Zoë Davis
Encyclopedia
Zoe Davis is a fictional character
from the Australia soap opera Neighbours
, portrayed by Ally Fowler
. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 January 1986.
decided to improve the show and added several new, older cast members, including Ally Fowler as Zoe. Fowler joined the cast after she was approached by the Grundy Organisation, following her appearance in Sons and Daughters
. She was concerned that soaps can typecast an actor and she did not want to get tied to Neighbours for as long as she was with Sons and Daughters.
Zoe is described as being "fickle and unpredictable to an incredible degree", she is also blunt with a sharp wit. She is an old friend of Daphne Lawrence
(Elaine Smith
) and the BBC
said they had a "stormy relationship." Zoe pursues romance, but not always wisely, she longs to be "truly in love", but it eludes her. Zoe becomes a love interest for Jim Robinson
(Alan Dale
) and their relationship shocks Ramsay Street as Zoe is much younger than Jim. The couple also have very different personalities. Dale believed that there was nothing wrong with an older man being involved with a younger woman. Zoe and Jim's relationship does not sit well with Jim's family and his oldest son, Paul
(Stefan Dennis
), makes things difficult for Zoe. However, Zoe is unaware that Paul actually likes her. Zoe later becomes pregnant and Jim proposes to her, but she suffers an ectopic pregnancy
and is left "heartbroken." She and Jim then split up. Paul almost confesses his feelings to Zoe, but they are interrupted by the arrival of Zoe's ex boyfriend.
to see Daphne, who she had not spoken to in years. She chats up Shane Ramsay
(Peter O'Brien), Mike Young
(Guy Pearce
) and later Jim Robinson. When Zoe learns that Daphne is getting married to Des Clarke
(Paul Keane
), she convinces them to let her move in until after the wedding. Zoe's behavior annoys Max Ramsay
(Francis Bell
), Paul and Clive Gibbons
(Geoff Paine). Daphne reluctantly gives her a trial at the Coffee Shop, but she loses the job after buying too much champagne for an office party. Zoe later temps at the Daniels Corporation until Sue Wright is promised the job, but Sue is not good enough and Zoe gets the job on a permanent basis. Des's ex-girlfriend, Andrea Townsend (Gina Gaigalas), and her son, Bradley (Bradley Kilpatrick), arrive and Zoe begins to feel jealous. She is also concerned about being frozen out of a relationship with Des.
Zoe begins dating Jim and Paul fears Zoe is out for his father's money. Lucy Robinson
(Kylie Flinker) also dislikes Zoe and she is constantly rude to her. She pours a jug of water over Zoe and begins making nuisance calls. On one occasion, Zoe fetches a whistle and blows it down the phone. This leaves Lucy with a burst eardrum and she gives up. Her behavior towards Zoe then begins to mellow. Des gives Zoe some counselling over her scratchcard addiction and warns her about going over the limit on her credit card. Zoe's addiction also concerns Paul. Zoe modeles for an advertising poster for the Coffee Shop to earn some extra money.
After a short stay at a guest-house in the mountains, Zoe returns to Ramsay Street
and is much more mature. She pretends to be seriously ill, but Clive is not fooled, until Zoe suddenly feels a sharp pain in her stomach and collapses. She later miscarries Jim's child. Zoe runs into her ex-boyfriend, Tony Chapman (Peter Bensley
), and they rekindle their relationship. Tony asks Zoe to come and work for him, but she tells him that she cannot leave the Daniels Corporation. Paul falls for Zoe, but after a jealous outburst from him, Zoe leaves to work for Tony. Tony proposes to Zoe and she admits that she may not be able to have children. However, Tony wants to be with Zoe regardless of her situation and they get engaged. Zoe leaves Ramsay Street to move in with Tony. Zoe comes back to see Daphne when she is admitted to the hospital with meningitis. Zoe helps Susan Cole
(Gloria Ajenstat) with her son, Sam (Thomas Hamston), while Susan goes for a job interview. Des learns that Zoe has taken out a second credit card and has gone over the limit, so he writes her a financial plan and forces her to cut up her cards. Zoe announces that Tony needs her to return to work for him and she leaves.
said Zoe was a "saucy secretary."
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 Australia 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...
, portrayed by Ally Fowler
Ally Fowler
Alexandra Fowler , better known under her stage name Ally Fowler, is an Australian actress who came to prominence with parts in two major soap operas of the 1980s: Angela Hamilton in Sons and Daughters and Zoe Davis in Neighbours...
. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 January 1986.
Character creation and development
Following Neighbours cancellation and return, 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...
decided to improve the show and added several new, older cast members, including Ally Fowler as Zoe. Fowler joined the cast after she was approached by the Grundy Organisation, following her appearance in Sons and Daughters
Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series)
Sons and Daughters was a Logie Award winning Australian soap opera created by Reg Watson and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation between 1981 and 1987. The first episode aired in December 1981, during the Christmas/New Year non-ratings period, and the official broadcast date of the final...
. She was concerned that soaps can typecast an actor and she did not want to get tied to Neighbours for as long as she was with Sons and Daughters.
Zoe is described as being "fickle and unpredictable to an incredible degree", she is also blunt with a sharp wit. She is an old friend of Daphne Lawrence
Daphne Clarke
Daphne Rose Clarke is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Elaine Smith. She made her first on-screen appearance in the serial's first episode on 18 March 1985. Daphne a stripper hired for Des Clarke's bucks party and she moved in him. She and Des fell in love...
(Elaine Smith
Elaine Smith (actress)
Elaine Smith found fame as an actress on Australian television.She is best known for her role as Daphne Clarke in the soap opera Neighbours...
) and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
said they had a "stormy relationship." Zoe pursues romance, but not always wisely, she longs to be "truly in love", but it eludes her. Zoe becomes a love interest for Jim Robinson
Jim Robinson (Neighbours)
James "Jim" Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Dale. He made his first on-screen appearance on 18 March 1985, which was the shows first episode. Jim was the patriarch of the Robinson family. Dale departed the show in 1993 after...
(Alan Dale
Alan Dale
Alan Hugh Dale is a New Zealand actor. As a child, Dale developed a love of theatre and also became a rugby player. After retiring from the sport he took on a number of professions to support his family, before deciding to become a professional actor at the age of 27. With work limited in New...
) and their relationship shocks Ramsay Street as Zoe is much younger than Jim. The couple also have very different personalities. Dale believed that there was nothing wrong with an older man being involved with a younger woman. Zoe and Jim's relationship does not sit well with Jim's family and his oldest son, Paul
Paul Robinson (Neighbours)
Paul Stewart Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, a long-running serial drama about social life in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. He is played by Stefan Dennis. Paul debuted in the serial's first episode in 1985 and appeared on a...
(Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis is an Australian actor, best known for playing the role of Paul Robinson in the soap opera, Neighbours, from its first episode in March 1985 to the present day...
), makes things difficult for Zoe. However, Zoe is unaware that Paul actually likes her. Zoe later becomes pregnant and Jim proposes to her, but she suffers an ectopic pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy, or eccysis , is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo implants outside the uterine cavity. With rare exceptions, ectopic pregnancies are not viable. Furthermore, they are dangerous for the parent, since internal haemorrhage is a life threatening complication...
and is left "heartbroken." She and Jim then split up. Paul almost confesses his feelings to Zoe, but they are interrupted by the arrival of Zoe's ex boyfriend.
Storylines
Zoe suddenly arrives in ErinsboroughErinsborough
Erinsborough is the fictional suburb in which the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours is set. The show focuses on the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the suburb...
to see Daphne, who she had not spoken to in years. She chats up Shane Ramsay
Shane Ramsay
Shane Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Peter O'Brien. He made his first appearance on-screen in the first Neighbours episode on 18 March 1985. Shane is the son of Max and Maria Ramsay...
(Peter O'Brien), Mike Young
Mike Young (Neighbours)
Michael James "Mike" Young is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Guy Pearce. He made his first on-screen appearance on 20 January 1986...
(Guy Pearce
Guy Pearce
Guy Edward Pearce is an English-born Australian actor and musician, known for his roles as Leonard Shelby in Christopher Nolan's Memento, Lieutenant Ed Exley in L.A...
) and later Jim Robinson. When Zoe learns that Daphne is getting married to Des Clarke
Des Clarke (Neighbours)
Desmond Kingsley "Des" Clarke is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Paul Keane. He made his first on screen appearance on 18 March 1985, the show's first episode.-Stroylines:...
(Paul Keane
Paul Keane
Paul Keane is an Australian actor well known for playing Des Clarke in the soap opera Neighbours. Other TV credits include Bliss and Flight Into Hell. He was trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1983....
), she convinces them to let her move in until after the wedding. Zoe's behavior annoys Max Ramsay
Max Ramsay
Max Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours played by Francis Bell. He made his first on-screen appearance in the show's pilot episode on 18 March 1985. Max was the patriarch of the Ramsay family and Ramsay Street is named after his grandfather...
(Francis Bell
Francis Bell (actor)
Francis Bell was a UK-born New Zealand resident actor who achieved international stardom playing the part of original character Max Ramsay in the early years of the popular Australian soap opera, Neighbours. during his career he also acted in Australian serials The Sullivans and Sons and...
), Paul and Clive Gibbons
Clive Gibbons
Clive Archibald Gibbons is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Geoff Paine. Paine was spotted by the Reg Grundy Organisation and offered the role of Clive. He made his first appearance on 22 January 1986...
(Geoff Paine). Daphne reluctantly gives her a trial at the Coffee Shop, but she loses the job after buying too much champagne for an office party. Zoe later temps at the Daniels Corporation until Sue Wright is promised the job, but Sue is not good enough and Zoe gets the job on a permanent basis. Des's ex-girlfriend, Andrea Townsend (Gina Gaigalas), and her son, Bradley (Bradley Kilpatrick), arrive and Zoe begins to feel jealous. She is also concerned about being frozen out of a relationship with Des.
Zoe begins dating Jim and Paul fears Zoe is out for his father's money. Lucy Robinson
Lucy Robinson
Lucy Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Melissa Bell. She had previously been portrayed by Kylie Flinker and Sasha Close. She was created by producer Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' original characters. Lucy was a prominent figure...
(Kylie Flinker) also dislikes Zoe and she is constantly rude to her. She pours a jug of water over Zoe and begins making nuisance calls. On one occasion, Zoe fetches a whistle and blows it down the phone. This leaves Lucy with a burst eardrum and she gives up. Her behavior towards Zoe then begins to mellow. Des gives Zoe some counselling over her scratchcard addiction and warns her about going over the limit on her credit card. Zoe's addiction also concerns Paul. Zoe modeles for an advertising poster for the Coffee Shop to earn some extra money.
After a short stay at a guest-house in the mountains, Zoe returns to Ramsay Street
Ramsay 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...
and is much more mature. She pretends to be seriously ill, but Clive is not fooled, until Zoe suddenly feels a sharp pain in her stomach and collapses. She later miscarries Jim's child. Zoe runs into her ex-boyfriend, Tony Chapman (Peter Bensley
Peter Bensley
Peter Bensley was an Australian "pin-up" actor of the 1980s.One of Bensley's earliest roles was as Dennis Braithwaite on the Seven Network drama series Class Of '74...
), and they rekindle their relationship. Tony asks Zoe to come and work for him, but she tells him that she cannot leave the Daniels Corporation. Paul falls for Zoe, but after a jealous outburst from him, Zoe leaves to work for Tony. Tony proposes to Zoe and she admits that she may not be able to have children. However, Tony wants to be with Zoe regardless of her situation and they get engaged. Zoe leaves Ramsay Street to move in with Tony. Zoe comes back to see Daphne when she is admitted to the hospital with meningitis. Zoe helps Susan Cole
Susan Cole
Susan Cole is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Gloria Ajenstat. She made her first on-screen appearance on 11 August 1986 and departed on 28 January 1987.-Storylines:...
(Gloria Ajenstat) with her son, Sam (Thomas Hamston), while Susan goes for a job interview. Des learns that Zoe has taken out a second credit card and has gone over the limit, so he writes her a financial plan and forces her to cut up her cards. Zoe announces that Tony needs her to return to work for him and she leaves.
Reception
The BBC said Zoe's most notable moment was "Causing Lucy to become temporarily deaf." The Sydney Morning HeraldThe 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...
said Zoe was a "saucy secretary."
External links
- Character profile at the BBC
- Character profile at Perfect Blend