Angel Desai was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where her parents met while pursuing their medical training. The family relocated to Riverdale in the Bronx, and subsequently moved to Binghamton, New York, where she spent her childhood and teenage years.
Desai began her musical journey at the tender age of four, commencing with piano lessons at six and violin instruction at nine. She was an active participant in various musical programs at Binghamton High School, holding the esteemed position of concert mistress of the orchestra and serving as the solo vocalist in the jazz band.
Following her high school education, Desai attended Oberlin College, where she majored in biopsychology and psychology. She was an integral part of the Conservatory, performing as a member of the Oberlin Orchestra and as the vocal soloist with the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Desai earned her Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University's Graduate Acting Program. She has since accumulated an extensive repertoire of performances in New York and regional theaters, with notable roles including Sonya in "Uncle Vanya" and Ariel in "The Tempest."
Desai has been cast in several world premieres, including works by David Schulner, Sunil Kuruvilla, Karen Hartman, and Charles Fuller. In 2006, she played the role of Marta in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's "Company," directed by John Doyle. The production was filmed for the 2008 season of PBS's Great Performances.
In addition to her stage work, Desai has performed as a soloist in several concerts and benefits, including the 2011 Lincoln Center Benefit for the Philippine Development Foundation and the 2011 International Theater Festival in Bucharest, Romania. She is also a founding member of the Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC),a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the visibility and representation of Asian American performers in New York theater.
Desai has volunteered with the 52nd Street Project, a non-profit organization providing theatrical education and opportunities for children in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York.
In television, Desai secured her breakthrough role on the popular police procedural "Law & Order" and went on to appear in several episodes of the show and its spin-offs. She has also had recurring roles on "Damages," "The Event," "Dollhouse," and "Kings," as well as guest appearances on "Being Mary Jane," "Do No Harm," "The Good Wife," and "Eleventh Hour," among others.
Desai has been featured in several films, including "Heights," "Black Knight," "Robot Stories," and "The War Within."
