Melissa Tkautz Biography
Melissa has amassed a body of work that may surprise many whom only recognise her from her high profile television and early music performances. Fondly remembered from her massively popular character on E Street and her early pop career, many are surprised to learn that she has appeared in many of Australia's most popular TV dramas, including Home & Away, Medivac and All Saints. She also over the course of a 3 year period appeared in various productions of the Vagina Monologues.
By the time she was 3, Melissa had over 160 TV commercials under her belt, and as a teenager made the natural progression to television drama, taking on roles in Richmond Hill and Home and Away, as well as the acclaimed mini-series The Girl From Tomorrow. After graduating from the Academy of Dramatic and Social Arts in 1991, Melissa took on a starring role in E Street, becoming a household name overnight with her appealing performance as Nikki Spencer for 3 years.
With her newfound success on E Street, she surprised the nation by signing a record contract, with her then character on E Street singing in a dream sequence!
Her debut single Read My Lips shot to number 1 on the charts and attained platinum sales in a matter of weeks. Her second hit single Sexy Is The Word reached gold sales, and Melissa received accolades including 2 ARIA Awards for Most Popular New Talent and Most Popular Music Video. Touring heavily throughout 1992, Melissa had by this time had become a national phenomenon, gracing the covers of virtually every newsstand magazine known including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, TV Week, Smash Hits, Dolly and TV Hits, in which she was voted the Hottest Woman On Earth.
Melissa returned to television screens in 1993 with roles in Paradise Beach and Echo Point, then in 1996 portrayed the groundbreaking - certainly by television standards in '96 - character of Bethany, a model who comes to terms with HIV in the cult series Pacific Drive. It was perhaps this role that opened many eyes to Melissa's acting - with her portrayal of a character that required an amazing amount of sensitivity and bravery. Pacific Drive became a huge hit in Japan and many European territories, with it's quirky mix of camp, humour and drama.
"The role of Bethany was such an extraordinary opportunity. I believe that my character was the first, definitely for Australian TV, to portray someone living with HIV in a positive light. The feedback from fans and the HIV community was that we definitely helped to break down barriers and help to educate people. And that is the ultimate reward I could have hoped for".
In the same year, Melissa appeared in various magazines including Black And White, and featured on the cover of both Australian Playboy and the premiere issue of Ralph. She continued to appear in magazines such as Australian Swimsuit and FHM before taking on her first feature role in the motion picture Game Room which was completed in 1998.
In 1999, Melissa was flown to Barbados by FHM UK for a photo shoot, and in that same year featured in the Australian FHM calendar as well as performing cover girl duties for the second anniversary issue of Ralph.
Recent acting roles included guest spots on cult American show Beast Master, and most recently, a recurring guest role in the Channel Seven drama All Saints. Melissa also recently filmed an entry for next years Tropfest.
So back to music. Earlier this year she made a guest appearance by invitation to perform at world famous ARQ Nightclub in Sydney for the very popular Retroseuxal night - an evening of 80's and 90's classic music, and performed Read My Lips and Sexy Is The Word. Receiving an enthusiastic and encouraging response by both long term fans and a new generation witnessing her perform for the first time, the reaction prompted her to come to the decision to reignite her music career.
Her comeback single, a sassy cover of the Sheila E 80's classic The Glamorous Life, received instant club support and has become a firm favourite in clubs across the country. With solid mainstream radio exposure and clip support, The Glamorous Life debuted at #30 on the ARIA singles chart.
Her long awaited new album, entitled Lost & Found, finds Melissa collaborate with some of Australia's most successful producers and writers. In fact, 6 of the 10 tracks on the album were co-written by Melissa; the majority with renown writer/producer Paul Whilstire - fresh off working with the Backstreet Boys among others.
With so much already accomplished at such a young age, Melissa is philosophical in her approach to her new music.
"With my earlier music I didn't have a chance to grow and explore who I was in terms of a singer. This time around I promised myself that I'd have more creative control and really deliver an end result that I was proud of and that I felt was more personal. And I really am proud because I feel as though I've achieved that".
Melissa performed at the Annual Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day in February 2008. Her set included 4 songs including: "Easily Affected", "True Love" (From Melissa's Lost & Found Album) "Read My Lips" (Neon Stereo Remix) as well as Melissa's new single "I Want Your Love".
Melissa also preformed at Brisbane's BIG GAY DAY held at the Wickham Hotel in Fortitude Valley on March 9. She performed 'The Glamorous Life', 'Read My Lips' and 'I Want Your Love'.
With scheduled releases in Europe and South Africa, Melissa's return to music looks more than promising. In a day and age when fame comes and goes as quickly as it's achieved, it's a true testament to Melissa Tkautz that 15 years later she continues to push her boundaries and has endured as one of the countries most successful entertainers.
