Melanie Kirk first appeared on Shortland Street in late 1992, originally played by Tina Regtien. She was introduced as Chris Warner’s (Michael Galvin) first wife, or more accurately, his soon-to-be ex-wife. Chris famously dumped his fiancée, Alison (Danielle Cormack), to rekindle things with Melanie. Their whirlwind romance ended when she moved to the South Island for work.
Fast forward 13 years to 2006, and I stepped into Melanie’s shoes for a one-off return (Julie Crean, my former name). By that time, Chris was married to Toni (Laura Hill), who quickly grew suspicious of Melanie’s intentions, and as it turned out, she had good reason.
My storyline played out in episodes 3551 and 3552. Melanie, now a GP and a divorced mother with a young son, bumps into Chris at Ferndale’s Sugar Café. She reveals that she’s battling fibromuscular dysplasia and has already had one kidney removed. If her remaining kidney fails, she’ll be heading toward dialysis. And who happens to be the only surgeon in New Zealand qualified to take on such a risky operation? Of course, it’s her ex, Chris.
Toni suspects that Melanie’s real motive is to win Chris back, while Melanie’s medical crisis adds emotional complexity. Chris initially refuses to operate, but after a flurry of calls and some not-so-subtle manipulating on the part of Melanie, he agrees to go ahead. The surgery proceeds and, thankfully, it is a success.
Filming took place at South Pacific Pictures, on the main Shortland Street set. The Sugar Café, Chris’s exam room, and the corridors are all within a few steps of the green room and wardrobe department. Rehearsals typically happen a week before filming, mostly to block scenes for crew and the director. On shoot days, scenes are rarely filmed in order. It’s a fast-paced environment that somehow runs like clockwork.
Now, for a little behind-the-scenes anecdote. I was in my patient gown, mid-kidney surgery scene, absolutely drenched in fake blood. It was thick, cold, and sticky, oozing from the incision down my sides. I didn’t flinch. But immediately afterward, I had to race into a completely different scene, where Melanie is alive and well, pre-surgery, and in a fresh outfit. Thanks to the non-linear filming schedule, there was no time to reset. The problem was that the fake blood wouldn’t come off. It had soaked right into my knickers.
To avoid ruining my next wardrobe change, we made a quick decision. Off came the knickers. I filmed the rest of the day without them, and no one had a clue. Until now.