Melissa Bergland
Quick Facts
Biography
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. Her father died of cancer when she was 14. Bergland then attended Flinders University, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama. Bergland then went to the Victorian College of the Arts and she spent six months studying acting in New York. Bergland is also a singer and possesses a mezzo alto vocal range.
Career
Bergland created and toured a cabaret show called Blue Eyed Soul at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. 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. Bergland wore her own glasses and sported her "signature" red hair, which the producers loved and decided to keep for the character. Bergland made her television acting debut as Jenny.
After wrapping the third series of Winners & Losers, Bergland flew to Los Angeles in August and signed with Untitled Management. Two weeks later she was cast as the lead in Relative Happiness, an independent Canadian film based on the eponymous novel by Lesley Crewe. Bergland stars as Lexie Ivy, a bed and breakfast owner, who is looking for love. Bergland returned to Australia to film Winners & Losers after filming wrapped.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer was Here | Joanne Debs | |
2011–16 | Winners & Losers | Jenny Gross | |
2012 | 10 Terrorists | Car Hijack Victim | |
2014 | Relative Happiness | Lexie Ivy | |
2016 | Spin Out | Mary |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Logie Awards | Most Popular New Female Talent | Won |
Most Outstanding New Talent | Nominated |