Colleen Smart
Encyclopedia
Colleen Smart is a fictional character
from the Australian Channel Seven
soap opera
Home and Away
, played by Lyn Collingwood
. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 7 March 1988. She was introduced as a recurring character
by producer Alan Bateman. She served as comic relief
and busybody from 1988. She returned briefly in 1997 before returning as a regular on 23 September 1999 and has remained since. Colleen has been portrayed as the serial's "local gossip", a role that been well received by certain critics. Many storylines have centered around her over protective nature towards her son Lance Smart
. Collingwood has revealed that she often pitches storylines for Colleen in the hope they will play out on-screen.
and acted as the busybody type character. Colleen was reintroduced again in 1999 with Collingwood reprising the role.
In 2006 Collingwood stated that she was willing to stay with the serial for as long as they want her.
(Peter Vroom), whom she dotes on." They also add: "She can be the source of information on everything that happens in Summer Bay." Collingwood has said that she likes Colleen's high and mighty behaviour stating: "I like the way she gets all snooty and high-handed and above herself."
Soap opera reporting website Holy Soap
describe Colleen stating: "Colleen is the local gossip who always seem to put her foot in it." Whilst interviewed my media reporting website Digital Spy
, Collingwood agreed that she shared traits with Colleen which were: "The Irishness and the old-fashioned thing and I guess everybody's a gossip to a certain extent." Of Colleen's chances of finding love again she stated: ""As far as the romance goes, there hasn't been anything happening and I don't know when that next one will happen."
Collingwood has stated that she often pitches "crazy plots" for Colleen to the writers in the hope they will implement some. In 2006 she suggested that Colleen should go on a health kick, of this she states: "I had a vision of her and all her mates from the bowling club doing t'ai chi on the beach, the storyline seems to have come and gone though. It was actually used as an excuse for someone else to kiss somebody else!" She has also suggested the ideas of Colleen starting internet dating and an awkward date with Alf Stewart
(Ray Meagher
).
(Fiona Spence
) and they become good friends and gossips. Colleen tells Pippa Fletcher (Vanessa Downing
) that Carly Morris
(Sharyn Hodgson
) has been sexually assaulted before she gets a chance to, which annoys those around her. Colleen later reappears when Lance wins money ($500,000AUS) on the lottery and he gives some money to his father Les (Kevin Golsby), who runs off with another woman, leaving Colleen devastated. Colleen, unable to remain living the family home, moves with Lance into his new mobile home much to his chagrin.
Colleen starts feuding with Morag Bellingham
(Cornelia Frances
) and enjoys insulting Roo Stewart
(Justine Clarke
). Floss McPhee
(Sheila Kennelly
) makes Colleen believe in horoscopes and she becomes convinced she shouldn't be with Donald Fisher
(Norman Coburn
). Floss tries to help her to divorce Donald, and Lance becomes happy with this. He enlists Martin Dibble
(Craig Thompson) to help him and they try and make it seem as if Donald isn't an alcoholic like Les so Colleen will be put off. Celia ruins the plan and gets drunk instead. Donald eventually gave in to Colleen and they become just good friends.
Colleen becomes friends with Lance's new girlfriend Marilyn Chambers
(Emily Symons
). Colleen causes more trouble for Roo when she spreads rumours that she is having an affair with Frank Morgan (Alex Papps
) behind her cousin and Frank's wife Bobby's (Nicolle Dickson
) back (Almost phophetically, Frank does ultimately leave Bobby for Roo sometime after). When, Lance later ends his relationship with Marilyn, she starts to dislike her and feuds with her. Marilyn tells Colleen it's her constant meddling in Lance's life that caused the breakup. When Lance confirms this, she leaves town to stay with her sister, Patricia in Cairns.
She helps Marilyn and Donald out whilst they are in America with their ill child Byron. Justine Welles
(Bree Desborough
) helps Colleen team up with the locals to stop the Caravan park from being redeveloped. Colleen gets a job at the Diner where she becomes good friends with Leah Poulos
(Ada Nicodemou
). She later helps Sally Fletcher
(Kate Richie) as she exposes her fiance Kieran Fletcher (Spencer McLaren) of his attempted affair with Gypsy Nash
(Kimberley Cooper
). Lance returns and Colleen is delighted, however she soon sets about making her dislike of his new wife Debbie (Kelly Butler) known. Les (now played by Rob Steele) returns and Colleen takes him in, they decide to renew their vows again after they grow close once more. Les later runs away with Colleen's savings with the same woman he used to be with the first time he cheated and left. Colleen starts looking after grand-daughter Maggie a lot, but when Debbie finds out she tries to stop Colleen seeing her all together. Leah eventually talks her around and they become friends.
Colleen causes a chip-pan fire at the Diner, she throws water over it and burns the Diner down. Leah takes the blame for Colleen. Eventually the guilt becomes to much and she tries to confess to Ailsa Stewart
(Judy Nunn
), but Leah prevents her. Ailsa later tells Colleen she knew it was her fault all along, before she died. Colleen later reveals she had a child out of wedlock and gave it up for adoption. Max Sutherland
(Sebastian Elmaloglou
) later uses Colleen's bank account to store money in from his book proceeds. Colleen has legal action taken against her over the books copyright status, she covers for Max. Her daughter Maureen Edwards turns up and she thinks she just wants to cash in on her new found fame. She soon realised she was genuine and they became close, but decided after time it was better to keep intouch from a distance so she left. Josh West
(Daniel Collopy
) tries to rid of her mobile home, so she leaves town but later returns.
Colleen meets Norman Shadbolt (David Whitford); they date and later get engaged. He later leaves her a note saying he couldn't go through with it. Colleen starts feuding with Madge Wilkins over a historian job for the paper. Colleen helps Sally after Flynn Saunders
(Joel McIlroy
) death, she actually managed to keep the news of his illness a secret. Colleen later finds out she is related to the Stewart family after her mother had an affair with their father. Morag hates the idea of being related to her. She later becomes annoyed at Colleen's interfering with their private affairs. Colleen refused to accept Martha MacKenzie's
(Jodi Gordon
) relationship with Hugo Austin (Bernard Curry
). This causes a series of arguments in the Stewart family over Colleen's meddling, she later sees that Martha is trying to find happiness again and they make up.
Colleen is later trapped in the Diner when it is fire bombed. She gets over the incident quickly to support old friend Leah who could not cope. She is angry when Marilyn returns to town, she states she still hasn't forgiven her for the breakdown of her and Lance's relationship. When she finds out that Marilyn has cancer she changes her attitude towards her and the become friendly again. Penn Graham (Christian Clark
) starts a campaign up against Alf and the other residents of Summer Bay. Items begin going missing from the caravan park. He plants them in Colleen's trailer to make it look asif she has stolen them. She is arrested and spends the night in the cells. She is later released and Charlie Buckton
(Esther Anderson) vows to find out the truth.
Collingwood was nominated in the category of "Funniest Performance" for her portryal. Holy Soap recall Colleen's most memorable moment as being: "Trying to cop off with Summer Bay legend Don Fisher, a.k.a. Flathead - to no avail." Sarah Ellis writing for Inside Soap commented on Colleen's status as a gossip stating: "When it comes to soap gossips, Colleen Smart is the undisputed tittle-tattle queen." The Press Association
have referred to Colleen as an "elderly busy-body". Whilst in character as Borat
, actor Sacha Baron Cohen
stated he loves Australian television and that his favourite character is Colleen Smart, jokingly adding: "I would like to make romance inside of her." The Sydney Morning Herald
have referred to Colleen as one of the serial's three "legacy characters", along with Alf and Irene.
Character (arts)
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 Channel Seven
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
, played by Lyn Collingwood
Lyn Collingwood
Lyn Collingwood is an Australian actress. Collingwood was cast as Colleen Smart on Home and Away and was recurring character in 1988–1989, and returned in 1997 for one episode and then returned in 1999 as regular character....
. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 7 March 1988. She was introduced as a recurring character
Recurring character
A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a prime time TV series, who appears from time to time during the series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in an episode, sometimes being the main focus...
by producer Alan Bateman. She served as comic relief
Comic relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
and busybody from 1988. She returned briefly in 1997 before returning as a regular on 23 September 1999 and has remained since. Colleen has been portrayed as the serial's "local gossip", a role that been well received by certain critics. Many storylines have centered around her over protective nature towards her son Lance Smart
Lance Smart
Lance Smart is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away. The character, played by actor Peter Vroom from 1988 to 1990, returned to the show at least once every year since from 2000 until 2006....
. Collingwood has revealed that she often pitches storylines for Colleen in the hope they will play out on-screen.
Creation and casting
She was introduced into the serial as a recurring character in 1988 until 1989. Colleen mainly served as a source of comic reliefComic relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
and acted as the busybody type character. Colleen was reintroduced again in 1999 with Collingwood reprising the role.
In 2006 Collingwood stated that she was willing to stay with the serial for as long as they want her.
Character development
The serial's official website describe Colleen stating: "Colleen is the town gossip, a sticky beak and quick to judge, but she also has a heart of gold. Her main claim to fame was winning the 'Miss Groper Pageant' [...] Colleen is chronically bossy and is not above brow-beating those she cares about, especially her beloved son Lance SmartLance Smart
Lance Smart is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away. The character, played by actor Peter Vroom from 1988 to 1990, returned to the show at least once every year since from 2000 until 2006....
(Peter Vroom), whom she dotes on." They also add: "She can be the source of information on everything that happens in Summer Bay." Collingwood has said that she likes Colleen's high and mighty behaviour stating: "I like the way she gets all snooty and high-handed and above herself."
Soap opera reporting website Holy Soap
Holy Soap
Holy Soap is a UK television and entertainment website founded in June 2009 by the British television company Channel 5. The website is the official UK home of the Australian soap operas Home and Away and Neighbours, which are broadcast on the channel...
describe Colleen stating: "Colleen is the local gossip who always seem to put her foot in it." Whilst interviewed my media reporting website Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
, Collingwood agreed that she shared traits with Colleen which were: "The Irishness and the old-fashioned thing and I guess everybody's a gossip to a certain extent." Of Colleen's chances of finding love again she stated: ""As far as the romance goes, there hasn't been anything happening and I don't know when that next one will happen."
Collingwood has stated that she often pitches "crazy plots" for Colleen to the writers in the hope they will implement some. In 2006 she suggested that Colleen should go on a health kick, of this she states: "I had a vision of her and all her mates from the bowling club doing t'ai chi on the beach, the storyline seems to have come and gone though. It was actually used as an excuse for someone else to kiss somebody else!" She has also suggested the ideas of Colleen starting internet dating and an awkward date with Alf Stewart
Alf Stewart
Alfred Douglas "Alf" Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Ray Meagher. The character debuted on-screen during the serial's pilot episode on 17 January 1988...
(Ray Meagher
Ray Meagher
Ray Meagher surname pronouned "Marr" , is a veteran Australian character actor. He has appeared regularly in Australian film and television since the mid 1970s, and is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, as Alf Stewart on Home and Away, having played the...
).
Backstory
Colleen was born in Summer Bay as the product of an affair between local businessman Gordon Stewart and Mavis Hickie. Merv Hickie, the man who Colleen believed was her father, was abusive to her and Mavis. Colleen grew up admiring and envying the Stewart family for the family structure she did not have. In 1959, Colleen won the Miss Groper Beauty pageant and later fell pregnant and subsequently gave birth to a daughter, Maureen who she later adopted out. Several years later, Colleen met Lester Smart and they married and they later had a son, Lance.1988-1989
Colleen is first seen in the general store where she is talking to Celia StewartCelia Stewart
Celia Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. She was played by Fiona Spence. The character was a regular on the show from 1988 to 1990...
(Fiona Spence
Fiona Spence
Fiona Spence is a British-born stage and television actress. One of the most recognisable Australian television stars during the early 1980s, she is best known for her roles in the Australian television series Prisoner and Home and Away...
) and they become good friends and gossips. Colleen tells Pippa Fletcher (Vanessa Downing
Vanessa Downing
Vanessa Downing is an Australian actress. She was educated in Sydney and holds a Masters Degree in English Literature from Sydney University...
) that Carly Morris
Carly Lucini
Carly Lucini is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. The character was played by actress Sharyn Hodgson appearing in its pilot episode in 1988...
(Sharyn Hodgson
Sharyn Hodgson
Sharyn Hodgson is an Australian actress, best known for playing the role of Carly Lucini in the popular soap opera, Home and Away ....
) has been sexually assaulted before she gets a chance to, which annoys those around her. Colleen later reappears when Lance wins money ($500,000AUS) on the lottery and he gives some money to his father Les (Kevin Golsby), who runs off with another woman, leaving Colleen devastated. Colleen, unable to remain living the family home, moves with Lance into his new mobile home much to his chagrin.
Colleen starts feuding with Morag Bellingham
Morag Bellingham
Morag Bellingham 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 17 June 1988. She appeared until 1989 and briefly appeared in 1993. She returned yearly from 2001 until 2009 and...
(Cornelia Frances
Cornelia Frances
Cornelia Frances is a British-born actress based in Australia since the early 1970s. Frances is best known for her recurring role as judge Morag Bellingham on Home and Away.-Early life and personal life:...
) and enjoys insulting Roo Stewart
Roo Stewart
Ruth Martha "Roo" Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian Seven Network soap opera Home and Away, played by Justine Clarke from 1988 to 1989. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 20 January 1988. Clarke quit the role in 1989 and the character was written out...
(Justine Clarke
Justine Clarke
Justine Clarke is an Australian actor and singer. She has been acting since the age of seven and has appeared in some of Australia's best-known TV shows...
). Floss McPhee
Floss McPhee
Floss McPhee is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away played by actress Sheila Kennelly. Floss first appeared in the pilot episode in 1988 until 1989. She has made sporadic returns in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2008.-Storylines:...
(Sheila Kennelly
Sheila Kennelly
Sheila Kennelly is an English born Australian actress of theatre, television and film, with a vast repotoire spanning over 50 years in the industry, born in Sussex, UK she has played several television soap opera and comedy roles starting in the 1970s....
) makes Colleen believe in horoscopes and she becomes convinced she shouldn't be with Donald Fisher
Donald Fisher (Home and Away)
Donald Fisher is a fictional character in the Australian television soap opera Home and Away played by actor Norman Coburn as a regular character, from the soap's inception in 1988 to 2003. Coburn has since returned for brief appearances in 2004, 2005 and 2007...
(Norman Coburn
Norman Coburn
Norman Coburn is an Australian television character-actor notable for his roles primarily in soap operas,also his has appeared in many theatre roles .-Home and Away:...
). Floss tries to help her to divorce Donald, and Lance becomes happy with this. He enlists Martin Dibble
Martin Dibble
Martin Dibble is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portrayed by Craig Thompson. He made his first on-screen appearance on 17 January 1988, the show's pilot episode...
(Craig Thompson) to help him and they try and make it seem as if Donald isn't an alcoholic like Les so Colleen will be put off. Celia ruins the plan and gets drunk instead. Donald eventually gave in to Colleen and they become just good friends.
Colleen becomes friends with Lance's new girlfriend Marilyn Chambers
Marilyn Chambers (Home and Away)
Marilyn Chambers is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Emily Symons. She made her first on-screen appearance on 12 May 1989. Symons departed in 1992, but she returned in 1995 and stayed for four years. She made a brief return in 2001...
(Emily Symons
Emily Symons
Emily Symons is an Australian actress.Symons's mother remarried when she was just four years old and Symons did not see her biological, English father again until ten years later. She left school before finishing her exams and launched herself into the acting world...
). Colleen causes more trouble for Roo when she spreads rumours that she is having an affair with Frank Morgan (Alex Papps
Alex Papps
Alex Papps is an Australian actor and television host, who is best known for his role on soap opera Home and Away and as a host of The Factory...
) behind her cousin and Frank's wife Bobby's (Nicolle Dickson
Nicolle Dickson
Nicolle Dickson is an Australian actress who played rebellious Bobby Simpson in soap opera Home and Away from 1988 to 1993.-Early years:...
) back (Almost phophetically, Frank does ultimately leave Bobby for Roo sometime after). When, Lance later ends his relationship with Marilyn, she starts to dislike her and feuds with her. Marilyn tells Colleen it's her constant meddling in Lance's life that caused the breakup. When Lance confirms this, she leaves town to stay with her sister, Patricia in Cairns.
1997-
Colleen makes a brief one-episode return in 1997, babysitting Rachel McGregor (Kelly Glaister). Colleen isn't seen for another two years but is referred to as still living in the caravan park in Lance's old mobile home.She helps Marilyn and Donald out whilst they are in America with their ill child Byron. Justine Welles
Justine Welles
Justine Welles is a fictional character on the Australian soap opera Home and Away. The character was played by actress Bree Desborough.Her biggest storyline was in 1999 when she began babysitting a baby girl, Ruby Collins. One night while looking after her, she noticed bruises on Ruby's body...
(Bree Desborough
Bree Desborough
Bree Desborough is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role as Justine Welles in the soap opera Home and Away.-Career:...
) helps Colleen team up with the locals to stop the Caravan park from being redeveloped. Colleen gets a job at the Diner where she becomes good friends with Leah Poulos
Leah Patterson-Baker
Leah Helena Adara Patterson-Baker is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Ada Nicodemou. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 22 March 2000...
(Ada Nicodemou
Ada Nicodemou
Ada Nicodemou is a Greek Cypriot-born Australian actress, best known for her role as Leah Patterson-Baker in the soap opera Home and Away.-Early life:Nicodemou was born in Larnaca, Cyprus. She has been an Australian resident since 1987....
). She later helps Sally Fletcher
Sally Fletcher
Sally Louise Fletcher is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Kate Ritchie...
(Kate Richie) as she exposes her fiance Kieran Fletcher (Spencer McLaren) of his attempted affair with Gypsy Nash
Gypsy Nash
Gypsy Smith is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Kimberley Cooper. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 18 February 1998...
(Kimberley Cooper
Kimberley Cooper
Kimberley Cooper, in Sydney New South Wales, is an Australian actress who played Gypsy Smith in Home and Away . Cooper won the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent on Australian television in 1999 and the Best Aussie Actress for The Inside Soap Awards, UK, 2000...
). Lance returns and Colleen is delighted, however she soon sets about making her dislike of his new wife Debbie (Kelly Butler) known. Les (now played by Rob Steele) returns and Colleen takes him in, they decide to renew their vows again after they grow close once more. Les later runs away with Colleen's savings with the same woman he used to be with the first time he cheated and left. Colleen starts looking after grand-daughter Maggie a lot, but when Debbie finds out she tries to stop Colleen seeing her all together. Leah eventually talks her around and they become friends.
Colleen causes a chip-pan fire at the Diner, she throws water over it and burns the Diner down. Leah takes the blame for Colleen. Eventually the guilt becomes to much and she tries to confess to Ailsa Stewart
Ailsa Stewart
Ailsa Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. She was married to Alf Stewart and had a son Duncan. She was played by actress Judy Nunn for 13 and a half years...
(Judy Nunn
Judy Nunn
Judy Nunn is an Australian actress and author.-Acting career:Her breakout role was as the scheming bisexual reporter Vicky Stafford in the risque soap opera The Box. Her character became a popular cult figure in the series. Nunn continued in the role for the show's entire 1974–1977 run...
), but Leah prevents her. Ailsa later tells Colleen she knew it was her fault all along, before she died. Colleen later reveals she had a child out of wedlock and gave it up for adoption. Max Sutherland
Max Sutherland
Maximus "Max" Sutherland was a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portrayed by actor Sebastian Elmaloglou from 2002 to 2004.- Storylines :...
(Sebastian Elmaloglou
Sebastian Elmaloglou
Sebastian Elmaloglou is an Australian stage, film and television actor best known for portraying the role of Max Sutherland on the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away from 2002 to 2004.-Background:...
) later uses Colleen's bank account to store money in from his book proceeds. Colleen has legal action taken against her over the books copyright status, she covers for Max. Her daughter Maureen Edwards turns up and she thinks she just wants to cash in on her new found fame. She soon realised she was genuine and they became close, but decided after time it was better to keep intouch from a distance so she left. Josh West
Josh West (Home and Away)
Joshua "Josh" West is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Daniel Collopy. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 21 November 2001. The character departed in 2003, but made several reappearances later that year...
(Daniel Collopy
Daniel Collopy
Daniel Collopy is an Australian actor. His first television role was the character of Sean Edwards in the long-running Australian soap Neighbours. Following this Collopy was offered a regular role in another long-running Australian soap Home and Away where he played Josh West from 2001 until 2003...
) tries to rid of her mobile home, so she leaves town but later returns.
Colleen meets Norman Shadbolt (David Whitford); they date and later get engaged. He later leaves her a note saying he couldn't go through with it. Colleen starts feuding with Madge Wilkins over a historian job for the paper. Colleen helps Sally after Flynn Saunders
Flynn Saunders
Dr Flynn Saunders is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Joel McIlroy. The character was originally played by Martin Dingle-Wall from 2001 until 2002. He made his first on-screen appearance on 13 July 2001....
(Joel McIlroy
Joel McIlroy
Joel McIlroy is an Australian actor, best known for being the second actor to take on the role of Flynn Saunders, a character of the popular soap opera Home and Away. McIlroy took over the role of Flynn in 2003 after Martin Dingle-Wall left the role in 2002.-Early years:Joel McIlroy grew up in the...
) death, she actually managed to keep the news of his illness a secret. Colleen later finds out she is related to the Stewart family after her mother had an affair with their father. Morag hates the idea of being related to her. She later becomes annoyed at Colleen's interfering with their private affairs. Colleen refused to accept Martha MacKenzie's
Martha MacKenzie
Martha Jane 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 until her departure in 1989...
(Jodi Gordon
Jodi Gordon
Jodi Lee Gordon is an Australian actress and model.-Early life:Gordon was born in Mackay to Bronwyn and Ray. She has an older brother, Ben. Her father was born in New Zealand and is of Māori descent. From the age of 8, Gordon's family moved to various locations along the coast from Mackay,...
) relationship with Hugo Austin (Bernard Curry
Bernard Curry
Bernard Curry is a Sydney-based Australian actor, best known for his role in soap operas Neighbours and Home and Away.-Career:...
). This causes a series of arguments in the Stewart family over Colleen's meddling, she later sees that Martha is trying to find happiness again and they make up.
Colleen is later trapped in the Diner when it is fire bombed. She gets over the incident quickly to support old friend Leah who could not cope. She is angry when Marilyn returns to town, she states she still hasn't forgiven her for the breakdown of her and Lance's relationship. When she finds out that Marilyn has cancer she changes her attitude towards her and the become friendly again. Penn Graham (Christian Clark
Christian Clark
Christian Clark is an Australian actor. He appeared in the role of Will Griggs in the Network Ten soap opera Neighbours from 2006 to 2007...
) starts a campaign up against Alf and the other residents of Summer Bay. Items begin going missing from the caravan park. He plants them in Colleen's trailer to make it look asif she has stolen them. She is arrested and spends the night in the cells. She is later released and Charlie Buckton
Charlie Buckton
Charlotte "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...
(Esther Anderson) vows to find out the truth.
Reception
At the 2007 Inside Soap AwardsInside Soap Awards
The Inside Soap Awards is a yearly award ceremony run by Inside Soap magazine since 1996. The awards celebrate the British and Australian soap operas and their actors. Until 2007, EastEnders had won the award for "Best Soap" on every occasion...
Collingwood was nominated in the category of "Funniest Performance" for her portryal. Holy Soap recall Colleen's most memorable moment as being: "Trying to cop off with Summer Bay legend Don Fisher, a.k.a. Flathead - to no avail." Sarah Ellis writing for Inside Soap commented on Colleen's status as a gossip stating: "When it comes to soap gossips, Colleen Smart is the undisputed tittle-tattle queen." The Press Association
Press Association
The Press Association is the national news agency of the United Kingdom and Ireland, supplying multimedia news content to almost all national and regional newspapers, television and radio news, as well as many websites with text, pictures, video and data content globally...
have referred to Colleen as an "elderly busy-body". Whilst in character as Borat
Borat
Borat Sagdiyev is a satirical fictional character invented and performed by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen...
, actor Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Noam Baron Cohen is an English stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and voice artist. He is most widely known for his portrayal of three unorthodox fictional characters: Ali G, Borat, and Brüno...
stated he loves Australian television and that his favourite character is Colleen Smart, jokingly adding: "I would like to make romance inside of her." 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...
have referred to Colleen as one of the serial's three "legacy characters", along with Alf and Irene.
External links
- Character profile at the Official Home and Away websiteYahoo!7Yahoo!7 is a 50-50 partnership between the Seven Network and Yahoo! Inc. in Australia.As part of the Yahoo! Inc. and the Seven Media Group, Yahoo!7 brings together the online assets of Yahoo! Inc. and the television and magazine content of the Seven Network and Pacific Magazines...
- Character profile at the 'Raidió Teilifís Éireann' websiteRaidió Teilifís ÉireannRaidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
- Character profile at Holy SoapHoly SoapHoly Soap is a UK television and entertainment website founded in June 2009 by the British television company Channel 5. The website is the official UK home of the Australian soap operas Home and Away and Neighbours, which are broadcast on the channel...