Danielle McCormack, now 42, has undergone a striking transformation 26 years after she first appeared as Mel Barker in the CITV children's show My Parents Are Aliens. The programme, which ran from 1999 to 2006, followed two aliens who crash-landed on Earth and posed as human parents to three foster children.
Reflecting on Her Role
In a TikTok clip, McCormack recalled: "I played Mel, who was the oldest of the three children. Mel was a really interesting character because she was sort of known for her very moody personality and her very eclectic, punky dress sense. She was very multifaceted, and there were lots of layers to her."
She described the role as one of her greatest achievements, noting that many of Mel's experiences resonated with viewers. She added that she is especially touched when fans tell her that Mel's storylines helped them through difficult periods in their own lives.
The Decision to Leave
In a separate video, McCormack opened up about her decision to walk away after series six. She explained that by the end of that series, music had become a major part of her life. She had been writing songs, working with a band, and was in discussions with a management company and several record companies.
Facing the prospect of series seven, she said: "I knew I had a really serious choice to make." She added: "As much as I loved her and I really wanted to see where she could go, I also really wanted to see where my music could go."
No Regrets
At just 21, she felt she could not ignore the possibilities ahead. "I really just wanted to see some world and I was 21 and so excited by all the what if possibilities," she recalled. She knew that if she returned for series seven while still wondering about her music career, she would not be able to give the show everything she had.
Despite the sadness of leaving, she believes it was the right decision. "Was I sad about leaving the show and not continuing on as Mel? Of course I was," she said. "Do I regret not staying on for series seven? You know what, I loved Mel and it would have always been the most amount of fun to be with the cast and film series 7."
Fan Reactions
Viewers responded warmly, with one commenting: "With the volume of horror stories coming out about child actors on kids shows, it's really refreshing and heart warming to hear you had such a positive experience (PS Mel was an icon)." Another said: "My Parents Are Aliens was my CHILDHOOD." A third added: "GIRL YOU HAVEN'T AGED WHATTTTTTT!"
