Preslaysa Edwards

Preslaysa Edwards is an American actress and author of contemporary romance and women's fiction. As an actress, she co-starred in the role of Cindi Ornette on Nickelodeon's The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo which aired from 1996-1998. Preslaysa co-starred with Pat Morita from The Karate Kid. Her television credits also include roles on the popular American comedy-drama series, This Is Us, and the American political thriller, Homeland. She also appeared in the 2020 film, Last Moment of Clarity. Her acting credits span over 20 years. Preslaysa started acting in the early 1990s when she performed under the stage name, Presley Edwards. Among her many theatre roles, she co-starred in the Off Broadway play, The Onliest One Who Can't Go Nowhere at the Ensemble Studio Theatre. This play was directed by the acclaimed director, Woodie King, Jr. The play was written by J.E. Franklin. Preslaysa (aka, Presley) was called "appealing in the central role" by the New York Times and "utterly beguiling" by Backstage Magazine. Preslaysa's theatre work led to her role on The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. She also performed in the role of Gertrude in the Horton Foote play, The Death of Papa, which was part of a series of plays called The Orphans Home Cycle. As an author, Preslaysa's accolades include the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis award for Short Novel. Her stories hold a particular focus on the lives of Afro-Asian characters. In 2020, Preslaysa's own voices romance was a Featured Deal of the Week in Publishers Weekly. Preslaysa graduated from Columbia University with an undergraduate degree in Spanish Language and Literature. She later earned two separate graduate degrees from the College of Charleston and Seton Hill University.