Fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders
Soap opera character
Mel Owen
EastEnders character
Portrayed by
Tamzin Outhwaite
Duration
1998–2002, 2018–2019
First appearance
Episode 1683 19 October 1998 (1998-10-19)
Last appearance
Episode 6021 14 November 2019 (2019-11-14)
Classification
Former; regular
Introduced by
Matthew Robinson (1998) John Yorke (2018)
Book appearances
Steve Owen: Still Waters (2001)
Spin-off appearances
EastEnders: The Podcast (2018)
In-universe information
Other names
Mel Healy Mel Beale Melanie Jane Owen
Occupation
Shop assistant
Barmaid
Club manager
Caterer
Business consultant
Nightclub-owner
Businesswoman
Family
Beale
Father
Jeff Healy
Mother
Jane Healy
Brothers
Alex Healy
Sisters
Katie Healy
Husband
Ian Beale (1999–2000)
Steve Owen (2001–2002)
Ray Kelly (offscreen, void; 2019, void)
Sons
Hunter Owen
Stepsons
Steven Beale Peter Beale
Stepdaughters
Lucy Beale
Melanie "Mel" Owen (also Healy and Beale) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tamzin Outhwaite. Mel was introduced by executive producer Matthew Robinson and made her first appearance on 19 October 1998. Outhwaite made her departure on 12 April 2002. Outhwaite's return to the series was announced in October 2017 and she returned on 9 January 2018. The actress chose to leave the soap again in July 2019 and her final episode aired on 14 November 2019 when Mel was killed-off. Outhwaite proved popular in the role, winning multiple awards and critical acclaim for her portrayal of Mel as the character became prominent in the show.
During her original tenure in the soap, Mel was featured in high-profile storylines, such as a wedding to local businessman Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) to mark the Millennium Eve celebrations on New Year's Eve 1999; a problematic and dangerous marriage to criminal Steve Owen (Martin Kemp); a one-night stand with Steve's nemesis Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden); and a close friendship with Phil's estranged girlfriend Lisa Shaw (Lucy Benjamin). Writers also placed Mel at the centre of a storyline marking the show's increase to four weekly episodes in 2001, when she is kidnapped by her ex-lover Dan Sullivan (Craig Fairbrass) after Steve and Phil conspired to frame him for the latter's shooting (see Who Shot Phil?).
Throughout her time on the show, especially since her 2018 return, when Mel became more of a villain, she has become somewhat more "wicked" and has a harder edge, when compared to her early appearances. In her second stint on the show, Mel was included in storylines such as working for crime boss Ciara Maguire (Denise McCormack); colluding with Phil against Ciara's ex-husband Aidan (Patrick Bergin); a relationship with Phil's rival Jack Branning (Scott Maslen); an engagement and marriage with former policeman Ray Kelly (Sean Mahon); covering up Ray's murder after he was shot dead by her son Hunter (Charlie Winter) for attempting to kill her; and trying to stop Hunter from going to prison and later harboring him when he escapes, which culminates with Hunter being shot dead by the police after he held her hostage and nearly shot Phil and Lisa's daughter Louise (Tilly Keeper) after shooting her brother Ben (Max Bowden). Following Hunter's death, Mel developed a feud with Phil's wife Sharon (Letitia Dean) and blackmailed her after learning of her affair with Louise's boyfriend Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters). This concludes with Mel being involved in a high-speed car chase with Sharon upon attempting to expose her affair with Keanu to Phil, only to end up subjugated to a vehicle collision that results in Sharon rescuing Mel, before Mel is then killed after walking into the path of an incoming lorry.
Melanie "Mel" Owen (also Healy and Beale) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tamzin Outhwaite. Mel was introduced...
an English actress, presenter and narrator. Since playing the role of MelOwen in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, she has starred in a number of theatre...
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joining the cast of EastEnders in 2018 to play Ray Kelly, the ex-husband of MelOwen. Rooney, David (6 December 2007). "Review: 'The Seafarer'". Variety. Retrieved...
himself. 2019: MelOwen (Tamzin Outhwaite) drunkenly rages at the residents over their opinions about the sentencing of her son, Hunter Owen (Charlie Winter)...
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confronting her attacker, rejoining the police force, relationships with MelOwen (Tamzin Outhwaite) and Denise Fox (Diane Parish), discovering that Amy...
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Michael Moon Trevor Morgan Ellie Nixon Mehmet Osman Barbara Owen Hunter OwenMelOwen Steve Owen George Palmer Nish Panesar Suki Panesar Danny Pennant Fraser...
(Hannah Waterman), Sue Osman (Sandy Ratcliff), Lisa Fowler (Lucy Benjamin), MelOwen (Tamzin Outhwaite) and Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks). The 'tart with a heart'...
in 1988. The reunion group featured an expanded lineup that included MelOwens (in Brigati's place) on vocals and percussion, Steve Mackey on bass, Ed...
Retrieved 31 May 2023. Kilkelly, Daniel (13 August 2022). "EastEnders star Sid Owen to reprise role as Ricky Butcher". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Retrieved...
belittling her, and on Mel and Steve Owen's (Martin Kemp) wedding night, Phil says that he never loved her, and suggests Mel give her tips in the bedroom...
sister-in-law, MelOwen (Tamzin Outhwaite), back to Walford after sixteen years, to find the stolen money, and Sharon admits to Mel that she took it. Mel tells...
stable and in control, but her friend Claire and neighbour Mel are concerned for her. Owen's ominous suicide note—"You were right. There is nothing. Nothing...
to reopen it, with MelOwen (Tamzin Outhwaite) as the manager. Mel plans to rename the club "The Phoenix", but her son Hunter Owen (Charlie Winter) sabotages...
Dainty, Sophie (11 July 2019). "Exclusive: EastEnders exit confirmed for MelOwen as Tamzin Outhwaite bows out". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved...
Johnson Sarah Carson as Kimberly Meadows Brad Koepenick as Rafe Simon MelOwens as Bo Chandler Eddie Murphy appeared in this Disney-produced film after...
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