Tilly Evans
Tilly Evans | |||||||
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Hollyoaks character | |||||||
Former; regular | |||||||
Introduced by | Gareth Philips | ||||||
Spin-off appearances | Hollyoaks Later (2013) | ||||||
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Tilly Evans is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Lucy Dixon. The actress announced her casting on 30 May 2011. Tilly was introduced to the show, along with two other characters, during a special storyline shot and set in Abersoch, North Wales. She made her first screen appearance on 21 June 2011. Dixon announced her departure in December 2013 and Tilly made her last appearance on 3 January 2014.
Tilly is a confident, intelligent and loyal teenager. Dixon revealed that she shares a few similarities with her character, including her generosity and positive attitude. Tilly is lesbian and comfortable with her sexuality, which Dixon hoped viewers would be able to relate to. While she is Abersoch, Tilly embarks on a brief holiday romance with
Casting
On 30 May 2011, Dixon announced through her
Development
Characterisation
"I think she just represents the general 16/17-year-olds in a brilliant way. Not all teenagers are binge-drinkers, and Tilly is the exact opposite of anything like that. She shows the good in teenagers. She's a hard worker, she's confident and self-assured."[3]
—Dixon on Tilly's personality (2011)
Dixon noted that while Tilly was not always the centre of attention, she did not mind and enjoyed looking on from the sidelines.
Dixon sports a short hair style to help portray Tilly's
Holiday romance
While she is in Abersoch, Tilly embarks on a summer romance with Esther Bloom (Jazmine Franks).[4] Dixon liked that the storyline was not over the top and thought it showed "a genuine romance that was at its first stage".[8] Dixon experienced her first gay kiss during the storyline, which she was nervous about filming as she had only met Franks three hours beforehand.[4] Describing the kissing scene, Dixon said that she and Franks did not want it to be too racy because the characters were just getting to know each other. She said "We were very relaxed – we just said: 'Look, we're both in the same boat,' so we just went for it."[4] Asked by Horsfall whether Tilly would continue with the romance, Dixon replied that she would not. She explained that while Esther wants it to go on, Tilly is a realist, who always knew it was not going to happen.[8]
Dixon continued, "I think Tilly could be a bit of a player. You can tell from her take on relationships that she's had quite a few and they've never been mega serious, they just are what they are. That's what I like about her."[8] She added that Tilly keeps her options open and thought that she would be unlikely to settle down anytime soon.[4] Tilly later kisses Esther, but continues to reject the chance to form a relationship with her. Dixon said that Tilly eventually realises that she has been giving Esther mixed signals and had been unaware of much she had hurt her.[9] The actress believed that Tilly genuinely liked Esther and would not want to jeopardise the friendship they share.[9]
Relationship with Jen Gilmore
In April 2012,
Susan Hill from the Daily Star reported that Tilly would try to avoid Jen instead of facing up to the problem. However, her plan would go wrong when she becomes trapped in a store cupboard during a fire.[10] The storyline starts when the fire alarm goes off at the college, causing an evacuation. As Tilly starts to make her way outside, Jen appears and Tilly hides in the store cupboard, which the caretaker locks.[9] Realising she is trapped, Tilly tries to contact Maddie, but does not take the situation too seriously as she believes it is a drill. However, when smoke starts entering the cupboard, Tilly panics.[9] Dixon explained that Tilly spots a window at the top of the cupboard and tries to climb up towards it, but she slips and knocks herself out. Dixon thought that it was "an exciting, action-packed week for Tilly!"[9] Dixon told Kilkelly that filming the storyline was fun and she got to work with a director who she previously worked with on Waterloo Road. She said that the shoot took a whole afternoon and she was really proud of it.[9] Dixon thought that as student-teacher relationships are forbidden, Tilly and Jen were not supposed to be together. However, she added "I think that would be interesting for the audience to watch – would Tilly rule with her heart first, or her head?"[9]
Tilly and Jen continue seeing each other, leading to fans of the couple nicknaming them Jelly.[11] However, things start to go wrong for the couple and when Tilly threatens to expose their affair, Jen falsely claims that Tilly has been harassing her and gets her excluded.[12] Tilly does not give up and gives Esther's "tell-all diary", which contains details of her relationship with Jen, to John Paul McQueen (James Sutton).[13] She also plants images of her and Jen together in a presentation piece that Jen is giving, which leads to Jen's dismissal from the college. The storyline also marked Downham's exit from the show.[13] The actress stated that Jen has "a lot of hate towards Tilly", but when Tilly outs their affair, she is heartbroken. They both end up apologising to each other because they still care about one another.[13]
Departure
On 27 December 2013, it was announced that Dixon had decided to leave the role. The actress wanted to pursue other projects, particularly theatre work.[14] Of her departure, Dixon said "I'm sad because it's the end of an era and I've had a fantastic two and a half years on Hollyoaks. I've met so many lovely people, I've learned so much about acting and I've had a brilliant character to play. I'll miss the people like crazy and I'll also miss playing Tilly, because she was fantastic."[14] Dixon explained that she spoke to the producer in June or July about leaving the show and that he "really listened" to what she had to say.[14] Dixon filmed her last scene on her penultimate day, as the show films out of sequence.[14]
Tilly's departure will tie in with the departure of fellow character Chloe (Susan Loughnane). Dixon told a reporter from the Daily Star that the relationship with Esther had ruined Tilly's characterisation. While with Esther, Dixon felt that Tilly lost the "desire in her eyes", but Chloe brings back her "naughty side".[15]
Storylines
Tilly has a holiday romance with Esther in Abersoch but tells Esther they can not carry a long distance relationship as she plans to move to London in September for sixth form. However she arrives in Hollyoaks village in September and joins the sixth form college but decides not to reconcile her romance with Esther. She begins a friendship with
Jen decides to concentrate on her career and breaks up with Tilly. She is upset by their break up and is arrested for stealing
Reception
For her portrayal of Tilly, Dixon received a nomination for Best Actress at the 2012 TV Choice Awards.[16] The following year, she was included on the longlist for Best Serial Drama Performance at the National Television Awards.[17] A reporter from OK! branded Tilly "wise and witty".[4] A columnist from the Sunday Mercury quipped that "Tilly quickly comes to learn just how the course of true love never runs smoothly in Hollyoaks" when she learned who Jen was.[18]
Anthony D. Langford from
References
- ^ Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ a b c Bourne, Dianne (20 December 2011). "Hollyoaks star Lucy Dixon models party styles from terrific tux to golden gowns". Manchester Evening News. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Interview: Scarlett Bowman, Lucy Dixon and Laurie Duncan". OK!. Northern & Shell. 8 November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ^ a b "A Q&A with Lucy Dixon of Hollyoaks". Channel 4 Press. Channel Four Television Corporation. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ^ E4.com. Channel Four Television Corporation. Archived from the originalon 3 June 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- Glam Media. Archived from the originalon 14 February 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ^ Glam Media. Archived from the originalon 9 September 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ Hill, Susan (8 April 2012). "Hollyoaks: Tilly Evans' sexy date". Daily Star. Northern & Shell. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- . Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ "Lucy Dixon leaves Hollyoaks". SoapSquawk. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- . 22 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- Trinity Mirror. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- Logo. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
External links
- Tilly Evans Archived 2013-06-03 at the E4.com