Esme Melville

Esme Melville (born Esme Grace Mount-Melville, 23 July 1918 – 14 September 2006) was an Australian theatre, television and film actress. At the Tropfest awards for 2003 she won Best Actor – Female for her role of Granma in the short film, Forbidden. At the 2007 Australian Film Institute Awards she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Miss Collard in Romulus, My Father.

Her theatre roles included Mrs. Bedwin in Oliver! (1961–62, 1966–67). Melville had four separate ongoing roles on television soap opera, Neighbours, including as Rose Belker during 2006.

Biography

Esme Melville was born as Esme Grace Mount-Melville on 23 July 1918 and grew up in Norwood. Her mother was Margaret Mount-Melville.

On 11 May 1944 Melville enrolled into the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service as a transport driver and was honourably discharged on 13 September 1946 from Victoria Barracks in Melbourne. She remained in that city and from 1956 worked at St Martins Theatre for eight years.

Television roles

Her television credits of the 1970s included various guest roles in the Crawford Productions police dramas Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police and Bluey. Other appearances included guest roles in Crawford's adventure series Ryan (1973), and in the miniseries Power Without Glory (1976). At the 2007 Australian Film Institute Awards, she was nominated for "Best Supporting Actress" for her role of Miss Collard in Romulus, My Father. She worked in student films, independent short films, did voice-overs and appeared in TV ads. Spotswood 1992 Rose Duplex 1993 Elsie Say a Little Prayer 1993 Song Mimer 1993 Lady on Stairs Angel Baby 1995 Elderly Patient Clippings 1995 Falling 1995 Park Street 1995 Dead End 1999 Boarding House Woman Siam Sunset 1999 Dot A Telephone Call for Genevieve Snow 2000 Madame Bare 2000 Cast member Romulus, My Father 2007 Miss Collard Unbulleted list|Nominated – Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role 1986 Grace in "To the Rescue" Neighbours 1986, 1993, 2002, 2006 Annabelle York, Jean Halliday, Moina Beresford, Rose Belker First ongoing role(s) 1987 Old Lady in Series Two Sugar and Spice 1988 Mrs Watson Pugwall, Pugwall Summer 1989, 1991 Mary, Clara Phoenix 1992 Mrs. Butler in "A Bunch of Big Girls" Round the Twist 1993 Mrs. Gribble, senior in "Pink Bow Tie" 1994 Old Woman Wedlocked 1994 unnamed in "Dating Game" Blue Heelers 1994, 1998, 2001, 2003 Maude Keane in "Day in Court", "Damage Control"; Grace Burrell in "Stars in Their Eyes"; Amelia Dodds in "A Bit on the Side"; Elsie Wright in "A Blind Eye" Fast Forward Presents Full Frontal, Full Frontal 1995–96 additional cast Banjo Paterson's The Man from Snowy River 1996 Bobbe Berkovich Mercury 1996 Mrs. Keen Driven Crazy 1998 Mrs. Trapp Introducing Gary Petty 2000 Victim of Jude's Poetry in "The Flight Attendant Who Did Me Wrong" Stingers 2000 Old Lady SeaChange 2000 Ruby Eugénie Sandler P.I. 2000 Scottish Lady 2001 Elderly Woman in "Better the Devil You Know" Bootleg 2002 Old Lady Short Cuts 2002 Mrs. Green in "Money or the Box", "My Funny Valentine", "Grass Is Greener" After the Deluge 2003 Edith Legacy of the Silver Shadow 2003 Older Woman Real Stories 2006 Gran on "Episode 2" Theatre TitleYearRole(s)Notes 1939 unnamed Theatre debut 1956–1963 St Martins TheatreOliver! 1961–62, 1966–67 Mrs. Bedwin Musical based on Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Little Women 1964 Musical based on Little Women and Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott 1969 Mrs. Grey Comedy 1972 Comedy, drama Rumpelstiltskin 1974 Aunty Flora Dora Based on folk tales about Rumpelstiltskin as collected by Brothers Grimm Morning Sacrifice 1989 Drama by Dymphna Cusack Gilmore: A Portrait 1992 Biographical drama of Mary Gilmore by Eric ColladettiSerendipity 1993 DramaWaiting for Marlene 2000 JessicaReview by Colin Donald, "The standout aspect of this play is the well-versed performance of Esme Melville as Jessica". 2003 DramaSpell 2005 Drama Credits: