Charlene Robinson
Charlene Robinson | |
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Neighbours character | |
Tom Ramsay | |
First cousins | Shane Ramsay Danny Ramsay |
Charlene Robinson (also Mitchell) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera
Charlene was portrayed as a feisty, quick-tempered and outspoken tomboy. She had a difficult relationship with her mother and did not like being patronised. Minogue thought viewers liked the character as she was an average Australian teenager. Reinforcing her tomboyish image, Charlene trained as a mechanic and she often wore khaki overalls and baggy sweatshirts. Her relationship with Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) was central to many of her storylines. They became a popular couple with viewers and the relationship helped boost ratings for Neighbours. Despite breaking up several times during their first 12 months together, the couple stayed together and their relationship eventually culminated in a wedding during "Episode 523", which was first broadcast on 1 July 1987.
During her time as Charlene, Minogue also started singing and released two successful pop singles during 1987 followed by her debut album the following year. In mid-1988, Minogue decided to leave Neighbours to concentrate on her music career. She filmed her final scenes in June 1988 and Charlene made her final screen appearance on 26 July. Minogue won four Logie Awards for her portrayal of Charlene, including the Gold Logie, becoming the youngest person to do so. Critical reaction to the character has been positive. Soap Opera author Dorothy Hobson said Charlene broke stereotypes when it came to careers for women in the 1980s. In 2022, Minogue returned to the role, alongside Donovan, for what was believed (at the time) to be the show's final ever episode.[1][2] Subsequently, Amazon announced that they had picked up the series for their Freevee streaming service, and Amazon started filming the revived series in April 2023.[3][4]
Creation and casting
After the
Development
Backstory and characterisation
In her fictional backstory, Charlene was born in
Charlene was a self-described tomboy, who preferred to be known by her nickname "Lenny".[16] She was known for her quick temper and her "heart of gold". She always stuck up for those who were considered the underdog.[15] In her book Neighbours: The First 10 Years, Josephine Monroe wrote that Charlene did not like to be patronised and had a sharp tongue.[16] Monroe observed that Charlene's feisty side helped endear her to viewers.[16] In keeping with her tomboyish nature, Charlene trained as a mechanic after leaving school and got an apprenticeship with Rob Lewis (Ernie Bourne).[16][17] The character's style often consisted of khaki overalls, baggy sweatshirts and her hair set in a perm.[14]
Minogue thought people liked Charlene because she was portrayed as an average Australian teenager, experiencing a difficult relationship with her mother.[18] She continued, "She is a bit of a rebel and they probably relate to that, and while she has her problems she will always come out on top."[18] Minogue shared some similarities with her character, but thought Charlene was far more outspoken and tomboyish than she was.[18] Minogue liked that Charlene often said what she thought, but joked that if she were in trouble and tried to punch someone as Charlene did, she would probably get "flattened".[18] Minogue also said Charlene was sensitive, but she was unlikely to show it and would "rather die than be caught crying."[19]
Relationship with Scott Robinson
Charlene's first scenes were with Scott Robinson (played by Jason Donovan). He thought she was trying to break into the Ramsay house and confronted her, which resulted in Charlene punching him. Minogue ended up punching Donovan for real during the take.[20] Producers soon created a story arc for the characters that saw them enter into a romantic relationship.[20] Scott and Charlene's relationship helped boost ratings for Neighbours and the show's publicist, Brian Walsh, capitalised on Minogue and Donovan's increasing popularity with viewers and rumoured off-screen romance.[20] Of Scott and Charlene, Minogue commented "People like Scott and Charlene being a couple. It's probably the most normal relationship in the show."[18] Kelly Bourne from TV Week observed that Scott and Charlene struck a chord with fans, who could identify with them.[21]
Scott and Charlene had problems during their first 12 months together and they broke up several times.
Donovan commented that Scott loved Charlene, so when he saw she was in danger, he forgot to think about himself and he just went in to rescue her. Donovan added that Scott was "devastated" when he saw Charlene had been injured.[22] At the hospital, Scott gave Charlene the friendship ring and declared that they would live together.[21] Minogue told Bourne that Charlene was flattered by the gift, while Donovan stated that it proved that they loved each other and were not going to break up again.[21] Minogue agreed with Donovan, saying "There is that underlying love whether they are together or not."[21] After learning about the couple's plans to move in together, their friends and neighbours expressed their shock at how serious the couple had become.[21] When Charlene showed the ring to Daphne Clarke (Elaine Smith) and told her how she and Scott wanted to live together, Daphne was taken back. Scott's friend Mike Young (Guy Pearce) also voiced his opposition, but Scott was determined that no one would stop them from moving in together.[21] Bourne noted that Daphne's shock at the couple's plans was "the start of a major controversy, splitting apart the inhabitants of Ramsay Street."[21]
When older Neighbours viewers expressed their concern about a young unwed couple moving in together, producers decided to have them marry instead.[23] On-screen, neither family approved of Scott and Charlene's plan to move in together, but when Scott learned his father was only 18 when he got married, Scott found the solution to their problem and asked Charlene to marry him.[24] Minogue said Charlene was shocked at first, but she became "very excited" about the idea of getting married.[24] She continued, "She knows they want to live together and they have had so much trouble getting their parents' approval that I suppose getting married seems the logical thing to do. They will be together anyway, so they may as well finalise it."[24] After getting over her initial shock, Madge gave the couple her blessing to get married.[24] Minogue and Donovan both agreed that they would not get married so young, and Donovan thought that younger couples should live together first. He also believed that Scott was rushing into things.[24] Scott and Charlene were married during "Episode 523", which was first broadcast on 1 July 1987 to two million Australian viewers.[25][26] The episode became "a TV phenomenon" and Minogue said it was what Scott and Charlene's romance had been building up to.[25]
After returning from their honeymoon, Scott and Charlene moved in with Madge and Henry, and they struggled financially.
Other storylines
One evening in July 1986, Charlene came home with a newborn baby and shocked her mother by claiming that he was her son. Charlene told Madge a story, so convincing that Madge believed she had become a grandmother.
In the same year, Charlene acted as a backing singer for Scott and Mike Young's band.[31] Scott and Mike entered a demo tape into a song competition, and the judges, Molly Meldrum and Brian Hanson (Jon Finlayson), sought out Charlene as they were impressed with her vocal ability.[31] Molly and Brian invited Charlene to their music studio to record some tracks, but she soon realises that she is not interested in singing and wants to complete her HSC instead. Scott also apologised to Charlene for being jealous of her talent.[32]
Departure
"I'd been with Charlene long enough. I'd go nuts if I was doing Neighbours all the time."[33]
—Minogue speaking about her departure from Neighbours. (1989)
Minogue ventured into music during her time on the show and her cover of "
In November 2004, Minogue was invited to film a cameo appearance for the show's 20th anniversary the following year.[35] A report then emerged that Minogue was willing to film an appearance as Charlene while she was on tour in the UK, but the producers had refused the offer.[35] However, in a statement from production company Grundy Television, the producers said that they "made every effort to accommodate Minogue", including filming the cameo anywhere in the world, but that their offer was turned down.[35] In May 2010, Minogue pondered a return to Neighbours during an interview published in The Sun.[36] Minogue commented on how fun it would be to appear as Charlene again, after years of saying no, and added "I've decided how it would work. Charlene would screech up the drive in her souped-up Mini which she's been working on all the time".[36]
In 2014, Scott and Charlene's son,
Return
In March 2022, Fiona Byrne of the Herald Sun reported on 1 May that both Minogue and Donovan were set to reprise their roles.[43] Byrne believed Minogue and Donovan had filmed a guest appearance on Pin Oak Court, the outdoor location for Ramsay Street, during the previous week.[43] Later on the same day, the return of Minogue and Donovan was confirmed on Neighbours' social media accounts. Executive producer Jason Herbison stated: "Scott and Charlene are the ultimate Neighbours couple and it would not feel right to end the show without them. We are thrilled that Jason and Kylie have come home to play a very special part in our series finale. It has been an emotional experience for them, for us and I'm sure it will be for our viewers."[44] Minogue later told Jenny Paul of Glamour that her return was a thank you to the fans who watched and remembered the early days of Neighbours.[45] Minogue also said the experience led her to think about her past on the serial.[45] She said: "I was just out of school and had just auditioned for Neighbours. I got the job and I was happy to have a job as I'd actually signed up to the dole just a couple of weeks before, but because I got the job I never got dole check! I needed to make a living, I needed to do something. It was meant to be a stint on the show of between one and twelve weeks, I think, so if it didn't work I would have been out after a week or two. Two and a half years later I was still there and the mania had ensued."[45] During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Minogue admitted that she felt "quite a bit of pressure" to return.[46] They appeared in what was believed (at the time) to be the show's final ever episode.[47][48] Subsequently, Amazon announced that they had picked up the series for their Freevee streaming service, and Amazon started filming the revived series in April 2023.[49][50]
Reception
Accolades
For her portrayal of Charlene, Minogue won the Logie Award for Most Popular Actress at the 1987 ceremony. She was also nominated for Most Popular New Talent, but lost to her co-star Donovan.[51] The following year, Minogue became the youngest person, at nineteen, to be awarded the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.[52] She also won the Most Popular Personality on Victorian Television and Most Popular Actress Logie awards.[53] At the Logie Awards of 1989, Minogue earned another nomination for Most Popular Actress and the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.[54]
Critical reception
Reception for the character has been positive. The BBC's official Neighbours website stated that Charlene's most memorable moments were "her wedding to Scott and punching Scott in the face during their first meeting."[55] The Independent said Minogue's "elfin prettiness" won Charlene a huge following in Australia and Britain.[8] During a TV Week feature on Minogue, a columnist said she "brought to life one of the most loved and memorable characters of Australian TV."[12] Colleen Last from MSN TV branded Charlene "iconic" and "beloved".[56] During a column on the "Top five ex-Neighbours stars", The Daily Telegraph's Robin Wilks placed Minogue at number one, commenting that "Kylie was once best-known as the sharp-tongued, permanently overalled tomboy Charlene".[57] The Age's Jo Roberts said that the "slightly goofy" Charlene was a "tousle-headed teenager with an oil rag and hoop earrings".[58]
In Tony Johnston's 2005 book, Neighbours: 20 Years of Ramsay Street, Charlene placed sixth in the twenty classic characters chapter.[59] Johnston said Charlene and her mother represented "the old and the new", that her career choice was unusual and her "razor-sharp tongue" put the fear into all the men who lusted after her.[59] Johnston added that the younger female viewers admired Charlene, while the boys loved her feisty nature.[59] In her book Soap Opera, Dorothy Hobson believed Charlene broke stereotypes, especially when it came to careers for women in the 1980s. She wrote, "The sight of one of the most attractive female characters, dressed in overalls, with her cascading blonde curls tied up on top of her head, was one of the most positive images for breaking the stereotypes of what jobs are suitable for girls."[60] Hobson also praised Charlene's on-screen relationship with Scott branding the positive images for young people as "immense".[60] The BBC News noted that Charlene became one of Neighbours' most popular characters.[61]
Hilary Kingsley, author of Soap Box, dubbed Charlene "soap's teen queen" and the "darling of the show". Charlene was only in the show for two years, but she remains one of the iconic characters because (a) she's Kylie Blooming Minogue, and (b) she married Jason 'Scott Robinson' Donovan. Charlene's name has become the by-word for girl-next-door characters in Soapland, thanks to her tireless efforts to promote the cause of denim dungarees while working as a mechanic, and as a crucial member of the most successful set of teens that Ramsay Street has seen.[62]
In October 2006, Minogue and Donovan, as Charlene and Scott, were included on a postage stamp issued by the Australia Post to celebrate 50 years of television.[63] The Holy Trinity Church experienced an increase in interest after Scott and Charlene's wedding aired. Backpackers visit the nave where the couple were wed, while some viewers have held their own weddings there.[23] Charlene's wedding dress was donated to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery by Grundy Television in 1989. It has since gone on display in the Powerhouse Museum and travelled to the UK.[25] In 2013, The Daily Telegraph included Scott and Charlene in their list of the "20 best TV couples". They called them "a supercouple" and "a bit of a Romeo and Juliet" pairing.[64]
Upon the news of the serial's cancellation, Sheena McGinley of the Irish Independent ranked Charlene as the fifth best character in Neighbours history.[65] McGinley explained her choice by saying, "I know we were not going to mention the very famous sorts who managed to utilise Neighbours as a springboard to global fame, but this is the OG. Speaking as someone who’s had the pleasure of meeting Kylie Minogue while working at the front desk in a recording studio, I can personally attest to that part of Charlene that will always be a key element of Kylie — her magnificent, tightly curled locks."[65]
See also
References
Citations
- ^ Murray, Tom (29 July 2022). "Kylie Minogue says a 'heartfelt' email from Jason Donovan convinced her to return for the Neighbours finale". The Independent. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Spackman, Maisie (29 July 2022). "Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan reveal all on final Neighbours episode". Metro. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Neighbours' next chapter begins filming next month: 'Feels real now'".
- ^ "'Neighbours' Begins Filming New Episodes For Amazon Freevee | TV News | Geektown".
- ^ Mercado 2004, pp. 206–7
- ^ Idato 2005
- ^ a b Wallis & Hogan 1989, p. 66
- ^ a b Lister 2002
- ^ Stefanovic 2014
- ^ Howe 2004
- ^ Oram 1988, p. 68
- ^ a b TV Week 2014
- ^ Moloney 1987
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kingsley 1988, p. 371
- ^ a b Wallis & Hogan 1989, pp. 65–66
- ^ a b c d Monroe 1996, p. 122
- ^ Morgan 2009
- ^ a b c d e Bourne 1987a
- ^ a b Kingsley 1988, p. 372
- ^ a b c Mercado 2004, p. 208
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bourne 1987b
- ^ a b c d Cook 1987
- ^ a b Blackman 2006
- ^ a b c d e Bourne 1987c
- ^ a b c Burfitt, Miller & Walker 2012
- ^ Southward & Browne 1996
- ^ a b c Mercado 2004, p. 211
- ^ a b c d e Inside Soap 1993
- ^ a b Mercado 2004, p. 213
- ^ a b c Monroe 1996, p. 88
- ^ a b Wood 2014
- ^ Moloney 1986
- ^ Foster 1989
- ^ Mercado 2004, p. 214
- ^ a b c Green 2005
- ^ a b Kilkelly 2010
- ^ a b c Shar 2014
- ^ Byrnes 2016
- ^ Cartwright 2014
- ^ Babbage 2014
- ^ Knox 2015
- ^ Kilkelly 2015
- ^ a b Byrne 2022
- ^ Anderton 2022
- ^ a b c Cooper, Brenna (25 May 2022). "Kylie Minogue reveals why she was persuaded to return to Neighbours". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Warner, Sam (9 June 2022). "Kylie Minogue admits 'pressure' to reprise iconic Neighbours role". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
- ^ Murray, Tom (29 July 2022). "Kylie Minogue says a 'heartfelt' email from Jason Donovan convinced her to return for the Neighbours finale". The Independent. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Spackman, Maisie (29 July 2022). "Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan reveal all on final Neighbours episode". Metro. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Neighbours' next chapter begins filming next month: 'Feels real now'".
- ^ "'Neighbours' Begins Filming New Episodes For Amazon Freevee | TV News | Geektown".
- ^ The Sydney Morning Herald 1987
- ^ TV Week 2019
- ^ Langley 1988
- ^ Oliver 1989
- ^ BBC Online
- ^ Last 2014
- ^ Wilks 2002
- ^ Roberts 2005
- ^ a b c Johnston 2005, p. 43
- ^ a b Hobson 2003, p. 16
- ^ BBC News 2001
- ^ a b Sky 2010
- ^ The Age 2006
- ^ The Daily Telegraph 2013
- ^ a b McGinley, Sheena (26 February 2022). "Top 12: Iconic Neighbours characters". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
Websites and media notes
- "6 of the most memorable moments from the TV WEEK Logie Awards". TV Week. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- "Character: Charlene Robinson". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 5 October 2003. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- "Golden days: Kylie in Neighbours". TV Week (Photo gallery). Bauer Media Group. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- "Look at us – on a stamp!". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. 12 September 2006. p. 1. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2010. (registration required)
- "Neighbours: 25 Top Characters". Sky. 2010. Archived from the originalon 23 March 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
- "Neighbours hits 15 years of success". BBC News. 26 October 2001. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
- "The 20 best TV couples". The Daily Telegraph. London. 2013. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2014. (registration required)
- Anderton, Joe (1 May 2022). "Neighbours confirms Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan's return for finale". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- Babbage, Rachel (28 August 2014). "Kylie Minogue denies Neighbours return". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- Byrnes, Holly (20 February 2016). "Kylie Minogue sends welcome message to Sarah Ellen, her new TV daughter, joining Neighbours". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- Byrne, Fiona (1 May 2022). "Fairytale ending for Neighbours as beloved couple reunites". Herald Sun. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- Cartwright, Darren (12 August 2014). "Ten invites Kylie back to Ramsay Street". Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014 – via Yahoo! TV.
- Green, Kris (11 May 2005). "'Neighbours' bosses hit back at Kylie". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 24 May 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- Idato, Michael (14 July 2005). "An institution turns 20". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- Kilkelly, Daniel (21 May 2010). "Kylie: 'Neighbours return would be fun'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
- Kilkelly, Daniel (4 March 2015). "Neighbours 30th anniversary schedule confirmed by Channel 5". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- Knox, David (28 February 2015). "Airdate: Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- Last, Colleen (25 March 2014). "Iconic TV characters we miss". MSN TV. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- Lister, David (23 February 2002). "Kylie Minogue: Goddess of the moment". The Independent. London: Independent Print. Archived from the original on 2 December 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- Moloney, Paul (director); Maier, Rick (writer); Watson, Reg (writer) (1 October 1986). "Episode 353". Network Ten.
- Moloney, Paul (director); Moulton, Roger (writer); Watson, Reg (writer) (21 October 1987). "Episode 603". Network Ten.
- Morgan, Clare (20 February 2009). "Many faces of an entertainment legend". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 11 May 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014. (registration required)
- Roberts, Jo (18 May 2005). "From TV tomboy to pop diva". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 30 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- Shar, Keith (4 August 2014). "The Oz family Robinson". Stuff.co.nz. Archivedfrom the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- Stefanovic, Karl (13 July 2014). "Kylie Minogue: Where it all began". 60 Minutes. Australia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014. Full interview on YouTube
- Wilks, Robin (20 April 2002). "Top five ex-'Neighbours' stars". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- Wood, Nathan (10 November 2014). "Guy Pearce remembers that time Molly Meldrum was on Neighbours". Max. Archived from the originalon 5 December 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
Print sources
- "Gold Logie goes to Ray Martin". News and Features.
- "Great moments in Soap!". ISSN 0966-8497.
- Blackman, Guy (8 October 2006). "Kylietown". M. The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- Bourne, Kelly (18 April 1987). "Kylie's winning ways". TV Week. Australia. pp. 4–5.
- Bourne, Kelly (13 June 1987). "Marry me!". TV Week. Australia. pp. 4–5.
- Bourne, Kelly (16 May 1987). "The romance that rocks Ramsay St". TV Week. Australia. p. 4.
- Burfitt, John; Miller, Erin; Walker, Lucy (7–13 April 2012). "One moment in time". TV Week. No. 14. Australia. pp. 1–10.
- Cook, Stephen (23 May 1987). "Fiery affair!". TV Week. Australia. p. 50.
- Foster, Mark (1989). "Kylie". Neighbours Who's Who – An Independent Publication. No. 7, The 'Neighbours' Photo Album. Star Magazine Group. p. 3.
- Howe, Lucille (25 January 2004). "Star Beginnings: Met the Neighbours". Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 28 July 2014 – via The Free Library.
- Hobson, Dorothy (2003). Soap Opera. ISBN 978-0-7456-2655-0.
- Johnston, Tony (2005). Neighbours: 20 Years of Ramsay Street. News Custom Publishing. ISBN 978-1-876176-78-5.
- Kingsley, Hilary (1988). Soap Box. ISBN 978-0-333-46949-1.
- Langley, Kim (1 April 1988). "The Minogue machine". Metro.
- Mercado, Andrew (2004). Super Aussie Soaps. Pluto Press Australia. ISBN 978-1-86403-191-1.
- Monroe, Josephine (1996). Neighbours: The First 10 Years. ISBN 978-0-7181-4212-4.
- Oliver, Robin (18 March 1989). "The day Miss Minogue was boganed by a Mole".
- Oram, James (1988). Neighbours: Behind the Scenes. ISBN 978-0-207-16075-2.
- Southward, Jane; Browne, Rachel (9 June 1996). "Vow power". Television.
- Wallis, Neil; Hogan, Dave (1989). The Neighbours Factfile. ISBN 978-0-207-16382-1.
External links
- Charlene Robinson at BBC Online (archived from 2003)
- Charlene Robinson at the Official AU Neighbours website (archived from 2003)