Bellamy Young is an American television, film, theatre actress, singer and producer, best known for her role as First Lady of the United States Melody Mellie Grant in the ABC drama series Scandal . In 2014, for her portrayal of Mellie, Young won the Critics Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Young was born as Amy Maria Young in Asheville, North Carolina, and raised by adoptive parents. Her mother was her teacher from sixth grade through eighth grade. She had to change her name to join the Screen Actors Guild since there was another Amy Young registered. She chose the name Bellamy as a tribute to her late fathers best friend, Bill, who had helped to raise her after her father died.
Source: Wikipedia