Eileen Montesin | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 1, 1962 Birkirkara, Malta |
| Occupation(s) | actress, television personality |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse | Mark Borg (m. 2013) |
| Children | 1 daughter |
Eileen Montesin (born October 1, 1962, Birkirkara) is a Maltese actress and television personality. [1] Active since 1979, Montesin has had a varied career as a presenter, actress, and producer across the realms of radio, TV, and theatre.
Montesin began working in radio in September 1979, aged 16, as an announcer at Xandir Malta (now PBS). [2] [3]
At age 20, Montesin appeared on the TV program Kikku u Sika . From 1982 to 1987, Montesin was a presenter and producer of children's television. Programs she worked on included Int, Jien u il-Merill , Larry x-Xadin , Mid-Dinja ta’ Ġillin , and Nanna Għadek Tiftakar . The last children's show she worked on was L-Arka Mużikali . During the 1980s, Montesin was also a presenter for the adult shows Il-Konsumatur and Blanzuni ’85 . [2]
Montesin returned to the stage with Joe Gatt, and the two formed a drama company. Their first show, the comedy In-Neputija tal-Kappillan , sold out its shows at the Mediterranean Conference Centre and was filmed and broadcast on TV. [2]
Montesin also began presenting lottery drawings, and was the first woman presenter of "the annual Valletta dances and Floriana float defile’ during Carnival". [2]
In the 1990s, Montesin and Gatt produced another sold-out play, Min Qatel Il-Kunjata. [2]
The 1990s also marked Montesin's appearances in the comedy Honeymoon Bl-Għeruq U X-Xniexel and the comic soap opera It-Tieġ ta’ Karmena Abdilla , in which she played the titular role. [2]
Montesin also returned to radio, where Super Radio broadcast her sketches as the character Sossy. [2]
In 1996, Montesin originated the character of Becky, the protagonist of the police drama Undercover. The role would be one of Montesin's most enduring characters. [2] In 1999, Undercover introduced a recurring character who was gay, one of the first examples of positive LGBTQ representation in Maltese media. [2] [4] The storyline earned Montesin a reputation as an LGBTQ ally. [2] [5] [4]
Around the late 1990s, Montesin hosted the music programs Issu L-Bieraħ and Rodeo (NET). [2]
Montesin continued as a Carnival presenter into the early 2000s. A 2006 clip of her saying "Ara Doris!" during the presentation became an enduring Maltese meme. [2] [6]
In 2002, Undercover moved with Montesin to TVM. [7] [8] She stayed with the network until 2009. [8] After Undercover ended in 2003, Montesin reprised the character of Becky in the spin-off series Dejjem Tiegħek Becky, which she also was a screenwriter for. [9]
In 2005, Montesin hosted Mhux Biċ–Ċajt , a show which aimed "to make the wildest dreams of lucky people come true". [2]
Montesin has been the Maltese commentator for three iterations of the Eurovision Song Contest, including the 2006 event. [2] In 2006 she also co-hosted the Malta Song for Europe, the contest to select Malta's representative at Eurovision. [2]
In 2021, Montesin received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lovin Malta Social Media Awards. [10]
She returned to TVM in March 2025, as the narrator of the program Come Dine With Me Malta. [11]
In early 2025, Montesin launched a website to host all the shows on which she'd acted. [12]
Montesin was born in Birkirkara. [2] She lived in Mosta and Valletta as a child. [2] [13] She began working on her school's radio broadcasts when she was ten. [2] Montesin was also involved in acting before she was a teenager, and "found every opportunity to act or present, be it a variety show in Valletta or a sombre Good Friday pageant". [2] When she was 15, she acted in Manoel Theatre's production of the play It-Tieġ. [2]
On 10 August 2013, Eileen married her long-time partner, Mark Borg. They had been together for 30 years. The couple have a daughter, Christine (born 1991). They also have a granddaughter, Nina. [14] Montesin involved her daughter in television from a young age, and she often accompanied Montesin or Borg to work. [2]
Montesin believes in God, and prays daily. [13]
| Year | Title | Role | Character | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-2003 | Undercover | Director, writer, actress | Becky | [2] | |
| 2004-2007 | Dejjem Tieghek Becky | Director, writer, actress | Becky | [9] | |
| 2024 | Peppa Pig | Voice actress | Granny Pig | [15] |