Marcella Russo (born 4 May 1969) is an Australian actress who is best known for her playing role as Liljana Bishop in the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 2003 until 2005.
Early life Marcella Russo was born in Adelaide, South Australia on 4 May 1969.
Career Russo began her career in Adelaide, working as an actress in theatre, film and radio. She was also a member of several bands. She left Adelaide for Melbourne in 1995, with the aim of furthering her success in the music industry. She wrote and performed in the bands, She Is Me and Swallow.
Russo joined the cast of long-running soap opera Neighbours in 2003, as Harold Bishop’s Serbian daughter-in-law, Liljana Bishop, having auditioned for the role. Her character (along with her husband and daughter) was killed off in a plane crash.
Russo appeared as Magenta in a Neighbours all-stars stage production of The Rocky Horror Show at Melbourne's Regent Theatre in 2004. She also became a member of the band Lucy De Ville, alongside friend Shaun Gardener (whom she had performed with in her previous band, Swallow) and later, former Neighbours co-star Marisa Warrington.
Additionally, Russo is a voiceover artist, having lent her voice to campaigns for AAMI, Toblerone, Yellow Pages, Soul Pattinson and Monash IVF.
Russo is also a qualified naturopath with a Bachelor of Health Science to her name.
Personal life During her time playing Liljana Bishop in Neighbours, Russo was the real life partner of fellow Neighbours actor Brett Swain, who played Kim Timmins.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes Ref.1988The DreamingYoung Nurse 1990Struck by LightningConnie1994Addio tradizioneSylvanna 1999RedballNewsreader2004Josh JarmanService Station Attendant2015Crime & PunishmentFletcher
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1998SeaChangeSister RossiEpisode: "Sex, Death and Bridges"1999, 2002StingersDr. Glenda Wales / Marita da Costa2 episodes2000, 2002Blue HeelersTonya Berenski / Rosa Crivelli2003The Secret Life of UsMariaEpisode: "Nature or Nurture?"2003–2005NeighboursLiljana Bishop59 episodes2004Noah and SaskiaMs Cascarino2 episodes2010RushBiancaEpisode: "Run"
Theatre YearTitleRoleNotesRef. 1992 Conversations with George Sandburgh After a Solo Flight Across the Atlantic Theatre 62, Adelaide with Next Stage Theatre Company 1993 The Keys to the Animal Room Junction Theatre, Adelaide Flowers and Chocolates 1994 A Little Like Drowning Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA 1996 Hearts of Fire Courthouse Theatre, Melbourne 2005 The Trial of Adolf Eichmann Kitia Altman 2006 Hotel Sorrento Pippa Devonport Entertainment and Convention Centre, Theatre Royal, Hobart with HIT Productions 2007 Wild East Dr Gray Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Melbourne 2007–2008 Kill the Wolf Dantes, Melbourne, BlackBox, Melbourne with 9Minds 2008 The Late Henry Moss Chapel Off Chapel, Melbourne with Human Sacrifice Theatre 2009 A Narrow Time for Angels Maggie The Store Room, Melbourne My Dog Has Stripes Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne 2011 The Haunting of Daniel Gartrell Sarah Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne with Straightjacket Productions
References
External links
Lucy De Ville Official Website Marcella Russo as Liljana Bishop