Melissa Tkautz

Melissa Natalie Tkautz, born on January 24, 1974, in Australia, is a multifaceted talent known for her work as an actress, singer, model, and television presenter. She gained prominence in the early 1990s with her portrayal of Nikki Spencer on the beloved Australian soap opera E Street, which aired from September 1990 to May 1993. During this period, Melissa also ventured into music, achieving significant success under the name Melissa. Her hit singles, “Read My Lips,” which topped the ARIA Singles Chart in June 1991, along with “Sexy (Is the Word)” reaching No. 3 and “Skin to Skin” at No. 16, solidified her status as a pop sensation. Notably, “Read My Lips” also secured the Number One spot in Sweden. Her debut album, Fresh, released in June 1992, climbed to No. 15 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

Post E Street, Melissa continued her acting career with roles in television series like Paradise Beach (1993-94), Pacific Drive (1996-98), All Saints (2001-02, 2004), Swift and Shift Couriers (2008, 2011), and Housos (2011). Beyond acting, her modeling journey saw her feature in various teen and fashion magazines. In December 2005, she released her second album, Lost & Found, which included a cover of “The Glamorous Life” that made it to the top 40. In 2011, she released a compilation album titled The Hits & More. Melissa married finance executive Kwesi Nicholas in February 2009, adopting his surname for her personal life.