Juliet Nightingale (also Quinn) is a

fictional character In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life perso ...

from the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a fourth television service ...

soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...

Hollyoaks ''Hollyoaks'' is a British soap opera which began airing on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was created by Phil Redmond, who had previously conceived the soap opera '' Brookside''. Since 2005, episodes have been aired on sister channel E4 a ...

'', played by

Niamh Blackshaw Niamh Blackshaw is an English actress. She began her career appearing in television advertisements which included a national advertisement for Mr Kipling. She was then cast in the guest role of Lara Cutler in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation S ...

. ''Hollyoaks'' announced the character and Blackshaw's casting on 4 September 2018, with the actress making her first appearance as Juliet on 21 November 2018. Juliet is introduced as the half-sister of

Romeo Nightingale ''Hollyoaks'' is a British television soap opera that was first broadcast on 23 October 1995. The following is a list of characters that have appeared or will appear in the serial in 2018, by order of first appearance. All characters were introdu ...

( Owen Warner) and the daughter of

Donna-Marie Quinn ''Hollyoaks'' is a British television soap opera that was first broadcast on 23 October 1995. The following is a list of characters that have appeared or will appear in the serial in 2018, by order of first appearance. All characters were introdu ...

(

Lucy-Jo Hudson Lucy-Jo Hudson (born 4 May 1983) is an English actress, known for her roles as Katy Harris in '' Coronation Street'', Rosie Trevanion in '' Wild at Heart'' and Donna-Marie Quinn in ''Hollyoaks''. Her role as Rhiannon Davis in '' Doctors'' in ...

) and was brought into the soap as part of the decision to expand their family. Juliet is later revealed to be

Mac Nightingale ''Hollyoaks'' is a British television soap opera that was first broadcast on 23 October 1995. The following is a list of characters that appeared in the serial in 2015, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by executive pr ...

's (

David Easter David Easter (born 11 November 1959) is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Pete Callan in ''Family Affairs'', Gil Keane in ''Emmerdale'', Mac Nightingale in ''Hollyoaks'' and Frank Fisher in ''The Bill''. Early life Easter w ...

) daughter. The shock twist links her to the established Nightingale family, especially

Marnie ''Marnie'' is an English crime novel, written by Winston Graham and first published in 1961. It has been adapted as a film, a stage play and an opera. Plot ''Marnie'' is about a young woman who makes a living by embezzling her employers' funds, ...

(

Lysette Anthony Lysette Anne Chodzko (born 26 September 1963), known professionally as Lysette Anthony, is an English actress and model. She is known for her roles in the film ''Husbands and Wives'' (1992), as Princess Lysssa in the 1983 fantasy epic ''Krull ...

), who she forms a close bond with. Juliet is initially portrayed as an aggressive and harsh character, with an initial storyline seeing her bully

Brooke Hathaway Brooke Hathaway is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Tylan Grant. Grant made their first appearance as Brooke in episode 4947, originally broadcast on 10 July 2018. Brooke is introduced as an ...

(

Tylan Grant Tylan Grant (born 9 October 2001) is an English actor, known for playing Brooke Hathaway in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. For his role as Brooke, Grant was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2019 British Soap Awards, as well as Cel ...

) due to seeing them as an easy target. However, throughout her tenure, her vulnerable and emotional personality has been explored. Later storylines see Juliet form a relationship with

Sid Sumner Sid Sumner is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Billy Price, who made his first appearance on 9 May 2019. He is introduced as the son of recurring character Stuart Sumner ( Chris Simmons) and ...

( Billy Price), which later leads Juliet to the realisation that she is a lesbian, as well as getting groomed into a

county lines drug trafficking In the United Kingdom, the county lines drug supply model is the practice of trafficking drugs into rural areas and smaller towns, away from major cities. Criminal gangs recruit and exploit vulnerable children, sometimes including children in p ...

ring. A flashforward scene aired at the end of 2019 sees Juliet admitting her love for

Peri Lomax Peri Lomax is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. She is played by Ruby O'Donnell, who made her first screen appearance on 4 October 2013. Storylines Peri arrives with mother Sam (Lizzie Roper) to surpris ...

(

Ruby O'Donnell Ruby O'Donnell (born 26 October 2000) is an English actress. Since 2013, O'Donnell has portrayed the role of Peri Lomax in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. For her portrayal of Peri, she won the award for Best Young Actor at the 2016 Bri ...

) and kissing her. The scene formed the start of a sexuality arc that was previously unannounced. The scenes that lead to the moment see her questioning and eventually accepting her sexuality, before admitting her feelings for Peri and the pair getting together. Both actresses have praised their onscreen relationship and enjoy working together. The pair have also revealed that they believe Juliet and Peri have a long future as a couple. After Juliet's release from prison, Blackshaw hoped that she would settle in the village and form a meaningful relationship with Peri. However, the pair are stalked, manipulated and spied on by

Timmy Simons Timmy Simons (born 11 December 1976) is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He was known for his tireless work ethic and penalty-taking ability, having scored 48 competitive goals through penalties, mi ...

(

Sam Tutty Sam Tutty (born 9 April 1998) is an English actor. He is most known for his title role in the West End production of the musical ''Dear Evan Hansen'' for which a then 22-year-old Tutty won a 2020 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Lead ...

), as well as being involved in an explosion that leads to their engagement. 2022 saw the character have an affair with Nadira Valli (Ashling O'Shea) before reconciling with Peri, as well as being diagnosed with

lymphoma Lymphoma is a group of blood and lymph tumors that develop from lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). In current usage the name usually refers to just the cancerous versions rather than all such tumours. Signs and symptoms may include enla ...

, a type of

blood cancer Tumors of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (American English) or tumours of the haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (British English) are tumors that affect the blood, bone marrow, lymph, and lymphatic system. Because these tissues are all ...

. For her portrayal of Juliet, Blackshaw was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2019 ''Inside Soap'' Awards. Viewers of the series have shown a positive reception to Juliet's relationship with Peri, with many rooting for them to be together throughout their tumultuous storylines. They have also been given the

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words

Casting and characterisation

The character and

's casting details were announced on 4 September 2018. The reasoning behind Juliet's introduction was stated to be due to a decision to expand the existing Quinn family. Juliet is introduced as a new Year 11 student at Hollyoaks High School, placing her in direct scenes with established characters Imran Maalik (Ijaz Rana),

Oliver Morgan Oliver Morgan (May 6, 1933 - July 31, 2007) was an American R&B singer. A Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee, he is best known for his 1964 hit, "Who Shot the Lala". Life and career Morgan was born and raised in the Lower Ninth Ward of New ...

(Aedan Duckworth) and

(

). She is billed as a "damaged and vulnerable young girl who lashes out at the world by bullying others". Actress Blackshaw expressed her excitement at joining the cast and said that she was extremely grateful to receive the role. Prior to her debut appearance, Blackshaw stated that Juliet will bring drama, and that she will have a big presence on the soap. She explained that Juliet's mother "has always taught her to be the one on top, in order to survive". She stated that Juliet has little interest in school, since she "doesn't see how it's going to help her get to where she wants to be in life". Therefore, rather than being studious, she explained that Juliet chooses to procrastinate and disrupt "in as many ways as she can think of" to entertain herself, adding that her behaviour will have effects on other students. Blackshaw concluded by saying that "Juliet has a lot to learn, and she's going to make a lot of mistakes before she starts settling down". After Juliet's character is explored further, Blackshaw stated that she loves portraying her vulnerable side, and said that Juliet's aggressive behaviour is "just a façade". When asked what her favourite thing about Juliet is, Blackshaw replied that it is Juliet's ability to say "things that nobody else can". She described her as "fierce" and "feisty", noting that she is "not afraid to call people out". She admitted that her character can sometimes go too far with people, but opined that Juliet using her attitude in the right way is a good thing. Blackshaw expressed her love for Juliet, accrediting her feelings to having played her for so long. She stated that due to wearing her makeup and hair more than her own, this leads her to understand her character well. She felt that Juliet always means well, and despite doing bad things, she always does them with good intentions. Blackshaw added that she likes being able to convey Juliet's heart-warming side alongside her aggressive side.

Storylines

Juliet arrives in the Hollyoaks village and enrols as a student at Hollyoaks High in the same year group as Imran, Oliver and Brooke, and she begins to bully Brooke. After Donna-Marie informs her that

(

) is her biological father, she becomes distressed and has a breakdown in the village. Unable to bottle her emotions, she angrily throws a brick through the school window. Juliet is then found out and is given repercussions for what she has done; her half-brother James Nightingale (

Gregory Finnegan Gregory Finnegan is a British actor. He best known for his roles as Dr Alex Arnott in ''EastEnders'' and as James Nightingale in ''Hollyoaks''. Career Finnegan studied at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. His first television acting ...

), however, realises what's happened, and the reason behind her behaviour, leading her not to be expelled from Hollyoaks High.

Darren Osborne Darren Osborne is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. He was introduced by executive producer Phil Redmond as part of the Osborne family, making his first screen appearance on 18 November 1996, portrayed ...

(

Ashley Taylor Dawson Philip Ashley Taylor Dawson (born 11 January 1982), known as Ashley Taylor Dawson, is an English actor and singer. He is known for portraying the role of Darren Osborne in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', as well as being a member of th ...

) learns of the events and gives Juliet advice and attempts to cheer her up. Juliet misreads his actions, and forms an attraction to Darren, and is convinced he feels similarly. When his child with girlfriend

Mandy Richardson Mandy Richardson (also Hutchinson and Morgan) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Sarah Jayne Dunn. She first appeared on 7 October 1996 and has been involved in various storylines, including de ...

(

Sarah Jayne Dunn Sarah Jayne Dunn (born 25 September 1981) is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Mandy Richardson on the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' from 1996 until 2021. In November 2021, Dunn was dropped from ''Hollyoaks'' after she ...

) is being born, Juliet rushes into the hospital to say that Darren wants to be with her, to which he negates her claims. Juliet continues taking every opportunity to belittle and embarrass Brooke, including making her miss an important exam, causing her to collapse from sensory overload caused by Brooke's autism and trying to sabotage her relationship with Oliver. After Mac is murdered, Juliet learns that James has framed Donna-Marie for his murder, and that everyone else in her family knew. Feeling betrayed, she plans on leaving the village with Donna-Marie, until it is revealed that Mac was murdered by serial killer

Breda McQueen ''Hollyoaks'' is a British television soap opera that was first broadcast on 23 October 1995. The following is a list of characters that have appeared or will appear in the serial in 2018, by order of first appearance. All characters were introdu ...

(

Moya Brady Moya Brady (born 8 September 1962) is an English actress. Her roles include Breda McQueen on the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' from 2018 to 2020. Brady grew up in the seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. She has appeared in a ...

). Juliet begins a relationship with

( Billy Price), and after Sid gets drugs from his cousin

Jordan Price ''Hollyoaks'' is a British television soap opera that was first broadcast on 23 October 1995. The following is a list of characters introduced in 2019, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by executive producer, Bryan Kirk ...

(Connor Calland), the pair are eventually manipulated into selling and delivering drugs for him. Juliet repeatedly tries to get herself and Sid out of the operation, but each time, she is forced into continuing by Jordan. Juliet begins to doubt their relationship when she does not want to have sex with Sid, who questions why she does not want to do anything sexual and calls her frigid. Upset by his comment, she ends their relationship. Despite the pair being broken up, Jordan sends Juliet and Sid on a weekend trip outside of the village in order to sell more drugs, and while they are there, Juliet reveals to Jordan that she is a lesbian, and states that she has feelings for his foster sibling,

(

). Juliet purposely breaks ties with James and grandmother

Marnie Nightingale ''Hollyoaks'' is a British television soap opera that was first broadcast on 23 October 1995. The following is a list of characters that appeared in the serial in 2016, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by executive prod ...

(

) in order to focus on her drug selling, and moves in with Peri, Sid and

Leela Lomax ''Hollyoaks'' is a British television soap opera that was first broadcast on 23 October 1995. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the serial in 2013, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by the sho ...

( Kirsty-Leigh Porter). When Juliet learns that Jordan has a secret relationship with Peri, she warns her that he is not a good person, but Peri continues to date him. However, after Jordan is arrested for drug dealing, Juliet confesses her romantic feelings to Peri. Peri says that she does not feel the same way, and sees her as a little sister. Hurt by her comments, Juliet sets out to prove she is mature by working directly with Jordan's boss

Victor Brothers ''Hollyoaks'' is a British television soap opera that was first broadcast on 23 October 1995. The following is a list of characters introduced in 2020, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by executive producer, Bryan Kirk ...

(Benjamin O'Mahoney). With Jordan in prison, Victor gives Juliet his "patch", and instructs her to recruit young children to deliver drugs. She reconciles her relationship with James and Marnie, and moves back in with them. She then recruits Charlie Dean (Charlie Behan) and

Ella Richardson The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' in 2008, by order of first appearance. Kieron Hobbs Father Kieron Hobbs was the new priest at St. Timothy's Parish Catholic Church in January ...

(Erin Palmer), but begins to feel pressured when she cannot meet Victor's targets. When she attends a party, Brooke asks Juliet to watch over Oliver and ensure he does not get drunk. Knowing she is a dealer, he asks Juliet for ketamine, to which she initially refuses. However, after Peri suspects she is selling drugs and insults her, she shares a bag of ketamine with Oliver and the pair have sex. Peri finds out, and tells Sid, who assumes she lied about being a lesbian. She explains that she is still gay, but had sex with him due to the drugs. Juliet affirms to Peri that she only wants her, but Peri leaves as she is too angry. Peri runs over Sid's leg while driving away, and Juliet blames herself for Sid having to get an amputation. Juliet plans to record a confession from Victor, but after he discovers her plan, he attacks her. He then tells her that he is going to kill somebody she loves. She ensures that Peri is safe, and tells her that she is going to hand herself in to the police. Peri tells Juliet that she will wait for her. Juliet remains in prison for three months, facing a sentence of seven years. She is freed when evidence of Victor grooming her is found. She tries to make amends with Charlie and headteacher Sally St. Claire (

Annie Wallace Annie Wallace (born 6 May 1965) is a British actress, known for portraying the role of Sally St. Claire in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', a role she has portrayed since 2015. She is the first transgender person to portray a regular tran ...

), but lashes out when she receives judgement.

Development

Family issues and fixation on Darren Osborne

In January 2019, Juliet was revealed to be the daughter of Mac, linking her to the established Nightingale family. After learning that James framed Donna-Marie for Mac's murder, Juliet makes plans to leave the village. Explaining her character's reasoning, Blackshaw stated: "Juliet is really angry, upset and very unforgiving. She's not happy at all! She doesn't like that she's been lied to by the people that she thought cared about her, like Romeo, James and Marnie. They all knew and she didn't. Also, I think she's a bit confused about Sid as well, so everything's just not great in the village. She just wants to get out, hoping it will solve a few problems." Blackshaw stated that Juliet's relationship with her family is complicated. She said that Juliet loves half-brother Romeo "more than anything" but noted that their relationship changes as the pair get older, due to Juliet realising that Romeo is busy living his own life, which isolates Juliet and makes her feel lonely. Blackshaw also stated that despite Juliet loving mother Donna-Marie, she "finds it hard to cope with her when she puts her addictions above her children". Despite Donna-Marie constantly letting Juliet down, Blackshaw said that Juliet "never loses hope that one day her mum will stop taking drugs, get a job and look after her". Juliet is exposed to more family after she becomes linked to the Nightingale family, forming bonds with Marnie and James. However, when it is revealed that James framed Donna-Marie for Mac's murder and that everyone in the family knew but her, she loses her trust in them, especially Romeo. Blackshaw explained that his betrayal hurt her the most, saying: "He's been her rock and now she's been betrayed by him as well. It's like the final loss in her life, and it just drives her down a dark path, because she's got no-one left." After the events of her troubled family life, Juliet is seen to form an "inappropriate fixation" on Darren. She forms a crush on him, believing that he feels the same way. Dawson, who portrays Darren, stated Darren "genuinely thinks he's helping" by becoming involved with Juliet, since the two bond over both having family issues. He also stated that Juliet had the potential to ruin Darren's life with accusations, since she is "a messed up little kid" with "all the power". Blackshaw agreed with his comments, adding that the reasoning behind Juliet's obsession with Darren is due to not having a primary caregiver whilst growing up. She explained that this meant that when Darren gives Juliet advice and cheers her up, she "latches" onto him. She also commented: "Darren is the first guy outside of her family that’s put himself out there and made himself available to her emotionally so she has latched on to that and taken it the wrong way completely. She genuinely thinks he likes her back, she really does. It just shows how naive she is and she genuinely has no doubt. His reaction is such a shock. I don't even think Mandy's on her mind."

Bullying Brooke Hathaway and friendship with Sid Sumner

When Juliet joins Hollyoaks High, she is in the same year group as Imran, Oliver and Brooke. Blackshaw stated that upon their initial interactions with each other, they do not like each other due to Juliet's "attempt to prove that she's tough and not to be messed with", which leads to people disliking her. Juliet begins to target Brooke, who is autistic, in a bullying storyline. Brooke is an easy target for Juliet and Juliet uses any opportunity she has to put Brooke down. Blackshaw explained that Juliet's intention is not to hurt Brooke, but to make herself feel better due to her issues at home. The actress added that Juliet does like Brooke as a friend, but that she does not know how to treat Brooke due to not having had friends before her arrival in Hollyoaks. Imran and Oliver see the way that Juliet bullies Brooke, and in turn do not want to be associated with her until she redeems her behaviour. Blackshaw stated that due to be being bullied herself, it was therapeutic to switch the narrative and play a bully. She also noted that it was important for ''Hollyoaks'' to show the vulnerability of autistic people and praised co-star Grant, stating that she loves working with them. Blackshaw promised that Juliet would learn from her mistakes, grow and "develop a sense of right and wrong", adding that viewers would sympathise with her character to an extent. The storyline climaxes when the teenagers go to a festival together. Juliet's intention is to drink alcohol and have fun in the crowd, but due to Brooke having autism, they do not enjoy the festival as much as Juliet. Juliet bullies Brooke into joining her have fun and the scenes see Brooke collapse due to sensory overload. On the scenes, Blackshaw opined that her character is "used to being mean and spiteful to everyone" and is "messing up all the time and she keeps going back to the Juliet she was before, which means bullying the easiest target she can find." Juliet's first romantic connection is with classmate Sid, with whom she begins a relationship with. However, when Juliet does not feel ready to have sex with him, he labels her frigid. This leads to Juliet questioning their relationship and her sexuality in general, and the pair break up. Sid confesses that he still loves her, and she confides in him that she is a lesbian. Blackshaw noted that at that point, their dynamic changed from a romantic one to that of a friendship. She stated that Juliet and Sid have a really good friendship and are "soul mates rather than lovers", with no romance between them. Blackshaw added that their breakup was inevitable as "it's very rare that the first person you love is the person you end up with", and that rather than people continuing to

ship A ship is a large watercraft that travels the world's oceans and other sufficiently deep waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research, and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished ...

them together, they should be happy because Juliet is finding a new love, even if it is not in the place they expected. When the pair became involved in a

storyline, Blackshaw stated that without Sid supporting her, Juliet would "crumble", adding: "it's only because the two of them work as a team that they're able to go to a local party, and they manage to do what is asked of them." When asked who cares for Juliet the most, she replied that Sid does. She explained that despite having other connections, Sid would "probably die for her". When Sid fakes his death in order to free Juliet from prison, Blackshaw explained that Juliet is devastated to hear of his death, labelling Sid her platonic soulmate. Since the last time Juliet saw Sid was when Jordan had been stabbed, Blackshaw said it made Juliet think "When was the last time I gave him a hug?". When he is revealed to be alive, Blackshaw commented that her character is more angry than relieved and would be thinking: "How flipping dare he! Why would he put me through that absolute trauma of that, and not tell me? Why was I not the number one person that knew?!" Blackshaw agreed with her character and said that Juliet should have been told that it was fake.

County lines drug trafficking and imprisonment

In November 2019, it was announced that Juliet would be involved in a long-running county lines drug trafficking storyline, alongside Sid and his cousin Jordan. Blackshaw stated that the reason she thinks Jordan begins to target Juliet is due to being "very confident and witty", while also being "very easy to manipulate". She added that due to her childhood, she is "very experienced and informed". As the storyline intensifies, Juliet is forced to distance herself from the Nightingale family, to focus on selling the drugs. Blackshaw stated that Juliet "thinks she's in control, but she's not – she's very vulnerable and naïve". During the storyline, Juliet is arrested when she is found to have drugs in her possession. Blackshaw stated that her arrest is the turning point for Juliet, where she begins to "ask questions" and "make some decisions" about whether she wants to continue delivering drugs. She stated that due to her growing up around risks, Juliet is not worried about going to prison, as she "knows she will be able to get through it", but that the arrest does leave Juliet "feeling awful", and wanting to quit the drug delivering, unbeknownst to Juliet how deep into the operation she is. When asked about her feelings on Juliet's style, Blackshaw joked that she often looks at Juliet's clothing in distaste, but explained that she is "finding herself". As part of the county lines storyline, Juliet was given a

makeover A makeover is a radical change in appearance. When the word is used to describe a change in human physical appearance, it may imply a change in clothing, haircut, or cosmetics. A personal makeover might also include weight loss, plastic surgery ...

. In the first two years of her tenure on ''Hollyoaks'', Juliet was known to keep her light brown hair in a tight high side ponytail, which Blackshaw stated made her "feel like a young teen". In an episode broadcast on 31 December 2019, it showed Juliet a year in advance, on 31 December 2020, with dark brown loose hair, and wearing street style clothing. On making the decision, Blackshaw said that she did not mind dying her hair darker, since she had dyed it before, but joked that she was glad to "get rid of the side ponytail", and that she was excited for herself and her character to have a change. She noted that the dark, loose hair would make Juliet "look a bit older", and that people would treat her differently, as a reflection of the storyline. After the style change, Blackshaw described that her style is "really cool", and expressed her gratitude that she gets to wear tracksuits and jumpers. Despite liking the change, she noted that filming with loose hair is difficult when it is windy. Victor orders Juliet to find new recruits for to sell drugs, and she blackmails Ella into joining the organisation. As she becomes more desperate to leave the drug business, she plans to record Victor confessing to his crimes. However, the plan takes a "very dark turn" when Victor attacks Juliet, after he discovers she is recording. He then informs Juliet that he will kill somebody that she loves. She then decides to hand herself over to the police, and is jailed. Blackshaw stated that once Juliet is in prison, "reality kicked in that she might not get out". She explained that when Juliet handed herself in, "she knew what was going to happen", but believed that they would be more lenient with her since she is young. She is freed over three months later, after evidence is gathered that she was groomed. Blackshaw labelled her character a victim, and voiced her wishes for Juliet to have happiness. She explained that Juliet has "been through so much bad stuff", and deserves to have happiness. However, she noted that since it is a soap, it will be "a rocky road!". She expressed her excitement at Juliet getting to "grow some more and have some adventures".

Sexuality and relationship with Peri Lomax

Another exploration of Juliet's character that was featured in the New Year's Eve "flashforward" was her sexuality, when scenes showed her confessing her love for Peri and kissing her. Duncan Lindsay of ''

Metro Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to: Geography * Metro (city), a city in Indonesia * A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center Public transport * Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urb ...

'' confirmed that the scene would be explored further in a year-long arc that would show her switching from her feelings from Sid to Peri. Blackshaw stated that it was a surprise for both her and viewers, as prior to the scene airing, it had never been suggested that Juliet liked women romantically. She was told about the storyline "a few months" prior, and was glad that it was not "sprung" onto her so that she could prepare accordingly for the storyline. She added that she has numerous non-heterosexual friends, and that it is "great to represent the LGBTQ+ community." Four months later, scenes were aired showing Juliet coming out to Sid as a lesbian. In December 2019, it was confirmed that a relationship would develop between Juliet and Peri. Blackshaw stated that at the point of filming their first romantic scene together, she did not know the exact details of how the pair got together, but she knew that a relationship would eventually develop. She added that she loves working with O'Donnell, who portrays Peri, and that the pair enjoy filming together. O'Donnell echoed Blackshaw's comments, stating that she "loves" their storyline, and that the pair had "both already seen loads of fan accounts for Peri and Juliet". After the pair were involved in a second kissing scene, Digital Spy confirmed that their relationship will continue to develop. The couple have since been referred to by the

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words She joked that the pair "can't even walk casually" when they see each other, and run to one another. She added: "it's been a long, long wait, and when it happens, it was just a million times better than what she imagined it would be". Blackshaw explained that having Peri waiting for her helped to "motivate her and push her through" was a beneficial aspect for her character. She also voiced her excitement at Juliet starting her "first proper relationship", and hoped that their relationship would continue for the "long run", since it is a positive thing for Juliet having just been released.

Being stalked and attacked by Timmy Simons

Following the release of ''Hollyoaks'' spring trailer, a scene depicted newly introduced character Fergus Collins ( Robert Beck) spying on Juliet and Peri with a camera planted in their bedroom. Digital Spy confirmed that he is a villain and wrote that the couple may be in danger. Scenes later explore Fergus' side business, an operation he names Bluebird. The operation involves the installation of cameras disguised as alarms in women's bedrooms in order to film them for Fergus' live-streaming website. People pay to watch the women being filmed without their permission. He employs

(

) to help him with the technological aspect of the business. Whilst working for Bluebird, Timmy forms an obsession with Peri and believes that Juliet is not worthy of being her girlfriend. He first comes in between the couple by sending an anonymous necklace to Peri, which irks Juliet and "causes a rift" between them. Peri later receives an expensive hamper from her anonymous stalker; when Juliet sees the hamper, she assumes the gift is for Marnie after she has tripped and been admitted to hospital. Peri goes along with her assumption but Juliet learns the hamper is another gift and the pair argue. After Timmy watches the pair make up after their argument via the cameras, he

clones Clone or Clones or Cloning or Cloned or The Clone may refer to: Places * Clones, County Fermanagh * Clones, County Monaghan, a town in Ireland Biology * Clone (B-cell), a lymphocyte clone, the massive presence of which may indicate a pathologi ...

Peri's phone to further manipulate the couple, who are unaware that their "every move is being watched by Timmy". After Juliet realises that Timmy may be stalking Peri, she confronts him and he reacts by pushing her down a flight of steps, with Juliet "left to die". After her recovery, Juliet finds Peri being held hostage by Timmy and saves her. The couple struggle to process that they have been watched and manipulated, but are later left "destroyed" when they learn that their lives were streamed online for people to watch. Blackshaw was pleased that ''Hollyoaks'' had addressed the issues of toxic masculinity and the discomfort of women with the storyline. She explained that although Timmy was an extreme example of the issue, it was still highlighting "the pressure or being coerced of doing something or being in a situation you aren’t comfortable with".

Engagement to Peri and death of Marnie Nightingale

In December 2021, Susannah Alexander of Digital Spy wrote that ''Hollyoaks'' were to hint at a wedding for Juliet and Peri in the new year. After Peri makes a joke about the couple's wedding, Juliet begins to think about the pair getting married. She asks Peri's friend,

Yasmine Maalik ''Hollyoaks'' is a British television soap opera that was first broadcast on 23 October 1995. The following is a list of characters that appeared or will appear in the serial in 2017, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced b ...

(Haiesha Mistry), about her marriage and how she knew it was right to get married. It was later confirmed that Juliet would propose as part of Out Of Time, a ''Hollyoaks ''stunt week in January 2022. The ''Metro'' wrote that Juliet plans to propose to Peri at the Salon De Thé during a fundraiser held by Marnie. They wrote that Peri would initially be unsure of marrying Juliet but that she would "realise just what it is that she wants while in a life-threatening situation" and that it may be "too late to make her dream a reality", hinting Juliet may die in the stunt week. Unable to afford a ring, Marnie gives her a family heirloom ring. However, as she speaks with Peri, the building explodes. Juliet is left dangling over a staircase held by Peri, who is unable to hold the weight and has to let go. Juliet falls into the smoke and is admitted to the emergency department. Peri stays beside her bed and takes the ring given to her by Marnie; she proposes to an unconscious Juliet and after she wakes up from her surgery, she accepts. On the engagement, O'Donnell said that Peri's initial doubts come from the pair only having been together for a year at the point of the plot. She revealed that both herself and Blackshaw were shocked at the engagement and thought it could be too soon, but explained that when they come close to death, it makes them realise what is important. O'Donnell added that if Juliet were to die in the explosion, she would be devastated due to being best friends with Blackshaw in real life and loving their characters' onscreen relationship. On the possibility of her own exit, Blackshaw stated that she would be gutted to leave the soap but said that her character leaving through the stunt would be "a great way to go". Blackshaw had never done a stunt prior to the episodes and was excited for the experience. She told the production team that she wanted to perform as much of her own stunts as possible, so while she had a

stunt double In filmmaking, a double is a person who substitutes FOR another actor such that the person's face is not shown. There are various terms associated with a double based on the specific body part or ability they serve as a double for, such as stunt ...

, Blackshaw filmed various scenes hanging from a harness and enjoyed the experience. She also confirmed that there would be a death in the Nightingale family, later revealed to be Marnie.

Affair with Nadira Valli and cancer diagnosis

When Juliet and Peri begin experiencing problems within their relationship, they start seeking advice from matchmaker Nadira Valli (Ashling O'Shea). Juliet becomes close to Nadira, meeting her in private in what she intends on being a friendship until attraction forms between them. O'Shea said in an interview with '' Inside Soap'' that Nadira would never have addressed their chemistry due to being closeted, but Juliet does, and the pair share a kiss. O'Shea confirmed that the kiss would lead to a long-term affair which Nadira would feel bad about due to liking Peri. Peri eventually discovers the affair and the pair split. Juliet becomes keen to go public with her and Nadira's relationship, who pleads her to keep it a secret. However, when Nadira is set to get married to

Shaq Qureshi ''Hollyoaks'' is a British television soap opera that was first broadcast on 23 October 1995. The following is a list of characters that first appear in the show in 2021, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's e ...

(Omar Malik), Juliet exposes their relationship at the altar. However, months into her relationship with Nadira, Juliet kisses Peri. Blackshaw was not surprised that Juliet had gone back to Peri and felt it necessary. She had sensed that their relationship would be revisited at point, feeling that they "a lot of unfinished business there". After ''Hollyoaks'' winter 2022 trailer had premiered, viewers began speculating that Juliet had cancer. The character then begins feeling tired, dizzy and suffers from numerous headaches, she is seen at the hospital.

Misbah Maalik ''Hollyoaks'' is a British television soap opera that was first broadcast on 23 October 1995. The following is a list of characters that appeared or will appear in the serial in 2017, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced b ...

(

Harvey Virdi Harvey Virdi is a British actress of Indian descent. She trained at Academy Drama School in London. Career Her theatre credits include ''The Borrowers'' (at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff), ''Tiger Country'' and ''Tales From The Harrow Road'' (H ...

) has tests done on Juliet, who wants to leave the hospital. However, Misbah suggests she stays, since she suspects that Juliet has cancer. She is then diagnosed with

, a type of

, which she undergoes

chemotherapy Chemotherapy (often abbreviated to chemo and sometimes CTX or CTx) is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs ( chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Chemothe ...

for. In a ''Metro'' interview, Blackshaw said that the storyline was huge for her. She felt grateful to be given "a heavy, emotional topic" that affects so many people. Despite her gratuity towards the team, she was worried that she would not be capable of handling such a dark and issue-led storyline. She was also worried for the fate of her character as a result of the cancer. Although she had initial worries about the story, Blackshaw became proud of her work, which she described as her best on the soap. She was also happy to work with a new set of cast members for the story. Juliet only informs immediate family of her cancer and attempts to Peri and Nadira off. On her character's reaction to the situation, O'Donnell explained that Peri will always make it her mission to find out what Juliet is up to. She felt this is due to Peri's deep love for Juliet. Peri teams up with Nadira to find out what Juliet is hiding, which leads to an argument between them, in which Juliet blurts out her diagnosis to stop them. The reveal sees Nadira be supportive of Juliet, while Peri initially "struggles to get her head around it all". O'Donnell said: "she acts in a way I think she shouldn't have, but that’s what happens when you're in shock and you get this horrible news. But she pulls herself together and realises she's got to be there for her." She warned fans that the rest of the storyline would be very emotional and "filled with love and also filled with sadness" in scenes that see Peri support Juliet both personally and also in her nursing job.

Reception

Upon the announcement of her casting, Johnathon Hughes of the '' Radio Times'' thought that the character's name was unsurprising due to her brother being called Romeo. Blackshaw stated that upon her arrival in the soap, Juliet was "not particularly liked" due to her brash characterisation. Over time, viewer opinion began to change, which Blackshaw owed to scenes showing her family life and nice moments with Marnie. She admitted that Juliet deserved some bad feedback after the bullying storyline, adding: "if you do something bad, you deserve some repercussions". Some viewers would question Blackshaw on why Juliet is bullying Brooke, but said that it was nice that other viewers could see it was due to Juliet being bullied herself. For her portrayal of Juliet, Blackshaw was nominated for two awards at the 2019 ''Inside Soap'' Awards; Best Newcomer and Best Partnership alongside Anthony, who portrayed her grandmother Marnie. Blackshaw "couldn’t be happier with the fan reactions" to Juliet and Peri's relationship. She said that she enjoys seeing fan accounts for the characters, as well as the memes and comments they make online. While some viewers were not as keen with the pairing, most fans of the show were rooting for them to be together, which she liked. The pair were later nominated for Best Soap Partnership at the 2021 I Talk Telly Awards, as well as garnering another nomination in the category at the 2022 Digital Spy Reader Awards.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nightingale, Juliet Female characters in television Fictional lesbians Hollyoaks characters Fictional blackmailers Fictional bullies Female villains LGBT villains Fictional characters with cancer Fictional drug dealers Fictional LGBT characters in television Teenage characters in television Fictional criminals in soap operas Television characters introduced in 2018