The rise of Melanie Bracewell: Shine kid to stand-up star

It wasn’t until she was 19 that Melanie Bracewell realised comedy was her calling, and despite her rise to fame, the TV star still grapples with anxiety.

Melanie Bracewell was once a shy kid, and now she is one of Australia’s most beloved comedians.

It wasn’t until 19 that Bracewell realised comedy was her calling, and despite her rise to fame, the TV star still grapples with anxiety.

“I definitely am less shy now, and it’s come a lot from learning to perform but I still have those moments of shyness which is probably just anxiety,” Bracewell told Confidential.

“I think I’ve just learned to be better at pretending not to be shy which is such a weird thing to do … I’m also a nervous eater,” she laughed.

Comedian Melanie Bracewell who is performing at the upcoming 2024 Sydney Comedy Festival. Picture: Supplied

The 29-year-old first shot to fame as co-host on Channel 10’s The Cheap Seats, which she calls her dream job.

“I do love it, but I think with any job, you do want to switch off sometimes. Someone will come over and be like, tell me a joke and, I’m off the clock, please,” Bracewell joked.

“Anyone gets a little tired of their job sometimes, but I feel so lucky to be able to do this, I really enjoy doing it.”

With the new year in full swing, Bracewell is excited about the upcoming Sydney Comedy Festival, running from April 21 to May 18, along with other gigs on the horizon.

“There is a lot happening in 2025 which is super exciting … I actually find it (being a comedian) quite creatively challenging in a good way, we always want to put on a new show that people haven’t seen before, and bring something new every year which is the main goal.”