Melinda Székely Mendel

MELINDA SZÉKELY MENDEL

Actress, Poet, Sculptor

Székely Mendel Melinda (erdokertesfaluhaz.hu)
Székely Mendel Melinda
(erdokertesfaluhaz.hu)

Melinda Székely Mendel was born in Marosvásárhely (now Tigru Mures), Transylvania on October 25, 1962. She completed her education at the Szentgyörgyi István Academy of Dramatic Arts in Marosvásárhely.

After a two year activity as an actress at the Harag György Theater of Szatmár, Transylvania she emigrated to the United States of America and married György Mendel in 1987, who supported her in all her undertakings.

In the USA personal performances, one-woman shows, theatrical presentations, followed one another. She narrated the business-educational film-documentary called Business is Business. She was a model of Babor Cosmetics in New York, as well as anchor and reporter of Hungarian American Television. About her professional evolution and artistic rebirth she writes:

„Aside of my theatrical profession, I was reborn as a poet and plastic artist. This could be attributed to that great hole created by the absence of my parents and my deep feelings towards my land of birth.

The tone of my poetry is melancholic but in the same time reflects an unabashed theory about life in general and deep optimism. My artistic thinking is based on freedom of truth and an unabolished freedom of speech. My keyword is not pessimism it’s noble awakening.

Life is a dance – said my choreographer parents. This became essential in the development of my life. I have always felt talent for dance and choreography. Although I have never professed in that field, I am using it’s basics in my plastic artwork.

Awards: „Europe Öröme” Belgrade – European Child dance Festival (Solo dance First Prize; Group/First Prize; Festival’s Best Prize)

Theater Festival–Bucharest, Romania (Best Female Performance–Tofana’s role Mihail Sorbul: Vérvörös szenvedély)

Korona Podium „Literaturne” Fondation–Budapest (Jury’s Special Prize for Poetry)

Székely Mendel Melinda was a guest of the American Hungarian Museum in 2000.

Since 2001 she is living in Hungary. She is very active in performing, constantly exhibiting, writing poetry and making beautiful sculptures.

In 2010 she received the title of “Knight of Hungarian and Universal Culture” at the festive gala at the Uránia National Theater in Budapest. She was also knighted at this occasion.