Jessica Jacobs

Jessica Madison Jacobs (14 November 1990 – 10 May 2008) was an Australian actress and singer. She was best known for her role as Melanie Atwood in the second series of The Saddle Club.[1]

Jessica Jacobs
Born
Jessica Madison Jacobs

(1990-11-14)14 November 1990
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Died10 May 2008(2008-05-10) (aged 17)
Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia
Cause of deathAccident
Resting placeSt. Kilda Cemetery, St. Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
NationalityAustralian
EducationSandringham College
OccupationActress, singer
Known forMelanie Atwood on The Saddle Club
Musical career
GenresDance/electronic
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, violin
Years active1999-2008

Biography

Born in Canberra, Australia, Jessica Jacobs was the middle child of Joanna and Brendan Jacobs and the sister of Adam, Seth and Charlie Jacobs.

Jacobs began acting at the age of nine. Jacobs appeared as Marta von Trapp in the Melbourne production of the 1999–2000 Australian stage revival tour of The Sound of Music, taking over from Rachel Marley who had played the role in the opening Sydney production. In addition to The Saddle Club, Jacobs was featured in the television series Fergus McPhail, Worst Best Friends, and Holly's Heroes.[2] Jacobs replaced Marisa Siketa on The Saddle Club after she left the show to star on Neighbours. Jessica studied ballet and classical violin when she was six years old.[3] Jacobs eventually learned how to play bass guitar. Until her death she was a member of The Volten Sins.[4] Jacobs and Janelle Corlass-Brown released a CD Single for their song "Trouble" in 2003.[5] Jacobs was in Year 12 at the time of her death. She was six months away from leaving Sandringham College and getting her Victorian Certificate of Education.[6] Jacobs had planned to move in with older brother Adam and attend Victorian College of the Arts to study bass guitar and establish herself as a musician.[7] Jacobs was a Christian (Anglican Church of Australia).[8] In the months before her death Jacobs took a break from acting to focus on school and music.[9] Jacobs' had been working at a local bakery until the day she died.[6] Prior to her death Jacobs was working on music for series three of The Saddle Club.[10] A year after Jacobs' death, her mother, Joanna Jacobs. founded the Jessica Jacobs School of Drama.[11]

Death

On 10 May 2008, Jacobs was walking along the platform at Cheltenham railway station, Melbourne when she tripped and fell onto the tracks and was fatally hit by a train arriving at the platform.[12] The police took several hours to identify her because Jacobs, who was returning from an overnight stay with a friend, was carrying a fake ID.[13]

Jacobs was buried in St Kilda Cemetery in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia.[14]

Discography

The Saddle Club discography
Albums
  • Fun For Everyone (2002) – #45 Australia
  • On Top of the World (2003) – #20 Australia
  • Friends Forever (2003) – #38 Australia
  • Secrets & Dreams (2004) – #49 Australia
  • Hello World – The Best Of The Saddle Club (2004)
  • Summer With The Saddle Club (2008)
  • The Saddle Club – Greatest Hits (2009)
  • Grand Gallop – Hello World (2009) – Released in France only.

Singles
  • Trouble (2003)
  • Princess Veronica Tour EP (2004)

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Worst Best Friends Molly 2002–2003 (13 episodes)
2003 The Saddle Club Melanie Atwood Season 2
2004 Fergus McPhail Jennifer McPhail 26 episodes
2005 Holly's Heroes Emily Walsh 25 episodes

See also
  • Juanita Coco, an Australian child singer who was killed in an accident whilst still a teenager
  • Charlotte Long, an English child actress who was killed in an accident whilst still a teenager

References
  1. "Saddle Club star killed in tragic accident". ABC. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  2. Beck Eleven; Lucy Battersby (16 May 2008). "Train accident claims Saddle Club star". smh.com.au. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  3. Battersby, Lucy (17 May 2008). "Forever young: mourners farewell Jessica". The Age. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  4. "Train kills teen Saddle Club actress". The Age. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  5. Trouble by Ashley & Melanie (Saddle Club)
  6. AAP (16 May 2008). "Saddle Club actress killed by train". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  7. Local actress Jessica Jacobs in train tragedy
  8. Brown, Terry (14 September 2009). "Tearful goodbye to Jessica Jacobs, forever young". news.com.au. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  9. AAP (16 May 2008). "Teenage actress killed by train". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  10. "Saddle Club star Jessica Jacobs killed by train". The Daily Telegraph. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  11. "Sandringham school girl Jessica Jacobs honoured". Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  12. Dowsley, Anthony (15 May 2008). "Hundreds mourn tragic Jessica". HeraldSun. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Adelaide Now/The Advertiser.
  13. AAP (14 May 2008). "Family slams 'no accident' claim". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  14. "Saddle Club star Jessica Jacobs in suicide claim". news.com.au. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
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