Melanie Hill has been on our screens for 40 years and has lived all over the UK for work – but now the Casualty actress is settled in Cardiff.
Melanie Hill dismisses rumours that she’s set to quit Casualty (Image: WireImage)
Casualty actress Melanie Hill relocated to Cardiff last year to be closer to the show’s studios, after previously moving from London to Manchester for her role in Coronation Street. Rather than finding the moves stressful, she and her husband enjoy the opportunity to discover new parts of the country.
“I’ve worked all over and I’ve learnt that you can either get miserable about it and think, ‘Oh, this isn’t where I live,’ or you can embrace it,” she shares.
With her children having left home one residing in Australia and the other in Portsmouth she and her husband now have the freedom to move as they please. “My kids have flown the nest one’s in Australia and one’s in Portsmouth so we’ve not really got any ties now we’re footloose and fancy free. I’m not that keen on commuting, so it’s a bit of a pattern and me and my husband now really make the most of where I’m working.”
Melanie adds: “We go everywhere together we were going to move to Glasgow when I did Waterloo Road and we moved to Manchester when I was in Coronation Street. We try to find the best in wherever we end up and actually we’ve decided we really love it in Cardiff, so we might stay permanently.
“My husband was a writer, but he’s retired now. He’s very good at pottering, so every time we move there’s a new place to potter,” reports the Mirror.
Despite her husband’s fondness for pottering, Melanie herself doesn’t have much time for it, having taken on the role of Casualty’s straight-talking clinical nurse manager Siobhan McKenzie earlier this year. “As long as my brain keeps going, I’m quite happy to carry on working. I love it and I love the routine,” she admits.
Melanie Hill joined Casualty earlier this year (Image: www.stuartprice.co.uk)
“I get a bit lost at Christmas when you’ve got time off. I prefer to have structure.” Melanie is content with her life, despite admitting to feeling nervous during auditions. Away from work, she finds solace in mindfulness and the healing power of nature.
“I started around the time I left Corrie,” she reveals. “I practice mindfulness, grounding and I hug trees. I do it every day. It might sound a bit hippy, but I feel so much better when I’m outside in nature and if I can’t get out every day, I get depressed.[Mindfulness] is all about living in the moment.”
Melanie elaborates: “And when you actually do that and stop worrying about what’s gone before and what’s to come, then you take pleasure out of the little tasks that you do during the day and then you enjoy your day.
“I’ve always been a worrier and I wish I’d known this when I was younger. But when you’ve got kids, you’re making sure they’re alright, so you haven’t really got time to work on yourself much because you’re thinking about them more.”
This year marks Melanie’s 40th year in television. Born and raised in Sunderland, she launched her TV career at the tender age of 22 in the police drama series Juliet Bravo. Her role as Siobhan in Casualty is actually her 53rd. Over the years, she has played a variety of memorable characters, including Aveline Boswell in Bread, Maggie Budgen in Waterloo Road, Cathy Matthews in Coronation Street and Sandra in the popular 1996 film Brassed Off.
Melanie Hill, known for her roles in various popular shows, recently shared an amusing encounter where she was recognised from her role in ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Pet’, a show that aired 40 years ago. Currently starring in BBC One’s medical drama ‘Casualty’, Melanie finds her character Siobhan relatable. “Siobhan is like a mother hen,” she says. “She’s very dedicated to her job and very caring. She has a family who have grown up and moved away.
“She doesn’t take any nonsense from people and she’s got failings. It appealed to me because she’s very much like myself in a lot of ways.”
The acclaimed medical drama continues to thrive, recently winning against Emmerdale and EastEnders at the Bafta TV awards. While her fellow cast members celebrated on stage, Melanie chose to enjoy the victory from the comfort of her home in Cardiff. “I was so happy that we won. Since I’ve joined, I’ve realised what an amazing place it is to work, so it was great news.
Melanie Hill on Casualty (Image: BBC)
“But I didn’t go to the awards ceremony. I leave that to the youngsters,” she says. “I’d rather watch it on the telly that’s my favourite way with a cup of tea and a curry. It’s lovely cheering from the sides.
“To be honest I haven’t ever really enjoyed that side of it the red carpet and the photographers. I get tongue-tied and nervous and think I might say the wrong thing,” she admits.
Despite not being a fan of the glitz and glamour, Melanie has had an impressive acting career, sharing screen time with some of the industry’s biggest names. She starred in the 2007 film Stardust alongside Robert De Niro, Peter O’Toole and Michelle Pfeiffer.
In 2014, she played Sheridan Smith’s mother in the TV miniseries Cilla and in 1994 she appeared in the British movie Shopping as Jude Law’s mother.
Melanie remains grounded despite her success, openly discussing both the highs and lows of her career. One such low was when she declined the opportunity to audition for The Office.
“I made the most massive cock-up ever,” she confesses, laughing. “My agent asked if I’d like to go and be seen for a new project. They said it was set in an office and was improvised and featured Ricky Gervais. “I said, ‘Oh, it sounds boring actually.
“‘I don’t want to go for it.’ Can you believe that? I’m not saying I would have got it, but I didn’t even go for it.”
Melanie is currently content with her role in Casualty. She said: “I’m happy to be part of a team again,” and added, “I like seeing everyone every morning and the comfort of knowing I’ve got regular work. When I was younger, I enjoyed the feeling of ‘what’s next?’ and meeting new people, but as I’ve got older, I prefer the familiarity.”
She continued: “I did Waterloo Road for four years and then Corrie was seven years and hopefully Casualty will be for the next seven. I just take each day as it comes but I can’t see any reason to leave. I really enjoy it and feel very grateful.”