Born in Athens, Greece and raised by fine artists, Waddell has a strong visual sense that compliments her vivid storytelling ability. Before directing her first full length feature film, "Brothel" (2008), (Vanguard Cinema distributor) Waddell directed the short "The Mask Maker", which was selected for twenty film festivals, and won, among numerous awards, a gold medal for "best short" at the Chicago International Film Festival. Waddell made the film after being selected as one of eight women to participate in the prestigious Directing Workshop for Women (DWW) at the American Film Institute. In 2010 Waddell completed a feature documentary in which 10 exceptional Native Americans shared their knowledge during an 18 day white water river rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. She has written and produced several humanitarian documentaries on Darfur, India and Israel for Charles Annenberg Weingarten's philanthropic organization explore.org. She is a graduate of USC Film School. She has penned screenplays and fiction, and has worked in the industry as a writer, director and film editor. Her award winning documentary, The Reluctant Muse, which she wrote, directed and produced, aired nationally on PBS.