Having already made waves on BET's #1 ranked new scripted series "Tyler Perry's The Oval," breakout star Melissa L. Williams, who has quickly become Tyler Perry's new muse, is now set to lead Perry's spin-off series "Tyler Perry's Ruthless," as the title character 'Ruth Truesdale.' . Catch it on BET's new streaming platform, BET Plus. BET's "The Oval" tells the story of a family placed in the White House by people of power while also highlighting the personal side and everyday lives of the staff who run the inner workings of the nation's most iconic residence. Perry's spin-off series, "Tyler Perry's: Ruthless," tells the riveting story of a woman named Ruth who kidnaps her young daughter to join her in the dark underworld of a fanatical religious cult. Melissa grew up in Oklahoma City as the oldest of seven and utilized her family holiday gatherings to put together and star in her own talent shows. A natural performer from an early age, she set out to do as much local theater as she could find in Oklahoma City, eventually heading to Clark University in Atlanta for college to study theater. Williams joined the CAU Players, the University's drama club, which puts on various productions yearly ranging from classical works, musical works, children's productions, and one-act play festivals. Melissa starred as Carmen in F.A.M.E. during her time in the CAU Players. After leaving the University of Atlanta, Melissa went to get additional technical training so that she could produce projects herself and applied it to several music videos she produced when she moved to LA. Williams is a true breakout star, landing her first series regular role on "Ruthless" and taking the town by storm, with plans to also produce and star in her own future projects. When she's not acting or behind the camera, Williams is usually in Los Angeles with her new French bulldog, Ray, taking a spin class or working with the Young Storytellers.