Marlene Kratz
Encyclopedia
Marlene Kratz is a fictional character
from the Australian Network Ten
soap opera Neighbours
, played by Moya O'Sullivan. She made her first on-screen appearance on 5 July 1994 and remained in the show until 14 October 1997, when the character went on a three month cruise and never returned. Marlene is an elderly lady who owned a bric-a-brac store and is obsessed with Elvis Presley
. In 2005, O'Sullivan reprised her role of Marlene for Neighbours' 20th anniversary. She revealed that she is still sailing the seas.
after purchasing Number 24 from Madge Bishop
(Anne Charleston
) and is joined by her grandson (Sam
(Richard Grieve
). It soon becomes apparent Marlene has purchased the house to be nearer to her estranged daughter, Cheryl Stark
(Caroline Gillmer
) who she had walked out on in her childhood. Cheryl refuses to have anything to do with Marlene at first but she softens after Marlene knits booties for the baby Cheryl is expecting.
Marlene settles into the area and befriends fellow pensioner Helen Daniels
(Anne Haddy
) and later runs her own bric-a-brac shop and plays surrogate mother to teenage runaway Bianca Zanotti (Anna Gagliardi). After Bianca's departure Marlene later takes in boarders Annalise Hartman
(Kimberley Davies
and Cody Willis
(Peta Brady
). After Cheryl's relationship with Lou Carpenter
(Tom Oliver
) breaks down, Cheryl, her daughter Louise (Jiordan Anna Tolli
) and son Darren
(Todd MacDonald
) move into Number 24 with her. Cheryl is later killed in a car accident, leaving the family devastated and Marlene is left to keep the peace between Lou and Darren. When Madge returns to Erinsborough to reconcile with her husband Harold
(Ian Smith
), Marlene moves in next door with Lou and rents the house to the Bishops.
Marlene takes a job working for Karl Kennedy
(Alan Fletcher) and finds herself competing with Sarah Beaumont
(Nicola Charles
) for the title of Receptionist of the Year. She later leaves for a three month cruise but is not seen for 8 years until she appears in Annalise's documentary about Ramsay Street where she reveals she is still sailing the seas.
asked readers to nominate their twenty favourite obscure characters. Marlene came in tenth place and the readers said "Marlene Kratz, the mother of Lou Carpenter's late wife Cheryl Stark. Reason? For heading off on a three month cruise in the mid-1990s, never to be seen or spoken of again".Which was unrealstic for her character as she had many family and friends that were sitll living on the street.
In 2010, to celebrate Neighbours 25th anniversary, British satellite broadcasting company Sky
, profiled twenty-five characters of which they believed were the most memorable in the series history. Marlene is in the list and Sky said "Considering Marlene was originally introduced in the rather serious business of being estranged for several decades from daughter Cheryl, she made a name for herself with comic storylines, largely revolving around getting into trouble with grandchildren Sam, Brett and Dannii. With her nineties shirts and love of Elvis Presley, Marlene spent three years getting into old lady scrapes before leaving on a three-month cruise. That was in 1997, so she's due back any day now."
Digital Spy
made Marlene their "DS Icon" on 7 January 2011 and they called her a legendary and special character. Of Marlene and her personality, they said "Spending only three years on Ramsay Street, Marlene made an emotional impact on viewers who loved her wheeler dealer lifestyle (selling VCRs, running a bric-a-brac shop), constant scrapes and bantering with daughter Cheryl and son-in-law Lou Carpenter. Marlene, played by the delightful Moya O'Sullivan, was a crucial cog in the Golden Age of Neighbours in the '90s." They also said that adding to the mystery of Marlene was her unusual exit and how she did not return from her cruise. They added "The only glimpse we got of Marlene was a short clip in the 2005 anniversary show, where she was shown still sailing the seas. While that finally put to rest the rumours that Lou and Harold had bumped her off, her seemingly never-ending cruise still seems highly curious. Many suspect that she may have shacked up with a cheeky cabin boy, but we can't confirm that detail."
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 Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
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 Moya O'Sullivan. She made her first on-screen appearance on 5 July 1994 and remained in the show until 14 October 1997, when the character went on a three month cruise and never returned. Marlene is an elderly lady who owned a bric-a-brac store and is obsessed with Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. In 2005, O'Sullivan reprised her role of Marlene for Neighbours
Casting
In 2005, it was confirmed that O'Sullivan would be reprising her role of Marlene to join the many ex-cast members returning for the show's 20th anniversary episode.Storylines
Marlene arrives in Ramsay StreetRamsay Street
Ramsay Street is the fictional cul-de-sac in which the characters of the Australian soap opera Neighbours live. The street is set in the equally fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. Neighbours storylines primarily centre around the residents of the Street, which was named after the...
after purchasing Number 24 from Madge Bishop
Madge Bishop
Margaret Mary "Madge" Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Anne Charleston. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 January 1986. Madge was one of the matriarchs of the Ramsay family. She departed in 1992, before making a return in 1996...
(Anne Charleston
Anne Charleston
Anne Charleston is an Australian actress currently based in Galway, Ireland and the UK. She is known for her roles as Madge Bishop in the Australian soap opera Neighbours and Lily Butterfield in Emmerdale.-Early career:...
) and is joined by her grandson (Sam
Sam Kratz
Sam Kratz is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Richard Grieve. He first appeared in 1994 and remained in the show until 1996. In 2005, Sam made a cameo in his wife Annalise's documentary about Ramsay Street....
(Richard Grieve
Richard Grieve
Richard Grieve is an actor, currently living in England. He was born in Hong Kong. He has worked extensively in film, television, theatre and musical theatre, but is perhaps best known for his roles in the British soap Emmerdale, and two Australian television series, Neighbours and Home and...
). It soon becomes apparent Marlene has purchased the house to be nearer to her estranged daughter, Cheryl Stark
Cheryl Stark
Cheryl Stark is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Caroline Gillmer. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 26 July 1993. Colette Mann took over the role for eight weeks from late 1995 to early 1996 whilst Gillmer was ill...
(Caroline Gillmer
Caroline Gillmer
Caroline Gillmer is an Australian actress, best known for her roles in various television series, such as Prisoner as Helen Smart and Neighbours as Cheryl Stark....
) who she had walked out on in her childhood. Cheryl refuses to have anything to do with Marlene at first but she softens after Marlene knits booties for the baby Cheryl is expecting.
Marlene settles into the area and befriends fellow pensioner Helen Daniels
Helen Daniels
Helen Daniels is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by Anne Haddy. Following the death of Jim Robinson in 1993, she remained the only original character left in the series until her own death in 1997, making her the second longest-serving original character...
(Anne Haddy
Anne Haddy
Anne Haddy was an Australian film and television actress, best known for her role in the long-running soap opera, Neighbours.-Early and personal life:...
) and later runs her own bric-a-brac shop and plays surrogate mother to teenage runaway Bianca Zanotti (Anna Gagliardi). After Bianca's departure Marlene later takes in boarders Annalise Hartman
Annalise Hartman
Annalise Kratz is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Kimberley Davies. She debuted on-screen in the episode airing on 15 January 1993 and departed in 1996, and a brief return in 2005. Annalise has often been portrayed as having a conniving persona...
(Kimberley Davies
Kimberley Davies
Kimberley Davies is an Australian actress most famous for playing Annalise Hartman on the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 1993 to 1996...
and Cody Willis
Cody Willis
Cody Willis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, originally played by Amelia Frid. She made her first on-screen appearance on 24 November 1989. The character departed in 1991, but returned in 1993 with Peta Brady in the role...
(Peta Brady
Peta Brady
Peta Brady is an Australian actress. She is best known for playing Cody Willis in the TV soap opera Neighbours. Since she left the show, Brady has appeared in the film Mullet, the TV sitcom Kath & Kim and the SBS series RAN ...
). After Cheryl's relationship with Lou Carpenter
Lou Carpenter
Louis "Lou" Carpenter is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Tom Oliver. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 March 1988. Lou appeared for a brief time, before leaving and later returning in January 1992 as a regular cast member. He is the longest...
(Tom Oliver
Tom Oliver
Tom Oliver is an English television, film and theatre actor best known today for playing the role of Lou Carpenter in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Career:...
) breaks down, Cheryl, her daughter Louise (Jiordan Anna Tolli
Jiordan Anna Tolli
Jiordan Anna Tolli is an Australian actress, best known for playing the role of Louise Carpenter in the Australian soap opera Neighbours...
) and son Darren
Darren Stark
Darren Stark is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Todd MacDonald. He made his first on-screen appearance on 20 July 1993 and was originally played by Scott Major. When the character was released from prison in 1996, MacDonald took over the role and remained...
(Todd MacDonald
Todd MacDonald
Todd MacDonald is an Australian actor who is best known for his roles on the soap opera Neighbours and the drama series The Secret Life of Us and Rush....
) move into Number 24 with her. Cheryl is later killed in a car accident, leaving the family devastated and Marlene is left to keep the peace between Lou and Darren. When Madge returns to Erinsborough to reconcile with her husband Harold
Harold Bishop
Harold Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ian Smith. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 January 1987. Smith was offered a role by Neighbours creator and executive producer Reg Watson...
(Ian Smith
Ian Smith (actor)
Ian Smith is an Australian soap opera character actor and television screenwriter, best known today for his long-running role as the caring, kindly coffee shop owner Harold Bishop in the soap opera Neighbours....
), Marlene moves in next door with Lou and rents the house to the Bishops.
Marlene takes a job working for Karl Kennedy
Karl Kennedy
Karl Raymond Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Fletcher. The character and his family were created by storyliners in an attempt to bring the show back to its roots. Karl made his first on-screen appearance on 20 September 1994 along with his...
(Alan Fletcher) and finds herself competing with 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:...
) for the title of Receptionist of the Year. She later leaves for a three month cruise but is not seen for 8 years until she appears in Annalise's documentary about Ramsay Street where she reveals she is still sailing the seas.
Reception
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Neighbours, the BBCBBC
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...
asked readers to nominate their twenty favourite obscure characters. Marlene came in tenth place and the readers said "Marlene Kratz, the mother of Lou Carpenter's late wife Cheryl Stark. Reason? For heading off on a three month cruise in the mid-1990s, never to be seen or spoken of again".Which was unrealstic for her character as she had many family and friends that were sitll living on the street.
In 2010, to celebrate Neighbours 25th anniversary, British satellite broadcasting company Sky
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
, profiled twenty-five characters of which they believed were the most memorable in the series history. Marlene is in the list and Sky said "Considering Marlene was originally introduced in the rather serious business of being estranged for several decades from daughter Cheryl, she made a name for herself with comic storylines, largely revolving around getting into trouble with grandchildren Sam, Brett and Dannii. With her nineties shirts and love of Elvis Presley, Marlene spent three years getting into old lady scrapes before leaving on a three-month cruise. That was in 1997, so she's due back any day now."
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....
made Marlene their "DS Icon" on 7 January 2011 and they called her a legendary and special character. Of Marlene and her personality, they said "Spending only three years on Ramsay Street, Marlene made an emotional impact on viewers who loved her wheeler dealer lifestyle (selling VCRs, running a bric-a-brac shop), constant scrapes and bantering with daughter Cheryl and son-in-law Lou Carpenter. Marlene, played by the delightful Moya O'Sullivan, was a crucial cog in the Golden Age of Neighbours in the '90s." They also said that adding to the mystery of Marlene was her unusual exit and how she did not return from her cruise. They added "The only glimpse we got of Marlene was a short clip in the 2005 anniversary show, where she was shown still sailing the seas. While that finally put to rest the rumours that Lou and Harold had bumped her off, her seemingly never-ending cruise still seems highly curious. Many suspect that she may have shacked up with a cheeky cabin boy, but we can't confirm that detail."