Before landing your role on Neighbours, what sort of acting work had you done?
I had started acting very young, I was involved with Cheltenham Light Opera Company at 5 years old, progressed to St Martins Youth Arts Centre in South Yarra by the age of 12 and did my first Professional show with them at The Nimrod Theatre (now The Bouverie St Theatre) in Sydney when I was 16. So I continued to work in the theatre with shows at the Adelaide Festival etc., my first TV appearance was18 as a young pregnant girl in "Just Friends" part of the "Winners" Series on the ABC. I also did a tele movie called "Handle With Care" Directed by Paul Cox for Channel 10 before appearing on Neighbours and had a very short stint in Prisoner as well.
What inspired you to pursue acting?
As you can tell from the early beginnings, I wanted to perform as a child, loved singing and dancing as well, and have always loved to make people laugh... I dunno I s’pose it’s a calling by the time I had got my first moment on stage I was hooked..
What do you remember about your Neighbours audition?
Not a lot... It was in Richmond at the Grundy’s studios... And I had auditioned a couple of times before for them for other roles and not got them...They didn’t have much dialogue for me but wanted me to do a laugh that was a cross between a seal barking and a donkey braying!!
I had started acting very young, I was involved with Cheltenham Light Opera Company at 5 years old, progressed to St Martins Youth Arts Centre in South Yarra by the age of 12 and did my first Professional show with them at The Nimrod Theatre (now The Bouverie St Theatre) in Sydney when I was 16. So I continued to work in the theatre with shows at the Adelaide Festival etc., my first TV appearance was18 as a young pregnant girl in "Just Friends" part of the "Winners" Series on the ABC. I also did a tele movie called "Handle With Care" Directed by Paul Cox for Channel 10 before appearing on Neighbours and had a very short stint in Prisoner as well.
What inspired you to pursue acting?
As you can tell from the early beginnings, I wanted to perform as a child, loved singing and dancing as well, and have always loved to make people laugh... I dunno I s’pose it’s a calling by the time I had got my first moment on stage I was hooked..
What do you remember about your Neighbours audition?
Not a lot... It was in Richmond at the Grundy’s studios... And I had auditioned a couple of times before for them for other roles and not got them...They didn’t have much dialogue for me but wanted me to do a laugh that was a cross between a seal barking and a donkey braying!!
You initially joined the show in 1987 as Henry Ramsay’s girlfriend, Melanie Pearson. What was it like being on the show at that time?
Great fun, there was a real vibe and a buzz around the show, it had just become really popular in the UK and the cast were starting to set their sights on a career over there as well as here. I was also good friends with Fiona Corke who was already there and she and Annie Jones made me feel welcome so it was loads of fun.
Your first episode, which coincided with Jamie Clarke’s birth, had you working opposite four of the biggest stars and characters on the show – Charlene (Kylie), Scott (Jason), Madge (Anne) and Henry (Craig). What do you remember about this first episode?
Gosh I remember them all cacking themselves when I did the silly laugh for the first time... I'm still great friends with Anne Charleston and when I lived in the UK would catch up with her when i could and Ian Smith was a delight to work with as well, I remember everyone being really welcoming and nice. Melanie was just really a silly laugh in those first episodes... I'm really glad she developed into so much more.
You officially joined the cast as a regular in 1989, what was it like going from a guest character to a regular character?
I did another soap in between Neighbours bits call "The Power, The Passion" it was Australia’s first daytime soap... and it was pretty dreadful, when it finished up (it only lasted a year) the Neighbours team got in touch and asked if I'd like to come back fulltime, I remember being so happy to play Melanie again... The cast were pleased to have me back and it was great fun on the set back with the old crew!!
Are there any similarities between you and Melanie?
Well I s’pose we used to look similar!! I hope I'm kind hearted and funny like Melanie, but i also hope I'm a little more tactful and not quite as annoying!!
Melanie became well-known for her infamous laugh, how did that come about?
As I said earlier...she was really just a crazy girl with a crazy laugh initially. It was in the script... so as an actor you just do what the script says... I had no idea it would have the impact it had.
Great fun, there was a real vibe and a buzz around the show, it had just become really popular in the UK and the cast were starting to set their sights on a career over there as well as here. I was also good friends with Fiona Corke who was already there and she and Annie Jones made me feel welcome so it was loads of fun.
Your first episode, which coincided with Jamie Clarke’s birth, had you working opposite four of the biggest stars and characters on the show – Charlene (Kylie), Scott (Jason), Madge (Anne) and Henry (Craig). What do you remember about this first episode?
Gosh I remember them all cacking themselves when I did the silly laugh for the first time... I'm still great friends with Anne Charleston and when I lived in the UK would catch up with her when i could and Ian Smith was a delight to work with as well, I remember everyone being really welcoming and nice. Melanie was just really a silly laugh in those first episodes... I'm really glad she developed into so much more.
You officially joined the cast as a regular in 1989, what was it like going from a guest character to a regular character?
I did another soap in between Neighbours bits call "The Power, The Passion" it was Australia’s first daytime soap... and it was pretty dreadful, when it finished up (it only lasted a year) the Neighbours team got in touch and asked if I'd like to come back fulltime, I remember being so happy to play Melanie again... The cast were pleased to have me back and it was great fun on the set back with the old crew!!
Are there any similarities between you and Melanie?
Well I s’pose we used to look similar!! I hope I'm kind hearted and funny like Melanie, but i also hope I'm a little more tactful and not quite as annoying!!
Melanie became well-known for her infamous laugh, how did that come about?
As I said earlier...she was really just a crazy girl with a crazy laugh initially. It was in the script... so as an actor you just do what the script says... I had no idea it would have the impact it had.
You have been one of the lucky few to be a Neighbours bride. What did you think of your wedding episode?
Wedding episodes are always quite chaotic to shoot, but mine and Joes went smoothly... My best friend Antony Fletcher played the Reverend Richards who was Melanie's love interest for a while and they brought him back for the wedding episodes, which was a lovely treat, and Jo and Mel just had a daggy backyard reception which seemed fitting... I do remember a particularly garish going away outfit too!
What was it like working with Mark Little, who played your eventual husband Joe Mangel?
Mark was always great to work with, really funny. I think we sparked off each other well which gave the characters lots of chemistry.
Is there anyone else that you particularly enjoyed working with?
I loved working with the older actors, you could learn so much from them, The Anne's both Haddy and Charleston were accomplished professionals who were generous and hilarious, Ian Smith was a master of comedy timing, Freddie Parslow was in for a while he was adorable. Alan Dale and Stefan Dennis were both fabulous to work with. Ashley Paske, Beth Buchanon, Jeremy Angerson, Richard Norton, talented younger actors. Guy Pearce, Fiona Corke, Annie Jones all still great friends of mine and all incredibly talented.
Were there any scenes or stories that you particularly enjoyed, or disliked, filming?
I loved the early crazy days of Melanie, the bad singing, the cake making competitions, the tap dancing classes.
What led to your decision to leave the series in 1991? Where you happy with Melanie’s exit?
I decided to leave pretty much because Mark (Little) had... I didn’t want Melanie to mope around crying for months because he'd left her... And I had been in the show on and off for 3 years by then and wanted to travel over to the UK to see what was on offer there.... I thought it was great that Jo and Mel married and went off to the UK, but I always thought it was a bit weird that they left Toby behind....?
Off-screen, Joe and Melanie unfortunately divorced. What did you think of this?
Yes I heard from Mark that they'd split... Ah well... you can never tell. Seems like he turned out to be a wrongen...?!
Wedding episodes are always quite chaotic to shoot, but mine and Joes went smoothly... My best friend Antony Fletcher played the Reverend Richards who was Melanie's love interest for a while and they brought him back for the wedding episodes, which was a lovely treat, and Jo and Mel just had a daggy backyard reception which seemed fitting... I do remember a particularly garish going away outfit too!
What was it like working with Mark Little, who played your eventual husband Joe Mangel?
Mark was always great to work with, really funny. I think we sparked off each other well which gave the characters lots of chemistry.
Is there anyone else that you particularly enjoyed working with?
I loved working with the older actors, you could learn so much from them, The Anne's both Haddy and Charleston were accomplished professionals who were generous and hilarious, Ian Smith was a master of comedy timing, Freddie Parslow was in for a while he was adorable. Alan Dale and Stefan Dennis were both fabulous to work with. Ashley Paske, Beth Buchanon, Jeremy Angerson, Richard Norton, talented younger actors. Guy Pearce, Fiona Corke, Annie Jones all still great friends of mine and all incredibly talented.
Were there any scenes or stories that you particularly enjoyed, or disliked, filming?
I loved the early crazy days of Melanie, the bad singing, the cake making competitions, the tap dancing classes.
What led to your decision to leave the series in 1991? Where you happy with Melanie’s exit?
I decided to leave pretty much because Mark (Little) had... I didn’t want Melanie to mope around crying for months because he'd left her... And I had been in the show on and off for 3 years by then and wanted to travel over to the UK to see what was on offer there.... I thought it was great that Jo and Mel married and went off to the UK, but I always thought it was a bit weird that they left Toby behind....?
Off-screen, Joe and Melanie unfortunately divorced. What did you think of this?
Yes I heard from Mark that they'd split... Ah well... you can never tell. Seems like he turned out to be a wrongen...?!
In 2005, when Neighbours celebrated it’s 20th anniversary, Melanie returned in the form of Annalise’s documentary. How did this return come about?
I was in the UK at the time, think they were filming lots of inserts from actors in other places, s’pose I was just one of many, but the usual approach from someone from Grundy’s to my agent, I was delighted to be included.
What was it like filming your segment for the documentary?
Was weird to wonder who Melanie would be now... think my segment was walking along the Thames, it was raining as i remember and it didn’t take long...
You left Neighbours 23 years ago. What have you done since moving away from Ramsay Street?
Too much to write!! Some things include:
With the 30th anniversary next year, is there a chance we will see Melanie pop up on our screens again to celebrate the milestone?
Perhaps.....?
Were you a fan before joining the show and do you tune-in these days?
I was never really a fan of the show before I was on it, but there was a period of time when I was in the UK when I used to tune in.. Seemed to help with the homesickness... haven’t seen it for a while though... Glad Stef is still in it!
Finally, for a show that nearly didn’t make its first anniversary, it’s amazing to see it approach 7000 episodes and a 30th anniversary. What do you think is the secret of the ongoing success of Neighbours?
I think its success has always been its sunny disposition.. Particularly on the overseas market, the easy charm of its characters, and the daily factor which makes it part of peoples families...
I was in the UK at the time, think they were filming lots of inserts from actors in other places, s’pose I was just one of many, but the usual approach from someone from Grundy’s to my agent, I was delighted to be included.
What was it like filming your segment for the documentary?
Was weird to wonder who Melanie would be now... think my segment was walking along the Thames, it was raining as i remember and it didn’t take long...
You left Neighbours 23 years ago. What have you done since moving away from Ramsay Street?
Too much to write!! Some things include:
- 1997 – Melissa in the stage production Dead White Males
- 2000 – Kylie in This Is ‘Pop
- 2005 – Voiced Victoria in Kangaroo; Cecily in the stage production The Importance of Being Ernest Incisor
- 2006 - Thea Elvestead in the stage production The Man of the Future is Dead and Mrs Bradman in Blythe Spirit; played Marion in Basil Brush; voiced Simone in Our Father Who Art in A Tree, and Mitzy, Alice and Lolly in The Koala Brothers
- 2007 – Voiced Lou in Consuming Desires and various parts in We Have To Talk About Kevin; played Clare O’Grady in Doctors; Altisidora in the stage production Don Quinxote and Mrs Elvestead in Hedda Gabler
- 2012 – Amanda in the feature film Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla
With the 30th anniversary next year, is there a chance we will see Melanie pop up on our screens again to celebrate the milestone?
Perhaps.....?
Were you a fan before joining the show and do you tune-in these days?
I was never really a fan of the show before I was on it, but there was a period of time when I was in the UK when I used to tune in.. Seemed to help with the homesickness... haven’t seen it for a while though... Glad Stef is still in it!
Finally, for a show that nearly didn’t make its first anniversary, it’s amazing to see it approach 7000 episodes and a 30th anniversary. What do you think is the secret of the ongoing success of Neighbours?
I think its success has always been its sunny disposition.. Particularly on the overseas market, the easy charm of its characters, and the daily factor which makes it part of peoples families...
Interviewed August 2014