Upon graduation she toured the country for a year in the National Tour of  GODSPELL, followed by her first co-starring role with Academy Award winning Art Carney in Paul Mazursky’s HARRY & TONTO.

Her work in this film led to a series of projects on the West Coast, such as the M.O.W. for ABC, HUSTLING, with Lee Remick and Jill Clayburgh; THE LAST OF THE COWBOYS, an independent feature starring the late Henry Fonda and Susan Sarandon; CAR WASH, written by Joel Schumacher for Universal; LILY: SOLD OUT, a CBS special with Lily Tomlin; WALLENBURG-A HERO’S STORY, the NBC mini-series starring Richard Chamberlain; THE BOSS'S WIFE with Christopher Plummer for Tri-Star;CHECKING OUT opposite Jeff Daniels; and MY BLUE HEAVEN with Steve Martin.

She is probably best known however for her compelling performances in Claudia Weill’s critically acclaimed independent feature, GIRLFRIENDS, for which she was nominated for a British Academy Award; Costa Gavras’ milestone film MISSING, with Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, and PLAYING FOR TIME, a CBS special, opposite Vanessa Redgrave.

In New York she also starred on Broadway in Herb Gardner’s THE GOODBYE PEOPLE and created the role of Isabelle Off Broadway in Susan Sandler’s CROSSING DELANCEY.

Melanie was one of the regular cast members of ABC’S Emmy Award winning series, thirtysomething, receiving her three Emmy nominations and Emmy award for her work on the show.

She has since appeared in the ABC M.O.W. ORDEAL IN THE ARCTIC, with Richard Chamberlain and starred in the Lifetime Premiere Movies, OTHER WOMEN'S CHILDREN and RANGE OF MOTION, as well as the popular tv hit, MAD ABOUT YOU.

Other  feature work includes DROP ZONE with Wesley Snipes, CLOCKSTOPPERS, directed by Jonathan Frakes, and the independent film STICKY FINGERS, which she co-wrote and co-produced with Catlin Adams, as well as the Award winning short, LITTLE SHINY SHOES.

She made her directing debut on thirtysomething directing two episodes of the series and has written, directed and starred in an episode of  Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal’s acclaimed television series, TRIBECA entitled, Stepping Back.

She also directed and co-wrote the production draft of FREAKY FRIDAY for Disney and ABC which starred Shelley Long and Gaby Hoffman, and directed THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB, for Columbia Pictures

Her direction of the ABC Disney premiere film, TOOTHLESS,  starring Kirstie Alley and Lynn Redgrave was nominated for a D.G.A. Award.

Melanie has been in constant demand as a director for episodic television, among them several episodes of NASH BRIDGES for CBS, DAWSON'S CREEK for WB, PROVIDENCE and ED for NBC as well as the pilot and follow up episodes of STATE OF GRACE for ABC.  She has also directed numerous episodes of the multi-award winning THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW and ARLI$$ for HBO. the CTV film, ZEYDAH and the HITMAN, starring Judd Hirsch, Danny Aeillo and Mercedes Ruehl, as well as CAMPUS CONFIDENTIAL, on ABC Family.  She has directed 4 episodes of BEYOND THE BREAK for The N, as well as LOVEBITES, 85 two and a half minute scenes written and produced by Paul Reiser for TBS and the internet. She also directed half of the first season of THE NAKED BROTHERS BAND, and a third of the second season for Teen Nick.

Melanie directed 3 episodes of HBO’s highly acclaimed series, TELL ME YOU LOVE ME,  one of them being the finale, as well as 7 episodes of HBO’s IN TREATMENT, starring Gabriel Byrne and Diane Weist, including two out of the three finale episodes. Last season she directed episodes of LIPSTICK JUNGLE, GREEK, 90210, TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU,  DROP DEAD DIVA, and ARMY WIVES.

Melanie also has an organic skin care business with her chemist dad --  www.mayronsgoods.com.