Caitlin Atkins
Encyclopedia
Caitlin Atkins is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
, played by Emily Milburn. She made her first on-screen appearance on 29 September 1997 and departed on 24 June 1998.
.
said "Caitlin Atkins manages to stir up trouble in Ramsay Street, hiding her inner feelings under an air of tough bravado." Milburn found that her character was very different from her and she called Caitlin her "worst nightmare." She told the newspaper: "I had to think about my worst nightmare and play it like that because I'm usually pretty calm. I hold back a little bit and I don't think like Caitlin does, but it was fun to cut loose and just go for it." Caitlin was a talented swimmer and the BBC
said she "displayed an intense dedication to her training regime." Caitlin was "quite a determined young woman", especially when she set her sights on Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer
) and used her "feminine wiles" to try to date him. Caitlin and Billy later kiss, which causes heartache for his girlfriend, Anne
(Brooke Satchwell
). Caitlin continues to pursue Billy and Michelle Hamer of The Sydney Morning Herald
branded Caitlin a "scheming teen temptress." Caitlin later dated a fellow swimmer called Josh (Sullivan Stapleton
).
), travelling the world tutoring the children of wealthy families, Caitlin was shipped off to stay with her other brother, Ben. Caitlin's main passion in life was swimming, at which she competed at professional levels. Upon arriving in Erinsborough, Caitlin immediately heads down to the local pool to check out the facilities. She soon meets Billy Kennedy who works as a pool attendant and she soon decided that he would be hers. When Caitlin learns that Billy is already in a relationship with Anne Wilkinson
(Brooke Satchwell
), Ben's biological half-sister, she is disappointed, but this is not enough to put her off.
Caitlin manages to make friends with Mandi Rodgers (Sabina Lokic) from the swim team, but fails to impress her neighbours and housemates on Ramsay Street with her behaviour.Sarah Beaumont
(Nicola Charles
) is particularly unhappy about having to share with a teenager. Caitlin begin to feel increasingly isolated on the street, and her friendship with Billy strengthens, especially when Caitlin learns that he is a very competent swimmer and he joins the local team. The more time Caitlin and Billy spend together training causes Anne to feel paranoid. When the team heads off to Sydney to compete, and Billy and Anne have been going through an especially rocky patch, Caitlin seizes her opportunity to make a move on Billy. She kisses him, unaware that Anne had followed Billy to Sydney in order to resolve the problems in their relationship. Anne sees them kissing in Billy's hotel room, which causes further damage to their already fragile union.
Upon their return to Erinsborough, things are frosty and are not helped when Ben falls into a coma following a racing accident at Calder Park. Caitlin and Anne briefly put their differences aside out of concern for their shared brother. After Ben makes progress, Anne and Caitlin resume the grudge and Billy is forced to choose between them. Billy chooses Anne. However, Anne and Caitlin remain friends and play a trick on bully Jacinta Myers (Caroline Morgan) during the Erinsborough High Swim Carnival by switching places, which fools Jacinta into thinking she is initially racing weaker swimmer Anne, when in fact she is up against Caitlin who bests her in the event.
Josh Hughes arrives in Erinsborough to train with the swim team. Despite him being a few years older, Caitlin quickly falls for him. One day, The couple decide to skip swimming class and spend the day together, but while play fighting, Josh falls and sprains his arm. However, it soon emerges that he is exaggerating his injury in order to escape from training and spend more time with Caitlin. As the couple find themselves in trouble from all angles – including from Caitlin's brother Nicholas, who has come to look after her during Ben's convalescence- they decide to run away. However, the couple do not get very far and upon their eventual return, Josh has to go home and Caitlin realises things have failed to work out for her once again.
Caitlin constantly clashes with Nick as he is not only her guardian but her teacher at school now and finds things a lot tougher than when Ben was in charge. Meanwhile, things between Billy and Anne stall as he is unable to cope with her jealousy. Billy starts spending more time with Caitlin and attempts to start a romance with her, but Caitlin is unimpressed after all that had happened in the past. Caitlin's problems worsen when she pushes herself too far during swimming while training to win a place at the AIS
and ends up collapsing in the pool at home. Caitlin is rushed to hospital and diagnosed by Dr. Veronica Olenski (Caroline Lloyd) with exhaustion. After several days rest, Caitlin figures that there is no point in making herself ill for her passion.
Caitlin notices how much Anne's twin brother, Lance
(Andrew Bibby
) is missing Amy Greenwood
(Jacinta Stapleton
) as his girlfriend, she hatches a plan to help Lance win her back. Caitlin and Lance begin pretending to see each other, making Amy extremely jealous. Amy confronts Caitlin in the toilets at Little Tommy Tucker's and warns her off, leaving Caitlin happy that her plan has worked. When Nick receives news that their mother had decided to return to Australia and wants him and Caitlin to return home to Adelaide, Caitlin refuses to believe him, but reluctantly agrees to leave with him but before her departure she paints "Never Forget Cait + Nick!" on the road as something for her friends to remember her by.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
, played by Emily Milburn. She made her first on-screen appearance on 29 September 1997 and departed on 24 June 1998.
Casting
Milburn was given the role of Caitlin six months after she auditioned for the character of Anne WilkinsonAnne Wilkinson
Anne Wilkinson , is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Brooke Satchwell. She made her first on screen appearance on 19 November 1996. Satchwell quit the role in 1999 and the character departed on 5 April 2000.-Casting:After completing an advert for Just...
.
Character development
Caitlin arrived in Erinsborough to live with her adopted brother, Ben (Brett Cousins), while their parents went overseas for work. Caitlin decided to stay in Ramsay Street and "fire up the neighbourhood" when she felt lost and rejected by her parents. Describing her personality, the Illawarra MercuryIllawarra Mercury
The Illawarra Mercury is the only daily newspaper in Wollongong, the third largest city in the State of New South Wales, Australia. It has been published since 1855, making it one of Australia's oldest newspapers...
said "Caitlin Atkins manages to stir up trouble in Ramsay Street, hiding her inner feelings under an air of tough bravado." Milburn found that her character was very different from her and she called Caitlin her "worst nightmare." She told the newspaper: "I had to think about my worst nightmare and play it like that because I'm usually pretty calm. I hold back a little bit and I don't think like Caitlin does, but it was fun to cut loose and just go for it." Caitlin was a talented swimmer and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
said she "displayed an intense dedication to her training regime." Caitlin was "quite a determined young woman", especially when she set her sights on Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer
Jesse Spencer
Jesse Gordon Spencer is an Australian actor and musician. He is best known for his current portrayal of Dr. Robert Chase on the medical drama House and for playing Billy Kennedy in the Australian soap-opera Neighbours....
) and used her "feminine wiles" to try to date him. Caitlin and Billy later kiss, which causes heartache for his girlfriend, Anne
Anne Wilkinson
Anne Wilkinson , is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Brooke Satchwell. She made her first on screen appearance on 19 November 1996. Satchwell quit the role in 1999 and the character departed on 5 April 2000.-Casting:After completing an advert for Just...
(Brooke Satchwell
Brooke Satchwell
Brooke Kerith Satchwell is an Australian actress, model, and environmental spokesperson.-Early life:The first of two children of Andrew Satchwell, a real estate agent and Jane Satchwell, a school teacher. Satchwell has lived on the Mornington Peninsula for most of her life...
). Caitlin continues to pursue Billy and Michelle Hamer of The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
branded Caitlin a "scheming teen temptress." Caitlin later dated a fellow swimmer called Josh (Sullivan Stapleton
Sullivan Stapleton
Sullivan Stapleton is an Australian actor, who has appeared in many television series but is best known from his roles in Satisfaction and The Secret Life of Us.-Career:...
).
Storylines
When her parents decided to move away temporarily to the Middle East for her father's work, Caitlin decided she wanted to stay in Australia. With one brother, Nicholas (Jason CrewesJason Crewes
Jason Crewes is an Australian actor, best known for his role as Nicholas Atkins in the popular drama Neighbours. He is the younger brother of Martin Crewes.-TV:* All Saints ... as Drew * The Plex ... as Zeke Edwards...
), travelling the world tutoring the children of wealthy families, Caitlin was shipped off to stay with her other brother, Ben. Caitlin's main passion in life was swimming, at which she competed at professional levels. Upon arriving in Erinsborough, Caitlin immediately heads down to the local pool to check out the facilities. She soon meets Billy Kennedy who works as a pool attendant and she soon decided that he would be hers. When Caitlin learns that Billy is already in a relationship with Anne Wilkinson
Anne Wilkinson
Anne Wilkinson , is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Brooke Satchwell. She made her first on screen appearance on 19 November 1996. Satchwell quit the role in 1999 and the character departed on 5 April 2000.-Casting:After completing an advert for Just...
(Brooke Satchwell
Brooke Satchwell
Brooke Kerith Satchwell is an Australian actress, model, and environmental spokesperson.-Early life:The first of two children of Andrew Satchwell, a real estate agent and Jane Satchwell, a school teacher. Satchwell has lived on the Mornington Peninsula for most of her life...
), Ben's biological half-sister, she is disappointed, but this is not enough to put her off.
Caitlin manages to make friends with Mandi Rodgers (Sabina Lokic) from the swim team, but fails to impress her neighbours and housemates on Ramsay Street with her behaviour.Sarah Beaumont
Sarah Beaumont
Sarah Beaumont is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Nicola Charles. She made her first on-screen appearance on in 25 September 1996. Sarah departed on 13 July 1999...
(Nicola Charles
Nicola Charles
Nicola Charles is an actress, primarily known for her role in Australian soap opera, Neighbours.-Career:...
) is particularly unhappy about having to share with a teenager. Caitlin begin to feel increasingly isolated on the street, and her friendship with Billy strengthens, especially when Caitlin learns that he is a very competent swimmer and he joins the local team. The more time Caitlin and Billy spend together training causes Anne to feel paranoid. When the team heads off to Sydney to compete, and Billy and Anne have been going through an especially rocky patch, Caitlin seizes her opportunity to make a move on Billy. She kisses him, unaware that Anne had followed Billy to Sydney in order to resolve the problems in their relationship. Anne sees them kissing in Billy's hotel room, which causes further damage to their already fragile union.
Upon their return to Erinsborough, things are frosty and are not helped when Ben falls into a coma following a racing accident at Calder Park. Caitlin and Anne briefly put their differences aside out of concern for their shared brother. After Ben makes progress, Anne and Caitlin resume the grudge and Billy is forced to choose between them. Billy chooses Anne. However, Anne and Caitlin remain friends and play a trick on bully Jacinta Myers (Caroline Morgan) during the Erinsborough High Swim Carnival by switching places, which fools Jacinta into thinking she is initially racing weaker swimmer Anne, when in fact she is up against Caitlin who bests her in the event.
Josh Hughes arrives in Erinsborough to train with the swim team. Despite him being a few years older, Caitlin quickly falls for him. One day, The couple decide to skip swimming class and spend the day together, but while play fighting, Josh falls and sprains his arm. However, it soon emerges that he is exaggerating his injury in order to escape from training and spend more time with Caitlin. As the couple find themselves in trouble from all angles – including from Caitlin's brother Nicholas, who has come to look after her during Ben's convalescence- they decide to run away. However, the couple do not get very far and upon their eventual return, Josh has to go home and Caitlin realises things have failed to work out for her once again.
Caitlin constantly clashes with Nick as he is not only her guardian but her teacher at school now and finds things a lot tougher than when Ben was in charge. Meanwhile, things between Billy and Anne stall as he is unable to cope with her jealousy. Billy starts spending more time with Caitlin and attempts to start a romance with her, but Caitlin is unimpressed after all that had happened in the past. Caitlin's problems worsen when she pushes herself too far during swimming while training to win a place at the AIS
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
and ends up collapsing in the pool at home. Caitlin is rushed to hospital and diagnosed by Dr. Veronica Olenski (Caroline Lloyd) with exhaustion. After several days rest, Caitlin figures that there is no point in making herself ill for her passion.
Caitlin notices how much Anne's twin brother, Lance
Lance Wilkinson
Lance Charles Wilkinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Andrew Bibby. He made his first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1995. Bibby was cast in the recurring role of Lance after an audition. After a year, Bibby auditioned for another character called...
(Andrew Bibby
Andrew Bibby
Andrew Bibby , in Melbourne, Victoria, is an Australian actor who played Lance Wilkinson on the Australian soap opera Neighbours in 1995, 1996–2001 and in 2005...
) is missing Amy Greenwood
Amy Greenwood
Amy Greenwood is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jacinta Stapleton. She made her first on-screen appearance on 10 July 1997. Amy was flirtatious and ditzy, especially interested in fashion and gossip. Throughout most of her time in the show Amy was...
(Jacinta Stapleton
Jacinta Stapleton
Jacinta Stapelton is an Australian actress. Her most notable acting role was Amy Greenwood in the Australian television soap opera Neighbours from 1997 to 2000.-Early life:...
) as his girlfriend, she hatches a plan to help Lance win her back. Caitlin and Lance begin pretending to see each other, making Amy extremely jealous. Amy confronts Caitlin in the toilets at Little Tommy Tucker's and warns her off, leaving Caitlin happy that her plan has worked. When Nick receives news that their mother had decided to return to Australia and wants him and Caitlin to return home to Adelaide, Caitlin refuses to believe him, but reluctantly agrees to leave with him but before her departure she paints "Never Forget Cait + Nick!" on the road as something for her friends to remember her by.