Melanie Owen
| Melanie Owen | |||||||||||
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| EastEnders character | |||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Tamzin Outhwaite | ||||||||||
| Duration | 1998–2002 | ||||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 1683 19 October 1998 |
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| Last appearance | Episode 2289 12 April 2002 |
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| Introduced by | Matthew Robinson | ||||||||||
| Book appearances | EastEnders: Steve Owen Still Waters | ||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||
| Occupation | Shop assistant Barmaid Club manager Caterer |
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| Father | Jeff Healy |
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| Mother | Jane Healy |
| Brothers | Alex Healy |
| Sisters | Katie Healy |
| Husband |
Ian Beale (1999–2000) Steve Owen (2001–2002) |
Melanie Jane "Mel" Owen (also Healy and Beale) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tamzin Outhwaite. She appeared from 19 October 1998 to 12 April 2002 when Outhwaite opted to leave the role. Mel was introduced by executive producer Matthew Robinson and became a prominent character during her tenure in the soap.
Mel is involved in high-profile storylines, such as a wedding to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) to mark the Millennium Eve celebrations on New Year's Eve 1999, and later a problematic marriage to Steve Owen (Martin Kemp). Mel is heavily featured in a storyline marking the show's increase to four weekly episodes in 2001, when she is kidnapped by her former fling, Dan Sullivan (Craig Fairbrass). Outhwaite proved popular in the role and won multiple awards for her portrayal as Mel. Producers have indicated that the door is always open for Outhwaite to return to the role; however, Outhwaite revealed in 2010 that she has never been asked back.
Mel had a troubled past: She owned a business that went bankrupt, was abused by a boyfriend and was estranged from her family for some years, traveling around the Greek Islands, before reuniting with her brother, vicar Alex Healy (Richard Driscoll) and their father, Jeff, in Walford in October 1998.
Mel becomes involved with Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). Melanie finds the children hard to deal with at first but grows to love them. Ian and Mel plan to marry but Melanie gets cold feet, realising she doesn't truly love Ian. Ian hears her say this and blackmails her into marrying him by telling her that Lucy has cancer. The pair marry on New Year's Eve 1999, in a double wedding with Barry (Shaun Williamson) and Natalie Evans (Lucy Speed), but at their reception, she discovers a letter, giving Lucy the all-clear, and leaves Ian as the clock strikes midnight and the new millennium begins.
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Wikipedia