Steph Cunningham
Steph Cunningham | |
---|---|
Hollyoaks character | |
Presley Dean Brian Bloom | |
Husband | Max Cunningham (2008) Gilly Roach (2010) |
Nieces | Esther Bloom |
Steph Roach (also Dean and Cunningham) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Carley Stenson. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 29 March 2000. Steph was introduced into the serial by executive producer Jo Hallows. In 2009 Stenson decided to quit, but the then producer Lucy Allan convinced her to stay to play out a dramatic storyline. The announcement of her departure was made public in June 2010. Stenson's fellow cast members have described her as a "Hollyoaks legend" because of her lengthy duration.
Steph has been described as having a highly confident persona, a trait Stenson enjoyed portraying throughout. Steph is also played as "fame hungry". She is noted for a number of high-profile storylines such as the portrayal of bullying in a school environment, the portrayal of epilepsy, which Stenson felt had been a 'taboo subject' for too long. Other stories include becoming a widow and her involvement in Niall Rafferty's revenge plot and her constant desire for fame. One of Steph's final storylines was the portrayal of cervical cancer, which Stenson conducted extensive research into. Steph was subsequently killed off in a special block of episodes branded by the media as "fire week". Some critics described her final storylines as "upsetting" and "surprising". Steph's relationship with Gilly Roach (Anthony Quinlan) was viewed unfavourable by most. Stenson has been nominated for several different awards for her portrayal of Steph.
Development
Casting and characterisation
Stenson originally auditioned to play a friend of the established character
Steph was introduced as a friend of Zara's, who was initially "quite naïve" and easily led. Within two years, her personality had altered greatly. Steph became a bully,[1] and "a bit of a bitch".[2] Stenson enjoyed this transformation into a villain, as she believed it made Steph a more memorable character.[1] She also felt she could "really go somewhere" with Steph's bitchiness in her acting, but in contrast struggled to portray her more genuine moments. She commented that Steph is the type of character only to cry over things she "really cares about". Stenson found this difficult to relate to, and struggled to "find a balance between pushing it too far and far enough".[2] She ultimately preferred to play her as a bitch,[2] though one "more comical rather than just out-and-out nasty."[1]
Stenson assessed that Steph "really isn't all bad, more of a lovable rogue who just likes making mischief for attention."
As Steph developed, she was revealed to have a "softer side". Beneath her tough façade was a "deeply insecure little girl who crave[d] love and affection."[11] An "artistic and creative" streak lead her to attend performing arts college.[12] This inspired a rivalry with fellow actor Summer Shaw (Summer Strallen), which saw Steph "determined to keep the limelight on her."[13] Stenson downplayed her vocal ability, and opined that Steph is "hardly the world's best singer".[14]
Family and relationships
In late 2002, more than two years after Steph's arrival, her family were introduced to the series.[1] The dynamics of the Dean family evolved with time. They were initially a dysfunctional unit, but in a different way to other Hollyoaks families, as they tended to disrupt the lives of others whilst being happy amongst themselves.[2] Upon their arrival, actress Helen Pearson, who plays mother Frankie Dean, assessed that they were "really supportive of each other", and "quite solid, like an old-fashioned family unit", despite their lack of finances which required them to undertake "various scams to keep body and soul together."[15] As time went on, the Deans were affected by affairs and parental separation, more typical of the soap's other families.[2]
Writers introduced Steph into a friendship group with the show's other teenagers who included
Steph had several romances throughout her time in the series. In her early years, Stenson played her as a flirt, who acted out for the attention of boys.
Steph appeared to "finally [find] happiness" when she fell in love with Max Cunningham (Matt Littler).[17] Although attracted to her, Max initially resisted Steph as he believed her to be a "ditzy, air-headed blonde", only interested in "bad boys."[18] When his younger brother Tom (Ellis Hollins) developed a crush on her, the "kind, sensitive way" Steph handled it altered his impression. Littler explained, "Max begins to realise there's more to her than her looks. He begins to think she's actually really nice and they become friends."."[18] Littler quit the series in 2008, and producers planned his exit around Max's wedding to Steph.[19] He was killed off on their wedding day, as he pulled Tom out of the path of a car.[20] Before she filmed the aftermath of Max's death, Stenson listened to depressing music to reach her character's bereaved mindset.[21] Stenson believed it was a mistake to kill Max off, and "such an awful thing to happen to Steph", until she received "amazing feedback" about the storyline.[21] In the aftermath, Tom asked Steph to be his mother, in a scene that then-executive producer Bryan Kirkwood deemed his favourite of the year. The interaction between the two was intended to represent "what Hollyoaks is all about - lots of heart, relationships, friendships, love and loss." Kirkwood praised Stenson's performance throughout the storyline, particularly during that scene.[22]
Steph has a brief fling with Niall Rafferty (Barry Sloane). The actors were required to film "steamy scenes". Stenson felt it a "hard challenge" to portray, she had to convince the audience that Steph would genuinely get together with her husband's killer.[21] Some viewers, including all the staff of Inside Soap believed their chemistry to be greater. Stenson ultimately decided Steph was "better suited" to Max.[21] She hoped that Steph would have even "more drama around the corner" along with "a bit of comic relief".[21]
Illnesses
Epilepsy
"It was the first thing I worried about, that people who have it would watch it and think, 'That's so not what it's about and that's so not how I feel.' Especially having the fit because I didn't want it to look laughable. It was very difficult."[2]
—Stenson talking to LINC Online about her initial fears of portraying epilepsy. (2006)
In a storyline which Stenson found challenging to portray, Steph was diagnosed with
Barbara Pinder of Epilepsy Action praised the serial for taking on the subject matter. Hollyoaks researchers contacted the charity when developing the storyline, and Pinder felt that the show succeeded in communicating the impact of Steph's diagnosis. She stated, "It is great to see a soap opera, specially one that is watched mainly by young people, look at the issue of epilepsy as it often gets ignored."[10] Stenson was pleased the storyline was "reaching out to people", and stated that she had received many letters from fans thanking her for highlighting an under-exposed subject,[2] as well as positive feedback on the Hollyoaks website.[10]
Steph initially reacted angrily towards her diagnosis, which Pinder confirmed was not uncommon, explaining: "The character is going through stages that someone with epilepsy is likely to go through. Teenagers can have terrible trouble coming to terms with epilepsy at a time when they have a lot of other difficult things to deal with. It can also be quite a blow to their independence."
Cervical cancer
In 2010, Steph was diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent a hysterectomy.[24] It was devised prior to the appointment of Paul Marquess as executive producer. He chose to continue with it, deciding that it would be interesting to give Steph another serious storyline, and have a character that viewers "know and love going through a really hard time."[25] In preparation for the storyline, Stenson studied the illness to give her a time-line of the experiences Steph would undergo. She chose not to speak with any cancer patients about coping with cancer, believing that everyone handles it in their own personal way. Additionally, she aimed to make Steph's realisation of her cancer as believable as possible, explaining that: "Steph wouldn't have any prior knowledge about what to expect, and I wanted to see it fresh through her eyes".[26] She was flattered to be trusted with the storyline, and found it particularly important to get her portrayal right as, during the previous year, she had fronted the Arm Against Cervical Cancer campaign.[27]
The producers aimed to send a message of early detection to the series' young audience, and had Steph initially ignore her symptoms.
Marquess deemed the storyline as a whole one which could only be depicted the way it was in Hollyoaks,[25] aiming to tell a "tragic story" with a "sweet and humorous tone"."[24] A comedy element of the storyline had Steph use her cancer as a sob story to enter a talent show, recruiting orphan Tom to take to the stage with her, giving her story further emotional impact. Stenson commented, "Deep down she knows she's not a fantastic singer, but she thought the judges would feel sorry for her and put her through."[30] According to Quinlan, viewer feedback on the storyline was "brilliant". He stated that viewers were upset by Steph's illness, and that it had even brought his own mother to tears.[31]
Departure and death
In 2010, it was announced that Stenson had decided to quit the serial to pursue a career in musical theatre. She deemed it "one of the most difficult decisions [she had] ever made", stating that Hollyoaks had been her "dream job" and that she would miss her friends in the cast and crew.[5] She made the decision to resign around June 2009, but was convinced by then-producer Lucy Allan to play out a long exit storyline,[32] which concluded filming in September 2010.[33] Before filming her final scenes, Stenson secured her first West End role.[34] Though she had previously felt ready to leave the series, when the time came, she was upset because she felt the reality of it.[26] She called her final scenes "really sad and emotional".[33]
Hollyoaks devised an arson plot to begin on
Storylines
Steph is introduced as a new student at Hollyoaks High, with early storylines focusing on her school life and best friend Zara. She frequently bullies fellow pupil Lisa, driving her to attempt suicide. When Steph's friends react disapprovingly, she apologises and promises to change. She cultivates a promiscuous reputation, having brief relationships with Brian and footballer
In the aftermath of her epilepsy diagnosis, Steph is initially unable to deal with her condition. Her father, Johnno Dean (Colin Wells) supports her, but ends up abandoning his family following the revelation that he has a secret son. Steph's mother Frankie remarries, and she comes to see her new stepfather, Jack Osborne (Jimmy McKenna), as a father figure, despite remaining close to her father and becomes the only family member to visit him. Steph largely reforms following her epilepsy diagnosis, becoming more sensitive to the needs of others. She comes to terms with how dangerous her condition could be if uncontrolled, and in time her epileptic episodes become less frequent. Steph fails her college exams and is forced to retake them. Fuelled by jealousy of her sister's West End success, she attempts to embark on a celebrity career. She appears in the fictional television show Bid Crazy TV, and auditions for a girl band, X-Pose, which transpires to be a money-making scam. She then sells a kiss and tell story on celebrity Joe Jones, who she meets after a failed audition to become one of his backing singers. When Steph's notoriety peters out, her stepbrother and agent Darren arranges for her to have sex with a footballer. After their liaison, Steph discovers that he is actually just the team's mascot. Humiliated, she abandons her pursuit of fame. In a comedy storyline, Steph's great-aunt Reenie leaves her an inheritance, said to be a "small fortune", on the condition that Steph performs a charitable act. She fulfils the requirement by saving Leo Valentine (Brian Bovell) from choking, however discovers that Small Fortune is, in fact, a donkey. Steph sends it to live at a donkey sanctuary.
Steph becomes a babysitter to
Steph discovers she has
Reception
Stenson received several award nominations for her portrayal of Steph. She was nominated in the "Best Comedy Performance" category at the 2005 and 2006
Following her departure, her co-stars commented favourably on the actress and character, with Jorgie Porter deeming her an "ultimate original", Gemma Merna stating that she "was Hollyoaks",[50] and Ricky Whittle admitting that he cried during the airing of her final scenes.[51] Television and entertainment website Holy Soap did not see Steph's fire death coming, calling her actions brave and her ten-year duration "mammoth".[39] They described her most memorable moment as telling Niall she did not love him and then watching him commit suicide.[52] Inside Soap said if there was an award for "the unluckiest character in soap", Steph would certainly win.[21] In his column for The Guardian, television critic Jim Shelley stated that it was time for Steph to go, having "suffered enough" during her tenure. Humorously recapping her ten years in Hollyoaks, Shelley wrote:
Steph lived a rich, not to say happy, life. She was a bully and wannabe Wag, before miraculously transforming herself into the show's tragic heroine, suffering cervical cancer, epilepsy and a hysterectomy. Her husband was run over on their wedding day. Steph later slept with his killer (long story). She also watched him in horror as he threw himself off a cliff. So, unlucky in love... She reported her brother for rape, was stalked by a serial killer and inherited a donkey. It's all on Wikipedia, and I don't think it's been tampered with. I mean, who the hell could make that up?
Sarah Welsh of the South Wales Echo gave the stalking storyline a negative review. She called both plot and acting "ridiculous" and commented that while she often felt sorry for the serial being snubbed at the National Soap Awards, "This is not the way to raise the game."[53]
Steph's relationships were a focal point of many reviews. The
Reviewing the Steph-centric spin-off In Too Deep for
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External links
- Character profile Archived 21 September 2010 at the E4.com
- Character profile at Hollyoaks.com
- Character profile at Holy Soap