Who is Melissa O'Neil's partner? Her relationship history and love life
Melissa O'Neil is a renowned Canadian actress and singer, known for her role as Officer Lucy Chen on The Rookie. Over the years, the actress has been linked to several notable figures. Learn more about Melissa O'Neil's partner and love life.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Melissa O'Neil is an acclaimed actress and singer.
- She was born on 12th July 1988 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Melissa is famous for winning the third season of Canadian Idol in 2005.
- The actress has starred in Dark Matter, The Rookie, and Lost Generation.
- Despite numerous speculations about Melissa O'Neil's partner, the actress is reportedly single.
Profile summary
| Full name | Melissa Crystal O'Neil |
| Date of birth | July 12, 1988 |
| Place of birth | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Age | 37 years (as of August 2025) |
| Gender | Female |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Occupation | Singer, actress |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | Mixed race |
| Ex-boyfriends | Daniel Birnbaum and Matthew Rossoff |
| Mother | Alison Yeung |
| Father | Tim O'Neil |
| Net worth | $14 million |
| Social media |
Who is Melissa O'Neil's partner?
The Canadian actress and singer has kept her love life private. However, sources have linked her to some public figures. But first, how old is Melissa O'Neil?
She is 36 years old as of 2025, born on July 12, 1988, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Melissa played basketball and rugby and starred in musicals while a student at Lester B. Pearson High School in Calgary, Alberta.
Source: Original
Melissa has previously been connected to a few individuals over the years:
1. Daniel Birnbaum
Melissa was rumoured to have been in a relationship with prominent Canadian talent agent Daniel Birnbaum. They reportedly grew close around 2015.
Source: Instagram
The actress expressed admiration for him on Instagram. She described how he encouraged her bravery, supported her during tough times, and valued meaningful conversations:
"There is my main man. Daniel. Playing with that depth perception on the eve of his birthday. I Love You, Bro! I can't imagine being on this adventure with anyone but you. #icalledyoubro."
On Daniel's birthday in 2016, Melissa shared a photo with a caption that sparked further dating rumours. However, she later denied the relationship, referring to Daniel as a close friend, while Daniel remained silent.
2. Matthew Rossoff
Between 2011 and 2013, Melissa was reportedly in a relationship with Matthew Rossoff, a certified yoga instructor based in Toronto, Ontario. Rossoff is also a freelance voice and speech educator, movement director, mindfulness practitioner, and artistic collaborator.
Source: Facebook
Although details about how the two met are unclear, they allegedly began dating in 2011, with the actress frequently posting pictures of them over the next two years.
Their relationship lasted nearly three years before they parted ways, but neither publicly disclosed the reasons for their breakup.
3. Eric Winter
A recent rumour about Melissa O'Neil's partner involves her co-star Eric Winter. Melissa and Eric are co-stars on the television series The Rookie. The actress plays the role of Officer Lucy Chen, while Eric Winter portrays Sergeant Tim Bradford.
Source: Getty Images
According to Cheat Sheet, their relationship, known as "Chenford," became official in Season 5 after sharing their first kiss in Season 4. It is filled with a mix of professional camaraderie and underlying romantic tension.
Melissa and Eric discussed the development of their characters from a frosty relationship to romance in an interview with TV Guide in November 2024.
Eric Winter admitted that the fans were the first to ship Chenford long before the two were even considered a couple. He says,
The fans truly grabbed onto it from Day 1 and said, 'They're a couple! This needs to happen.' And we're like, 'How?! I'm so mean to her. I'm bossing her around.' I don't think it really set in for us until they entertained it.
Melissa said the kiss between the two characters changed the dynamic,
The first time...was definitely at that kiss moment. He was so cruel to her so many times that she was like, "I have nothing to do with this dude." And then there's that moment where there's physical intimacy, and then chemistry does what chemistry does, and now she's looking at him in a way that she didn't before. But there's always been love.
Chenford is a dream come true for many fans of the two characters. Although the two characters broke up at the end of season 6, the new season 7 has seen the slow-burn romance resume. Melissa and Eric have promised fans that more is in store.
Melissa O'Neil and Eric Winter's relationship is more of friendly and professional one. There is no proof that they are romantically involved in real life; their connection is primarily centred around their work on The Rookie.
Overview of Melissa's career
In early 2005, while still in high school, Melissa auditioned for Canadian Idol Season 3. Her impressive performances advanced her to the top 100, then the top 32, and finally the top 10.
Despite some setbacks, she consistently delivered praised performances and won the competition on September 14, 2005. She became the first female and youngest winner in the show's history.
Singer
Post-win, Melissa signed with Sony BMG Canada and released her debut single, Alive which topped the Canadian charts. Her self-titled debut album followed in November 2005.
Source: Getty Images
She embarked on her first solo tour in early 2006 and received a gold certification for her album. In 2007, she was nominated for a Juno Award as New Artist of the Year.
Musical theatre
Melissa transitioned to musical theatre with roles in Dirty Dancing, High School Musical, and Jesus Christ Superstar. She won a Dora Award for her role as Éponine in Les Misérables. She also made her Broadway debut in 2012 and returned in 2014 for a revival of Les Misérables.
Acting
In 2015, O'Neil began acting in This Life, Rogue, and Lost Generation. She starred in Dark Matter from 2015 to 2017. In 2018, she appeared in iZombie and Condor and began her role as Officer Lucy Chen on The Rookie.
Melissa O'Neil's net worth
Source: Getty Images
According to sources, she is estimated to be worth $14 million. The majority of her money has come from her acting and singing careers.
Melissa O'Neil's weight loss
Some fans speculated about Melissa O'Neil's weight stating that she lost weight on the hiatus of season 5 of the TV show The Rookie. However, there are no significant changes to Melissa's looks and she has not commented on her weight.
Who is Melissa O'Neil's mom?
Her mother is Alison Yeung while her father is Tim O'Neil. Her father is Irish while her mother is Chinese from Hong Kong. Melissa O'Neil’s family has always supported her career and stood by her in difficult times.
How much does Lucy Chen's weight?
Lucy Chen, the female character in the TV series, The Rookie weighs 116 lbs. She has a slim frame and brown eyes.
What are some fun facts about Melissa O'Neil?
Although not fluent, the actress is reportedly able to speak Cantonese. A Chinese name meaning "ladylike" was given to her by her maternal grandpa. Here are some fun facts about the actress.
- Is Melissa O'Neil single? The actress has not publicly disclosed her current relationship status. She keeps her personal life private.
- Who is Lucy Chen in real life? Melissa O'Neil plays Officer Lucy Chen on The Rookie.
- Who is Officer Chen dating? On The Rookie, Officer Lucy Chen, played by Melissa O'Neil, is in a relationship with Tim Bradford, portrayed by Eric Winter.
- What is Melissa O'Neil's Instagram account? Her Instagram handle is @missoneil.
- What nationality is Melissa O'Neil? She is Canadian. She was born in Calgary, Aberta, Canada and moved to Los Angeles for work.
- What movies has Melissa O'Neil been in? According to her IMDb, the only film Melissa has starred in is A Simple Favor. The actress mainly does TV series and dramas.
Although Melissa O'Neil's partner speculations are very popular, the actress has kept her life private. She has built an impressive career in acting and music, captivating audiences with her talent. Melissa hardly ever comments on the rumours.
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Source: Briefly News
Kenneth Mwenda (Lifestyle writer) Kenneth Mwenda is a business and sports writer with over five years of experience. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from The Cooperative University of Kenya in February 2022. Kenneth was a news and features writer for Constructionreviewonline.com. At Sportsbrief, he contributed to writing sports biographies and listicles. He joined Briefly in 2024. In 2023, Kenneth finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: kelliesmwenda@gmail.com
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