Maxine Minniver
| Maxine Minniver | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollyoaks character | |||||||||||||||||||
| File:Maxine Minniver.jpg | |||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Nikki Sanderson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2012– | ||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 6 November 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Emma Smithwick | ||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
Maxine Stephanie Blake (née Minniver), played by Nikki Sanderson, made her first screen appearance on 6 November 2012.[1] The character and Sanderson's casting was announced on 28 September 2012.[1]
Creation and casting
Sanderson joined the serial on a year contract, in September 2012.[2] On her casting, the actress said: "Being a member of the Hollyoaks team has so far been an absolute pleasure, and I am excited about what the future holds for my character. I feel very lucky to be part of such a wonderful show and to be working with an amazing team".[1] Maxine was created as the sister of established character Mitzeee (Rachel Shenton).[1] She has been described as being "a confident, lively and flirtatious bombshell, who lives her life on the edge and can spot an opportunity a mile off".[1] Maxine does not mind taking risks and Digital Spy's Daniel Kilkelly stated that she would cause fireworks in the village.[1] Sanderson described her character as being "a really interesting character to play" as she "has got a heart and she is lovely, but she just doesn't show it at first! When she first arrives, she's more interested in herself and how everyone should fit into her life, rather than her fitting into theirs".[3] Sanderson added that Maxine is "a bit feisty, very confident and knows exactly what she wants, how she wants it and exactly how she's going to get it!"[4]
Prepare yourselves for Maxine: She's confident, lively, impulsive and savvy. A fearless risk taker, and she's ready to create a storm in Hollyoaks... It isn't all cuddles and kisses between Maxine and her sister, the glamorous Mitzeee. Fur is gonna fly, and we can't wait...
Characterisation
Sanderson explained the character's backstory, saying she has "just come back from Marbella, where she sold the bar she had with her boyfriend over there, took the money and ran. She's come to Hollyoaks to find her sister, which was quite arrogant of her really because five years earlier she stole Mitzeee's fiance".[6] She added that the relationship is "more than strained" but Maxine "is so ignorant she reckons she can swan back into Mitzeee's life and everything will be totally hunky dory".[2] Sanderson said that Maxine does not feel guilty as she is "quite ignorant and quite selfish" and thinks "Mitzeee should get over it as it was such a long time ago". When speaking to Mitzeee, Maxine realises "the impact it had on her life". Sanderson added that "Maxine stops and thinks about it. She realises that she actually did cause a lot of pain for her younger sister. I don't think she'd realised what she'd caused until now. Maxine was looking after number one, but she sees that she did the wrong thing and maybe she shouldn't have turned up to see Mitzeee after all".[3] Sanderson said that Maxine begins to"realise what a tough time Mitzeee has had" although she "doesn't understand the extent of Mitzeee's feelings" for Riley. She commented that Maxine "does want to put things right with Mitzeee - and with all the other people in Hollyoaks she upsets".[4] Sanderson's initial scenes feature her being slapped by Mitzeee, she revealed that she was slapped for real to make the scenes look realistic. In some of the character's other early scenes she arrives in Hollyoaks village and "decides to pretty much con everybody that she meets on the way through".[6] She added that her character is a "little bit of a conwoman" but will have to "face the music" when she meets those she has conned.[3] Sanderson said this was a "wonderful way of coming into the show".[6]
Storylines
Maxine arrives in the village from Marbella to visit her sister, Mitzeee, after stealing money from her cheating boyfriend and leaving him. However, Mitzeee isn't happy with her arrival after Maxine stole the first man she loved, her fiancee Gary. Maxine apologizes to Mitzeee and remembers her of the happier times they shared together. Mitzeee informs her sister that she has to stop to lying to her. Maxine tells her that she has changed and only needs a chance to prove it. Maxine surprises Mitzeee by buying her old place back, and they decide to call it even. Maxine is drugged by Kevin Foster because he was told to kill her. After the Bradys leave Hollyoaks Maxine borrows some money from Mitzeee and decides to bid for Chez Chez and run it with her business partner Liam Gilmore (James Farrar). Their attempts are however unsuccessful. After an infestation at their home Maxine offers for Patrick (Jeremy Sheffield) and Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) to come live with her. After moving in, Patrick discovers that Maxine is unable to read properly and offers to tutor her much to the delight of Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring) who finds it extremely humorous. Patrick and Maxine break up numerous times mainly over her behaviour. He has been seen controlling her, leading to Ash Kane (Holly Weston) having suspicions about him. Maxine has a one-night stand with Patrick's son, Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) and later learns she is pregnant. Maxine has an abortion because Patrick would know he is not the father, as he has had a vasectomy. After Maxine comes home, Patrick looks in her bag and sees a pamphlet about abortion after care. Dodger also learns that Maxine had an abortion and confronts her. Maxine begins experiencing pain and later collapses. After being discharged from the hospital, Maxine prepares a dinner for Patrick. When she mentions Dodger's name, Patrick punches her. Patrick's abuse of Maxine continues, and Maxine later learns that he has impregnated her. She also learns that their child has Down's syndrome, and during an argument with Patrick by The Loft fire escape, he grabs Maxine, causing her to fall down the fire escape stairs.
- ^ a b c d e f Kilkelly, Daniel (28 September 2012). "'Hollyoaks': Nikki Sanderson cast as Mitzeee's sister". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel (23 October 2012). "'Hollyoaks': Nikki Sanderson teases Maxine role future". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ a b c Kilkelly, Daniel (31 October 2012). "'Hollyoaks' Nikki Sanderson: 'Maxine has a heart'". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ^ a b "Mitzeee's sister Maxine is TROUBLE". What's on TV. (IPC Media). 1 November 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ^ "Maxine Minniver (played by Nikki Sanderson)". E4. (Channel Four Television Corporation). 6 November 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ^ a b c "Sanderson takes hit for Hollyoaks". MSN. (Microsoft). 30 October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.