |
| 2023–present | Kiff | Candle Fox (voice) | Recurring cast |
| 2024 | Accused | Marta | Episode: "Val’s Story" |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
| 2021 | Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Mr. Mayor | Nominated | |