Melissa Johns is a British actress and disability activist. She is known for playing Sadie in The Interceptor, Imogen Pascoe on Coronation Street, Hannah Taylor in Life, and Miss Scott in Grantchester.[1] Johns is an ambassador for disability in the arts and advocates for better representation of disability on- and off-screen and stage.[2][3]
Early life[edit]
Johns was born in Herefordshire and grew up in the town of Ledbury, where she attended John Masefield High School.[4] She was born without her right forearm and hand. Johns is from a working-class background and references this in her speeches.[5]
Johns trained at East 15 Acting School (University of Essex) and since graduating has worked in TV, theatre, and radio. During her time at East 15, she was one of the first disabled actors to win the Laurence Olivier Bursary Award.[citation needed]
Accolades[edit]
Between 2017 and 2020, Johns won several awards, including JCI's Ten Outstanding Young Persons in the U.K, Shaw Trust's Power List, U.K's 100 most influential disabled people, JCI's Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World, and she was shortlisted for Positive Role Model of the Year Award in the National Diversity Awards.
In 2019, she was selected as one of 21 actors for the BAFTA Elevate programme. The same year, she was picked as Alumna of the Year 2019 for the University of Essex & East 15 Acting School for her disability advocacy in the arts.
Phone hack[edit]
In 2018, Johns' smartphone was hacked and intimate photos were released.[6][7] Johns used the situation to speak out against body shaming and combat taboos around disability, sex, and body dysmorphia.
The experience inspired the BBC Radio 4 drama In My Own Skin, written by Debbie Oates with Johns, and starring Johns.[8]
Selected filmography[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Interceptor | Sadie | 8 episodes |
| 2017–19 | Coronation Street | Imogen Pascoe | 12 episodes |
| 2020 | Life | Hannah Taylor | 6 episodes |
| 2021–23 | Grantchester | Miss Scott | 12 episodes |
References[edit]
- ^ "Life star Melissa Johns admits baby 'actress' stole the show in BBC drama". 6 October 2020.
- ^ "Introducing Reach Ambassadors Melissa Johns and Briony Williams!". 29 April 2021.
- ^ "Who is Melissa Johns? Meet Celebrity MasterChef 2021 contestant and actress". Radio Times. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Sutcliffe, Deborah (26 September 2018). "International award for former pupil Melissa Johns". John Masefield High School. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ "From Ledbury to Coronation Street's cobbles for Melissa". 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Ex-Corrie actress turns sex photo hack into 'positive thing' – BBC Newsbeat". BBC News. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ "The former Coronation Street actor who is sick and tired of feeling unsafe". 27 March 2021.
- ^ "In My Own Skin". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2018.