Melanie Williams

Melanie Williams is a Professor at the University of East Anglia's School of Media, Language and Communication Studies, specializing in film and media history with a focus on British cinema and gender studies. She holds roles including Principal Editor of the Journal of British Cinema and Television (2015–2024), co-lead of BAFTSS's British film and TV group, and Athena Swan Gender Equality Lead (2016–2019). Her research explores British cinema's gender dynamics, film stardom, and postwar cultural studies.

Education: PhD in Film Studies from the University of Hull (2003) with a thesis on 1950s women's representations. Key academic positions include Head of Film, Television and Media Studies (2014–2016) and Research Director for UEA's Interdisciplinary Institute for the Humanities (2019–2023).

Research interests span British cinema history, feminist media studies, and film aesthetics. Notable publications include Prisoners of Gender (2009), David Lean (2014), Female Stars of British Cinema (2017), and A Taste of Honey (2023). She co-edited British Women’s Cinema (2009) and led AHRC-funded projects on 1960s British cinema and feminist film archiving.

Recent articles (2023–2025) focus on postwar British cinema, feminist film historiography, and archival methodologies. Awards include Royal Historical Society Fellowship and recognition for community engagement. She contributes to film documentaries, academic conferences, and media commentary on British film history.

Teaching includes modules on film history, gender studies, and British cinema. She created the joint History and Film degree program and holds a Senior HEA Fellowship.