Daphne Clarke (also Lawrence) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''
Neighbours'', played by
Elaine Smith. Daphne was created by
Reg Watson as one of ''Neighbours
''' twelve original characters. The producer had originally wanted
Rebecca Gibney to play the role, but she joined the cast of another television series. When Smith came in to audition for a guest part, her appearance, particularly her short haircut, caught the attention of the casting director, who had been looking for an "outrageous image" for the character of Daphne. Smith won the role and she made her on-screen debut in the soap's first episode, which was broadcast on 18 March 1985.
Daphne was portrayed as a smart, confident and independent woman from a good background. She sported a short haircut and bright clothing, which made her stand out from the other female characters on television at the time. Daphne was not embarrassed by her profession as a stripper and her "no-nonsense approach" to life made her an immediate favourite with the viewers. Daphne gave up stripping when her grandfather gave her the lease to the local coffee shop. She used her position to help customers with their problems and gained the trust of many of the teenage characters, particularly
Mike Young (
Guy Pearce
Guy Edward Pearce (born 5 October 1967) is an Australian actor. Born in Ely, Cambridgeshire in England, and raised in Geelong, Victoria in Australia, he started his career portraying Mike Young in the Australian television series ''Neighbours ...
).
Daphne's marriage to
Des Clarke (
Paul Keane
Paul Keane (born 16 September 1957) is an Australian actor well known for playing original character Des Clarke in the soap opera '' Neighbours'', opposite Elaine Smith who played his wife Daphne Clarke. Other TV credits include ''Bliss'' and ' ...
) was central to many of her storylines. After a brief relationship with
Shane Ramsay (
Peter O'Brien) and two engagements, Daphne married Des in July 1986. She gave birth to their son,
Jamie
Jamie is a unisex name. It is a diminutive form of James or, more rarely, other names. It is also given as a name in its own right.
People Female
* Jamie Anne Allman (born 1977), American actress
* Jamie Babbit (born 1970), American film and t ...
(S.J. Dey), in July 1987. That same year, Smith announced her departure from ''Neighbours''. Not wanting to kill off a popular character, the producers sent Daphne to care for her dying father. However, viewers were not satisfied with this ending and Smith returned to conclude Daphne's storyline. She made her final appearance on 25 March 1988, becoming the first regular character to die on-screen.
Creation and casting
Daphne is one of the twelve original characters conceived by the creator and then executive producer of ''Neighbours'',
Reg Watson.
[ Mercado 2004, p.202.] When it came to casting, Waston had initially wanted actress
Rebecca Gibney to play the role. However, she joined the cast of children's television series ''
Zoo Family'' instead.
Elaine Smith had previously made several small appearances in various established television series.
[ Oram 1988, p.102.] In 1984, she came in to ''Neighbours'' to audition for the guest role of
Lorraine Kingham and her short, spiky haircut caught the attention of the casting director, who asked her to do a screen test for Daphne.
Smith told Hilary Kingsley, author of ''Soap Box'', "The casting director of ''Neighbours'' was looking some outrageous image for Daphne, this stripper – he didn't quite know what, but my haircut was it!"
[ Kingsley 1988, p.366.] Smith revealed that the idea of playing a stripper amused her and quipped that Daphne was the only stripper who never had to take her clothes off.
Development
Characterisation
The character of Daphne was introduced to ''Neighbours'' as a "saucy stripper with a heart of gold."
In their 1989 book, ''The Neighbours Factfile'', Neil Wallis and Dave Hogan wrote that Daphne came from a rich, but uncaring family.
[ Wallis; Hogan 1989, p.70.] They were rarely mentioned on-screen, making her past somewhat of a mystery.
[ Monroe 1994, p.51.] Daphne had received a good education and worked in an office as a secretary, until she told her sexist boss to "jump in a lake."
Daphne then chose to become a stripper rather than ask her mother,
Tina (
Beverley Dunn
Beverley Ruth Dunn (24 April 1933 – 27 November 2021) was an Australian veteran radio, stage, television and film actress based in Melbourne, Australia.
Dunn had roles in films including ''Ground Zero'', '' Gross Misconduct'', '' Shine'' ...
), for a loan.
Of Daphne's profession as a stripper, Smith explained "The whole point of Daphne being a stripper is that she's completely counter to the black stockings and garters cliche. She's a bright girl from a good background who gets fed up with being ogled and pinched by men in her secretarial job and says, right I might as well make some money out of it."
[ Apsley 1988, p.55.]
With her spiky hair and bright clothing, Daphne stood out from other female characters on television at the time.
[ Monroe 1996, p.88.] She was portrayed as a strong, smart and independent woman. She was often shrewd and "a warm friend" to those around her.
Tony Johnston, author of ''Neighbours: 20 years of Ramsay Street'' stated that Daphne had "an appealing mix of cheek, savvy and the-girl-next-door."
[ Johnston 2005, p.48.] She was a woman in charge of her own life, which helped her to become the serial's first "sweetheart."
Smith told Kingsley that her favourite aspects of Daphne's personality were her confidence and stubborn streak.
Smith also commented that Daphne wore "zanier clothes" than she did and was more outgoing.
The fact that she embodied a "no-nonsense approach" to life and was not embarrassed by her profession as a stripper, meant Daphne became an immediate favourite with viewers.
The way she treated the serial's teenagers as adults also endeared her to the younger viewers.
Daphne gave up her career as a stripper to run the coffee shop, which her grandfather
Harry Henderson (
Johnny Lockwood) gave to her, after he won it in a poker game.
Kingsley commented that Daphne ran the business like "a pro".
Daphne's position in the coffee shop meant that customers often confided in her and she helped mediate between several parents and their children. She also gained the trust and affection of the teenage characters, most notably
Mike Young (
Guy Pearce
Guy Edward Pearce (born 5 October 1967) is an Australian actor. Born in Ely, Cambridgeshire in England, and raised in Geelong, Victoria in Australia, he started his career portraying Mike Young in the Australian television series ''Neighbours ...
), who she took under her wing, later becoming his legal guardian.
Marriage to Des Clarke
The first episode of ''Neighbours'' saw Daphne hired to strip at
Des Clarke's (
Paul Keane
Paul Keane (born 16 September 1957) is an Australian actor well known for playing original character Des Clarke in the soap opera '' Neighbours'', opposite Elaine Smith who played his wife Daphne Clarke. Other TV credits include ''Bliss'' and ' ...
)
bucks party.
[ Monroe 1996, p.51.] When the night was interrupted by a neighbour, Daphne left some belongings behind and returned the following morning to collect them. After Des's fiancée called the wedding off, Daphne realised that Des needed a lodger to help him pay the mortgage off and moved in.
Des was instantly attracted to Daphne, but he tried to hide his feelings and became awkward around her.
[ Monroe 1994, p.48.] Josephine Monroe, author of ''Neighbours: The First 10 Years'', wrote that the local men queued up to date Daphne, but it was
Shane Ramsay (
Peter O'Brien) who first caught her eye and they soon began a relationship.
During ''Neighbours first-season finale in 1985, Daphne broke up with Shane and proposed to Des, who accepted.
However, on the day of their wedding, Daphne's bridal car was hijacked by a bank robber and she was late to the church. Having been stood up five times in the past, Des gave up waiting and left.
The couple failed to sort out what had happened and their relationship ended.
Daphne rekindled her romance with Shane and they became engaged, but Daphne became worried about rushing into marriage on the rebound and they eventually ended their engagement.
Following advice and encouragement from his mother,
Eileen (
Myra De Groot
Myra Tania De Groot (4 July 1937 – 4 April 1988) was a British-born theatre and television actress, and agent. She performed in the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand and Australia.
Professional career
De Groot was born in Westminste ...
), and friend,
Clive (Geoff Paine), Des tried to "woo Daphne back."
In June 1986, Stephen Cook from ''
TV Week
''TV Week'' is a weekly Australian magazine that provides television program listings information and highlights, as well as television-related news.
Content ranges from previews for upcoming storylines of popular television programs, particu ...
'' announced that Daphne would accept a proposal from either Des or Shane, which would definitely result in her getting married.
Smith told Cook "I don't know whether Daphne actually needs a man in her life but she's certainly got two men there. It's a triangle that's developed, but to try and give a rational explanation to it is next to impossible."
Smith thought Daphne was ideal for Shane and that she had a great deal of love for him. On the other hand, Daphne also loved Des, who she trusted and had become good friends with.
O'Brien stated that as far as Shane was concerned, Daphne was the only woman he ever loved and thought that he was more suited to her than Des.
Keane commented that despite being engaged five times and stood up once by Daphne, Des had always loved her. He added "It was love at first sight for Des."
Cook later revealed that it was Des who would propose to and marry Daphne.
The wedding episodes were broadcast in July and Cook quipped that from the moment Daphne moved into
Ramsay Street, there had always been a feeling that she and Des would eventually marry.
Despite Shane having once been Des's "rival in romance", he acted as best man.
Cook added that the wedding, which saw most of the regular cast on-set, was "no small affair".
A few months after the wedding, Daphne became pregnant. Her pregnancy lasted over the usual nine months and Smith explained that the producers had stretched it out for longer, so they could tie it into other storylines.
Daphne and Des's son,
Jamie
Jamie is a unisex name. It is a diminutive form of James or, more rarely, other names. It is also given as a name in its own right.
People Female
* Jamie Anne Allman (born 1977), American actress
* Jamie Babbit (born 1970), American film and t ...
(S.J. Dey), arrived in July 1987 and became the first baby to be born in ''Neighbours''.
Departure and death
In 1987, after two and a half years of playing Daphne, Smith decided to leave ''Neighbours'' and asked to be written out.
[ Monroe 1994, p.53.] She felt that while Daphne had been "a bit of a challenge at first", she felt trapped by her persona.
[ Apsley 1988, p.56.] Smith also believed that the role no longer offered her variety and she did not want to stay to be bored, but comfortable.
As Daphne was one of ''Neighbours most popular characters, the producers chose not to kill her off.
[ Monroe 1996, p.100.] Instead Daphne's father,
Allen Allen, Allen's or Allens may refer to:
Buildings
* Allen Arena, an indoor arena at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee
* Allen Center, a skyscraper complex in downtown Houston, Texas
* Allen Fieldhouse, an indoor sports arena on the Unive ...
(Neil Fitzpatrick), re-entered her life and told her he was dying. Realising that she only had a short time to make her peace with him, Daphne took Jamie and moved away to nurse Allen.
Viewers were not satisfied with this ending for the character, especially as it meant Daphne and Des would have to break up, a situation that they would not accept.
Smith agreed to return for a few days in 1988 to finish off Daphne's storyline.
According to Keane in a later interview, Smith requested to return in a dialogue-free capacity after learning that a body double had been hired for Daphne's death. Smith told Robyn Harvey from ''
The Sydney Morning Herald
''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...
'', "I wanted Daphne to die. I didn't want to be stuck in a television series for the rest of my life. I'd taken Daphne as far as she could go. She's run the gamut of every life experience she could possibly have. I'd had enough." Smith told Nicola Murphy (''TV Week'') that she would resume filming in February but was not privy to the details of Daphne's final story because producers withheld her scripts. On-screen Daphne was critically injured during a car crash on the way to her father's funeral and she was left in a coma.
Off-screen, representatives from the serial's production company tried to persuade Smith to sign a new contract, but she refused. Daphne briefly regained consciousness to say "I love you Clarkey" to Des, before becoming the first regular character to die on-screen.
Storylines
Daphne is hired to perform at Des Clarke's buck's party in Ramsay Street. She returns the following morning to collect her watch and emerges from the bedroom when Des's fiancée,
Lorraine Kingham (
Antoinette Byron
Antoinette Byron (born 1 December 1962) is an Australian actress. She is best known for playing Natalie Nash on the Australian soap opera '' Home and Away''.
Career
Byron made her acting debut in the Australian soap opera '' The Restless Year ...
), arrives with her parents to call off the wedding. Daphne comforts Des and helps clean up his house. Shane Ramsay, who hired Daphne for the party, flirts with her and asks her to watch him train at the pool some day. He tells her that he wants to see her again and she agrees to go to dinner with him. Daphne decides to move into Number 28 with Des to help him pay off the mortgage. Daphne becomes good friends with Des and she begins dating Shane. Daphne falls in love with Des and after breaking up with Shane, she proposes to him and he accepts. On the day of their wedding, Daphne's car is hijacked by a bank robber dressed in a gorilla suit and she is late to the church. Des assumes that Daphne has changed her mind and he leaves. After failing to sort out what happened, Daphne moves out, while Des's ex-girlfriend,
Andrea Townsend (Gina Gaigalas), turns up and claims that Des is the father of her son,
Bradley
Bradley is an English surname derived from a place name meaning "broad wood" or "broad meadow" in Old English.
Like many English surnames Bradley can also be used as a given name and as such has become popular.
It is also an Anglicisation of t ...
(Bradley Kilpatrick). Daphne rents a room from Clive Gibbons at Number 22 and her best friend,
Zoe Davis
Zoe Davis is a fictional character from the Australia soap opera ''Neighbours'', portrayed by Ally Fowler. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 January 1986.
Creation and casting
After ''Neighbours'' was picked ...
(
Ally Fowler
Alexandra "Ally" Fowler (born 6 December 1961) is an Australian actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Angela Hamilton in '' Sons and Daughters'' (1982–84) and Zoe Davis in '' Neighbours'' (1986); both series were produced by the ...
), also moves in.
Daphne's grandfather, Harry gives her the lease to the local coffee shop and she gives up her career as a stripper. She renames the business 'Daphne's' and despite an initial struggle, the coffee shop soon begins making a profit. Daphne gets back together with Shane and they become engaged, but she starts to have doubts about whether she is moving on too quickly. When Des learns that he is not Bradley's father, he tries to win Daphne back. Shane becomes jealous of Daphne and Des's friendship and when he verbally attacks them, Daphne breaks up with him. She gets back together with Des and they eventually marry. Daphne and Des become Mike Young's legal guardians when they learn that he comes from a violent home. Daphne helps Mike when he is banned from seeing
Jane Harris Jane Harris may refer to:
* Jane Harris (producer), British television director and producer
* Jane Harris (writer) (born 1961), British writer of fiction and screenplays
* Jane Harris (''Neighbours''), a fictional character in the Australian so ...
(
Annie Jones Ann Jones (or similar) may refer to:
Writers
*Ann Jones (author) (born 1937), American writer on women's issues
*Anne Jones (writer) (born 1955), Australian editor and administrator
* Anna Jones (food writer), columnist and cookbook author
* Cat ...
) by her grandmother,
Mrs. Mangel (
Vivean Gray
Jean Vivra Gray (20 July 1924 – 29 July 2016), known professionally as Vivean Gray, also credited as ''Vivian Gray'' and ''Viven Gray'', was an English television and film actress. She starred in the films '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' a ...
). Daphne soon discovers that
Sue Parker (Kate Gorman) has been sending poison pen letters about Mike to Mrs. Mangel and exposes her. Daphne contracts
meningitis, but she recovers and then learns that she is pregnant. Daphne and Des's marriage becomes strained when she learns that he has been in contact with Lorraine. The couple eventually talk and Des explains that he had just given Lorraine some financial advice.
Mrs. Mangel offers to help Daphne paint the nursery and she is knocked off a ladder by Mike's pet Labrador,
Bouncer
A bouncer (also known as a doorman or door supervisor) is a type of security guard, employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs, cabaret clubs, stripclubs, casinos, hotels, billiard halls, restaurants, sporting events, schools, concerts, or ...
, and suffers amnesia. Mrs. Mangel threatens to sue and Des decides to settle out of court, so that Daphne does not become stressed. But when Daphne learns what Des has done, she is angry with him for keeping it from her. During a picnic, Daphne goes into labour and
Beverly Marshall
Beverly Marshall (also Robinson) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera '' Neighbours''. Upon her introduction on 6 July 1987, the character was played by Lisa Armytage. Following Armytage's decision to quit the role in 1988, prod ...
(Lisa Armytage) delivers her son, Jamie. Daphne briefly suffers from postnatal depression following Jamie's birth. During Jamie's christening, Daphne's mother, Tina, turns up. She and Daphne sit down and talk through their problems and part on speaking terms. Shortly after, Daphne learns that her father is dying. Des persuades her to make things right with Allen. Daphne then decides to nurse her father and she takes Jamie to stay with him. Months later,
Gail Robinson (
Fiona Corke
Fiona Corke (born 24 September 1961) is an Australian actress best known for her role as Gail Robinson on the Australian soap opera '' Neighbours''.
Career
Corke began her career with a minor role in the film 'I Live with Me Dad.' Corke appea ...
) offers to drive Daphne and Jamie back to Ramsay Street after Allen's funeral. During the journey, they are involved in a car crash, which leaves Daphne in a coma. Des stays by her side and is holding her hand when she briefly wakes up to tell him that she loves him. Daphne then suffers a cardiac arrest and dies.
Reception
Josephine Monroe, author of ''Neighbours: The First 10 Years'', stated that Daphne became one of the most popular and colourful characters to have been in ''Neighbours''.
While reviewing the show's early episodes, ''
Newsdays Terry Kelleher thought Daphne was "surprisingly wholesome for a stripteaser, preferring housecleaning to home-wrecking." A writer for the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
's ''Neighbours'' website thought Daphne's most notable moment was "Going into labour with Jamie at a riverside picnic."
Claudia Pattison from mobile network operator
branded Des and Daphne one of the most popular couples in the serial's history, while a
writer thought that they had "one of soapland's happiest marriages". ''
. Mary Fletcher from ''
'' best storylines." The couple's wedding gained a lot of attention in the UK and
'' named Daphne's death as one of their top 15 most memorable ''Neighbours'' moments.
They commented "Like, was that her in the bed or an actress with a Daphne wig? The romance of Des and Daphne (Mr Ordinary and the ex-stripper) was an early ''Neighbours'' classic so we felt this one hard".
'' reporter also included Daphne's death in their list of top ten ''Neighbours'' moments.
The reporter wrote that Daphne was a popular character during the serial's peak in 1988 and called Des "her soulmate".
They added that her death was watched by millions of viewers in Australia and the UK.
Sarah Megginson from SheKnows placed Daphne's death at number three in her feature on the eight most memorable ''Neighbours'' moments.
She called the relationship between Daphne and Des "one of the series' classic romances."
She added "The couple were the first to tie the knot on the show, so when Daphne was fatally hit by a car, Des – and the ''Neighbours'' viewing audience across Australia and the UK – was suitably devastated.
'' said that the moment Daphne dies was "a tear-jerking moment." Daphne was placed at number thirty-five on the ''
'' "35 greatest Neighbours characters of all time" feature. Journalist Adam Beresford branded her the "stripper with a heart of gold Daph."