Gina Patrick
Encyclopedia
Gina Patrick is a fictional character
from the British Channel 4
soap opera
Hollyoaks
, played by Dannielle Brent
. She debuted on-screen during the episodes airing in 1997. Brent secured the role after originally auditioning for the role of Gina's sister Kate Patrick
. Gina was initially a recurring character, though was promoted later to the regular cast. Brent felt that the role had given her good training, though decided to leave the serial after four years.
Gina is characterised as a tomboy who prefers casual clothing and has strong views on environmental issues. The character has been at the centre of a lesbian relationship with fellow character Emily Taylor. Brent said she was not made aware of the storyline until later in her tenure. She praised the storyline because it portrayed lesbians in a natural relationship. The storyline had a positive impact on the programme itself when it increased viewing interest. The relationship was also well received by columnists of the Daily Record
.
, who Natasha Symms went on to play. Brent was originally signed to the serial on a recurring basis, though she was later promoted to the regular cast. Brent left the programme after four years of playing Gina. Brent said she had a great time in the serial and labelled the role as "the best training I could have wished for."
Gina was involved in a storyline in which she came out as a lesbian. She later begins a relationship with Emily Taylor (Lorna Pegler). Producers did not inform either actress about the storyline to begin with, however, told them they had "saucy" plans for their characters. Brent said she was "fine" with the storyline when she found out. Pegler said she was happy that the storyline showed there is nothing "unnatural" about same sex relationships. Brent said she played their relationship like any other, featuring "the laughs, the rows and so on." Brent and Pegler planned their characters first kiss two months in advance, in order to find out the best way to "tackle" the plot. Gina and Emily have completely different personalities, though they "share a passion for animal welfare." The storyline proved successful with viewers and increased general interest for Hollyoaks. Though some viewers became so involved with the storyline, they assumed Brent and Pegler were in a relationship outside of their characters. When Gina comes out to her family, her brother Sol Patrick
(Paul Danan
) does not take the news well. Danan said Sol is angry and hurt and "feels she has kept her sexuality a secret from him for years."
(Terri Dwyer
) manages to ruin her chances. Gina begins to act wayward and suffers with her identity. When she goes missing, Sol and Jill go in search for her and are involved in a car accident.
Gina fends of the advances of Paul Millington, not wanting to hurt him she lets him down gently. Gina then raises the issue of her sexuality, after she begins a relationship with Emily. When she comes out Sol is upset that she did not tell him sooner. Gina manages to secure a position with the magazine. Jill is later diagnosed with a brain tumour and later dies. This has an impact on Gina's relationship with Emily. They begin to fight more and they cannot manage to be in each others company. Emily has an affair and Gina ends their relationship when she finds out the truth. She moves back in with her step-father Jack Osborne
(Jimmy McKenna). Gina then begins to fail at college and quits. She moves to China to work in an orphanage, wanting to make her mother proud of her.
, for her portrayal. Merle Brown of the Daily Record
has been critical of Gina. Initially enjoying her storylines, she grew tired of the character. She said that The Patrick family became a mess and said Hollyoaks was "unmissable" when Gina suffered an identity crisis. When Gina lost the college election because of her sexuality, Brown said that it was "not nice" but added that it was probably true. She later became annoyed that Gina and Emily began fighting. She branded the storyline as "nonsense" and questioned why they ever bothered to begin a relationship. She later said they "spend most of their life fighting" and jested that blokes would much prefer them to do it "naked in mud." By 2001, Brown could not stand to watch Gina any longer. She said she hoped she would leave with Sol or be murdered by pimp Steve. In the book The media : an introduction, Adam Briggs and Paul Cobley said that by 2001 homosexual relationships in soap opera were no longer a novelty. They said Gina and Emily's relationship was a notable example.
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 British Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
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,...
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
, played by Dannielle Brent
Dannielle Brent
Dannielle Brent, also known as Danielle Brent is a British actress who played the prisoner Natalie Buxton on the television drama series, Bad Girls.-Biography:Dannielle Brent was accepted into the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts....
. She debuted on-screen during the episodes airing in 1997. Brent secured the role after originally auditioning for the role of Gina's sister Kate Patrick
Kate Patrick
Kate Patrick is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Natasha Symms. She debuted on-screen during the episodes airing in 1997...
. Gina was initially a recurring character, though was promoted later to the regular cast. Brent felt that the role had given her good training, though decided to leave the serial after four years.
Gina is characterised as a tomboy who prefers casual clothing and has strong views on environmental issues. The character has been at the centre of a lesbian relationship with fellow character Emily Taylor. Brent said she was not made aware of the storyline until later in her tenure. She praised the storyline because it portrayed lesbians in a natural relationship. The storyline had a positive impact on the programme itself when it increased viewing interest. The relationship was also well received by columnists of the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
.
Casting
Actress Danielle Brent secured the role in 1997. It was her first television role after she attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Brent originally auditioned for the role of Kate PatrickKate Patrick
Kate Patrick is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Natasha Symms. She debuted on-screen during the episodes airing in 1997...
, who Natasha Symms went on to play. Brent was originally signed to the serial on a recurring basis, though she was later promoted to the regular cast. Brent left the programme after four years of playing Gina. Brent said she had a great time in the serial and labelled the role as "the best training I could have wished for."
Character development
Gina was characterised as a "eco warrior". Her style of clothing was casual wear and hooded sweat shirts. Gina was originally described to Brent as being a tomboy who liked wearing combats. Gina also takes on "major roles" in college politics and is described as a "memorable" contributor to the serial's fictional magazine The Review.Gina was involved in a storyline in which she came out as a lesbian. She later begins a relationship with Emily Taylor (Lorna Pegler). Producers did not inform either actress about the storyline to begin with, however, told them they had "saucy" plans for their characters. Brent said she was "fine" with the storyline when she found out. Pegler said she was happy that the storyline showed there is nothing "unnatural" about same sex relationships. Brent said she played their relationship like any other, featuring "the laughs, the rows and so on." Brent and Pegler planned their characters first kiss two months in advance, in order to find out the best way to "tackle" the plot. Gina and Emily have completely different personalities, though they "share a passion for animal welfare." The storyline proved successful with viewers and increased general interest for Hollyoaks. Though some viewers became so involved with the storyline, they assumed Brent and Pegler were in a relationship outside of their characters. When Gina comes out to her family, her brother Sol Patrick
Sol Patrick
Sol Patrick is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Paul Danan.-Storylines:Sol arrived in Hollyoaks with his mother Jill Patrick , and sisters Kate and Gina...
(Paul Danan
Paul Danan
Paul Danan is a British actor who played Sol Patrick in the United Kingdom teen soap opera Hollyoaks between 1997 and 2001...
) does not take the news well. Danan said Sol is angry and hurt and "feels she has kept her sexuality a secret from him for years."
Storylines
Gina arrives in the village with her family Sol, Kate and Jill Patrick (Lynda Rooke). Gina soon establishes herself to be different from the rest of her family who are loud and brash. Gina takes a keen interest in environmental issues and flaunts facial piercings. She studies hard at Hollyoaks Community College and decides to get involved in college politics. She applies for a job as the editor of college magazine The Review, pitching against her friend Emily. Though Ruth OsborneRuth Osborne
Ruth Osborne is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Terri Dwyer. She first appeared in 1995 as part of the Osborne family before leaving in 2001. Since then, she has made guest appearances between 2003–2004 and 2008. In 2009 Dwyer said she'd return...
(Terri Dwyer
Terri Dwyer
Teresa "Terri" Dwyer is an English actress. She is best known for her role in the in the British soap opera, Hollyoaks as Ruth Osborne.-Career:...
) manages to ruin her chances. Gina begins to act wayward and suffers with her identity. When she goes missing, Sol and Jill go in search for her and are involved in a car accident.
Gina fends of the advances of Paul Millington, not wanting to hurt him she lets him down gently. Gina then raises the issue of her sexuality, after she begins a relationship with Emily. When she comes out Sol is upset that she did not tell him sooner. Gina manages to secure a position with the magazine. Jill is later diagnosed with a brain tumour and later dies. This has an impact on Gina's relationship with Emily. They begin to fight more and they cannot manage to be in each others company. Emily has an affair and Gina ends their relationship when she finds out the truth. She moves back in with her step-father Jack Osborne
Jack Osborne
Jack William Osborne is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Jimmy McKenna. He first appeared on 18 November 1996 and is the second longest serving character although Cindy Longford and Mandy Richardson both appeared before him both have taken...
(Jimmy McKenna). Gina then begins to fail at college and quits. She moves to China to work in an orphanage, wanting to make her mother proud of her.
Reception
Brent was nominated for "Sexiest Female" at the 2001 British Soap AwardsBritish Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
, for her portrayal. Merle Brown of the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
has been critical of Gina. Initially enjoying her storylines, she grew tired of the character. She said that The Patrick family became a mess and said Hollyoaks was "unmissable" when Gina suffered an identity crisis. When Gina lost the college election because of her sexuality, Brown said that it was "not nice" but added that it was probably true. She later became annoyed that Gina and Emily began fighting. She branded the storyline as "nonsense" and questioned why they ever bothered to begin a relationship. She later said they "spend most of their life fighting" and jested that blokes would much prefer them to do it "naked in mud." By 2001, Brown could not stand to watch Gina any longer. She said she hoped she would leave with Sol or be murdered by pimp Steve. In the book The media : an introduction, Adam Briggs and Paul Cobley said that by 2001 homosexual relationships in soap opera were no longer a novelty. They said Gina and Emily's relationship was a notable example.