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Melanie Hill
Born
Melanie Jane Hill

Alma mater Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation Actress
Years active 1984–present
Known for
Spouse(s)
  • (m. 1990; div. 1997)
  • Jimmy Daly
    (m. 2017)
Children 2

Melanie Jane Hill is a British actress. She is famous for her roles in many popular TV shows. These include Hazel Redfern in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Aveline in Bread. She also played Rita Dolan in Playing the Field and Maggie Budgen in Waterloo Road. More recently, she was Julie Travers in The Syndicate, Cathy Matthews in Coronation Street, and Siobhan McKenzie in Casualty.

Melanie Hill's Acting Journey

Early Life and Training

Melanie Hill grew up in Sunderland, England. She went to Monkwearmouth School there. Later, she studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. This is a very famous acting school. She even won a special award called the Vanbrugh award.

Starting Her TV Career

Melanie began her acting career in the 1980s. She took over the role of Aveline in the TV show Bread. She also appeared in other well-known shows. These included The Bill, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, and Emmerdale.

Key Roles in Popular Dramas

In 2009, Melanie appeared in the medical drama Holby City. She played a character whose husband had died. She also had a role in the comedy show The Thick of It.

In 2011, she was in the comedy-drama Candy Cabs. She also appeared in the fantasy series Merlin. That same year, she played Cissie Charlton in the drama United. This film was about the 1958 Munich air disaster involving Manchester United football club.

School and Soap Opera Roles

From 2012 to 2015, Melanie played Maggie Budgen in the school drama Waterloo Road. She was a main character in the show.

In 2015, she joined the cast of Coronation Street. She played Cathy Matthews, a new friend for the character Roy Cropper. Fans really liked Roy's previous wife, Hayley. Melanie was a bit nervous about taking on this role. She stayed on Coronation Street until 2022.

Melanie also starred in the third series of The Syndicate in 2015.

Recent Work

In 2023, it was announced that Melanie would join another medical drama. She started playing Siobhan McKenzie in Casualty in February 2024. She is a clinical nurse manager in the show.

Film Appearances

Melanie has also acted in several movies. She played Sandra in Brassed Off (1996). She was also the witch Ditchwater Sal in the fantasy film Stardust (2007).

Melanie Hill's Life Outside Acting

Family and Background

Melanie Hill was born in Brighton. However, she grew up in Sunderland, which is her mother's hometown.

She married actor Sean Bean in 1990. They had two daughters together: Lorna and Molly. They later divorced in 1997.

Interests and Second Marriage

Melanie is a big fan of the football team Sunderland A.F.C..

In 2017, she married writer and producer Jimmy Daly. Their wedding took place at a pub in London.

Filmography

Film Roles

Year Title Role
1993 The Hawk Norma
1994 Shopping Sarah
1996 When Saturday Comes Mary Muir
Brassed Off Sandra
2001 From Hell Ann Crook's Mother
2007 Stardust Ditchwater Sal
2011 United Cissie Charlton
2012 Unconditional Mum
Twenty8k Elizabeth Fitch
2022 Passing Ships Narrator (Epilogue)

Television Roles

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Juliet Bravo Jean Simpson 2 episodes
1986 Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Hazel Redfern 6 episodes
1989 ScreenPlay Pauline Episode: "A Night on the Tyne"
Boon Susan Episode: "The Relief of Matty King"
The Bill Polly Beacher Episode: "The Mugging and the Gypsies"
1989–1991 Bread Aveline Boswell Series regular; 35 episodes
1992 Spender Sue Styles Episode: "Fee"
1993 Casualty Janice Hutchins Episode: "Wild Card"
The Bill Lynda Chambers Episode: "Living It Down"
1994 Cardiac Arrest Sister Pamela Lockley 6 episodes
Finney Lena Main role
Crocodile Shoes Emma Shepperd Main role
1995 Performance Laura Episode: "The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd"
Circles of Deceit Angie Norman Episode: "Dark Secret"
1996 Cruel Train Phyllis Pratt TV film
Crocodile Shoes II Emma Shepperd Main role
1998 The Broker's Man Tracey Smeeton Episode: "Playback"
1998–2002 Playing the Field Rita Dolan Series regular
1999 Silent Witness Liz Davies Episode: "Gone Tomorrow"
2000 Close and True Maureen Taylor Episode: "Hurry Up and Wait"
2001 Child in the Forest Mam TV film
Hot Money Liz Hoodless TV film
2001–2002 NCS: Manhunt DS Ruby Sparks Series regular
2003 The Bill Marie Carver Series regular
2005 The Afternoon Play Bonnie Reilly Episode: "The Singing Cactus"
The Fugitives Glenda Banks Main role
Emmerdale Avril Kent Recurring role, 11 episodes
The Brief Rennie Nicholson Episode: "Blame"
2007 Cape Wrath Brenda Ogilvie Main role
The Street Val Taylor 3 episodes
2008 White Girl Sonya TV film
2009 Holby City Kathy Hewitt 2 episodes
The Thick of It Julie Price 1 episode
2010 Joe Maddison's War Selina Rutherford TV film
2011 Candy Cabs Stella Main role
The Body Farm Nicole Henderson 1 episode
Merlin Mary Howden Episode: "Lamia"
2012–2015 Waterloo Road Maggie Budgen Main role
2013 Hebburn Christine 2 episodes
2014 Cilla Big Cilla Main role
2015–2022 Coronation Street Cathy Matthews Regular role
2015 The Syndicate Julie Travers Main role
After Hours Liz Matthews Episode: "Love Love Love"
2024–present Casualty Siobhan McKenzie Main role

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Melanie Hill para niños

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