Melissa Bergland
Melissa Bergland | |
|---|---|
 Bergland at the 2011 Logie Awards | |
| Born | Adelaide, Australia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2010–present |
Melissa Bergland is an Australian actress best known for her role as Jenny Gross in the Seven Network drama Winners & Losers.
Early life
Bergland was born in Adelaide and she attended Pembroke School.[1][2] Her father died of cancer when she was 14.[2] Bergland then attended Flinders University, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama.[3] Bergland then went to the Victorian College of the Arts and she spent six months studying acting in New York.[3] Bergland is also a singer and possesses a mezzo-soprano vocal range.[1]
Career
Bergland created and toured a cabaret show called Blue Eyed Soul at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.[4] Bergland was in the final stages of auditions for a production of Hairspray when she was asked to audition for the role of Jenny Gross in Bevan Lee's new drama Winners & Losers.[5] Bergland wore her own glasses and sported her "signature" red hair, which the producers loved and decided to keep for the character.[6] Bergland made her television acting debut as Jenny.[1]
After wrapping the third series of Winners & Losers, Bergland flew to Los Angeles in August and signed with Untitled Management.[7] Two weeks later she was cast as the lead in Relative Happiness, an independent Canadian film based on the eponymous novel by Lesley Crewe.[7] Bergland stars as Lexie Ivy, a bed and breakfast owner, who is looking for love.[8] After filming on Relative Happiness wrapped, Bergland returned to Australia to continue working on Winners & Losers.[7] Bergland appears in the 2016 romantic comedy film Spin Out, alongside Xavier Samuel and Morgan Griffin.[9]
In 2019, Bergland appeared in the fourth episode of the Hulu anthology horror series Into the Dark.[10] In 2024, she starred in Robert Lang's mockumentary film Mind, Body & Soul.[11]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer was Here | Joanne Debs | |
| 2011–2016 | Winners & Losers | Jenny Gross | Main cast |
| 2012 | 10 Terrorists | Car Hijack Victim | |
| 2014 | Relative Happiness | Lexie Ivy | |
| 2016 | Spin Out | Mary | |
| 2019 | Into the Dark | Chloe | Episode: "New Year, New You" |
| 2024 | Mind Body & Soul | Mimi Wilde | |
| 2024 | Matlock | Rosie Martin | Episode: "No, No Monsters" |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Logie Awards[12][13] | Most Popular New Female Talent | Won |
| Most Outstanding New Talent | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b c "Melissa Bergland". Yahoo!7. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ a b Haddow, Nicole (19 June 2012). "Melissa Bergland: Eyes on the prize". The Weekly Review City. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ a b Coetsee, Alexa (21 March 2011). "Winners and Losers star Melissa Bergland lands on her feet". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ "Melissa Bergland and Melanie Vallejo are really great pals". The Advertiser. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ Finney, Sarah (28 April 2011). "AFI Quick Quiz: Melissa Bergland". Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ "Melissa's style is a winner". The Advertiser. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ a b c Kit, Borys (16 October 2013). "Australian Newcomer Books Lead in Indie 'Relative Happiness' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ Devlyn, Darren (15 June 2014). "Melissa Bergland of Winners & Losers reveals her unwitting friendship with a white supremacist". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ Johnson, Neala (1 July 2016). "First trailer for Aussie rom-com Spin Out: fast utes, bare bums and beer". Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Kohn, Eric (7 December 2018). "Blumhouse Finally Hires a Woman Director: Sophia Takal's All-Female Horror Movie". IndieWire. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (25 March 2024). "Robert Lang's Devilish Mockumentary 'Mind, Body & Soul' Lands Indican Films Deal; Watch The Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ Byrnes, Holly (18 March 2012). "Karl Stefanovic nominated to win back-to-back Gold Logies as Australian television awards announced". Herald Sun. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ Bodey, Michael (16 April 2012). "Hamish Blake networks his way to Gold Logie glory". The Australian. Retrieved 12 May 2012.