Leonie Mellinger

Leonie Mellinger (born 24 June 1959) is a German-British actress, podcaster, author and communications skills coach.

Early life Mellinger was born in the British military hospital neighbouring Spandau Prison as her actor father was then working for Bertolt Brecht's theatre company ( the Berliner Ensemble). Her Jewish parents were childhood refugees from Nazi Germany; her grandfather was Werner Scholem, who was killed in Buchenwald.

In February 2025 it was reported that Starmer and Mellinger had a face to face coaching session at the Labour Party Headquarters in London on Christmas Eve 2020, in possible violation of COVID lockdown restrictions. This issue was raised in Prime Minister's Questions on 5 February 2025, with the Conservative Party demanding a police investigation.

In The Guardian of March 2, 2025, Mellinger stated that she had broken no lock-down rules and had been a key part of Starmer's wider communications team for several years but claimed she had been a victim of misogyny in parts of the press and on social media.

During Prime Minister's Questions on February 5, 2025, according to Hansard, Starmer stated that on the day in question he was 'working on the expected Brexit deal with my team. We had to analyse the deal as it came in at speed and prepare and deliver a live statement at speed'.

Personal life Mellinger married actor Robin Askwith in 1988, although they divorced in 1991. She then married Anthony Burton in 1996 and the couple had a daughter, Aurelie, born the same year.

Podcasts In 2023 Mellinger launched a new podcast series called 'The Courage to Speak'. In each episode she talks to a well known personality about their life and career and issues that have been very important to them to publicly speak about.

Series One Guests (2023) Jon Snow, Juliet Stevenson, David Gower, Dame Carol Black, Hugh Quarshie and Kathy Lette

Series Two Guests (2024) Gary Lineker, Dame Harriet Walter, Peter Tatchell, Lady Helena Kennedy, India Willoughby and Roger Allam

In February 2025 Mellinger and Neil Pearson co-hosted the first episode of the podcast series George Hall at 100 about the life and career of George Hall former Director of Acting at The Central School of Speech and Drama.

Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes1981 Memoirs of a Survivor Emily Mary Cartwright 1983 Ghost Dance Marianne 1984 Memed, My Hawk Hatche 1984 Summer Lightning Louise St.Leger 1985 Zina German Stenographer 1988 Young Toscanini Comparsa 1992 Hostage Mrs. Mason

Television