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Rae Wilson
Hollyoaks character
Portrayed byAlice Barlow
Duration2009-11
First appearance5 October 2009
Last appearance9 September 2011
ClassificationFormer; regular
Created byLucy Allan
In-universe information
OccupationWaitress (since 2010)
DJ (since 2010)
Barmaid (2011)
GrandmothersLily Wilson

Rae Wilson is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Alice Barlow. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 5 October 2009. The originally portrayed to be imaginary as part of Barry "Newt" Newton's schizophrenia storyline, it was later revealed she was real. Rae has been central to a controversial suicide storyline. She has also been part of a love-triangle with Ste Hay and Brendan Brady, in which she becomes pregnant with Ste's child, and subsequently miscarries after confronting Brendan over his affair with Ste. She has been characterised as a chav with a feisty persona.

Character creation and casting

In July 2009, at the Hollyoaks press day, series producer Lucy Allan announced that there would be a 'big stunt' involving existing character, schizophrenic student Barry "Newt" Newton (Nico Mirallegro) in October the same year.[1] In September 2009, it was announced that a new character, Rae would join the serial as part of a "shock suicide plot" involving Newt, which would see the two characters jump off a bridge.[2]

In October 2009 it was revealed that Alice Barlow had successfully auditioned for the part of Rae.[3] Of her casting Barlow stated: "I am absolutely on top of the world, I can’t believe I’m on Hollyoaks. When I was little I had two dreams, one to sing in front of a live audience, which I have done, and the other to have a part on a soap, which I am doing now!"[3] It was also revealed that Helen Russell-Clark who plays Jem Costello in the serial had also auditioned for Rae, getting to the final stages of auditioning.[4]

Series producer Allan stated that Cheryl Brady (Bronagh Waugh) and Rae was her favourite additions to the cast in 2009,[5] of Rae and Barlow she stated: "The other actor who I'm really proud of - in terms of character and performance - is Alice Barlow as Rae. To introduce a character as somebody and then to completely change the character six weeks later, while still delivering the performances that Alice does, is a testament to a young actress."[5]

Character development

Suicide pact

Rae's first storyline was when she was introduced as an imaginary friend of Newt. The storyline progressed into Rae and Newt making a suicide pact, where they jump off a bridge into deep water. Behind the scenes filming took place at Stanley Dock in Liverpool where they had to act out the stunts.[6] Allan praised Barlow and Mirallegro for their willingness to perform their own stunts, during an interview with Liverpool Daily Post she stated: "The team did a brilliant job at constructing a 45ft tower at Stanley Dock for the main stunt. We had stunt doubles there if the actors felt they did not want to do it. But they are a tenacious bunch and they wanted to do it all themselves.[6] She also added: "They even stayed underwater for three or four minutes for the big underwater sequence."[6]

Rae's appearance during Newt's hallucinations (2009).

The storyline came into the media spotlight just days before the suicide scenes were due to air after two young girls in Scotland jumped from the Erskine Bridge bridge into the River Clyde, subsequently dying in their suicide pact.[7] The serial's broadcaster decided to go ahead and air the scenes citing that any similarities were entirely coincidental and they had carefully though out the decision.[8] Also adding: "The audience will be familiar with the character of Newt and this plotline, which has been both trailed and promoted, has been developing over a number of weeks. Hollyoaks has a strong track record of dealing with sensitive issues, and the transmission will be followed by a programme support announcement directing viewers to a 24-hour helpline."[8] The real-life care home in which the two girls were housed issued a statement criticising the broadcaster for airing the scenes stating: "The decision to air this show is likely to cause further distress."[9]

Whilst interviewed by entertainment website Digital Spy, producer Allan admitted the suicide scenes were her overall favourite from 2009, commenting: "My favourite scene of the year has to be the underwater sequence with Newt, Rae, Eli and Jack the hero! It was a beautiful moment on screen and it was the moment that the audience realised that Newt was trying to kill himself. For me, that moment of realisation made that scene so powerful."[5]

Characterisation

Rae has been described as "a right chav" compared to how Newt imagined her.[10] Of her persona Barlow stated: "It is quite hard work [...] I'm nothing like the character at all so it takes a lot of acting!"[3]

Storylines

Rae and Newt (Nico Mirallegro) stayed together and she taught him how to live on the streets, however she was not liked by his schizophrenic persona Eli (Marc Silcock).[11] The pair shared a kiss and ended up sleeping together, also falling in love. After Newt admitted about his schizophrenia, Eli took over his body and tried to kill Rae, however Newt stopped himself. Rae and Newt, to escape their problems, decided to commit suicide together by jumping into a canal. As they headed to the top of a warehouse to jump into the water, Newt's ex-girlfriend Lauren Valentine (Dominique Jackson) and his foster father Jack Osborne (James McKenna) rushed to stop him. It was then revealed that Rae was another persona of Newt's, like Eli. Newt pushed Eli into the canal as Rae jumped. Newt then followed, luckily Jack rescued him.[12]

After Newt went to apologise to Lily (Meryl Hampton), the woman he had mugged whilst on the run, he informed her that her granddaughter Rae was dead. However Rae turned up, revealing that she is real, although she had a different hair style and wore a different style of clothes. She had no idea who Newt was. Newt then took her to the warehouse where he realised he had created a persona of Rae around a picture he saw of her from her grandmother's purse. During a merger with Rae's school Abbey Hill and Hollyoaks High School, Newt tries to talk to Rae, who later gets her friend Sinclair to threaten him. Rae attempts to get a job in Il Gnosh. However, she is declined. She is later employed by Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) in Relish diner, where she discovers her co-worker is Newt. Rae becomes paranoid and tries to get Newt sacked. However, she later accepts that they have to work together. After Lauren locks her in a cupboard, Rae reveals she is claustrophobic and is "cursed". She tells Newt that both of her sisters died before their 18th birthdays and she believes the same will happen to her. Rae eventually got over her fear of the curse with Newt's help and agreed to go with him when he planned on moving to Scotland with his birth mother, Shelly Newton (Beverly Denim) and baby brother Jensen. However, her grandmother had a stroke at the last minute, so Rae decided to stay in Hollyoaks to look after her. Newt left with his mother, and Rae moved out of Darren's (Ashley Taylor Dawson) flat to go and stay with her grandmother.

Rae later returns in October 2010 and Ste tries to get her a job as DJ at Chez Chez, after she decides that she wants to pursue it as her career once more, Brendan Brady (Emmett J. Scanlan) tells her she is rubbish at the job and doesn't want to take her on. Rae and Ste grow close again, they begin to date. Jealous Brendan uses Veronica (Lynsey McLaren) to get in between their chances of happiness, she kisses Ste and Brendan makes sure Rae witnesses the kiss.

When Brendan and Ste start a relationship, Brendan makes Ste go out with Rae. Ste and Rae sleep together but are interrupted by Brendan telling them Ste's ex, Amy Barnes (Ashley Slanina-Davies), has been involved in a fire. Ste becomes convinced Brendan started the fire. Rae only learns of their relationship when she tells Macca (Drew Dillon) she loves Ste, and Macca ends up telling her everything. Thinking she's helping, Rae tells Brendan's sister Cheryl that Brendan is gay, but Brendan manages to convince Cheryl otherwise.

In January 2011 Rae then finds out she's pregnant and confides in Amy about the situation, however Rae is unaware that Ste is actually sleeping with Brendan behind her back. Rae tells Ste, and he tells her he will stand by her; but she is not sure she wants the baby. After confiding in Cheryl, Rae decides to have an abortion. However, Cheryl lets slip to Brendan and he and Ste go after Rae to try and stop her.

Rae keeps the baby, and then whilst Ste and Brendan continue their affair in the Chez Chez club office, Mitzeee (who knows about Ste and Brendan's affair) sees the keys to the office on the bar, and steals them. Rae is then talking to Mitzeee, and Mitzeee tells her that what she is about to do is for her own good, and unlocks the office door, catching Brendan and Ste kissing. The next day Rae tells Ste that she is going to bring up the baby on her own, but after a vicious row with Brendan, she has a miscarriage, losing the baby. Rae then moves out of Ste & Amy's flat to move into Noah Baxter (Law Thompson) flat.


Reception

In 2011, at the All About Soap Bubble Awards Rae, Ste and Brendan won the award for "Best Love Triangle".[13] Holy Soap describe Rae's "memorable moment" as being locked in cupboard and subsequently revealing she is cursed.[14]

References

  1. ^ Green, Kris (16 July 2009). "Gossip from the 'Hollyoaks' Press Day 2009". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  2. ^ Green, Kris (21 September 2009). "Shock suicide plot for 'Hollyoaks'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "There's no business like showbusiness!". Manchester Evening News. (Trinity Mirror). 7 October 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  4. ^ "Helen: Jem's great for Gilly!". Holy Soap. (Five). Archived from the original on 25 January 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  5. ^ a b c Green, Kris (10 December 2009). "Producer's Perspective 2009: Lucy Allan". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  6. ^ a b c Kilkelly, Daniel (6 October 2009). "'Oaks stars perform stunts for suicide plot". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  7. ^ Carrell, Severin (5 October 2009). "Teenage girls walked out of care home and leapt to their deaths". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  8. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel (9 October 2009). "'Oaks plot to air despite Clyde suicides". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  9. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (10 October 2009). "C4 criticised over 'Oaks plot decision". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  10. ^ "Rae (played by Alice Barlow)". E4. (Channel 4 Television Corporation). January 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  11. ^ Green, Kris (5 October 2009). "2661: Newt makes a new friend". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  12. ^ Green, Kris (9 October 2009). "2665: Newt and Rae try to commit suicide". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  13. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (27 March 2011). "'Enders triumphs in All About Soap awards". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  14. ^ "Rae Wilson". Holy Soap. (Channel 5). Archived from the original on 18 January 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.

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