Melissa Bell (born 7 November 1972) is an Australian actress and fashion designer. She is best known for her roles of Bonnie Tait in E Street, Lucy Robinson in Neighbours, and Emily Harris in Paradise Beach. Bell also made appearances in Home & Away and Water Rats.
Melissa Bell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 November 1972 Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, fashion designer |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for |
|
| Spouses | Jason Redlich
(m. 1996; div. 1998)Gary Dickinson
(m. 2000; died 2016)Grant Thompson (m. 2022) |
| Children | 4 |
Career
editActing
editBell had earlier appeared in the soap opera E Street in the guest role of Janine. She left the role of Lucy in Neighbours to return to E Street to play a new character, the eco-crusader Bonnie Tait. After E Street ended Bell made several brief returns to Neighbours.
She also acted in another soap, Paradise Beach, playing surfer Emily Harris.[1] She later appeared in several lifestyle programs, such as Celebrity Overhaul.[2]
Fashion design
editBell later become a fashion designer, selling kaftans and party wear from a boutique in Double Bay, Sydney.[3]
Personal life
editBell was married to Jason Redlich from 1996 to 1998.[4] They have one son. Following the end of her marriage, Bell suffered from body dysmorphic disorder and depression.[5] In 2000, Bell married Gary Dickinson. They had three children and lived on the Gold Coast. In November 2015, Dickinson, then 57, suffered a heart attack which left him in a coma.[6] Dickinson died on 13 February 2016.[7] In 2020, Bell became engaged to Grant Thompson,[8] and the couple married in 2022, with Bell wearing the dress her Neighbours character wore in her on-screen wedding.[9]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Venus Factory | Emily DuBois | Film |
| 2012 | Housos vs. Authority | Model | Film |
| 2018 | Occupation | Mrs. Kyle | Film |
| 2021 | The Possessed | Helen | Film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Rafferty's Rules | Angela Griffin | Episode: "The Beast" |
| 1990–91 | E Street | Janine | Guest role |
| 1991–1993, 1995, 2005, 2013–2016, 2020–2024 | Neighbours | Lucy Robinson | Main/Guest cast - 235 episodes |
| 1992–93 | E Street | Bonnie Tait | Main cast |
| 1993–94 | Paradise Beach | Emily Harris | Main cast |
| 1994 | G.P. | Rachel Weller | Episode: "Breakfast with Gazza" |
| 1996 | Home & Away | Suzie Hudson | Guest role |
| 1998 | Water Rats | Lisa Hubbard | Episode: "Untouchable" |
References
edit- ^ Mercado, Andrew (2004). Super Aussie Soaps: Behind the Scenes of Australia's Best Loved TV Shows. Australia: Pluto Press. p. 297. ISBN 1-86403-191-3.
- ^ Celebrity Overhaul: Melissa Bell, Nine Network.
- ^ Wing's eye on Bell's view, The Daily Telegraph, 7 August 2007.
- ^ Dowdney, Mark (31 January 1997). "Husband tried to kill me claims Oz soap queen Melissa; Punched: He struck as I cradled our four-week-old son". Daily Record. Retrieved 7 November 2022 – via The Free Library.
- ^ "Melissa Bell admits she suffered body dysmorphia leading to thousands of dollars of plastic surgery". The Daily Telegraph. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ Koch, Phillip (8 December 2015). "Neighbours star Melissa Bell's brave battle to save her husband's life". Woman's Day. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ "Neighbours star Melissa Bell reveals heartbreak after husband Gary Dickinson battled for life". 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ Burrell, Zoe (9 August 2021). "Neighbours star Melissa Bell's wedding joy: 'How I found happiness again'". New Idea. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ Julians, Joe (7 November 2022). "Former Neighbours star Melissa Bell ties the knot in dress she wore on the soap". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
External links
edit- Melissa Bell at IMDb
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