Melissa Bell (actor)

Melissa Bell
Born (1972-11-07) 7 November 1972 (age 52)
Sydney, Australia
Occupation(s)Actress, fashion designer
Years active1988–present
Known for
Spouses
Jason Redlich
(m. 1996; div. 1998)
Gary Dickinson
(m. 2000; died 2016)
Grant Thompson
(m. 2022)
Children4

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.

Career

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Acting

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Bell 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

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Bell later become a fashion designer, selling kaftans and party wear from a boutique in Double Bay, Sydney.[3]

Personal life

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Bell 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

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Film

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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

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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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Celebrity Overhaul: Melissa Bell, Nine Network.
  3. ^ Wing's eye on Bell's view, The Daily Telegraph, 7 August 2007.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Neighbours star Melissa Bell reveals heartbreak after husband Gary Dickinson battled for life". 21 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  8. ^ Burrell, Zoe (9 August 2021). "Neighbours star Melissa Bell's wedding joy: 'How I found happiness again'". New Idea. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  9. ^ 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.
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