Melissa Dean
I'm an actress, producer and recently turned writer. I trained at The Oxford School of Drama, graduating in 2010 and am based in Manchester.
In my spare time you'll catch me discovering new music, hiking, learning to rock climb and possibly wild swimming!
I have bases in London and Ireland.
Latest News
September 2021
£15,000 ACE funding
In 2018, Melissa was cast to multi role 4 characters in stage play, Me You Us Them. It was a thrilling experience based on true stories of racism in Northern Ireland.
When George Floyd's murder sparked world wide conversations around racism, Melissa got chatting with Terra Nova's Artistic Director Andrea Montgomery, who wrote and directed the play, about a remount.
So many people in the UK, know nothing about the war and murders that took place in Northern Ireland, ending so recently in 1998. The racism in Northern Ireland has it's own complicated history, so being able to share these stories again, amidst Black Lives Matter is thrilling and essential.
Melissa identifies as Northern Irish and black so being able to tell these stories sits close to her.
June 2021
Reform Radio Take Over
"If racism is a forward moving escalator, we must walk swiftly in the other direction or we walk in the same direction as racism"
Melissa has been listening to a tonne of podcasts about being mixed race, identity and the important of anti racist work in an effort to be part of that change and as preparation for a 1 hour bi-monthly show on Reform Radio, coming soon. If you're looking for a place to start in your own anti racist journey, I would check out @sophiewilliamsofficial on instagram who offers some great ideas.
On her show, Melissa talks to artists across the board on issues within the arts such as gender equality, bullying and racism, looking for solutions, helping the next generation of artists have a foot up and hoping to create positive changes. A huge part of that journey has been soaking in important reading and podcasts. Melissa lists her must reads/listens below.
April 2020 @photography_zip
Stepping into writing
Taking the brave move to a new city, Manchester, during a pandemic at the of 2020, Melissa explores writing with the new feeling of isolation on her hands. She explores the effects of different relationships on her mental health in TV show format.
At the end of May, she will be exploring her experience of isolation and writing in photograph format with @photography_zip
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December 2021
Feature Film Lily
In 2019, Melissa had the exciting
opportunity to play a supporting lead in feature film Lily, Coming soon.
April 2021
Current Must Reads
Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race
by Reni Eddo - Lodge
Feminism, Interrupted
Disrupting Power
by Lola Olufemi
Love, Freedom, Aloneness
The Koan of a relationship
by Osho
January 14, 2017
INK Festival
INK’s mission is to give a voice to those rarely heard by inspiring, nurturing and developing skills to create short new plays.
"Ink have provided me with several opportunities over lockdown to record monologues and duologues, some of which have aired BBC Radio Suffolk. Others have been shared privately with the writers to help hone their craft. A fantastic company providing opportunities for artists".
Check out their work.
"Melissa lit up the set with her enthusiasm and inspired the whole cast and crew to do their best work, and immediately after the wrap I couldn't wait to work with her again."
Tommy Gillard, writer/director of Cut From Cloth
"Melissa brought a high level of commitment, professionalism and passion to the role, allied to a deep understanding of the character, and was a joy to work with. Her dedication and eternally positive outlook made the experience of working with her then, and since, a great experience, both creatively and personally."
James Meredith, writer
Work in the last year
What I'm up to...
Showreel 2020
Doctors 2019
Directed by Peter Fearnon
Commercial Reel 2019
Comedy Reel 2019
Shelter Campaign January 2019
Directed by Chris Fowles
Producer, Writer & Actress
- The M&M Sketches -
Dual Heritage Episode 6
Written by Melissa Dean
Produced by Melissa Dean & Maria Louis
When Sheila meets an acting agent,
she gets a little less than she bargained for.
Based on real events.
Tanning Episode 7
When people mistake mixed race for fake tan!
Based on real events.
Other work....
