| Donna Bishop | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home and Away character | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
| Portrayed by | Nicola Quilter | ||||||||
| Duration | 1994–1995 | ||||||||
| First appearance | 8 November 1994 | ||||||||
| Last appearance | 23 June 1995 | ||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||
| Introduced by | John Holmes | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Donna Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away , played by Nicola Quilter. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 8 November 1994 and departed on 23 June 1995.
Quilter joined the cast in 1994. [1] Actress Kimberley Joseph also auditioned for the part of Donna, but it was Quilter who secured the role. [2] [3] Quilter starred in the series for nine months, but she felt that the role had distracted her from a music career. [4]
While working on Home and Away Quilter was stalked by a viewer who became "sexually obsessed" with her. He found out her filming schedule and repeatedly phoned her when she finished filming. He tricked her into believing it was someone close to her, but when she changed her telephone number the harassment stopped. [4]
In December 1994, Quilter fractured a bone in her foot when a wall-mounted bed fell onto it. She was given crutches to aid her mobility while it healed. Rachel Browne from The Sun-Herald reported that Quilter's accident had "thrown production schedules into disarray" because the scripts required Donna to be using her feet. [5]
Donna became central to a storyline highlighting domestic abuse. When Donna was introduced into the series she was given a backstory of her being the victim of violence inflicted by boyfriend Andrew Warren (Adrian Lee). [6] Andrew was introduced into the series and Donna decides to give their relationship another go. Lee told Victoria Ross from Inside Soap that Donna is "in big trouble" being with Andrew again. He explained that men like Andrew have something that "makes them flip" and for his character, jealousy brings on his violence. "When he sees Donna with another man he just lashes out". After Andrew witnesses Donna with Rob Storey (Matthew Lilley) and Travis Nash (Nic Testoni) he hits her and Donna is left with a black eye. [6] Lee said that he had researched the issue by looking at associated text and women who had been the victims of domestic violence. He was also "impressed" with Home and Away for choosing to portray the Donna and Andrew's story. The actor felt "edgy" about playing issue led storylines, but he was more inclined to portray this storyline as he felt it was important that the story behind the abuse was told. [6]
Donna returns to Summer Bay, having previously grown up in the area and attended school. She reconnects with former lover Rob and takes a job alongside him at their former high school. Donna is friendly toward Rob but backs off when she learns his girlfriend Roxanne Miller (Lisa Lackey) is suffering from breast cancer. Donna moves in with Michael (Dennis Coard) and Pippa Ross (Debra Lawrence) and their foster children at Summer Bay House. One day while she is taking a shower, Jack Wilson (Daniel Amalm) walks in on Donna much to her embarrassment. She is further embarrassed when Jack brags to his friends at school. As way of an apology, Jack shows Donna how to lock the door but Michael catches them in the bathroom together and demands an explanation.
Donna comforts Rob when Roxy leaves town and it looks like they may reconcile but Andrew's arrival unnerves her. It emerges that Andrew is Donna's ex-boyfriend and used to beat her. When Donna slaps Andrew during an argument, she is left feeling ashamed, thinking she is no better than him. She apologises and softens towards him. When Donna and Andrew reconcile, Rob is horrified. They seem happy until Andrew's jealousy overwhelms him when Donna begins spending time with Rob and their old friend Travis. This culminates in Andrew hitting her. Donna leaves him and later returns to collect her things but is unexpectedly attacked by Andrew. Rob arrives on the scene and rescues Donna. Andrew is arrested and leaves the Bay after resigning from his teaching position.
Donna then moves in with Travis and they become a couple. Her brother Gus (Samuel Johnson) arrives to stay with her and causes trouble for numerous bay residents. When Gus' relationship with Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie) fails, he plans to run away and taunts Donna that her inability to control him will make their parents no longer see Donna as the perfect daughter. Their father, Charles (David Baldwyn) arrives and tells Gus off about disappearing. Donna reaches her limit with Gus and threatens to report him to the police for his various acts of vandalism. Gus is then sent home. Donna then resigns from the school and decides to go on a whale-watching tour with Travis. They leave for Canada but Travis returns alone several months later, revealing that they have broken up and Donna is now with someone else.
The episode featuring the climax of Donna's domestic abuse at the hands of Andrew was nominated for "Best Episode in a Television Drama Serial" at the Australian Film Institute Awards in 1995. [7]
Curtis Reed is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Shane Ammann. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 16 September 1994. He was introduced alongside his adopted sister, Shannon Reed. He departed on 15 April 1997.
Shannon Reed is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Isla Fisher. She made her first on screen appearance on 16 September 1994. She departed on 6 August 1997. Ashley Murray played a young Shannon in flashbacks.
Sophie Dean is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Rebekah Elmaloglou. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 23 January 1990 and appeared as a regular until 1993. Elmaloglou returned to filming when Sophie made subsequent guest appearances in 2002, 2003 and 2005.
Chloe Richards is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Kristy Wright. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 28 June 1995. Chloe left in 1999, making a short return stint in 2005 when she died from the resulting injuries of a car crash. Chloe has relationships with Jack Wilson, Curtis Reed, Lachlan Fraser, James Fraser and Jesse McGregor.
Jack Wilson is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Daniel Amalm. He made his first appearance on 1 April 1994. Jack was introduced as a new foster child for the characters of Michael and Pippa Ross. Amalm auditioned for the role in the place of his friend, who could not attend. Many actors auditioned to play Jack, but Amalm was eventually cast. Jack is characterised as a "bad boy" and a "wild child" and Amalm enjoyed playing the role of the "baddie". Jack's storylines feature racial abuse, rebellious behaviour, joy riding and various romances. In 1996, Amalm quit the series to concentrate on his music career. The actor did not like the monotony that accompanied playing the same role, but he remained open minded about a future return. He did so in 2000, when Jack returned as part of episodes centred on a fellow character's wedding.
Selina Cook is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Tempany Deckert. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 5 May 1994. Deckert was given the role of Selina after her third audition for the show. In 1996, Deckert fell ill and Louise Crawford played Selina in her absence. In 1997, Deckert decided to leave the serial, however briefly returned in 1998. Her return was filmed in Ironbridge, Shropshire, as part of the serial's first ever overseas location filming. Selina's last appearance to date was on 30 March 1998, where she agreed to marry Steven.
Shane Parrish is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Dieter Brummer. He made his first on-screen appearance on 28 May 1992 and he departed on 13 March 1996.
Justine Welles is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Bree Desborough. She made her first on-screen appearance on 5 June 1997 and departed on 7 April 2000.
Rebecca Jane Nash is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. The character was played by actress Jane Hall in 1989, Danielle Carter in 1994, and Belinda Emmett from 1996 to 1999. Megan Connolly temporarily played the character in 1998 while Belinda Emmett received treatment for cancer.
Travis David Nash is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by actor Nic Testoni. He made his first on screen appearance on 10 April 1995 and departed on 11 August 1999.
Rob Storey is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Matthew Lilley. He appeared in the series from 13 July 1994 until 12 May 1995.
Kelly Watson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away portrayed by Katrina Hobbs. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 28 August 1995 and departed on 25 April 1997.
Angel Marie Broadhurst is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portrayed by Melissa George. She made her first on-screen appearance on 30 March 1993, arriving as a teenage runaway. The character became popular amongst viewers when she was paired up with Shane Parrish, and to this day they remain one of the soap's most loved couples. George departed Home and Away on 30 August 1996. Angel said goodbye to Summer Bay and left for England with her children and new boyfriend.
Blake Dean is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Les Hill. Blake debuted on screen during the episode broadcast on 26 July 1990.
Morag Buckton QC is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Cornelia Frances. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 7 June 1988. She appeared until 1989 and briefly appeared in 1993. She returned yearly from 2001 until 2009, again from 2011 to 2013 and again from 2016 to 2017. Before she died, Frances had expressed her desire to once again become a permanent cast member. Morag has been described as an antagonistic, independent and cold character. Morag is portrayed as a tough lawyer. She has been involved in storylines such as adopting out her illegitimate daughter Bobby Simpson, being widowed, helping her brother Alf Stewart through his many legal battles and a friendship with troubled teen Aden Jefferies. She has been well received by certain critics for her feisty persona, whilst others have criticised her professional skills.
Eric "Ric" Dalby is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Mark Furze. He appeared in the series from 15 September 2004 until 24 July 2008. Furze was cast into the role after an audition and a screen test impressed producers. Furze said he was attracted to the role because of Ric's characterisation. Ric was initially portrayed as a bully of vulnerable people and held no respect for authority. Through his storylines, Ric transforms into one of the serial's "good guys" but his violent temper remained. Both Furze and interested media noted that Ric getting involved in fights became a dominant feature throughout his tenure.
Te Rangitahi "Rangi" Heremaia is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who was portrayed by Blair Strang from 1995 to 2001.