Melissa Bell (actor)

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 (1972-11-07) 7 November 1972
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

      Career

      Acting

      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

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

      Personal life

      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
      Year Title Role Notes
      1988 Rafferty's Rules Angela Griffin Episode: "The Beast"
      1990–1991 E Street Janine Guest role
      1991–1993, 1995
      2005, 2013–2016,
      2020–2023      		 Neighbours Lucy Robinson Main cast
      1992–1993 E Street Bonnie Tait Main cast
      1993–1994 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"
      1998 The Venus Factory Emily DuBois Film
      2012 Housos vs. Authority Model Film
      2018 Occupation Mrs. Kyle Film
      2021 The Possessed Helen Film


      References
      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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