This year, Melanie Wozniak played the leading role of Lennon Grey in feature film A Girl Like Him, which released in the US on 11th March on Amazon Prime Video, and Melanie was directed by co-writer Amy S. Weber. For Melanie’s first regular TV character, she plays Jack in ITCH – the screen adaptation of Simon Mayo’s books, and having released on CBBC in the UK, both series are currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer, with Samuel Ireland playing Melanie’s on-screen cousin/best friend, the titular character, Itch. Further projects for Melanie include short films Blackwater and Reality, and as a motion capture performer, she played Neyrelle & Lilith in video games Diablo IV and Diablo V. Speaking with us, Melanie told us about playing Lennon Grey in the new feature film A Girl Like Him, her regular role of Jack in ITCH and being a motion capture performer in video games.

Was there anything that drew you to the leading role of Lennon Grey in the new feature film A Girl Like Him, and how would you describe the character?

What really drew me to Lennon was their relatability. Amy S. Weber co-wrote and directed a film that perfectly captures the most daunting aspects of coming-of-age. She brings to life Lennon, this character who has been on their own journey for some time now – feeling completely alone, confused, and afraid to confront themselves. Tackling the hardships of adolescence, Lennon explores being true to themselves, navigating bullies, finding love, and navigating changing friendship dynamics. It is clear to see that Lennon is a force of nature and getting to breathe life into this character was beyond inspiring.

Can you tell us about A Girl Like Him and who do you think will enjoy watching the film?

The film follows the journey of Lennon, a small-town teen, along with fellow classmates, as they navigate some of the most pivotal moments in their lives. The film primarily focuses on Lennon as they tackle the complexities of adolescence, such as embracing their own identity, along with the impact this has not only on their lives but also on those around them.

I believe everyone can enjoy watching this film! The messages within the film are impactful for all ages and all walks of life. There really is a character in the film for everyone to relate to.

How was it getting into character as Lennon, and how did you prepare for the role?

Preparing for Lennon was a journey on its own. From drawing on personal experiences to pulling from the inspiring people in my life who also belong to the LGBTQ+ community, who graciously shared their stories with me.

Preparing for Lennon was truly an emotional rollercoaster, in the best possible way! Although I poured so much of my own into Lennon, I worked hard to bring beauty to Lennon’s unique journey of acceptance.

What was it like telling the A Girl Like Him story and filming with the rest of the cast?

Sharing this story has been incredibly impactful and meaningful. This project is so much more than just a movie, it really is a film that can change the world – and being part of that is something I will be forever grateful for! Working with the rest of the cast was amazing! We really did become a family, and being such good friends off-screen really helped our synergy on screen. This project brought us all so close together.

How was it on set of the film and being directed by co-writer Amy S. Weber?

Being directed by Amy S. Weber on set was an incredible experience. I loved A Girl Like Her, so joining her on this next project was exciting. Amy is a remarkable director who deeply cares about telling meaningful and impactful stories. Amy is a very collaborative director, and as she was also one of the writers, this meant we all had the potential to really deep dive into the script and into each scene in a unique way. This provided such a positive experience on set. When you work on a project with so much heart, everyone really does unite as one. Days on set were so fun – we all had so much respect for everyone involved.

A Girl Like Him was released on 11th March on Amazon Prime Video in the US; how did you feel on the release date, and how was it seeing the completed project for the first time?

Ahhhh I was so excited!! I literally couldn’t wait for it to be released. Seeing the film come up on Prime Video was something I’ll never forget. Then hitting play… and hearing that beautiful introduction score begin to play was unreal. Seeing the project come together as a whole with the final edits, music choices, and colour grading was amazing!

For your first regular role on screen, you played Jack in the TV series ITCH, which was released in the UK on CBBC, how was it seeing the fan response to the series worldwide?

I did! We filmed two seasons of ITCH, which was so much fun! It was so cool to see the fan response worldwide. I didn’t realise how many people in so many different countries watched our show! I would see Instagram edits from all over the world with their favourite scenes and characters. It makes me so happy that people love the show!

How did you feel finding out you’d booked the role of Jack, and what was she like to play?

Booking Jack was such a big win! I was so excited to book that role… it was my first ever series regular role. Jack was so much fun to play. She was really good at taekwondo, loved BMX biking, and was adventurous, determined, and reliable. It was a really fun character to delve into.

What are some of your stand-out memories from your time in the cast of ITCH?

The stand-out moments were the cast and our shoot locations! The cast became such good friends on set, it really was like going to work with your best friends! We also got to travel to Albany, which is about five hours south of Perth, Western Australia. We shot in some beautiful locations, and I had so much fun exploring the new towns with my friends from set!

Is there anything you miss most about filming for the series, and what do you feel you learnt from having Jack as your first regular TV character?

I learned a lot from being on the set of ITCH! Over the two seasons, we filmed the project for quite some time, and I really loved working on something for such a prolonged duration. Playing Jack was such a great lesson in having to learn so many lines in a short amount of time, and it was also a valuable lesson in maintaining my stamina during the long days on set.

Over your acting career so far, you have been part of short films, including Blackwater and Reality; what are short films like to be involved with and what can you say about some of the ones you’ve filmed?

I’ve been so lucky to also be part of some incredible short films. I love working on these because generally the cast and crew are a lot smaller, and the creative discussions are super transparent and inclusive. It’s amazing to be part of a project that means so much to someone, and everyone is hustling to get it out to the world. Blackwater and Reality were such amazing projects. Both teams were so talented, and I learnt so much from working on those sets. I also met incredibly talented people from both sets, and it’s been so great to see the projects they’ve gone on to work on next.

As a motion capture performer, you played Neyrelle & Lilith in the video games Diablo IV and Diablo V, how did you find the experience working on this franchise?

Working on Diablo IV and Diablo V was an amazing experience! It truly felt like a dream come true to work on such an epic video game franchise. The team that created Diablo, and who I was lucky enough to work with on this project, are so cool. It was incredible to delve into the world of Diablo; it was so different from anything I had done before. I loved breathing life into Neyrelle & Lilith. It was a fantastic experience to embody characters who live in a such a dark, mystical world. I learnt so much from this project and can’t wait for future roles in the video game world!

How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do?

I was super creative growing up! When I was young, I started attending a weekly acting class in my local neighbourhood, and it became the highlight of my week! At 22, this led me to LA to pursue my dream. In LA, I took acting classes and auditioned relentlessly until I started booking roles. As a kid, I wanted to be so many things… an actor, a nurse, a fashion designer, or a dancer. To say now that I am a working actor is just so incredible! I’m so thankful that my dream came true and for all the amazing projects I’ve had the chance to be part of. I never take any of it for granted.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?

Friends is literally my hands down favourite TV show. I know all the words (literally). I love The Big Bang Theory; Sheldon makes me laugh so much. Also, Gilmore Girls is a classic rewatch. Heading into drama, I love medical shows like Grey’s Anatomy, The Resident and House. I love How to Get Away With Murder as I’m a big Viola Davis fan, and I love any film with Denzel Washington in it.

How do you like to spend your free time?

In my free time I love hanging out with my partner and our little mini doxand, Bernard. We love heading to the beach for a swim or heading for a hike through nature. I’m a yoga teacher too, so my personal practice is super important to me. I am also a big foodie, so checking out new food places and little coffee shops makes me happy!

Do you have any projects coming up that you can talk about, and what are you hoping this year brings for you?

This year, I’m focused on working on projects that bring me joy and allow for creativity and fulfilment. I also have my own wedding coordinating business called MW Moments, so we have a few weddings lined up this year, which will be so beautiful! I’m also excited to explore new places… I currently have a trip to Fiji and Spain booked – I can’t wait! I’ve got some exciting projects in the works, though I can’t share the details just yet. Be sure to follow along on my Instagram account for updates!

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