Melanie Chisholm is an English singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman professionally known simply as Melanie C (or Mel C). She is best known as one of the five members of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed "Sporty Spice". She toured the world for years with the Spice Girls, gaining worldwide popularity and when the Spice Girls decided to pursue solo careers, Melanie decided to produce her own brand of music, in 1999 she released her first studio album Northern Star which sold 4 million copies worldwide. After the release of Northern Star Melanie battled depression and an eating disorder, and released her second studio album in 2003, Reason. Melanie was victorious in her battle against depression and eating disorder, and released her third studio album two years later in 2005, Beautiful Intentions which became her second most successful album commercially. In 2007 she released her fouth studio album This Time sporting a new indie sound. Shortly after the release of This Time, Melanie along with the four other members of the Spice Girls, confirmed their return as a band for their The Return of the Spice Girls World Tour. After the tour ended, she announced that she was pregnant with her first child and gave birth in February 2009. Melanie then signed on for a six month deal to play Mrs Johnstone in the London West End play "Blood Brothers".In May 2011, Melanie announced that she was working on her fifth studio album The Sea, due for release in September 2011.
Melanie has earned nominations for BRIT- and ECHO awards, has sold more than 10 million records as a solo artist and holds the third position for most United Kingdom number-ones by a female artist and is the only female to reach UK Official Singles Chart at number one as a part of quartet, quintet, duo and as a solo artist.
