Rebecca Robinson (Neighbours)

Rebecca Robinson
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Jane Hall
Introduced by	Ric Pellizzeri
Duration	2007–2011
First appearance	13 July 2007
Last appearance	15 March 2011
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Date of birth	1965
Home	Portugal
Occupation	Legal secretary (2007–08) Manager of Charlie's (2008–2011) PirateNet CEO (2010)
Family Husband Paul Robinson (2009—) Father Alan Napier Brothers Marcus Napier Sons Oliver Barnes Declan Napier Stepsons Andrew Robinson Stepdaughters Elle Robinson Granddaughters Chloe Cammeniti India Napier

Rebecca Jane Robinson (née Napier), is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Jane Hall. The show suffered a ratings decline in early 2007 and plans were put in place for storylines to focus more on relationships and family dynamics. During this period, the character of Rebecca was created and introduced. She made her first on-screen appearance on 13 July 2007. Rebecca is the mother of Oliver Barnes and Declan Napier. In October 2010, it was announced that Hall was leaving Neighbours. Rebecca departed on 15 March 2011.

Character creation and casting

In 2007, Neighbours suffered a ratings decline and plans were put into place to take a "back to basics" approach where storylines would become less controversial and return to the focus on relationships and family dynamics. It was at this point that the character of Rebecca was created, and Jane Hall was cast in the role. The character was to create a family unit for existing character Oliver Barnes (David Hoflin). Of her casting Hall said "Neighbours is a legend of a show, and now, it's getting back to the heart-land, to relationships and family and the ins-and-outs of life." Hall later commented that her character had "shaken up" the series and made it more interesting, she also said that Rebecca has been on tumultuous journey since her inception.

Before the character had appeared on-screen there was speculation that Hall wanted to leave after only one day of filming as Rebecca. During an interview on Rove, Hall spoke about her melt down and what had caused her upset, saying "There is about fifteen to twenty minutes in the studio, per scene to shoot it. So I come in and it's my first day in studio and they have probably my most crucial scene, which is where I [Rebecca] met my son, I've never seen him before, I gave him up when I was 17. A pivotal scene and they say can we shoot it in five minutes, cut along story short I was crap, I went into the producers office and said you've made a terrible mistake, sack me now, we had to re-shoot it, and I wasn't much good the second time around either." She also said that in time she got to grips with her character and managed to portray her to an extent she was herself, happy with.

In October 2010, it was announced that Hall had quit Neighbours along with two other members of the cast, Matthew Werkmeister and Erin Mullally. Of her decision to leave, Hall said "I've decided its time to say 'au revoir' to Erinsborough, it's sad to be leaving...but I'm looking forward to the future and new and exciting acting adventures."

Storylines

Backstory

Rebecca is the only daughter of Alan Napier (Barry Friedlander) and sister to Marcus Napier (James Lawson). She became estranged from her family when she was a teenager. When she was sixteen, Rebecca found herself pregnant and alone. She is forced into giving her baby son up for adoption to Clifford and Pamela Barnes to raise as their own. This forced Rebecca to grow up quickly and she could not watch her son grow up with another family, so she moved away. Rebecca later gave birth to another son, Declan (James Sorensen), but she did not stop thinking about the one she gave up years earlier. Rebecca raised Declan on her own and refused to accept charity from anyone.

2007–2011

Shortly after her arrival in Erinsborough, Rebecca is revealed to be the biological mother of Oliver Barnes. Rebecca and Oliver meet, but after a short conversation Rebecca walks out, making it clear she does not want to see Oliver again. She later changes her mind and tells Oliver that she wants to get to know him. The pair's meetings become more frequent and Oliver soon comes to regard Rebecca as a mother figure. Rebecca is horrified to learn that Oliver is dating Elle Robinson (Pippa Black), as she believes that Elle's father, Paul (Stefan Dennis), whom she spent a romantic weekend with several years earlier, was also Oliver's father. A DNA test later disproves this and Rebecca realises that Oliver's father is her violent ex-partner Richard Aaronow (Blair Venn). Rebecca later reveals that Richard is also Declan's father too, after he sexually assaulted her.

Rebecca and Paul begin a relationship and she and Declan move in with him. After Rebecca decides to pursue a career in law and takes a university course, Paul begins to feel neglected and he embarks on an affair with Kirsten Gannon (Nikola Dubois). Elle discovers this, but cannot bring herself to tell Rebecca. Paul asks Rebecca to marry him and she accepts. Paul's ex-wife Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha) returns to Erinsborough and it becomes clear that she is blackmailing Paul over his affair. Lyn tells Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) about the situation and Susan tells Rebecca the truth. Rebecca ends the relationship and moves out. Rebecca becomes a grandmother, after Oliver's daughter, Chloe (Sarah May) is born.

Rebecca begins a relationship with the Principal of Erinsborough High, Andrew Simpson (Peter Flanigan). Andrew proposes to her and she accepts, but she also realises that she still loves Paul and breaks off the engagement. Rebecca and Paul resume their relationship. Paul disappears after he is blamed for killing his half-sister and Rebecca realises that Paul's niece Sophie Ramsay (Kaiya Jones) witnessed the incident. Sophie later tells the police that Paul tried to help her mother. Rebecca becomes a grandmother for the second time when Declan's girlfriend, Bridget Parker (Eloise Mignon) gives birth to India (Alia and Gabriella Devercelli). When Bridget dies after a car accident, Rebecca helps Miranda (Nikki Coghill) and Steve Parker (Steve Bastoni) organise the funeral. Miranda and Steve decide to move away to Oakey and try to take India with them, but Rebecca refuses to let them take her away from Declan.

Rebecca and Lyn Scully fight on Ramsay Street (2009)

Rebecca asks Paul to marry her, but he refuses. Later, after a chat with Elle, Paul changes his mind and accepts Rebecca's proposal. Rebecca and Paul's wedding is interrupted by Lyn when she announces that she and Paul are still married. Rebecca is furious that Lyn ruined her day and she and Lyn have a scragfight outside Rebecca's house in front of the neighbours. Lyn later signs the divorce papers and decides to stay in Erinsborough. She purchases Harold's Store and she and Rebecca, who runs Charlie's Bar, try to sabotage each other's businesses. On Christmas Eve, Paul surprises Rebecca by asking her to marry him in Charlie's and she accpets. After the ceremony, Paul's youngest son Andrew (Jordan Smith) turns up.

Paul buys PirateNet and he appoints Rebecca CEO. Declan tells Rebecca that Paul has been lying to her about his financial situation. If PirateNet fails, her name is on the papers and the creditors will bankrupt her. When she gives Paul a chance to tell her himself, he does not bring it up and Rebecca asks Toadfish Rebecchi's (Ryan Moloney) advice about getting out of the contract. Rebecca threatens Paul with a divorce and he tells her the truth. He later tries to persuade her to sell PirateNet and Rebecca announces live on air that the station will be closing. At a telethon to save the station, Paul plays a recording that reveals Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner) is carrying Daniel Fitzgerald's (Brett Tucker) baby and Rebecca is disgusted with him. She then asks him to leave home. Paul sells PirateNet and tries to win her back. Rebecca allows Paul to move back home after he agrees to take six months off from Lassiter's.

Declan tells Rebecca all about Paul's embezzlement and Diana Marshall (Jane Badler) tells her that Paul cheated on her. Rebecca is devastated and goes to Lassiter's. Paul is pushed off the mezzanine and Rebecca runs out of the hotel to see him lying on the ground. Rebecca is questioned twice by Detective Mark Brennan (Scott McGregor). She is devastated when news of Paul's affair with Diana is revealed and she later breaks down in Lyn's arms. Declan gives Rebecca a set of divorce papers and she takes them to Paul. Paul tells her that he remembers who pushed him and Rebecca leaves the room and tells Declan that Paul knows everything. Declan wants them to leave and when Kate finds Declan packing, Rebecca tells her that she pushed Paul. She says that she did it after she went to confront him about sleeping with Diana and threatening Declan. Paul tells her that he will tell the police Declan pushed him if she leaves him. Rebecca is impressed when Paul runs a story about Ringo Brown's (Sam Clark) death in the paper. However, when he tries to kiss her, she pulls away and later tells him that she does not want anything to do with him. Rebecca finds herself attracted to Michael Williams (Sandy Winton) after she joins the School Social committee. When Michael discovers that Rebecca and Paul are sleeping in separate beds, Rebecca tells him that Paul will not let her go. Paul forces Rebecca into renewing their vows and after the ceremony she tells Paul how she feels. Paul gives her a ticket to Oakey, so she can clear her head. She writes a letter to Michael telling him that she did not lie about her feelings for him.

Rebecca returns from Oakey and Mark questions her about Paul again. She goes to see Michael in his hospital room and tells him that she did not stop thinking about him. Paul interrupts them, but Rebecca tells Michael that she will come back. Rebecca tells Declan that she loves Michael after he catches them about to kiss. Rebecca decides to help Lyn out after realising that Paul is blackmailing her. She tells Lyn to bring it up in front of her at dinner. Paul is angry with Lyn, but Rebecca later explains that it was her plan. Declan tells Rebecca that he thinks her affair with Michael is dangerous, but Rebecca explains that she is going to be nice to Paul until he tells the police that the fall was an accident. Rebecca supports Andrew and his girlfriend, Natasha (Valentina Novakovic), when they discover they are having a baby. Rebecca advises them to tell Michael and Paul. Michael tells Rebecca that he is fed up with waiting and that he does not understand why she cannot leave Paul. She tells him that she was the one who pushed Paul and becomes upset when Michael walks away. Rebecca tells Paul that she wants to get back to how they were before, but she does not want his accident hanging over them. Paul produces an affidavit, which states that his fall was an accident and that he refuses the right to press charges against her. He tells her that it just needs to be signed and lodged, but he wants to spend one evening with her at Lassiter's. Michael later apologises to Rebecca. She spends the night with Paul at Lassiter's and he signs the affidavit. When Rebecca gets home, she tells Declan to get India and pack their things. Paul finds them and Rebecca tells him that their marriage is over and that she no longer loves him. They move into a hotel and she tells Michael that she is free. Paul then decides to get revenge on Rebecca. When he has her thrown out of the hotel, Michael asks her and India to move in with him. Declan calls Oliver and he, Carmella and Chloe arrive to get Rebecca. Rebecca tells them that she cannot leave Michael and later agrees to marry him. However, she changes her mind about leaving when she realises that Paul will not stop his revenge campaign against her. Rebecca tells Susan the truth about Paul's accident and then she, Declan and India leave Erinsborough.

Reception

After scenes involving the character fighting with Lyn Scully aired, Darren Rowe of entertainment website Digital Spy praised the scenes and branding it "one of the best episodes of 2009". Also stating: "It is a classic scene and quite simply Neighbours at its absolute best!". Jim Schembri of The Age commented on Rebecca's choice in men after her partner Paul Robinson revealed he killed Gus Cleary, stating that she has a bad history of attraction to violent men.

Ruth Deller of entertainment website Lowculture praised Rebecca's character development stating: "Rebecca was such a badly-written, flaky character when she first arrived in Ramsay Street, but thankfully the scriptwriters soon realised just what an asset actress Jane Hall was to the show and turned her around to become awesome. As someone who can stand up to Paul Robinson (back to his best: being both a bit good and very bad) but yet also care for him, she has been a great addition and the chemistry between both characters has been a real tonic for the show." Jaci Stephen writing for the Daily Mail commented on Paul's obsession with her stating: "You can’t help feeling that nothing short of a stake through the heart is going to keep Paul out of Rebecca’s life."

External links

• Character Profile on the Neighbours Official AU website
• Character Profile on the Neighbours Official UK website