Kirsty Sutherland

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Kirsty Sutherland
Home and Away character
Kirsty Sutherland.jpg
Portrayed by Christie Hayes
Duration2000–2005, 2008–2009
First appearance19 June 2000
Last appearance28 October 2009
Classification Former; regular
Book appearancesHearts Divided
Dani on Trial
Second Chances
Spin-off
appearances		 Home and Away: Secrets and the City
Home and Away: Hearts Divided
In-universe information
Other namesKirsty Phillips
OccupationStudent (2000–04)
Kiosk worker
Hairdresser (2001)
Waitress (2008)
Escort (2008)
Administrative Assistant (2008–09)
Father Rhys Sutherland
Mother Shelley Sutherland
Stepmother Beth Hunter
Brothers Scott Hunter (step)
Robbie Hunter (step)
Henry Hunter (step)
Sisters Dani Sutherland
Jade Sutherland(adoptive)
Laura DeGroot
Kit Hunter(step)
Matilda Hunter (step)
Husband Kane Phillips
(2004–09)
Sons Oliver Phillips
GrandfathersJohn Sutherland
Geoff Webb
Grandmothers Avril Webb
Uncles Pete Sutherland
AuntsKerry Webb
First cousins Max Sutherland

Kirsty Sutherland (also Phillips) is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away , played by Christie Hayes between 2000 and 2005 and again from 2008 to 2009. Kirsty first appeared on-screen during the episode airing on 19 June 2000 and has been involved in one of the serial's most controversial storylines in which she knowingly started a relationship with a man who sexually assaulted her sister. Other notable plots include a baby swap plot, two miscarriages and a string of relationships including one with her supposed half-brother. Actress Hayes began playing the role at age thirteen and has quit the serial on two occasions, she made her original departure on 23 February 2005.

Contents

Casting

Actress Christie Hayes auditioned for the role when she was thirteen years old and secured it. [1] In 2008 it was revealed that Hayes was returning to the serial and likened it to returning home when she stated: "It felt like coming home after I had moved out already, everything changed but was really still the same, it was refreshing and exciting." [2]

In 2009, Hayes decided to leave the serial again and filmed her final scenes in August. [3] She cited that the time felt right, but added she was happy she had come back for the time she had. [1] Hayes later said that she is not planning to return in the future, but will not completely rule it out. [4]

Character development

Characterisation

On the subject of Kirsty's personality changes during her time away from Summer Bay, Hayes stated: "As a mum, she has become protective of her kids around her, but is still trying to figure herself out." [2] Speaking of Kirsty overall development after Hayes finished filming, she stated: "I like how the character's been resolved and the way she's grown up - she was a little girl when she first arrived and now she's not only divorced but even had a storyline where she needed money and started working as an escort!" [1]

Relationship with Kane Phillips

Kirsty's relationship with Kane Phillips (Sam Atwell) proved to be one of the serial's most controversial storylines in its history. [5] The controversy stemmed from a previous storyline in which Kane sexually assaulted her sister Dani Sutherland (Tammin Sursok), knowing this Kirsty pursues Kane. [6] Atwell later departed and the storyline was phased out until the revelation that the storyline had actually proved so popular with viewers that producers brought back Atwell's character to resume their relationship. [5] Producer's decided to capitalise on the pairing's popularity by making a tie in Book, CD and a DVD titled Home and Away: Hearts Divided. [6]

Exit

Kirsty's exit storyline aired in 2009. One of her final storylines is her miscarriage and subsequent breakdown of her relationship with Miles Copeland (Josh Quong Tart) which leads her to run away from Summer Bay without telling him. [7] This was out of character for Kirsty to not tell Miles, Hayes branded the exit as selfish and during an interview why she did it, stating: "It's horrible! It's so selfish but I forgive it because I see Kirsty in her right mind wouldn't have actually done that. She's emotionally detached and I think she thought at the time she was doing the best thing [...] She thinks that if she talked about it with Miles, he'd try and talk her out of it and she might stay and then they'd be stuck going back and forth." [7] However Hayes still disapproved of the way it was handled stating: "I don't agree with what she did or how she did it but Kirsty in her warped, grieving mind thinks it's best for everybody." [7] Paula Forrest also returned as her on-screen mother Shelley Sutherland for her departure, Hayes was delighted by this and stated: "That was fantastic! We both know our characters back to front and, even though she hasn't played Shelley for a very long time, it was like no time had passed at all. Leaving Home and Away was really an emotional time for me, so I loved having a mother figure there." [8] Hayes also praised her exit storyline citing it as realistic to just leave without being killed off or being part of a dramatic illness plot. [7]

Storylines

Kirsty arrives with the rest of her family and take over the caravan park. She has a short romance with Nick Smith (Chris Egan), but she dumps him already after a week when she has feelings for someone else. She has also dated Seb Miller (Mitch Firth). She later falls in love with Dylan Russell (Brett Hicks-Maitland), they begin a relationship but his mother Angie (Laurie Foell) claims he is fathered by Rhys Sutherland (Michael Beckley) meaning they are siblings. Disgusted they break things off, many months later it's revealed that Angie lied. She later falls in love with Kane even though he raped her sister Dani. This leaves Dani devastated and she tries to break them up on a number of occasions. Kirsty pretends that she is pregnant and keep the lie up for a while, unable to cover it up she then pretends to miscarry. Kirsty then shockingly discovers she is actually pregnant for real, she then has to tell everyone the news, after a few weeks in an ironic turn of events she miscarries for real. Dani accidentally runs Kane over and is later imprisoned. Kirsty also believes she did it on purpose. Everyone comes to accept her relationship in the end when they realise Kane has changed.

Kirsty and other members of her family later get trapped down a mine shaft, she and Jade Sutherland (Kate Garven) use their twin psychic powers to contact each other and get out alive. She later finds out her real twin isn't Jade after there was a mix up at birth and Laura DeGroot (also played by Hayes) is her real twin sister. Kirsty later flees Summer Bay with Kane for a life on the run after Kane is framed for armed robbery. Kirsty is also pregnant. Three years later, they return with the help of Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger). Kane goes to prison after he blows the prom dance up. After he is released, Kirsty realizes she doesn't love Kane anymore and the couple split up and he leaves. Kirsty starts working at the Diner, then she gets a job at the school where she falls for Miles Copeland and they begin a relationship. Martin Bartlett (Bob Baines), the headmaster then develops feelings for Kirsty and starts sexually harassing her. He threatens to fire her for not responding to his advances, when that doesn't work he sacks Miles instead. Kirsty becomes pregnant, then miscarries. She and Miles break up but later try to patch things up. Kirsty's mother Shelley returns to support her and convinces her to move back to the City with her. Kirsty leaves with her son Ollie (Oliver Davis) without telling Miles.

Reception

The Armidale Express commented on Kirsty's relationship with Kane stating: "The Romeo and Juliet love story between Kane and love interest Kirsty (played by Christie Hayes) still remains one of the greatest (if not most controversial) Home And Away love stories." [5] Soap opera coverage website Holy Soap branded her final episode as a real tear jerker. [7] Holy soap also brand her wedding to Kane as "bizarre" because of the double wedding and stated "it's little wonder" that the pair had a private wedding. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christie Hayes</span> Australian actress and singer

Christie Ayrna Lynne Hayes is an Australian actress, known for her work on the television series Home and Away as Kirsty Phillips who she played from June 2000 to February 2005, and again from May 2008 to October 2009. Since 2022 she has co-hosted the Dan & Christie Breakfast radio show. Hayes is the sister of actress Katherine Hayes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beth Hunter</span> Soap opera character

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhys Sutherland</span> Soap opera character

Rhys Sutherland is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portrayed by actor Michael Beckley from 2000 to late 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelley Sutherland</span> Soap opera character

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jade Sutherland</span> Soap opera character

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kane Phillips</span> Soap opera character

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Scott Hunter (<i>Home and Away</i>) Soap opera character

Scott John Hunter is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Kip Gamblin. He made his first on-screen appearance on 23 January 2003. The character was riding a white horse onto the beach, where he was spotted by Dani Sutherland. Scott departed on 25 November 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seb Miller</span> Soap opera character

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Josh West (<i>Home and Away</i>) Soap opera character

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Armstrong</span> Soap opera character

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leah Patterson-Baker</span> Fictional character

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morag Bellingham</span> Fictional character in Home & Away

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dani Sutherland</span> Soap opera character

Danielle "Dani" Sutherland is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Tammin Sursok. The actress successfully auditioned for the role of Dani in 1999 and she called the experience incredible. Sursok considered herself lucky to get the part, as the audition was the first one she had had since acquiring an agent. She made her first screen appearance as Dani during the episode broadcast on 19 June 2000. After four years in the role, Sursok made the decision to leave Home and Away in 2004 to pursue a music career and other acting opportunities and as a result Dani departed the series on 12 November 2004. She later explained that she had also become frustrated with the serial's producers. Sursok was glad that her character was written out of the show without anything bad happening to her.

Miles Copeland (<i>Home and Away</i>) Fictional character in Home and Away

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ric Dalby</span> Soap opera character

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rowe, Darren (19 October 2009). "Hayes reveals reason behind 'H&A' exit". Digital Spy . (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  2. 1 2 Rowe, Darren (14 April 2009). "Hayes: Return 'felt like coming home'". Digital Spy . (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  3. ↑ Rowe, Darren (17 August 2009). "Christie Hayes to leave 'Home and Away'". Digital Spy . (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  4. ↑ "Christie's long journey". Holy Soap . (Channel 5). 20 October 2010. Archived from the original on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 "Home And Away star Australia Day guest". The Armidale Express. (Fairfax Media). 11 January 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  6. 1 2 Mercado, Andrew (2004). Super Aussie soaps: behind the scenes of Australia's best loved TV shows. Pluto Press Australia. p. 270. ISBN   1-86403-191-3 . Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Christie: Kirsty exit selfish". Holy Soap . (Channel 5). 10 December 2010. Archived from the original on 15 December 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  8. ↑ "Farwell Kirsty". Yahoo!7 . (Seven Network). 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  9. ↑ "Home and Away: Weddings (Part One)". Holy Soap . (Channel 5). Archived from the original on 26 August 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
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