Caitlin Atkins

Last updated

Caitlin Atkins
Neighbours character
Caitlin Atkins.jpg
Portrayed byEmily Milburn
Duration1997–1998
First appearance29 September 1997 (1997-09-29)
Last appearance24 June 1998 (1998-06-24)
Classification Former; regular
Introduced byStanley Walsh
In-universe information
OccupationStudent
Swimmer
Brothers Nicholas Atkins
Ben Atkins (adoptive)

Caitlin Atkins is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours , played by Emily Milburn. The actress originally auditioned for the role of Anne Wilkinson and received the part of Caitlin six months later. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 29 September 1997. Caitlin is introduced as the younger sister of series regular Ben Atkins (Brett Cousins). She is portrayed as being strong willed and manipulative, yet vulnerable. Milburn said Caitlin was very different from her, but she enjoyed cutting loose for the role. Caitlin is a talented swimmer and she falls for her training partner, Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer), whom she pursues despite knowing he is in a relationship. Producers decided to write the character out of the show in April 1998. Caitlin departed alongside her older brother, Nicholas Atkins (Jason Crewes) on 24 June 1998.

Contents

Casting

Milburn originally auditioned for the role of Anne Wilkinson, but it was Brooke Satchwell who was eventually cast. [1] Of her audition, Milburn said "It was the worst audition I'd ever done. Afterwards I bawled my eyes out. I thought I'd never work for Neighbours, but six months later I got the part of Caitlin." [2] Milburn enjoyed being part of the cast, which felt like a family to her. [2] Milburn later explained how she had never really considered a career as an actor despite being interested in the industry. After deciding to get an agent, she thought she would attend a few auditions and she secured a role in The Genie from Down Under . [3] Milburn said that her "whole year turned upside down" when she won the role of Caitlin. She had to drop four of her VCE subjects in order to film on the show. [3] In February 1998, Colin Vickery of the Herald Sun reported that Milburn had signed on for another stint with the show. [3] Milburn initially signed on to play Caitlin for 13 weeks, as producers tested out the character, and the audience reaction was positive. [3] Milburn told Vickery: "I never dreamed I'd get an offer like this so soon in my acting career. I thought something like this would only happen a long time in the future." [3] She hoped that after Neighbours, she would finish school, travel, study drama, and then try for work in the theatre and film. [3]

Development

Caitlin is introduced as the younger sister of Ben Atkins (Brett Cousins). She comes to stay with him while their parents are overseas for work. [4] Caitlin decides to "fire up the neighbourhood", as she feels lost and rejected by her parents. [1] Describing the character's personality, a writer for the Illawarra Mercury said "Caitlin Atkins manages to stir up trouble in Ramsay Street, hiding her inner feelings under an air of tough bravado." [1] Milburn found that Caitlin was very different from her and she called Caitlin her "worst nightmare." [1] She said: "I had to think about my worst nightmare and play it like that because I'm usually pretty calm. I hold back a little bit and I don't think like Caitlin does, but it was fun to cut loose and just go for it." [1] Milburn told Annette Dasey of Inside Soap that Caitlin is a "crazy woman" at first as she wants to be noticed and popular. Although she is strong willed, Caitlin has a vulnerable side too. [2] Playing the character's "bitchy" side worried Milburn, and she initially struggled to accept "the love/hate response" Caitlin received from the audience. [3] Caitlin is a talented swimmer. A writer for the BBC said she "displayed an intense dedication to her training regime." [4] Milburn was also an accomplished swimmer and said she and Caitlin shared the same strength and determination. [2]

Caitlin prioritises finding a boyfriend over swimming and she sets her sights on her training partner, Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer). [2] Milburn explained that Caitlin falls for Billy immediately and she does not care that he is dating Anne Wilkinson. Caitlin wants him and prepares to go all out to get him. [2] Billy and Anne were a popular couple with the serial's viewers at the time. [3] Caitlin's profile on the BBC states that she becomes "quite a determined young woman" and uses her "feminine wiles" to try to date Billy. [4] After flirting "non-stop" with him, the pair share "a passionate kissing session that Anne witnesses." [3] Milburn told Vickery (Herald Sun) that she would never copy her character's actions as she would "hate it" if it were to happen to her. [3] She also believed that the absence of Caitlin's parents led her to want to be wanted by someone. She said "I think the whole thing with Billy is 'I need to be loved' rather than 'I'm in love and I love him'. She could potentially break the couple up because of her own insecurity rather than any real love she has for Billy." [3] Milburn told Vickery that she knew Caitlin was supposed to be "strong-willed", but she was surprised that she became "as devious" as she did. [3] Caitlin continues to pursue Billy, which causes Anne "heartache". [5] She later dates fellow swimmer, Josh Hughes (Sullivan Stapleton). [4]

In April 1998, Inside Soap's Jason Herbison reported that Milburn's character had been written out of the show. [6] Herbison commented that Caitlin had seemingly run her course, but the news came as a surprise to Milburn. She stated "It wasn't my decision to leave. It was just something they decided regarding my character." [6] Caitlin and her older brother, Nicholas Atkins (Jason Crewes) leave Ramsay Street together and return to Adelaide. [7] The siblings make sure the residents do not forget them in a hurry by painting a goodbye message on the road. [7] Of her character's exit, Milburn said "I was sad to go. But it's a good chance to do other things. I'm looking forward to travelling and studying, as well as playing different characters." [7]

Storylines

When her parents decided to move away temporarily to the Middle East for her father's work, Caitlin decided she wanted to stay in Australia. With one brother, Nicholas, travelling the world tutoring the children of wealthy families, Caitlin was shipped off to stay with her other brother, Ben. Caitlin's main passion in life was swimming, at which she competed at professional levels. Upon arriving in Erinsborough, Caitlin immediately heads down to the local pool to check out the facilities. She soon meets Billy Kennedy who works as a pool attendant and she soon decides that he would be hers. When Caitlin learns that Billy is already in a relationship with Anne Wilkinson, Ben's biological half-sister, she is disappointed, but this is not enough to put her off.

Caitlin manages to make friends with Mandi Rodgers (Sabina Lokic) from the swim team, but fails to impress her neighbours and housemates on Ramsay Street with her behaviour. Sarah Beaumont (Nicola Charles) is particularly unhappy about having to share with a teenager. Caitlin begins to feel increasingly isolated on the street, and her friendship with Billy strengthens, especially when Caitlin learns that he is a very competent swimmer and he joins the local team. The more time Caitlin and Billy spend together training causes Anne to feel paranoid. When the team heads off to Sydney to compete, and Billy and Anne have been going through an especially rocky patch, Caitlin seizes her opportunity to make a move on Billy. She kisses him, unaware that Anne had followed Billy to Sydney in order to resolve the problems in their relationship. Anne sees them kissing in Billy's hotel room, which causes further damage to their already fragile union.

Upon their return to Erinsborough, things are frosty and are not helped when Ben falls into a coma following a racing accident at Calder Park Raceway. Caitlin and Anne briefly put their differences aside out of concern for their shared brother. After Ben makes progress, Anne and Caitlin resume the grudge and Billy is forced to choose between them. Billy chooses Anne. However, Anne and Caitlin remain friends and play a trick on bully Jacinta Myers (Caroline Morgan) during the Erinsborough High Swim Carnival by switching places, which fools Jacinta into thinking she is initially racing weaker swimmer Anne, when in fact she is up against Caitlin who bests her in the event.

Josh Hughes arrives in Erinsborough to train with the swim team. Despite him being a few years older, Caitlin quickly falls for him. One day, The couple decide to skip swimming class and spend the day together, but while play fighting, Josh falls and sprains his arm. However, it soon emerges that he is exaggerating his injury in order to escape from training and spend more time with Caitlin. As the couple find themselves in trouble from all angles – including from Caitlin's brother Nicholas, who has come to look after her during Ben's convalescence- they decide to run away. However, the couple do not get very far and upon their eventual return, Josh has to go home and Caitlin realises things have failed to work out for her once again.

Caitlin constantly clashes with Nick as he is not only her guardian but her teacher at school now and finds things a lot tougher than when Ben was in charge. Meanwhile, things between Billy and Anne stall as he is unable to cope with her jealousy. Billy starts spending more time with Caitlin and attempts to start a romance with her, but Caitlin is unimpressed after all that had happened in the past. Caitlin's problems worsen when she pushes herself too far during swimming while training to win a place at the AIS and ends up collapsing in the pool at home. Caitlin is rushed to hospital and diagnosed by Dr. Veronica Olenski (Caroline Lloyd) with exhaustion. After several days rest, Caitlin figures that there is no point in making herself ill for her passion.

Caitlin notices how much Anne's twin brother, Lance (Andrew Bibby) is missing Amy Greenwood (Jacinta Stapleton) as his girlfriend, she hatches a plan to help Lance win her back. Caitlin and Lance begin pretending to see each other, making Amy extremely jealous. Amy confronts Caitlin in the toilets at Little Tommy Tucker's and warns her off, leaving Caitlin happy that her plan has worked. When Nick receives news that their mother had decided to return to Australia and wants him and Caitlin to return home to Adelaide, Caitlin refuses to believe him, but reluctantly agrees to leave with him but before her departure she paints "Never Forget Cait + Nick!" on the road as something for her friends to remember her by.

Reception

The Herald Sun's Colin Vickery stated that "Caitlin has quickly become the character you love to hate on the Channel Ten soapie." [3] A columnist for Inside Soap branded Caitlin "a minx" and said she would spice Ramsay Street up. [8] Steven Murphy of the same publication later stated that Caitlin had made "a big impact in Erinsborough". [7] Annette Dasey stated "Wilful and manipulative, Ben Atkins' younger sister Caitlin is trouble with a capital T." [2] While a reporter for the Illawarra Mercury said Caitlin was "nothing short of a nightmare." [1] When Caitlin began pursuing Billy, Michelle Hamer of The Sydney Morning Herald branded the character a "scheming teen temptress." [5] The character's profile on the BBC stated that her most notable moment was "Kissing Billy." [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 whom 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. The street behind Ramsay Street is named Mirrabooka Drive. 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.

The Robinson family are a fictional family from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours. The family were created by Reg Watson and introduced in the first episode of the serial, broadcast on 18 March 1985. The family initially consisted of Jim Robinson, his mother-in-law Helen Daniels, and his four children Paul Robinson, Julie Martin, Scott Robinson, and Lucy Robinson. The Robinsons have one of the largest and most complex family trees in the show's history.

Philip Martin (<i>Neighbours</i>) Soap opera character

Philip Gordon Martin is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ian Rawlings. Originally played by Christopher Milne during the character's first appearance in 1985, Rawlings took over the role when the character returned to the show in 1992 and remained until 1999. He briefly returned in 2005 for several episodes, and later in 2017 for the web series Neighbours vs Time Travel, and in 2022 for the show's then finale. Rawlings reprised the role in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Wilkinson</span> Soap opera character

Lance Wilkinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Andrew Bibby. He made his first on-screen appearance on 9 August 1995. Bibby was cast in the recurring role of Lance after an audition. After a year, Bibby auditioned for another character called Jon and the writers chose to turn him into Lance. Lance was a bookish, paranoid boy, with a kind heart and keen wit. Lance departed on 29 March 2001, but Bibby reprised his role in July 2005 for the show's 20th anniversary, in 2018 and also for the final episode in 2022. Bibby reprised his role in a flashback sequence the following year.

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

Anne Wilkinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Brooke Satchwell. She made her first on screen appearance on 19 November 1996. Satchwell quit the role in 1999 and the character departed on 5 April 2000

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hannah Martin</span> Soap opera character

Hannah Martin is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Rebecca Ritters. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 July 1992. Hannah is the only child of Philip and Julie Martin and the younger sister to Michael and Debbie. The Martin family were written out in 1999 and Hannah departed on 20 October 1999. In 2005, Ritters reprised her role for a brief cameo in the show's 20th anniversary episode.

Billy Kennedy (<i>Neighbours</i>) Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Billy Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jesse Spencer. He made his first appearance on 27 September 1994, arriving in Ramsay Street with his family. He departed on 5 April 2000, but made a small cameo for the show's 20th anniversary episode broadcast on 27 July 2005, and for the show's then final episode on 28 July 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Kirk</span> Soap opera character

Andrew "Drew" Kirk is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Dan Paris. Following his decision to move into acting, Paris won the role of Drew after attending his first ever audition. He admitted that he initially found filming difficult, as he was not sure what he was doing. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 27 March 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Beaumont</span> Soap opera character

Sarah Beaumont is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Nicola Charles. Shortly after Charles moved to Australia, she was encouraged to try out for a part in the serial by a drama coach. The actress received the role of Sarah and made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 25 September 1996. In January 1999, it was announced that Charles had decided to quit Neighbours to move to London with her then fiancé. She filmed her final scenes in April 1999 and Sarah departed on-screen on 13 July 1999. Charles later appeared in the show's 20th anniversary episode, which was broadcast in July 2005. Charles reprised the role in 2012 and Sarah made a six-week return from 4 February 2013. She returned again from 5 April 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Greenwood</span> Fictional character

Amy Greenwood is a fictional character from the Australian soap Neighbours, played by Jacinta Stapleton. She made her first on-screen appearance on 10 July 1997. Amy is characterised as flirtatious and ditzy, especially interested in fashion and gossip. During her original duration in the series, writers created a long-running on/off relationship with Lance Wilkinson. Amy later begins relationship with flight attendant Damien Smith and elopes with him after discovering she is pregnant. Amy departed on 21 March 2000. Five years later, Stapleton reprised her role for the show's 20th anniversary episode in July 2005. She reprised the role again in December 2020 and later re-joined the regular cast. Her final regular appearance was on 28 July 2022 during the serial's finale, although she returned on 13 November 2023 for two flashback episodes, which showed why Amy had left Ramsay Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Wilkinson</span> Soap opera character

Ruth Wilkinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ailsa Piper. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 3 October 1996. Ruth was introduced as Helen Daniels' physiotherapist. She was a divorced single mother, who later established a relationship with Philip Martin, which attracted some opposition from their children. The relationship was later tested by the introduction of Ruth's long lost son, Ben Atkins and his father Geoff Burke. Philip and Ruth marry in 1998, amid a breast cancer scare for Ruth. The Martin family were written out of Neighbours and they departed together on 20 October 1999. Piper reprised her role for the show's 20th anniversary episode, which aired on 27 July 2005.

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

Joel Samuels is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Daniel MacPherson. MacPherson secured the role after auditioning for casting director Jan Russ, who suggested that the script producers write the part of Joel for him. He relocated to Melbourne for filming, and made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 13 May 1998. Joel was introduced as a friend of Malcolm Kennedy and comes to Erinsborough to stay with his family. MacPherson decided to leave Neighbours after four years and his exit scenes aired on 29 January 2002, as Joel leaves to work with a marine explorer. MacPherson reprised the role for the show final episodes, which aired in July 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teresa Bell</span> Soap opera character

Teresa "Tess" Bell is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Krista Vendy. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 17 September 1999 and departed on 18 September 2001. In 2023, Vendy reprised the role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Atkins</span> Soap opera character

Ben Atkins is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Brett Cousins. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 9 April 1997. He departed on 22 May 1998, before making a two-episode guest appearance the following month.

The Kennedy family are a fictional family from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. They have been a large part of the show since 1994, when the five-strong family moved into Ramsay Street. Both Karl Kennedy and his wife Susan celebrated 20 years on the show in 2014, and are stalwarts of the fictional Erinsborough community, with Karl serving as the area's doctor and Susan as principal of Erinsborough High. They have earned multiple award nominations for their roles. The Kennedy family has expanded to introduce several others since its conception, although plays a relatively minor role as of 2014, with Karl and Susan as the only members of their family still residing in Ramsay Street.

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

Wendy Rodwell is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Candice Leask. Leask secured the role of Wendy after sending in an audition tape in October 2021, however she was unsure if the character was right for her until she read over the script again. It was Leask's fifth audition for the show. The character was initially meant to only appear in a single episode, but Leask discovered that writers had plans to reintroduce the character the following year to coincide with producers' plans to bring in another busybody character. Leask made her debut on 2 December 2021 and returned in February the following year as a recurring character, as requested by the serial's executive producer, Jason Herbison.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Playing her worst nightmare is still a dream come true". Illawarra Mercury . 7 November 1997. p. 35. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dasey, Annette (21 March – 3 April 1998). "I want your man!". Inside Soap . No. 97. p. 14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Vickery, Colin (11 February 1998). "Playing the bitch pays off for Emily" . Herald Sun . Retrieved 10 February 2024– via Gale.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Character: Caitlin Atkins". BBC. Archived from the original on 16 December 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  5. 1 2 Hamer, Michelle (19 January 1998). "New year fireworks". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  6. 1 2 Herbison, Jason (18 April – 1 May 1998). "Hello and goodbye!". Inside Soap . No. 99. p. 35.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Murphy, Steven (17–30 October 1998). "G'bye cobbers". Inside Soap . No. 112. p. 9.
  8. ↑ "Turn-ons & turn-offs!". Inside Soap . No. 97. 21 March – 3 April 1998. p. 9.
  9. ↑ "Character: Caitlin Atkins". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 25 March 2004. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.