Bree Timmins

Last updated

Bree Timmins
Neighbours character
TrinityBlack.jpg
Portrayed by Sianoa Smit-McPhee
Duration2005–2007
First appearance4 April 2005
Last appearance13 July 2007
Classification Former; regular
Introduced byRic Pellizzeri
In-universe information
OccupationStudent at Erinsborough High
Writer
Father Greg Baxter
MotherBrenda Baxter
Adoptive father Kim Timmins
Adoptive mother Janelle Timmins
BrothersDwayne Timmins
Brandon Timmins
Dylan Timmins
Scott Timmins
Sisters Janae Timmins
Anne Baxter
Grandmothers Loris Timmins
Nieces Kerry Mangel

Bree Timmins is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours , played by Sianoa Smit-McPhee. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 4 April 2005. The character was written out in 2006 and she made her final appearance on 13 July 2007.

Contents

Casting

Smit-McPhee joined Neighbours in the role of Bree Timmins in early 2005 when she was thirteen years old. [1]

In December 2006 it was announced that the Neighbours producers had decided to write out the characters of Bree and her on-screen mother, Janelle (Nell Feeney). [2] They took the decision not to renew the contracts of Smit-McPhee and Feeney, following the departures of Ben Nicholas (Stingray Timmins) and Damien Bodie (Dylan Timmins). [3] Co-star Ian Smith (Harold Bishop) called the decision a "huge mistake". [3] Bree and Janelle made their final appearances in July 2007. [3] Smit-McPhee later said she left Neighbours "because of the contract and stuff" and that she made the decision with her father. [4] She added, "I didn't want to stay (on Neighbours) any longer and if I'd stayed there more than that I would be known as just Bree and I wanted to do something different." [4]

Characterisation

Network Ten describes Bree as being totally different from her siblings as they are not related biologically. [5] They call her an "introverted and studious girl" and the problem solver of the Timmins family. She "clearly possessed an overactive imagination fueled by years of reading trashy novels and her bizarre flights of fantasy made her a bit of an outsider." [5] In her early years, she was shy, but when she discovered she was not biologically related to the Timmins, she craved a new identity as a "disaffected and disillusioned young adolescent teenager" and transformed into a goth. [5] The Age described the character of Bree as "troubled" and "sullen." [4] They said her major development was "morphing into an 'emo' while grieving for her brother." [4] Of her character, Smit-McPhee said "Bree started off as a geek but a brainy one. When her brother died she didn't really find who she was. I think all teenagers go through that, to find themselves and want to be Paris (Hilton) for a day." [4]

Storylines

Bree wins a national spelling bee in 2005 and is the winner of an A$15,000 cash prize. She offers the money to her mother, Janelle (Nell Feeney) because the family was in debt at the time, but Janelle decides that the family should all get jobs and that Bree is entitled to the money she had won. Bree rewrites most of Janelle's first novel The Bogan's Tipped Hair and this is disclosed by Janelle in a (fictional) episode of Rove Live, a real television talk show aired on Network Ten, the same network that Neighbours is aired on.

In 2006, it is discovered during a science project that she is not the biological daughter of Janelle and Kim Timmins (Brett Swain), who she believed were her birth parents. The midwife who took care of Bree at the hospital reveals that Bree was switched at birth accidentally because she didn't write out the ID tags. Bree begins searching for her biological family but hides this from her non-biological family due to her worries about what they might feel. Janelle is supportive when she finds out about the search. Bree's search ends abruptly when she receives a letter from her biological parents telling her to stop searching for them, stating that they do not want to know her. Bree believes that since she does not know her birth parents, she has no real identity. Consequentially, she tries out a range of new looks, including Paris Hilton and Gothic looks. Her on-off boyfriend, Zeke Kinski (Matthew Werkmeister), tries to keep up with her new looks to impress her.

Bree makes friends with her biggest book fan, Anne Baxter (Tessa James), who is blind. Anne is revealed to be the biological daughter of Janelle and Kim, though she tries to hide it from her and the rest of the Timmins family. Still searching for a non-Timmins identity, Bree considers changing her name by deed poll, but after finding out that she isn't old enough to legally do so, she instructs her friend Rachel (Caitlin Stasey) to tell people to call her Trinity Black. After the death of her brother Stingray (Ben Nicholas), Bree stops her "gothic" theme.

Bree's non-biological grandmother, Loris Timmins (Kate Fitzpatrick) later reveals to Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) that she swapped Bree with Anne when they were babies because she felt Janelle would be an unfit mother. Feeling guilt over her action, she states that she wants to make things right, and then left Erinsborough, with Bree still unaware that Loris is the cause of the mix-up.

Anne returns in July 2007, and while Bree is pleased to see her, she is soon faced with her biological father (Anne's adoptive father) Greg (Christopher Connolly), who arrives in Erinsborough looking for Anne. When Greg finally accepts that Bree is his daughter, they came up with the plan for the Timmins to move to Cairns, so that the Baxters and Timminses can get to know each other. Dwayne, Brandon and Dylan Timmins all live up north, so they would also be closer to them. The family has a farewell party in the street, where Steiger shocks Janelle by turning it into their wedding. Allan, Janelle, Anne and Bree then fly off to Cairns in a helicopter, leaving the waving neighbours behind.

Reception

For her portrayal of Bree, Smit-McPhee was nominated for Best Young Actor at the 2006 Inside Soap Awards. [6] Larissa Dubecki from The Age praised Bree for redeeming the Timmins family. Dubecki wrote, "played with all the knowing insouciance a 13-year-old can muster by Sianoa Smit-McPhee. Bree is positively sage-like amid the daily hysteria of her mob." [7] She compared Bree to Darlene from Roseanne and added that "her raised-eyebrow archness pleases." [7]

During Bree's parentage storyline, a reporter for the Daily Record commented "Poor Bree. She's never exactly fitted in with the rest of her family. For a start, she's highly intelligent and the sensitive type – two things that the rest of the Timmins clan are rarely accused of being." [8] They observed that Bree had "shown her devious side a few times", suggesting that she might be a Timmins after all. [8]

Katie Baillie, writing for Metro included Bree on a list of the "worst Neighbours characters" ever. She justified Bree's inclusion because "she walked around with a face like a smacked bum, for no good reason." Baillie also disliked Bree's goth phase and said that renaming herself as Trinity Black was "WTF? annoying". [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramsay Street</span> Fictional cul-de-sac in the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Ramsay Street is the fictional cul-de-sac in which the characters of the Australian soap opera Neighbours live. The street is set in the equally fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. Neighbours storylines primarily centre on the residents of the street, which was named after Jack Ramsay, the grandfather of original character Max Ramsay. A blackjack game between Jack and Sam Robinson determined whose name the street would be named after. Only six houses on the street are featured on a regular basis; numbers 22 to 32. Number 34 was featured for the only time in 2018. The cul-de-sac is at the end of a long street and the rest of the houses are on the other side of the main road which bisects it. A storyline within the show saw the name of the street nearly changed to Ramsbottom Street. Harold Bishop led a protest against it and won.

Nell Feeney is an Australian actress who played Janelle Timmins on the Australian soap opera Neighbours from November 2004 to July 2007, returning briefly in 2015. She had also appeared in the soap the previous year as Joanne Blair. She was married to former cast member Shane Connor and together they have twins.

Sianoa Smit-McPhee is an Australian actress. She is best known for her years in Australian soap opera Neighbours as Bree Timmins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erinsborough</span> Fictional location from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Erinsborough is the fictional suburb where the Australian soap opera Neighbours is set. The show focuses on the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the suburb. Neighbours storylines primarily centre on the residents of Ramsay Street within other Erinsborough locations, namely The Waterhole, Harold's Café, Lassiters Hotel, Erinsborough High School and Erinsborough Hospital. Erinsborough was originally going to be named Erinsfield, which is a loose anagram of Neighbours. Throughout much of the show's run it was not stated in which city of Australia Erinsborough was located. The rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne meant that scripts did not mention that Erinsborough was a suburb of the latter city until 1994. Since the 2000s it has been explicitly stated that Erinsborough is a suburb of Melbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky Mangel</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Sky Mangel is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 1 February 1989. The character was originally played by Miranda Fryer until 1991. When Sky was reintroduced on 13 August 2003, Stephanie McIntosh took over the role. She departed on 3 August 2007. McIntosh reprised her role as part of the show's 30th anniversary celebrations on 20 March 2015. She returned for a longer stint as part of the 35th anniversary on 13 March 2020, and made an unannounced cameo appearance in the final episode on 28 July 2022, though her appearance was only broadcast in the Australian cut of the episode.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Hoyland</span> Soap opera character

Summer Hoyland is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jordy Lucas. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 May 2002. The character was originally played by Marisa Siketa from her arrival to her departure in 2005 and her subsequent returns in 2006 and 2007. In October 2009, it was announced that the character was to return to the show. Siketa auditioned for her previous role, but producers felt the character had evolved too much. They decided to cast Lucas instead after she came to their attention during Dolly magazine's "Neighbours Next Big Stars" competition. Summer returned on 11 February 2010. Lucas announced her departure from Neighbours in September 2012 and Summer departed on 10 January 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serena Bishop</span> Soap opera character

Serena Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Lara Sacher. She made her first on-screen appearance on 9 October 2003. Serena's storylines included kissing her cousin's boyfriend, being taken advantage of by a photographer and starting an incestuous relationship with her half-brother. Shortly after the character's on-screen parents were axed, it was announced in May 2005 that Sacher would also be leaving. Serena made her last appearance on 26 October 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stingray Timmins</span> Soap opera character

Scott "Stingray" Timmins is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ben Nicholas. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 11 March 2004. Stingray was introduced as Toadfish Rebecchi's cousin. The role earned Nicholas a Logie Award nomination for Best New Talent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janelle Timmins</span> Soap opera character

Janelle Steiger is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Nell Feeney. She made her first screen appearance on 11 November 2004. The character was written out and she departed on 13 July 2007. Feeney reprised her role as part of the show's 30th anniversary celebrations and returned for one episode on 11 March 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan Timmins</span> Soap opera character

Dylan Timmins is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Damien Bodie. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 3 February 2005. Dylan is introduced as part of the extended Timmins family, created around the established character Stingray Timmins. Dylan is characterised as a "bad boy" and often gets into trouble with his criminal behaviour. He is also very loyal and protects his family no matter the consequence. Dylan is portrayed as having a difficult relationship with his mother Janelle Timmins, who blames him for any problems in the family. His introduction into the series explored their mother/son dynamic as Dylan feels unloved by Janelle. Writers also created a "father figure" for Dylan, Paul Robinson and he becomes Paul's protégé carrying out jobs for him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lolly Allen</span> Soap opera character

Shannon Louise "Lolly" Allen is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 25 July 1994. Louise was played by Tessa Taylor from her birth, with Jiordan Tolli taking over the role a few months later. The character was written out in 2001 when Tolli's parents and the producers felt it was the right time for her to leave. In 2006, it was announced that Louise would be returning to Neighbours and Adelaide Kane was cast in the role, after winning the Dolly "Neighbours Next Big Stars" competition. Kane's contract was not renewed and Louise departed on 29 June 2007. The character returned for one episode on 4 October 2013 with Tolli in the role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Kinski</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Rachel Kinski is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Caitlin Stasey. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 18 August 2005. She is the middle child of Alex Kinski and sister to Zeke and Katya Kinski. Rachel's storylines ranged from parental bereavement and first love to an inappropriate relationship with an older man. Rachel departed on 11 March 2009, following Stasey's decision to quit the series to focus on her studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ned Parker</span> Soap opera character

Ned Parker is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Daniel O'Connor. He made his first appearance on screen on 9 August 2005, arriving to see his brother, Stuart. He departed on 31 July 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angie Rebecchi</span> Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Angie Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Lesley Baker. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 17 January 1995. Angie departed in 1996, but she returned for several weeks in 2002 and then in 2003 for her youngest son Toadie's wedding to Dee Bliss. The following year, Angie made another brief visit and she made a cameo in the 20th anniversary episode, which was broadcast in July 2005. The character returned again in 2006 and 2008. Baker reprised the role in February 2013, and again in August 2015. After a brief appearance in the Summer Stories webisodes in January 2017, Angie made guest returns in April and December 2017, on 12 February 2018, 11 March 2019 and in July 2022 for the show's finale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janae Timmins</span> Soap opera character

Janae Timmins is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Eliza Taylor-Cotter. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 4 April 2005. The character was created by executive producer Ric Pellizzeri as part of the new Timmins family, joining the established character Stingray Timmins. Janae is characterised as a feisty character who is unafraid of physical confrontation. She has low self-esteem due to her father Kim Timmins being absent during her childhood. Janae is featured in various storylines including having her drink spiked with rohypnol, an HIV scare and the victim of an attempted sexual assault.

The Neighbours 30th Anniversary was a series of celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of Australian television soap opera Neighbours. The celebrations span over two weeks, beginning on 4 March 2015 in Australia, while starting on 18 March in the United Kingdom. The anniversary features many storylines, but points around Paul Robinson's Erinsborough festival and the wedding of Daniel Robinson and Amber Turner. The serial's executive producer, Jason Herbison, began planning the 30th anniversary over a year in advance. Over ten former cast members from all different eras of the show were invited back to "honour the past and present". Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan were also invited, but they both downturned the offer. The celebrations marked Ian Smith and Anne Charleston's returns to Neighbours as Harold and Madge Bishop respectively. Madge was last seen during her death in 2001 and returns as a ghost in Harold's mind, which Herbison was initially worried would not be accepted by Charleston nor Smith, however both approved of it. The storyline was also popular amongst viewers.

References

  1. Houston, Melinda (May 2006). "The Street of Dreams". The Age . pp. 34–43.
  2. Kilkelly, Daniel (24 December 2006). "Report: Six 'Neighbours' stars to go". Digital Spy . Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Kilkelly, Daniel (28 June 2007). "'Neighbours' star unhappy with axings". Digital Spy . Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 McManus, Bridget (27 September 2007). "High school drama doesn't ring a bell". The Age . Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 "Bree Timmins". Network Ten. Archived from the original on 14 May 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  6. "2006 Inside Soap awards". Inside Soap (27): 50–52. 8–14 July 2006.
  7. 1 2 Dubecki, Larissa (19 January 2006). "Critic's View – Tuesday". The Age . Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Testing times ahead". Daily Record . 3 June 2006. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  9. Baillie, Katie (23 January 2016). "11 of the worst Neighbours characters ranked from Serena Bishop to Libby Kennedy". Metro . Retrieved 19 March 2022.