Mellinger was born in the British military hospital neighbouring Spandau Prison as her actor father was then working for Bertolt Brecht's theatre company (the Berliner Ensemble).
[1] Her Jewish parents were childhood refugees from Nazi Germany; her grandfather was Werner Scholem, who was killed in Buchenwald.
In the television serial Small World (1988), based on the novel by David Lodge, she played a central double role portraying the twins Angelica and Lily.
Her stage appearances with the Royal Shakespeare Company have included Lavinia in Titus Andronicus and Perdita in The Winter's Tale.
As well as acting, for the past twenty years she has taught communication and personal impact skills at her own training company.