Melanie Leishman (born February 20, 1989)[1][2] is a Canadian actress. She is best known for portraying bespectacled Hannah B. Williams, one of the main characters on the cult[3][4] horror/comedy television series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil. Before that, she had a recurring role on Darcy's Wild Life as Kathi Giraldi and comedy series House Party (2008) as desperate to be popular Mandy. Other TV credits include Being Erica, Republic of Doyle and Murdoch Mysteries. She has also voiced several animated roles in series such as Detentionaire, Grojband and the Total Drama Island reboot where she voices Emma. Film roles include musical/slasher Stage Fright (2014) as Liz Silver, comedy-drama The Exchange (2021) as Diane and Christmas romantic-comedy Single All the Way (2021) as Ashleigh.
Melanie Leishman | |
|---|---|
 Leishman in 2006 | |
| Born | February 20, 1989 Canada |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1997–present |
Early life
editMelanie Leishman was born February 20, 1989, and began acting, singing, and dancing at the age of eight. Leishman was in her first play while attending The North York Montessori, in grade three, starring as Annie in the play Annie.[5] She attended the Earl Haig Secondary School[6] in the Claude Watson Arts Program as a drama major, involved in both drama and dance programs there.[7]
Career
editFilm
editHer first theatrically released film was a supporting role in Victoria Day (2009).[8]
In the 2010 short film The Long Autumn, about a boy (Devon Bostick) that grows up alone on a strange island and eventually encounters fellow humans but needs to gain a pair of boots before being accepted, she was the sweetly naive serving girl Ladeeda.[9][10]
Quirky romantic/drama Old Stock (2012)[11] saw her playing sparky love interest Patti, an arsonist serving community service teaching dance classes at an old peoples' home.[12][13]
Musical/slasher Stage Fright (2014) cast her somewhat against type, having mostly been cast as "best friend of the lead" or generally timid characters, in this film she's the "mean girl" Diva like Liz Silver[14] who acts as a rival[15] to the film's central protagonist.
In 2016, she appeared in the film Below Her Mouth as Claire.[16]
She reprised her role of Hannah alongside the rest of the original cast in Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End,[17] a feature length animated film that concluded the cult TV series, which was released in 2017.
2018 short comedy-drama film Softcore[18] saw Melanie Leishman co-star with Alyssa Owsiany as a pair of bridesmaids that bond over exchanging the bizarre stories of their sexual awakenings.
In 2021 she appeared in the 80's set[19] comedy-drama The Exchange as Diane, the teacher's assistant[20] and long suffering girlfriend to primary antagonist gym teacher Gary Rothbauer (Justin Hartley). The same year, in Christmas set romantic comedy Single All the Way[21] as Ashleigh, young mother of two small children and a supportive sister to the lead Peter (Michael Urie).
Television
editHer first television role was in the children's/family series Darcy's Wild Life (2004–06) as Kathi Giraldi.[22]
2008 saw the release of two TV movies with her in. As Angie Bremlock in Never Cry Werewolf,[23] wherein a werewolf moves in to terrorize a neighborhood, and True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet,[24] where she was Emily[25] a girl who unwittingly befriends incognito teen celebrity Morgan Carter (Joanna "JoJo" Levesque).[26] Incidentally True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet also featured her future Todd and the Book of Pure Evil co-star Bill Turnbull in a small role.[27]
The same year she was part of the main cast of characters in House Party (2008),[28][29] the desperate to please Mandy. Each episode focuses on a particular character, revealing the various plot developments to the audience as they are encountered by the episode's focal character.[30] The show was re-released in 2021 by the production company Farpoint Distribution on their YouTube channel.[31]
2009 saw a role in Being Erica, Season 2, Episode 19 "Shhh... Don't Tell" playing Fiona Watt, a student that's being mercilessly bullied and humiliated by other classmates.
In 2010 she co-starred in the Canadian television horror/comedy series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil as science geek Hannah B. Williams[32] who forms part of the team at Crowley High School that "fights evil with mixed results".[33] The show was renewed for a second season, that aired in 2011, where she reprised her role as Hannah.[34] Leishman shared a Gemini Award for "Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series" with her cast mates for their work on the show.[35][36]
In 2011 she voiced bossy popular girl Brandy Silver[37] in the school set mystery animated series Detentionaire and also voiced the overly perky and thus aptly named Chipper in Grojband.
She has appeared three times in long running detective series Murdoch Mysteries, as different characters. First in 2011 as Nancy Booth, a taken advantage of maid, in "Downstairs, Upstairs". In 2014 as Sarah Harrison, who gets entwined in espionage between the US and Canada following the assassination of U.S. President William McKinley, in "The Spy Who Came Up to the Cold".[38] And in the 2024 season 17 episode "Spirits in the Night" she portrayed Camilla Grundy, a woman whose sleepwalking leads to her being tried for murder.
In 2018 she starred as two very different[39] twin sisters and lead characters Kristal and Kyle Hasting in the web series Kristal Clear,[40][41] for which she won the award for "Best Lead Actress in a Comedy" at the HollyWeb Fest.[42] In 2019 Kristal Clear season 2 got approved for funding by the Independent Production Fund (IPF).[43]
In 2022 – Leishman played Remi Belcourt in episode "Between" of medical drama Transplant,[44] a patient admitted to the emergency department with burns whose accident ends up revealing some uncomfortable truths about her boyfriend. In episode "One Wild Night" of police procedural drama Hudson & Rex, Leishman plays bridesmaid Quincy Thomas[45] whose straight talking about a murder victim after a bachelorette party leads to her being a suspect. She plays Christina, assistant and confidant of caterer Molly Frost (Merritt Patterson) in Great American Family's romantic TV movie Catering Christmas.[46]
In the 2023 spy-thriller TV series Gray, Leishman plays Sophie the estranged daughter of the titular character played by Patricia Clarkson. Abandoned for 20 years when her mother had to go into hiding, Sophie is wary of letting her back into her and her young daughter's lives for fear of being hurt once again.[47] In the animated series Total Drama Island reboot Leishman voices Emma,[48] one of the main characters who are contestants competing to win a million on a reality TV show. Emma has to contend with both the crazy challenges set as part of the competition and the unexpected presence of her ex-boyfriend, the self-centered Chase, as a fellow competitor.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Debut[49] | Perky PA | Short film |
| 2009 | Victoria Day | Melanie | |
| 2010 | The Long Autumn | Ladeeda | Short film |
| 2012 | Old Stock | Patti | |
| 2012 | Roomies[50] | Jenny Rhodes | Short film |
| 2014 | Stage Fright | Liz Silver | |
| 2014 | The Cliff and the Road | Ben's Girlfriend (voice) | Short film |
| 2016 | Below Her Mouth | Claire | |
| 2017 | Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End | Hannah Williams (voice) | Animated feature film |
| 2018 | Softcore | Lila | Short film |
| 2020 | The Broken Hearts Gallery | Bookstore Owner | |
| 2021 | The Exchange | Diane | |
| 2021 | Single All the Way | Ashleigh | |
| 2024 | Mother Father Sister Brother Frank | Jolene Jennings | [51] |
| TBA | Fight Another Day | Cal |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–06 | Darcy's Wild Life | Kathi Giraldi | Recurring role |
| 2008 | Never Cry Werewolf | Angie Bremlock | TV film |
| 2008 | True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet | Emily | TV film |
| 2008 | House Party | Mandy | Main role |
| 2009 | Pure Evil | Samantha | Half-hour pilot[52] |
| 2009 | Being Erica | Fiona Watt | Episode: S2E06 "Shhh... Don't Tell" |
| 2010 | Republic of Doyle | Wiggs Dinner | Episode: S1E09 "He Sleeps with the Chips" |
| 2010–12 | Todd and the Book of Pure Evil | Hannah B. Williams | Main role |
| 2011 | Murdoch Mysteries | Nancy Booth | Episode: S4E04 "Downstairs, Upstairs" |
| 2011–15 | Detentionaire | Brandy Silver (voice) | Recurring role |
| 2013 | Middle Age Rage | Cass Bobeck | Half-hour pilot[53][54][55] |
| 2013 | Grojband | Chipper (voice) | Recurring Role |
| 2014 | Murdoch Mysteries | Sarah Harrison | Episode: S7E15 "The Spy Who Came Up to the Cold" |
| 2018 | Kristal Clear | Kristal Hasting / Kyle Hasting | Web series |
| 2019 | PAW Patrol: Ready Race Rescue[56][57] | Riff Rockenbock (voice) | Animated TV film |
| 2020 | Mrs. America | Susan | Episode: S1E05 "Phyllis & Fred & Brenda & Marc" |
| 2022 | Transplant | Remi Belcourt | Episode: S2E09 "Between" |
| 2022 | Catering Christmas | Christina | TV film (Great American Family) |
| 2022 | Hudson & Rex | Quincy Thomas | Episode: S5E10 "One Wild Night" |
| 2023–2024 | Total Drama Island (2023) | Emma (voice) | 17 episodes |
| 2023 | Gray | Sophie[47] | 4 episodes: S1E01 "Homecoming", S1E02 "Gold", S1E05 "Mother of Mercy", S1E08 "The Birthday Party" |
| 2024 | Murdoch Mysteries | Camilla Grundy | Episode: S17E18 "Spirits in the Night" |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Actor/Ensemble | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 27th Young Artist Awards | Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series | Andrew Chalmers, Shannon Collis, Demetrius Joyette, Melanie Leishman, Sara Paxton and Kerry Michael Saxena | Darcy's Wild Life | Nominated | [58] |
| 2007 | 28th Young Artist Awards | Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series | Andrew Chalmers, Melanie Leishman, Demetrius Joyette and Kayla Perlmutter | Darcy's Wild Life | Nominated | [59] |
| 2011 | 26th Gemini Awards | Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series | Melanie Leishman, Maggie Castle, Chris Leavins, Bill Turnbull, Angela Jill Guingcangco, Jason Mewes, Alex House | Todd and the Book of Pure Evil | Won | [60] |
| 2018 | HollyWeb Fest | Best Lead Actress in a Comedy | Melanie Leishman | Kristal Clear | Won | [42][61] |
References
edit- ^ Melanie Leishman's Bio at Tribute, Entertainment industry magazine
- ^ Melanie Leishman's Bio at Northernstars: The Canadian Movie Database, Archived via web.archive.org
- ^ Todd and the Book of Pure Evil at TV Tropes
- ^ Why you should watch Todd and the Book of Pure Evil – Bloody Disgusting article
- ^ The Creative Imbalance, Episode 34, interview with Melanie Leishman and producer Andrew Rosen at SoundCloud.com
- ^ Earl Haig Secondary School information and former alumni at lechool.com, archived (Aug 5, 2023) via web.archive.org here
- ^ Darcy's Wild Life cast Bios at discovery.com, via web.archive.org
- ^ Anderson, John (January 27, 2009). "Victoria Day Review". Variety. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
- ^ The Long Autumn – Clermont Film Festival, via web.archive.org
- ^ Excerpt at YouTube for the 2010 Whistler Film Festival
- ^ Old Stock synopsis and credits at Northernstars: The Canadian Movie Database
- ^ The Arts Guild Interview with Noah Reid and Melanie Leishman about Old Stock
- ^ Interview: Noah Reid and Melanie Leishman by That Shelf, May 28, 2013
- ^ "with high school diva Liz Silver" quoted from Stage Fright review by Peter Martin at screenanarchy.com
- ^ "inciting the jealousy of the other contender" quoted from "'Stage Fright' movie review: A bloody Broadway camp" by Mark Jenkins, The Washington Post (May 8, 2014) Retrieved from ProQuest 1522647368
- ^ Houpt, Simon. "Canadian drama Below Her Mouth may be first film with all-female crew". Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- ^ Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil: The End Of The End Review – A Heavy Metal Massacre In Cartoon Form by Matt Donato at www.dreadcentral.com
- ^ West Coast Premiere, Best of LGBT Shorts – Volume 2, Sunday, June 10, 2018, at FilmOut San Diego via web.archive.org
- ^ Review: ‘The Exchange’ is hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt by Nell Minow at www.rogerebert.com
- ^ "Reliably funny Exchange hits close to home" by Randall King at www.winnipegfreepress.com
- ^ Single All the Way synopsis and credits at www.radiotimes.com
- ^ Watch Darcy's Wild Life online in Canada, retrieved December 17, 2020
- ^ Never Cry Werewolf Cast list and review by Andrew Pragasam at www.thespinningimage.co.uk
- ^ True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet review by Brian Lowry at variety.com
- ^ True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet at rottentomatoes.com
- ^ True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet review by Marilyn Moss at www.hollywoodreporter.com
- ^ True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet credits including Bill Turnbull's role of Dan at www.moviefone.com
- ^ Farpoint Films – House Party
- ^ New series draws comedy from Winnipeg house party at cbc.ca
- ^ "Mandy, who wants you to like her. Really really wants you to like her." quoted from "New show: House Party" by Denise Duguay at montrealgazette.com
- ^ Farpoint Distribution re-release "House Party"
- ^ Todd and the Book of Pure Evil by Scott A. Gray at exclaim.ca
- ^ "fighting evil... with mixed results" Retrospective: Todd & The Book of Pure Evil by Derek Anderson, Part 1 & Part 2 at dailydead.com (Originally appeared in the January 2015 issue of DEADLY Magazine)
- ^ "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil Season 2 Production Is Underway" by Diane Wild at tv-eh.com
- ^ Heilbron, Alexandra. "Gemini award winners announced". Tribute.ca. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- ^ "Todd and the Book of Pure Evil proves a screaming hit: The Gemini-winning Canadian series has captured fans with its unique blend of horror and humour." by Bill Brioux at thestar.com
- ^ "Melanie Leishman is the voice of Brandy Silver in Detentionaire" at behindthevoiceactors.com
- ^ Making Murdoch: The Spy Who Came Up To The Cold at www.cbc.ca
- ^ Web Series Wednesday – Kristal Clear at starrymag.com
- ^ "MUST WATCH: We Love New Toronto Web Series Kristal Clear, Now Available on Prime Video". Shedoesthecity. August 13, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- ^ Coconut Effect Productions Official Kristal Clear site
- ^ a b Amanda Fahey’s web-series, Kristal Clear, wins big at HollyWeb Festival
- ^ "Independent Production Fund (IPF) 2019 Web Drama Series Funding Decisions", Including season 2 of Kristal Clear
- ^ Transplant – Episode "Between" – Guest Cast at tvmaze.com
- ^ Hudson & Rex – Episode "One Wild Night", synopsis and credits at www.tvmaze.com
- ^ ‘Catering Christmas’ on Great American Family, Where Merritt Patterson Caters a Holiday Gala review By Brett White, at Decider.com
- ^ a b Gray, Season 1, episode 1: "Homecoming" dir. Ruba Nadda (Sept 2023), AGC Television/Lionsgate
- ^ "Melanie Leishman is the voice of Emma in Total Drama Island (2023)" at behindthevoiceactors.com
- ^ Debut, short film at BravoFACT's official channel
- ^ Roomies brief synopsis & credits at radiotimes.com, via web.archive.org
- ^ Melanie Goodfellow, "Enrico Colantoni & Mindy Cohn Join Cast Of ‘Mother Father Sister Brother Frank’ As Ontario Shoot Kicks Off". Deadline Hollywood, March 7, 2023.
- ^ "In the news: New Showcase pilots" by Diane Wild at tv-eh.com
- ^ 'Middle Age Rage' comedy pilot ordered by ABC by James Hibberd at ew.com
- ^ Pilot Season 2013: Get Scoop on This Fall's (Possible) Newcomers, and Who's In Them at TVLine.com
- ^ "ABC Comedy Pilot ‘Middle Age Rage’ Stays Alive With Cast Options Extension" by Nellie Andreeva at deadline.com
- ^ PAW Patrol: Ready, Race, Rescue a 'turbo-charged instalment' of popular animated TV series – The Irish News
- ^ Nickelodeon and Spin Master Announce Second 'PAW Patrol' Movie Event, 'Ready Race Rescue' – Synopsis and cast list at www.nickalive.net
- ^ "27th Annual Young Artist Awards" YoungArtistAwards.org via web.archive.org
- ^ "28th Annual Young Artist Awards" YoungArtistAwards.org via web.archive.org
- ^ "Awards database" www.academy.ca via web.archive.org
- ^ "Awards Roundup: Forte’s Snapshots wins kids Int’l Emmy – Hollyweb Awards" by Lauren Malyk at playbackonline.ca