Sonya Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Sonya Mitchell is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
, played by Eve Morey
. She made her first on-screen appearance on 14 August 2009. Sonya was initially a recurring character, but Morey was promoted to regular cast member in July 2010. Morey signed a new contract in February 2011 to stay with Neighbours for another year.
Sonya was introduced as a guide dog trainer sent to check up on the progress of Toadfish Rebecchi
and Callum Jones
's puppy, Rocky. Sonya has a shady past and was once addicted to gambling. She moved to Erinsborough for a fresh start and became Lucas Fitzgerald
's Gamblers Anonymous sponsor. Sonya is described as being good-hearted, funny and loving. She begins dating Toadie, but they break up when he gets back together with Stephanie Scully
. However, Sonya discovers the relationship is a sham and she agrees to wait for Toadie and they eventually get back together.
Sonya's younger sister, Jade
, was introduced to the show at the end of 2010. Sonya and Jade initially had a rocky relationship, but they have become supportive of each other. In January 2011, it was revealed that Sonya is the biological mother of Callum. Sonya tries to keep this a secret from those around her, but the truth is later exposed. Sonya has become popular with viewers and Morey received a nomination for "Best Daytime Star" at the 2011 Inside Soap Awards
.
said that viewers would be seeing a lot more of her in the future. In February 2011, Morey signed a new contract to stay with Neighbours for another year. She told the Daily Star, "It was great to know I'd be working for a year – from a struggling actor's point of view that is fantastic. But it also meant there is a year's worth of developing the character because she will become part of the bigger storylines instead of supporting." Morey added that she is loving her time on the show and the people she is working with.
describe Sonya has having a shady past and said she arrived in Erinsborough to set up a new life for herself. Sonya used to have a gambling addiction and she has worked hard to overcome it. Morey told Channel 5
she is similar to Sonya morally and ethically and they both want the best for the people they love. However, Sonya occasionally goes about things in a way in which Morey does not understand and she has been in a place of darkness that she does not understand either. When asked if Sonya could ever escape her past, Morey said "I don't think she will every truly escape her past because ultimately I don't think she should. If she doesn't have it there as a reminder and a good motivator to help her stay on track." Morey revealed she would like to see Sonya reach her potential as a mother in the future.
In an interview with What's on TV
, Morey said viewers relate to Sonya because she is pretty normal. Sonya is not glamorous and Morey said there is something quite humbling about her. The actress went on to say Sonya's heart is in the right place and she always tries to do the right thing for the right reason. Of her character's development, Morey said "She has become a lot more self-assured and she has learnt to trust herself again. I think when we first met her, she was quite closed off and didn't want to let anyone in fear of hurting them." Sonya decides to give up her job as a guide dog trainer to buy and turn the community garden into a garden nursery. Morey told Inside Soap she thought that was symbolic of what Sonya is doing in her personal life. She explained "She made a lot of mistakes when she was younger. Now she just wants to plant beautiful things and watch them grow. She's very focused on that for now."
(Ryan Moloney
) and they begin a relationship. Moloney told Holy Soap that Sonya is Toadie's "someone special" and that she is perfect for him. Of Sonya, Moloney said "She's funny and a little bit zany and really accepting and loving as well." However, their romance comes to an end when Toadie tells Sonya that he has got back together with his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Scully
(Carla Bonner
). The Sunday Mail
said Sonya was "simply heartbroken" and "devastated" after she was told about Toadie and Steph's relationship. However, she is unaware that Toadie is pretending to be in love with Steph to help cover up the fact she is carrying Daniel Fitzgerald
's (Brett Tucker
) child. Toadie becomes torn when Sonya tells him she loves him, but he carries on the lie. Of the situation, Moloney said "Toadie is in love with Sonya, but he's had to give up the chance to follow his heart. Now we see that he really wants nothing more than to be able to tell her he loves her and that he wants to be with her – but he just can't." Toadie realises that Sonya still loves him when he notices she is still wearing the bracelet he gave her. Sonya tells him that she is not ready to take it off. Sonya tries to move forward with her life and starts dating David Foster (Ben Ridgwell). However, she is struggles with her feelings for Toadie. Morey told TV Week that Sonya is "completely in love with Toadie, but she's trying to move on as best she can – and that's where David comes into the picture." Despite only being with David for three weeks, Sonya agrees to move to Perth with him. Morey said that Sonya believes she has nothing left keeping her in Erinsborough and she wants a change of scenery. Sonya chooses not to tell Toadie that she leaving, so Lucas Fitzgerald
(Scott Major
) tells him instead. Steph then comes by and tells Sonya that Toadie still loves her and that their relationship is sham. Steph asks Sonya to stay if she wants more information and Steph later tells her that the baby is not Toadie's. Sonya is left shocked and relieved at the same time. Sonya agrees to wait for Toadie, but Steph's secret is revealed early and Sonya and Toadie decide to start their relationship over.
Callum
(Morgan Baker
) wins tickets for a tropical cruise and he decides to give them to Sonya and Toadie. Sonya's ex-boyfriend, Eli Baker (PJ Lane), was introduced during the storyline. Lane said Eli "is bound to cause a bit of jealously" as he is the "perfect" ex. Meeting Eli brings "out an inferiority complex" in Toadie and he feels challenged by him. Toadie and Eli compete in a karaoke competition and Morey said that Moloney has a "wonderful" singing voice, but he had to be bad while filming. The scenes for the cruise storyline were filmed in late August 2010, around Darling Harbour
and on board the Pacific Jewel. The episodes marked only the second time Neighbours had filmed outside of Victoria. The actors and crew took five hours to shoot on and around the Pacific Jewel's running track and circus arena on the top deck.
In February 2011, Morey revealed that she would like to see Sonya and Toadie have children together in the future. Morey told the Press Association
, "I would love it. I think there is so much richness in Toadie and Sonya going on that journey together which lends itself to humour, sadness, more drama. Cross fingers they will go down that path." Morey explained that Toadie's reaction to finding out that Sonya is Callum's real mother is one of devastation. Toadie has to ask Sonya if she ever loved him or was only with him to get Callum. Morey hoped Sonya could be happy in the future. The following month it was announced that Dieter Brummer
had joined the cast as Sonya's ex-boyfriend, Troy Miller and that he would cause waves between Sonya and Toadie. Morey told the official UK Neighbours website in July 2011 that Sonya and Toadie would start to have some excitement and fun again following all the drama, but they would have to deal with a few issues first. The subject of marriage comes up and Sonya and Toadie realise that they have different views about it. Morey explaind, "At this point Sonya wants to get married for the wrong reasons, and Toadie doesn't want to get married for the wrong reasons. They haven't both independently reached a healthy perspective on it. She wants to do it for security to protect Callum, and he doesn’t want to do it... He feels it will jinx [their relationship], because his other marriages have gone that way." Morey added that Sonya and Toadie have reached a point in their relationship where they have to make some big decisions, which could change the direction they move in.
reported that Sonya's younger sister, Jade
(Gemma Pranita
), would be introduced. The newspaper said Jade arrives in town to expose one of Sonya's secrets. Jade calls Sonya just as she is moving in with Toadie and Callum and Sonya is "mortified" by the call. Jade keeps ringing Sonya and she later turns up on her doorstep. Pranita said that Sonya's secret is bad and that it gives Jade "a lot of leverage" over her sister. Pranita added that Jade's arrival was "going to completely rock the boat. She has the potential to cause major trouble in Sonya's world and expose her for lying to people for the past year." Morey told Holy Soap that the last time Sonya saw her sister was when she left Callum with their grandmother, Hilda (Maureen Edwards). Sonya believes that Jade has come to Erinsborough to get "some revenge." Following Jade's arrival, the sister's relationship becomes "rocky". However, after Jade sees how happy Sonya is with her new life, she becomes very supportive of her. Pranita said "It's almost the Mitchell sisters against Ramsay Street." Of working with Pranita, Morey said "I actually feel like a kindred spirit; we just get each other. We have the same sense of humour, live around the corner from each other, and also, on a professional level, she offers so much and we have a similar work ethic."
defended the storyline when she was asked why the writers had rewritten Sonya and Callum's history. She told Inside Soap
that they worked with the character's established backgrounds and found reasons and motivations for Sonya to act the way she did. However, she added that the only discrepancy that could be pointed out was Callum's age.
When Sonya's grandmother dies, she becomes concerned that her secret will be revealed because Callum wants to attend the funeral. Sonya and Jade support each other and Sonya believes that if Callum goes to the funeral he is going to discover who she really is. However, Callum chooses not to attend the funeral as he wants to say goodbye to his great grandmother privately, much to Sonya's relief. Callum later explains to Sonya that he wants to find his real mother and tell her that he hates her, which devastates Sonya. She tells her sister that she cannot tell him the truth now as she cannot handle him looking at her, knowing what she did. Morey revealed that Sonya's secret would be exposed in April. Callum steps up his investigation into the identity of his mother and he eventually discovers the truth. Callum is injured in an accident and he is rushed to hospital, where he recalls a memory about his mother and realises that she is Sonya. Toadie then "angrily orders" Sonya to leave. Of the revelation, Morey said "For Toadie, it's a betrayal to both him and his son. He's angry, but his initial priority is to make Callum number one." Morey added that filming the scenes was "exhausting."
(Scott Major
), when he sees them together. However, Sonya reveals she is actually Lucas's Gamblers Anonymous sponsor. Sonya and Toadie grow closer and they eventually begin dating. Toadie leaves Sonya to visit his best friend, Steph
(Carla Bonner
). On his return, he devastates Sonya when he reveals he is in a relationship with Steph. Sonya tells Toadie she is in love with him, but he rejects her. Lucas tries to use Sonya to make Toadie jealous, which causes a brief rift between them. Sonya relapses and visits a racing track, before going to a club and getting drunk. Libby Kennedy
(Kym Valentine
) takes her home to Lucas and Sonya tells him she will sort herself out. She later learns Toadie and Steph are getting married and are expecting a baby together.
Sonya begins dating David Foster and decides to move to Perth with him. Steph seeks Sonya out and tells her the upcoming wedding is a sham and Toadie is not the father of her baby, Libby's estranged husband is. Toadie is just helping her cover up the secret. Sonya and Lucas attend the wedding and at the reception, Sonya agrees to wait for Toadie. Steph's secret is revealed and Sonya and Toadie begin dating again. Toadie learns Sonya has a criminal record and Sonya explains during the grip of her addictions, she accidentally broke her sister's arm. Her sister pressed assault charges to give Sonya a wake up call. Sonya moves in with Toadie and Callum and her sister, Jade, comes to see her. Jade tells Sonya she just wants to catch up with her, but Sonya asks her to leave. When Jade meets Callum, she recognises his name and works out he is Sonya's son. Sonya begs Jade not to reveal the truth and Jade agrees. Sonya and Jade's grandmother, Hilda, dies, devastating them both. Hilda's death prompts Callum to try and find his mother. Callum starts having dreams about his mother, but he cannot see her face.
Callum has a fall and is rushed to hospital. When he wakes up, he identifies Sonya as his mother. Sonya confirms this and Toadie, angry that she lied to him, asks her to leave. She and Jade move in with Lucas. Callum asks Sonya why she left him and Sonya explains she was in a bad place and it was better for Callum if she was not around. Callum makes Sonya promise not to relapse, angering Toadie. Sonya eventually tells Callum it would be impossible to keep the promise. Sonya's ex-boyfriend, Troy Miller, comes to Ramsay Street. Troy and Sonya talk about their past and Troy remembers Sonya became pregnant. She then confesses Callum is his son. Sonya introduces Callum to Troy and she tries to reconnect with Toadie. Troy tells Sonya he loves her and Harold Bishop
(Ian Smith
) witnesses them sharing a kiss. However, Sonya realises she still loves Toadie and they get back together at Harold's wedding. Troy does not take the news well and he locks Sonya in his hotel room and tries to force her into having an emotional breakdown. Sonya tells him to stay away from her family and he leaves.
Sonya moves back in with Toadie and Callum and she joins the kitchen garden program run by Erinsborough High. Sonya learns the council are planning to sell off the community garden, where the program is run, and she decides to buy it, so she can turn it into a nursery. Sonya is unsuccessful in getting a loan by herself, but Toadie begins working for a law firm and he manages to get the loan. Sonya buys the garden at the auction. On the same day, she realises she may be pregnant and takes two pregnancy tests, but gets conflicting results. Sonya has a blood test done at the hospital and she is told she is not pregnant. She later tells Toadie she would like to have children with him in the future. Sonya quits her job as a guide dog trainer and opens her nursery, re-establishing the kitchen garden program at the same time. Sonya supports Toadie when he reveals he is representing the company behind a new shopping complex being built in Erinsborough. After gaining Callum's support, Sonya decides to bring her plans for a baby forward. Sonya supports Kate Ramsay
(Ashleigh Brewer
), when she learns her ex-boyfriend died. Sonya, Kate and Susan Kennedy
(Jackie Woodburne
) set up a book club.
. Holy Soap said Sonya's most memorable moment was when she attended Toadie's sham wedding to Steph and agreed to wait for him. The Daily Record
called Sonya an "extremely nice girl" and said she had become popular with fans. The official UK Neighbours website said Sonya and Toadie's relationship had "seen more drama than most" and Bridget McManus of The Age
branded Sonya a "clucky girlfriend." In July 2011, Morey's co-star Jackie Woodburne
said Sonya was one of the best characters that had come into Neighbours in a long time. Alan Fletcher, who plays Woodburne's on screen husband, also praised Sonya and said the audience had really taken to her. The actor told What's on TV "They absolutely adore her. In a short space of time, Sonya was established as one of the favourite Neighbours characters. I think a lot of that has to do with the marvellous onscreen relationship that Eve has with Ryan Maloney (Toadie) and Morgan Baker (Callum)."
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 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 Eve Morey
Eve Morey
Eve Morey is an Australian actress best known for playing Sonya Mitchell in the soap opera Neighbours.-Career:Morey majored in drama and media studies, while undertaking a Bachelor of Arts Degree at Deakin University...
. She made her first on-screen appearance on 14 August 2009. Sonya was initially a recurring character, but Morey was promoted to regular cast member in July 2010. Morey signed a new contract in February 2011 to stay with Neighbours for another year.
Sonya was introduced as a guide dog trainer sent to check up on the progress of Toadfish Rebecchi
Toadfish Rebecchi
Jarrod Vincenzo Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Ryan Moloney. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 8 February 1995....
and Callum Jones
Callum Jones
Callum Jones is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours played by child actor Morgan Baker. He made his first appearance on-screen on 9 June 2008. The character was introduced to the show following the decision to stop a storyline that saw Toadfish Rebecchi adopt a child...
's puppy, Rocky. Sonya has a shady past and was once addicted to gambling. She moved to Erinsborough for a fresh start and became Lucas Fitzgerald
Lucas Fitzgerald
Lucas Fitzgerald is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by Scott Major. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 July 2008. The role of Lucas is Major's second character on the show, he previously played Darren Stark in 1993. Lucas is the brother of Daniel...
's Gamblers Anonymous sponsor. Sonya is described as being good-hearted, funny and loving. She begins dating Toadie, but they break up when he gets back together with Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Jo "Steph" Scully is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Carla Bonner. She made her first on-screen appearance on 21 October 1999. Stephanie is the eldest daughter of Joe and Lyn Scully and the mother to a son, Charlie...
. However, Sonya discovers the relationship is a sham and she agrees to wait for Toadie and they eventually get back together.
Sonya's younger sister, Jade
Jade Mitchell
Jade Mitchell is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Gemma Pranita. Pranita's casting was announced in September 2010 and it was revealed that Jade would be introduced as the younger sister of Sonya Mitchell...
, was introduced to the show at the end of 2010. Sonya and Jade initially had a rocky relationship, but they have become supportive of each other. In January 2011, it was revealed that Sonya is the biological mother of Callum. Sonya tries to keep this a secret from those around her, but the truth is later exposed. Sonya has become popular with viewers and Morey received a nomination for "Best Daytime Star" at the 2011 Inside Soap Awards
Inside 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...
.
Casting
Morey joined the cast of Neighbours in June 2009 in a recurring capacity and she made her first appearance on 14 August 2009. A year later, the character of Sonya was promoted to a regular role and Holy SoapHoly 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...
said that viewers would be seeing a lot more of her in the future. In February 2011, Morey signed a new contract to stay with Neighbours for another year. She told the Daily Star, "It was great to know I'd be working for a year – from a struggling actor's point of view that is fantastic. But it also meant there is a year's worth of developing the character because she will become part of the bigger storylines instead of supporting." Morey added that she is loving her time on the show and the people she is working with.
Characterisation
Sonya is an animal lover who has worked for Guide Dogs Victoria. She is good-hearted and relished her role as a trainer. Network TenNetwork 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...
describe Sonya has having a shady past and said she arrived in Erinsborough to set up a new life for herself. Sonya used to have a gambling addiction and she has worked hard to overcome it. Morey told Channel 5
Channel 5
-In the Americas:*Channel 5 – Rosario, Argentine television station, founded in 1964, which broadcasts from the city of Rosario*Great Belize Television, Belize television station, known as "Channel 5", founded in 1991 and broadcasting from Belize City...
she is similar to Sonya morally and ethically and they both want the best for the people they love. However, Sonya occasionally goes about things in a way in which Morey does not understand and she has been in a place of darkness that she does not understand either. When asked if Sonya could ever escape her past, Morey said "I don't think she will every truly escape her past because ultimately I don't think she should. If she doesn't have it there as a reminder and a good motivator to help her stay on track." Morey revealed she would like to see Sonya reach her potential as a mother in the future.
In an interview with What's on TV
What's On TV
What's on TV is a weekly television listings magazine published by IPC Media, a Time Warner subsidiary.-Overview:What's on TV is a weekly UK television magazine. It publishes features, TV listings, news and gossip from soap operas, as well as puzzles and competitions...
, Morey said viewers relate to Sonya because she is pretty normal. Sonya is not glamorous and Morey said there is something quite humbling about her. The actress went on to say Sonya's heart is in the right place and she always tries to do the right thing for the right reason. Of her character's development, Morey said "She has become a lot more self-assured and she has learnt to trust herself again. I think when we first met her, she was quite closed off and didn't want to let anyone in fear of hurting them." Sonya decides to give up her job as a guide dog trainer to buy and turn the community garden into a garden nursery. Morey told Inside Soap she thought that was symbolic of what Sonya is doing in her personal life. She explained "She made a lot of mistakes when she was younger. Now she just wants to plant beautiful things and watch them grow. She's very focused on that for now."
Relationship with Toadfish Rebecchi
Sonya meets Toadfish RebecchiToadfish Rebecchi
Jarrod Vincenzo Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Ryan Moloney. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 8 February 1995....
(Ryan Moloney
Ryan Moloney
Ryan Moloney is an Australian actor best known for his portrayal of the fictional character Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Before Neighbours:...
) and they begin a relationship. Moloney told Holy Soap that Sonya is Toadie's "someone special" and that she is perfect for him. Of Sonya, Moloney said "She's funny and a little bit zany and really accepting and loving as well." However, their romance comes to an end when Toadie tells Sonya that he has got back together with his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Jo "Steph" Scully is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Carla Bonner. She made her first on-screen appearance on 21 October 1999. Stephanie is the eldest daughter of Joe and Lyn Scully and the mother to a son, Charlie...
(Carla Bonner
Carla Bonner
Carla Bonner is an Australian actress best known for playing the role of Steph Scully in the soap opera Neighbours, a role she played from 1999 to 2010...
). The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail (Scotland)
The Sunday Mail is a Scottish tabloid newspaper published every Sunday. It is the sister paper of the Daily Record and is owned by Trinity Mirror and as such has a left-wing outlook which in turn tends to guide Scottish political debate in that direction.The Sunday Mail is read by over one million...
said Sonya was "simply heartbroken" and "devastated" after she was told about Toadie and Steph's relationship. However, she is unaware that Toadie is pretending to be in love with Steph to help cover up the fact she is carrying Daniel Fitzgerald
Daniel Fitzgerald (Neighbours)
Daniel Fitzgerald is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Brett Tucker. He made his first on-screen appearance on 1 September 1999. Dan becomes a teacher at Erinsborough High and shares a house with fellow teacher, Tess. He remained as a recurring...
's (Brett Tucker
Brett Tucker
Brett Alan Tucker is an Australian actor and singer. He was a series regular in The Saddle Club and McLeod's Daughters...
) child. Toadie becomes torn when Sonya tells him she loves him, but he carries on the lie. Of the situation, Moloney said "Toadie is in love with Sonya, but he's had to give up the chance to follow his heart. Now we see that he really wants nothing more than to be able to tell her he loves her and that he wants to be with her – but he just can't." Toadie realises that Sonya still loves him when he notices she is still wearing the bracelet he gave her. Sonya tells him that she is not ready to take it off. Sonya tries to move forward with her life and starts dating David Foster (Ben Ridgwell). However, she is struggles with her feelings for Toadie. Morey told TV Week that Sonya is "completely in love with Toadie, but she's trying to move on as best she can – and that's where David comes into the picture." Despite only being with David for three weeks, Sonya agrees to move to Perth with him. Morey said that Sonya believes she has nothing left keeping her in Erinsborough and she wants a change of scenery. Sonya chooses not to tell Toadie that she leaving, so Lucas Fitzgerald
Lucas Fitzgerald
Lucas Fitzgerald is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by Scott Major. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 July 2008. The role of Lucas is Major's second character on the show, he previously played Darren Stark in 1993. Lucas is the brother of Daniel...
(Scott Major
Scott Major
Scott Major is an Australian actor. Major's acting début was playing Murray on Home and Away in the 1990s. He joined the Neighbours cast for a brief period in 1993 as the original Darren Stark. and then was a part of the Heartbreak High cast as "Rivers" from 1994–1995...
) tells him instead. Steph then comes by and tells Sonya that Toadie still loves her and that their relationship is sham. Steph asks Sonya to stay if she wants more information and Steph later tells her that the baby is not Toadie's. Sonya is left shocked and relieved at the same time. Sonya agrees to wait for Toadie, but Steph's secret is revealed early and Sonya and Toadie decide to start their relationship over.
Callum
Callum Jones
Callum Jones is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours played by child actor Morgan Baker. He made his first appearance on-screen on 9 June 2008. The character was introduced to the show following the decision to stop a storyline that saw Toadfish Rebecchi adopt a child...
(Morgan Baker
Morgan Baker
Morgan Baker is an Australian child actor. He has been playing Callum Jones on the soap opera Neighbours since June 2008.-Career:...
) wins tickets for a tropical cruise and he decides to give them to Sonya and Toadie. Sonya's ex-boyfriend, Eli Baker (PJ Lane), was introduced during the storyline. Lane said Eli "is bound to cause a bit of jealously" as he is the "perfect" ex. Meeting Eli brings "out an inferiority complex" in Toadie and he feels challenged by him. Toadie and Eli compete in a karaoke competition and Morey said that Moloney has a "wonderful" singing voice, but he had to be bad while filming. The scenes for the cruise storyline were filmed in late August 2010, around Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour, New South Wales
Darling Harbour is a locality of the city centre of Sydney, Australia. It is a large recreational and pedestrian precinct that is situated on western outskirts of the Sydney central business district. The locality extends northwards from Chinatown, along both sides of Cockle Bay to King Street...
and on board the Pacific Jewel. The episodes marked only the second time Neighbours had filmed outside of Victoria. The actors and crew took five hours to shoot on and around the Pacific Jewel's running track and circus arena on the top deck.
In February 2011, Morey revealed that she would like to see Sonya and Toadie have children together in the future. Morey told 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...
, "I would love it. I think there is so much richness in Toadie and Sonya going on that journey together which lends itself to humour, sadness, more drama. Cross fingers they will go down that path." Morey explained that Toadie's reaction to finding out that Sonya is Callum's real mother is one of devastation. Toadie has to ask Sonya if she ever loved him or was only with him to get Callum. Morey hoped Sonya could be happy in the future. The following month it was announced that Dieter Brummer
Dieter Brummer
Dieter Brummer is an Australian actor of German descent, probably best known for his role on the television soap opera Home and Away.-Career:...
had joined the cast as Sonya's ex-boyfriend, Troy Miller and that he would cause waves between Sonya and Toadie. Morey told the official UK Neighbours website in July 2011 that Sonya and Toadie would start to have some excitement and fun again following all the drama, but they would have to deal with a few issues first. The subject of marriage comes up and Sonya and Toadie realise that they have different views about it. Morey explaind, "At this point Sonya wants to get married for the wrong reasons, and Toadie doesn't want to get married for the wrong reasons. They haven't both independently reached a healthy perspective on it. She wants to do it for security to protect Callum, and he doesn’t want to do it... He feels it will jinx [their relationship], because his other marriages have gone that way." Morey added that Sonya and Toadie have reached a point in their relationship where they have to make some big decisions, which could change the direction they move in.
Sister
In September 2010, the Herald SunHerald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
reported that Sonya's younger sister, Jade
Jade Mitchell
Jade Mitchell is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Gemma Pranita. Pranita's casting was announced in September 2010 and it was revealed that Jade would be introduced as the younger sister of Sonya Mitchell...
(Gemma Pranita
Gemma Pranita
Gemma Pranita is a Thai-born Australian actress. Pranita was encouraged to join the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts by her drama teacher, and from 1999 to 2003, she competed at state level in the Shakespeare Globe Association's annual Shakespeare festival. Pranita formed a theatre...
), would be introduced. The newspaper said Jade arrives in town to expose one of Sonya's secrets. Jade calls Sonya just as she is moving in with Toadie and Callum and Sonya is "mortified" by the call. Jade keeps ringing Sonya and she later turns up on her doorstep. Pranita said that Sonya's secret is bad and that it gives Jade "a lot of leverage" over her sister. Pranita added that Jade's arrival was "going to completely rock the boat. She has the potential to cause major trouble in Sonya's world and expose her for lying to people for the past year." Morey told Holy Soap that the last time Sonya saw her sister was when she left Callum with their grandmother, Hilda (Maureen Edwards). Sonya believes that Jade has come to Erinsborough to get "some revenge." Following Jade's arrival, the sister's relationship becomes "rocky". However, after Jade sees how happy Sonya is with her new life, she becomes very supportive of her. Pranita said "It's almost the Mitchell sisters against Ramsay Street." Of working with Pranita, Morey said "I actually feel like a kindred spirit; we just get each other. We have the same sense of humour, live around the corner from each other, and also, on a professional level, she offers so much and we have a similar work ethic."
Callum Jones
In January 2011, it was revealed that the secret Sonya is trying to hide is that she is Callum's biological mother. Morey admitted that she was "shocked" and "stunned" when the producers told her about her character's storyline development and she could not speak for ten minutes. Morey said that since Sonya's arrival there has not been any indication that she is Callum's mother and she questioned how the storyline would go together. She explained, "Initially, I thought, 'How could this work – Sonya being Callum's mum?', but then I realised it does work. All of a sudden, it creates even more depth and complexity to Sonya and the decisions she's made and her motivations for things like forgiving Toadie for his and Steph's sham marriage. There's this whole other layer." Both Morey and Moloney thought that the storyline could be possible and Morey then chose to research how other people had reacted to similar situations. Morey told the show's official website that Sonya entered Callum's life, not to get him back, but to see if he was okay. However, she then fell in love with Toadie. When she was asked how Callum does not remember his mother, Morey explained that Sonya had fallen in with a bad crowd and had become addicted to alcohol and drugs, when she had Callum. She chose to leave him, so she could get herself cleaned up and her grandmother, Hilda (Maureen Edwards), removed everything related to Sonya from the family. Callum was around four or five when Sonya left and Morey believed that he has blocked out the bad memories of his mother. Of Sonya's early relationship with her son, Morey said "I think the relationship with Callum would have been a love-hate one because she was so young when she had him, only 16. It would have been more like having a little brother than a son." Executive producer Susan BowerSusan Bower
Susan Bower is an Australian television producer and television writer best known for her work on the soap opera Neighbours.-Career:Bower is a former nurse who worked at The Alfred Hospital for 20 years before getting her scriptwriting breakthrough on A Country Practice, where she provided the...
defended the storyline when she was asked why the writers had rewritten Sonya and Callum's history. She told Inside Soap
Inside Soap
Inside Soap is a weekly UK magazine, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas shown in the United Kingdom....
that they worked with the character's established backgrounds and found reasons and motivations for Sonya to act the way she did. However, she added that the only discrepancy that could be pointed out was Callum's age.
When Sonya's grandmother dies, she becomes concerned that her secret will be revealed because Callum wants to attend the funeral. Sonya and Jade support each other and Sonya believes that if Callum goes to the funeral he is going to discover who she really is. However, Callum chooses not to attend the funeral as he wants to say goodbye to his great grandmother privately, much to Sonya's relief. Callum later explains to Sonya that he wants to find his real mother and tell her that he hates her, which devastates Sonya. She tells her sister that she cannot tell him the truth now as she cannot handle him looking at her, knowing what she did. Morey revealed that Sonya's secret would be exposed in April. Callum steps up his investigation into the identity of his mother and he eventually discovers the truth. Callum is injured in an accident and he is rushed to hospital, where he recalls a memory about his mother and realises that she is Sonya. Toadie then "angrily orders" Sonya to leave. Of the revelation, Morey said "For Toadie, it's a betrayal to both him and his son. He's angry, but his initial priority is to make Callum number one." Morey added that filming the scenes was "exhausting."
Storylines
Sonya comes to Ramsay Street to assess the progress of Callum Jones and Toadfish Rebecchi's guide dog puppy, Rocky. She notes Rocky needs some extra lessons and offers to help. Toadie asks Sonya out, but she turns him down, telling him she does not date clients. Toadie comes to believe Sonya is romantically involved with his friend Lucas FitzgeraldLucas Fitzgerald
Lucas Fitzgerald is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by Scott Major. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 July 2008. The role of Lucas is Major's second character on the show, he previously played Darren Stark in 1993. Lucas is the brother of Daniel...
(Scott Major
Scott Major
Scott Major is an Australian actor. Major's acting début was playing Murray on Home and Away in the 1990s. He joined the Neighbours cast for a brief period in 1993 as the original Darren Stark. and then was a part of the Heartbreak High cast as "Rivers" from 1994–1995...
), when he sees them together. However, Sonya reveals she is actually Lucas's Gamblers Anonymous sponsor. Sonya and Toadie grow closer and they eventually begin dating. Toadie leaves Sonya to visit his best friend, Steph
Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Jo "Steph" Scully is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Carla Bonner. She made her first on-screen appearance on 21 October 1999. Stephanie is the eldest daughter of Joe and Lyn Scully and the mother to a son, Charlie...
(Carla Bonner
Carla Bonner
Carla Bonner is an Australian actress best known for playing the role of Steph Scully in the soap opera Neighbours, a role she played from 1999 to 2010...
). On his return, he devastates Sonya when he reveals he is in a relationship with Steph. Sonya tells Toadie she is in love with him, but he rejects her. Lucas tries to use Sonya to make Toadie jealous, which causes a brief rift between them. Sonya relapses and visits a racing track, before going to a club and getting drunk. Libby Kennedy
Libby Kennedy
Elizabeth Grace "Libby" Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kym Valentine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 and departed in 2004, before returning on 12 November 2007. Libby is the only daughter of Karl and Susan Kennedy...
(Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine is a Maltese Australian actress best known for her portrayal of Libby Kennedy in the soap opera Neighbours.-Early and personal life:...
) takes her home to Lucas and Sonya tells him she will sort herself out. She later learns Toadie and Steph are getting married and are expecting a baby together.
Sonya begins dating David Foster and decides to move to Perth with him. Steph seeks Sonya out and tells her the upcoming wedding is a sham and Toadie is not the father of her baby, Libby's estranged husband is. Toadie is just helping her cover up the secret. Sonya and Lucas attend the wedding and at the reception, Sonya agrees to wait for Toadie. Steph's secret is revealed and Sonya and Toadie begin dating again. Toadie learns Sonya has a criminal record and Sonya explains during the grip of her addictions, she accidentally broke her sister's arm. Her sister pressed assault charges to give Sonya a wake up call. Sonya moves in with Toadie and Callum and her sister, Jade, comes to see her. Jade tells Sonya she just wants to catch up with her, but Sonya asks her to leave. When Jade meets Callum, she recognises his name and works out he is Sonya's son. Sonya begs Jade not to reveal the truth and Jade agrees. Sonya and Jade's grandmother, Hilda, dies, devastating them both. Hilda's death prompts Callum to try and find his mother. Callum starts having dreams about his mother, but he cannot see her face.
Callum has a fall and is rushed to hospital. When he wakes up, he identifies Sonya as his mother. Sonya confirms this and Toadie, angry that she lied to him, asks her to leave. She and Jade move in with Lucas. Callum asks Sonya why she left him and Sonya explains she was in a bad place and it was better for Callum if she was not around. Callum makes Sonya promise not to relapse, angering Toadie. Sonya eventually tells Callum it would be impossible to keep the promise. Sonya's ex-boyfriend, Troy Miller, comes to Ramsay Street. Troy and Sonya talk about their past and Troy remembers Sonya became pregnant. She then confesses Callum is his son. Sonya introduces Callum to Troy and she tries to reconnect with Toadie. Troy tells Sonya he loves her and Harold Bishop
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....
) witnesses them sharing a kiss. However, Sonya realises she still loves Toadie and they get back together at Harold's wedding. Troy does not take the news well and he locks Sonya in his hotel room and tries to force her into having an emotional breakdown. Sonya tells him to stay away from her family and he leaves.
Sonya moves back in with Toadie and Callum and she joins the kitchen garden program run by Erinsborough High. Sonya learns the council are planning to sell off the community garden, where the program is run, and she decides to buy it, so she can turn it into a nursery. Sonya is unsuccessful in getting a loan by herself, but Toadie begins working for a law firm and he manages to get the loan. Sonya buys the garden at the auction. On the same day, she realises she may be pregnant and takes two pregnancy tests, but gets conflicting results. Sonya has a blood test done at the hospital and she is told she is not pregnant. She later tells Toadie she would like to have children with him in the future. Sonya quits her job as a guide dog trainer and opens her nursery, re-establishing the kitchen garden program at the same time. Sonya supports Toadie when he reveals he is representing the company behind a new shopping complex being built in Erinsborough. After gaining Callum's support, Sonya decides to bring her plans for a baby forward. Sonya supports Kate Ramsay
Kate Ramsay
Kate Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Ashleigh Brewer. She made her first on-screen appearance on 15 May 2009. She is the eldest sibling of Harry and Sophie Ramsay...
(Ashleigh Brewer
Ashleigh Brewer
Ashleigh Brewer is an Australian actress. She is best known for playing Kate Ramsay in the long-running Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Biography and personal life:...
), when she learns her ex-boyfriend died. Sonya, Kate and Susan Kennedy
Susan Kennedy
Susan Kennedy , is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Jackie Woodburne. The character and her family were created by storyliners in an attempt to bring the show back to its roots. Susan made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 along...
(Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne is a Northern Irish-born Australian actress.-Personal life:Woodburne was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Her father was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. She has two older siblings: John and Stephen. At age three she emigrated with her family to...
) set up a book club.
Reception
For her portrayal of Sonya, Morey was nominated for "Best Daytime Star" at the 2011 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...
. Holy Soap said Sonya's most memorable moment was when she attended Toadie's sham wedding to Steph and agreed to wait for him. 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...
called Sonya an "extremely nice girl" and said she had become popular with fans. The official UK Neighbours website said Sonya and Toadie's relationship had "seen more drama than most" and Bridget McManus of The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
branded Sonya a "clucky girlfriend." In July 2011, Morey's co-star Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne is a Northern Irish-born Australian actress.-Personal life:Woodburne was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Her father was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. She has two older siblings: John and Stephen. At age three she emigrated with her family to...
said Sonya was one of the best characters that had come into Neighbours in a long time. Alan Fletcher, who plays Woodburne's on screen husband, also praised Sonya and said the audience had really taken to her. The actor told What's on TV "They absolutely adore her. In a short space of time, Sonya was established as one of the favourite Neighbours characters. I think a lot of that has to do with the marvellous onscreen relationship that Eve has with Ryan Maloney (Toadie) and Morgan Baker (Callum)."
External links
- Character profile at the Official AU Neighbours website
- Character profile at the Official UK Neighbours website