Melissa Johns is an award-winning actress, writer, and disability advocate, changing the future of the industry through her work championing diversity and inclusion in the arts. Born without her right forearm and hand, she has never seen her disability as a limitation, forging a successful career on stage and screen. A finalist for Empowerment Champion in the Northern Power Women Awards, Melissa is recognised for her work in championing female leadership, empowering body image and confidence within both the female and disabled communities. She is also named among the UK’s 100 Most Influential Disabled People and in JCI’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World.
A regular on British television, Melissa is best known for her role as Imogen Pascoe on Coronation Street, following her breakout performance in BBC’s The Interceptor. She has since secured roles in SKY’s I Hate Suzie, series 2 of Flack, and played a leading role as Hannah Taylor in Life, a BBC drama. Showing no signs of slowing down, Melissa went on to star as Miss Scott in Grantchester. Equally prominent on stage, she is developing her one-woman show, Snatched, which continues to earn widespread acclaim.
Determined to pursue her passion for the arts, Melissa earned a place at East 15 Acting School, where she won the Laurence Olivier Bursary—one of the first disabled actors to do so. Her on-screen debut came in 2013, with roles in Doctors and Casualty, before being selected for the BAFTA Elevate programme alongside 20 other actors. A standout talent in the industry, Melissa is known not for her disability but for her powerful performances, breaking barriers for future generations of disabled artists.
Beyond acting, Melissa Johns is a leading advocate for inclusion in the arts, co-founding DANC (Disabled Actors Networking Community) and TripleC, as well as serving as an ambassador for Models of Diversity. A powerful speaker and role model, she shares her story of resilience, representation, and breaking stereotypes, inspiring audiences across industries. Melissa’s influence is shaping a more inclusive future, proving that the only limits are the ones we set ourselves.
How to hire Melissa Johns
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Melissa Johns for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"Melissa was fabulous, she brought her story and her lived experiences to life and allowed people to see a different side to things and we had lots of engagement" - Anita, Executive Assistant, EY
- 2025 – Finalist for Empowerment Champion in the Northern Power Women Awards
- 2021 – Played Miss Scott in Grantchester (regular character)
- 2020 – Leading role as Hannah Taylor in Life (BBC drama)
- 2019 – Co-founded DANC (Disabled Actors Networking Community)
- 2019 – Co-founded TripleC to improve disability representation in the arts
- 2018 – Named in JCI’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World
- 2018 – Ambassador for Models of Diversity
- 2018 – Cast in I Hate Suzie (Sky) and Flack (Series 2)
- 2017 – Named in the UK’s 100 Most Influential Disabled People
- 2017 – Played Imogen Pascoe in Coronation Street
- 2017 – Selected for the BAFTA Elevate Programme
- 2015 – Cast in The Interceptor (BBC)
- 2013 – Made her on-screen debut in Doctors and Casualty
- 2012 – Won the Laurence Olivier Bursary (one of the first disabled actors to receive it)
- 2012 – Graduated from East 15 Acting School
