Mercedes Bahleda – Bio

Mercedes Bahleda is a New York–born artist, performer, and teacher based in London. Her work bridges the realms of theatre, sacred music, and Eastern philosophy, and she is known for a rare ability to blend bold, boundary-pushing performance with spiritual insight.

Mercedes spent 17 years in monastic retreat and study across India, Ladakh, and the Chiricahua Mountains, living under vows of celibacy and poverty as a Brahmacharya. She completed two intensive seven-year training programs in Eastern philosophy with the Asian Classics Institute, and for over 25 years has taught meditation, ethics, and Buddhist philosophy in more than 32 countries — offering trainings to corporations such as British Airways and Uralsib Bank, as well as thousands of individuals seeking transformation.

As a classically trained actress, Mercedes holds a BFA with Honors from NYU and an MA from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her stage and screen work spans the West End, Broadway-caliber companies, and major streaming platforms. She recently appeared in What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank in London, directed by Patrick Marber, where her performance as Shoshana was praised as “a complex part full of playful charm, passion, and vulnerability, all brought vividly to life by Mercedes Bahleda, who fills her with a rich, childlike sensitivity that is captivating to watch.” The production received a ★★★★ review and was nominated for both an Offie (Best Ensemble) and an Olivier Award (Best New Production).

Other notable credits include The Glass Menagerie (covering Amy Adams at The Duke of York) directed by Jeremy Herrin, and The Lehman Trilogy directed by Sam Mendes (Piccadilly Theatre). In film and television, Mercedes has appeared in high-profile roles including Lockerbie (BBC/Netflix), Eric (Netflix, dir. Lucy Forbes), The Son (Sony Pictures, dir. Florian Zeller), Avenue 5 (HBO, dir. Armando Iannucci). Her screen presence is matched by her musical achievements: she has had over 100,000 monthly Spotify listeners and four celebrated albums of sacred music — Mercy Songs, UMA, Sacred Chants to Tara, and Path to Bliss — all released through White Swan Records.

She is also the first known translator of The Sutra of the Wise Woman from Tibetan into poetic, in-line English — a historic contribution to Buddhist literature and feminist spiritual discourse.

As a theatre-maker, Mercedes is currently developing a one-woman show in collaboration with award-winning director Ben Target (Fringe First, Offie Nominee, Sydney Opera House) backed by Angel Comedy Club and produced by The Project People with plans for a UK tour and a premiere at the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Mercedes is a former member of NYCs iconic punk-drag troupe, Black Lips led by Mercury Prize winner, Anohni and the Bessie Award–winning Big Dance Theater, whose work during her tenure was archived by Lincoln Center for its historical value to contemporary performance. She has taught for NYU’s Creative Arts Team and continues to work at the intersection of art, wisdom traditions, and social transformation.