| Sam Holden | |||||||||||||||
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| Home and Away character | |||||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Jessica Chapnik | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2006–08 | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 17 October 2006 | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 15 April 2008 | ||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former, recurring | ||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Julie McGauran | ||||||||||||||
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Samantha Holden (previously Deeks and Tolhurst) is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away , played by Jessica Chapnik. She made her first on-screen appearance on 17 October 2006.
In 2006 Chapnik secured the role of Sam by chance. [1] In 2008, it was announced that Chapnik was leaving Home and Away to pursue a career in the United States. [2]
Chapnik said Sam was an interesting character to play because she was "full of self-loathing and was so misunderstood". Sam was "doomed to fail from the beginning" and her "decline made sense" because she was always "quite tragic". Sam's "heaviness" made it hard for Chapnik to defend her actions, Chapnik also felt she had never experienced this with any other character. [1]
Sam is involved in a love triangle storyline through her relationship with Jack Holden (Paul O'Brien) and his ex-wife Martha MacKenzie (Jodi Gordon). [3] Martha feels low after an abortion and kisses Jack, while Sam watches. O'Brien stated in an interview with Yahoo, "I think Jack felt like "Oh this is nice, but I've moved on, I've finally moved on and found someone, but deep down he still wants Martha." O'Brien added that he believes Jack was always in love with Martha, even whilst with he was in a relationship with Sam. [4] Martha later tries on Sam's wedding dress, causing more trouble. Gordon said that viewers would have rather seen Jack with Martha. [3]
In one storyline Sam becomes involved in a feud with Johnny Cooper (Callan Mulvey). He physically attacks Sam and threatens her son, Rory Tolhurst (Jack Rickard), to force her into helping with his plan to kill Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie). Johnny begins blackmailing Sam and she decides to attack him with a cricket bat. [5] Johnny survives and is taken to hospital where Sam murders him by administering a srynge of drugs. Despite her actions Jack reads a letter that Johnny wrote detailing the truth about Sam's past. [6] Sam's exit storyline was played out in secret. Viewers were kept in suspense when a unidentified body washes up on the beach. It is eventually revealed to be Sam's. However, Sam had killed herself and attempted to frame Jack and Martha for her "murder". [7]
Sam attends to Jack after he loses the use of his legs. They form a bond and begin training. Jack quizzes Sam about her love life and she is evasive. One night, Sam opens up about her husband, Shane (Mike Duncan) and the breakdown of their marriage after the death of their daughter, Jessica. Sam and Jack grow closer together and they begin a relationship. Shane later kidnaps Rory (Ed Wills) but he dies in the ensuing police chases and Rory is returned unharmed. Sam and Rory leave the bay but return and settle in the area.
Jack proposes and Sam accepts but there is an obstacle; Jack's ex-wife, Martha. Things are not helped when Sam catches Martha in her wedding dress. Martha tries to stop the wedding but she is too late. Several weeks later, Johnny Cooper (Callan Mulvey), a cellmate of Shane escapes and blackmails Sam into helping him track down and kill Sally Fletcher. After Johnny attacks her, Sam hits him over the head with a cricket bat when he is about to stab Ric Dalby (Mark Furze). Johnny is left brain damaged and Sam kills him by giving him an overdose of medication. Jack finds a letter Johnny has hidden and attempts to arrest Sam but she tells him she is pregnant. Sam is unwilling to go quietly and suffers a miscarriage in a struggle with Jack.
Sam leaves for the city with Rory but he refuses to leave with her. Sam, having lost everything decides to commit suicide and in one final act of revenge, she frames Jack and Martha for murder. The evidence is overwhelming and Martha and Jack are looking at a prison sentence until Morag Bellingham (Cornelia Frances) theorises that Sam had killed herself, which is proven at the last minute when Jack tracks down the drug dealer, Joe Stephens (Terence Hepburn) who'd sold Sam the heroin and been forced to bruise her. Sam's funeral is held in the city. Rory, who blames Jack for Sam's death, orders Jack not to attend.
Eleven Magazine opined that Sam caused "quite a bit of chaos in the sleepy town of Summer Bay". [8] Scott Ellis of the Sun-Herald said Sam was like a "murderous psycho". [9] Carolyn Stewart writing for TV Week said that following Sam's "erratic behaviour" and murder of Johnny, that it "was only a matter of time before karma caught up with her" and she died. [7] While Inside Soap said that Sam's "cock-up" was not expecting that Morag would uncover the truth behind her death. They also opined that Sam should not have killed herself, because "revenge doesn't taste quite so sweet if you're not around to savour it." [10] Critics writing for the Daily Record have branded Sam as a "moralising physiotherapist" and a "meddling physiotherapist". [11] [12] A fellow disappointed critic bemoaned Sam's murder technique because killing Johnny with the cricket bat would have been "far more impressive". [6]
Jack Anthony Holden is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Paul O'Brien. He made his first on-screen appearance on 5 August 2005. Jack was a police officer. The Holden family — Jack, his father Tony and his brother Lucas arrived in Summer Bay in 2005. In November 2008, the season finale, Jack was accidentally shot in the chest at a construction site by fellow police officer, Angelo Rosetta. In the first episode of the 2009 season, it was revealed that Jack had died after paramedics failed to revive him at the scene. Paul O'Brien decided to leave the series in 2008 and Jack made his last appearance in the second episode into 2009.
Paul O'Brien is a South African-Australian actor, known for his role as Jack Holden in the television soap opera Home and Away, for which he won the Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent in 2006.
Martha MacKenzie is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Jodi Gordon. Martha made her first on-screen appearance on 8 September 1988. She was originally played by Burcin Kapkin. In 2005, the character returned to Home and Away, played by Jodi Gordon. Gordon was a model and she took acting lessons before auditioning for the role. Gordon won a Logie Award for "Most Popular New Female Talent" in 2006 and she earned several more award nominations for her portrayal of Martha. Martha returned on screen on 30 March 2005.
Robert George "Robbie" Hunter is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Jason Smith. He made his first on screen appearance on 25 November 2003. Robbie's storylines have included adjusting to a new stepfamily, a HIV scare, his relationship and subsequent marriage to Tasha Andrews, standing trial for the murder of his grandfather and becoming a father. Robbie departed on 10 October 2006.
Johnny Cooper is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Callan Mulvey. He made his first on-screen appearance on 19 October 2006.
Rachel Marie Holden is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Amy Mathews. Rachel debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 16 January 2006. In 2010 Mathews quit the serial to pursue other projects and her on-screen husband Tony Holden was also written out. Rachel has been described as "work driven and professional" and a "sharp mind". Her storylines include a failed marriage to Kim Hyde, her marriage to Tony and suffering post-natal depression. Rachel went on a downward spiral following the death of her mother and a helicopter crash which she blamed herself for. Rachel committed crimes such as assault, drink driving and taking pills and alcohol. Rachel has also been kidnapped a total of four times throughout her duration.
Charlie Buckton is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Esther Anderson. Anderson was added to the cast in a bid to add more "sex appeal" to the show. She said it was her dream job and relocated to Sydney immediately to accommodate filming. The character made her on-screen debut during the episode airing on 6 June 2008. Charlie was billed as having a "warm heart" and being "family oriented"; however, her actions are often misunderstood and her persona has been perceived as "brash". She is described as being "passionate about her work" and often neglects her daughter, Ruby's needs.
Gina Palmer is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Sonia Todd. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 26 January 2009. Gina is the older sister of Tony Holden and the mother to three sons; Hugo, Brendan and Xavier Austin. The character was killed off on 18 April 2013, following Todd's decision to leave.
Jacinta "Jazz" Curtis is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Rachel Gordon. The character made her first screen appearance on 18 June 2007. Jazz is introduced as the mother of established character Drew Curtis. Jazz made her final appearance on 21 May 2008.
Angelo Rosetta is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Luke Jacobz. He made his debut during the episode broadcast on 8 July 2008. He has been central to many notable storylines including shooting dead Jack Holden, his time working as a Sergeant of Summer Bay's police force and his relationship with Charlie Buckton. In 2011, it was revealed that Jacobz had been written out of the serial as producers felt there was "nowhere else to go" with Angelo. The character departed on 21 June 2011. In February 2020, it was announced that Jacobz had agreed to reprise the role and he returned as Angelo on 13 August 2020. Angelo comes back to the Bay to investigate a murder, having been reinstated to the police force. Actress Annabelle Stephenson was cast as Angelo's wife Taylor Rosetta. His final appearance aired on 26 November 2020.
Matilda Hunter is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Indiana Evans. She made her first on-screen appearance on 21 January 2004. Matilda is the daughter of Beth and Jack Hunter and sister to Scott, Kit, Robbie and Henry. Matilda departed on 24 July 2008 to go to university.
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.
Aden Jefferies is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Todd Lasance. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 4 August 2005. Aden was introduced in 2005 as a recurring character and as part of Cassie Turner's storylines. Lasance was offered the role after previously auditioning for a separate character. In 2007, Lasance was asked to return on another guest contract, though was promoted to the regular cast soon after.
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.