From Canada's idyllic Vancouver Island, Merry became a working actor at age four. Driven by her insatiable curiosity, as a toddler she wandered off to the woods, climbing trees and wading in creeks.

At nightfall, her parents often had to send out a search party for her. Imagine their relief when a family friend put Merry in a professional children's theatre production -- at least now they knew where she was! Merry soon began starring in many such productions, often collaborating with the shows' writers to create new characters. As a teenager, she moved from stage to screen, with television and film work at home and abroad.