Sarah O'Neale (née Thompson) is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''

Home and Away ''Home and Away'' (often abbreviated as ''H&A'') is an Australian television soap opera. It was created by Alan Bateman and commenced broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. Bateman came up with the concept of the show during a trip ...

'', played by Laura Vasquez. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 26 January 1993. Vasquez's screen-test for the role was one of her career highlights. Sarah is characterised as a "real good goody" female who is "very intelligent" and she arrives to study in Summer Bay. Sarah's main romance storyline is with

Tug O'Neale Peter "Tug" O'Neale is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Tristan Bancks. The actor was selected from 200 people who had auditioned for the role and was contracted to appear for one mo ...

(

Tristan Bancks Tristan Bancks (21 December 1974) is an Australian children's and teen's author, with a background in filmmaking and acting. As an actor, he is known for his role as Tug O'Neale on ''Home and Away'' between 1992-1994. Biography Bancks trained ...

). Subsequently Vasquez and Bancks became fixtures in the media, as interest increased about the nature of the actor's off-screen relationship. Mary Fletcher from ''

Woman's Own ''Woman's Own'' is a British lifestyle magazine aimed at women. Publication ''Woman's Own'' was first published in 1932 by Newnes. In its early years it placed women's rights and social problems firmly in the foreground. Its first "agony aunt" was ...

'' wrote that ''Home and Away'' producers were infuriated by the reports because they felt it discredited the show's image. But the actors later denied any romance occurring off-screen. During her tenure, Sarah also dates Nathan Roberts (David Dixon) and he attempts to get Sarah to lose her virginity to him. Vasquez has stated that her favourite storyline for Sarah was an asthma attack because it portrayed the seriousness of the condition. Vasquez later left the series and Sarah departed during October 1994, but the actress returned for guest appearances in 1995 and 2005. Lisa Anthony from ''BIG!'' said that Sarah was a "quiet" character and Justine Cullen writing for ''

Inside Soap ''Inside Soap'' is a weekly magazine published in the United Kingdom, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas in the United Kingdom, including '' Coronation Street'', ''Doctors'', ''EastEnders'', ''Emmerdal ...

'' said that she was unlucky in love. Two episodes of the serial centric to Sarah's storyline were also nominated for an Australian Film Institute award.

Casting

Vasquez has said that her "biggest breakthrough" career wise was her final screen test for the role of Sarah. Actress

Ada Nicodemou Ada Nicodemou (Greek: Άντα Νικοδήμου) (born 14 May 1977) is an Australian actress of Greek Cypriot descent . She began her acting career in 1994 in TV serial ''Heartbreak High'' as Katerina Ioannou. She also starred in ''Police Res ...

also auditioned for the role in 1992. She was later cast as

Leah Patterson Leah Patterson (also Poulos and Patterson-Baker) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Ada Nicodemou. She made her screen debut during the episode broadcast on 22 March 2000. Leah is one of the long ...

. In 1994, Vasquez left ''Home and Away'' to pursue a career in music. But a writer 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 ...

'' claimed that Vasquez discovered that Sarah was being written out after they published the story in their magazine.

Character development

Characterisation

A writer from ''Home and Away: The Official Magazine'' said that Sarah is a "real good goody and very intelligent too". They added that when Sarah arrives to study at Summer Bay High but her father

Matthew Matthew may refer to: * Matthew (given name) * Matthew (surname) * ''Matthew'' (ship), the replica of the ship sailed by John Cabot in 1497 * ''Matthew'' (album), a 2000 album by rapper Kool Keith * Matthew (elm cultivar), a cultivar of the Ch ...

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Jeff Truman Jeffrey Maxwell Truman (4 November 1957 – 2 December 2014) was an Australian film and television screenwriter and actor. Career A member of the Australian Writer Guild for over 30 years, Truman's television credits include ''Rescue: Special ...

) does not want her to stay. Sarah ultimately ends up staying and living with

Ailsa Stewart Ailsa Stewart (also Hogan) is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Judy Nunn. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 17 January 1988. Ailsa was married to Alf Stewar ...

(

Judy Nunn Judith Anne Nunn ( AM) (born 1945 in Perth, Western Australia), (also published under the pen name of Judy Bernard-Waite), is an Australian fiction author, former theatre and television actress and radio and television screenwriter. Nunn was a ...

). Sarah suffers from

asthma Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, cou ...

and in one scene she suffers a serious asthma attack. Vasquez told ''Look-in's'' writer that it was her favourite scene from Sarah's entire duration. It was a "great" opportunity for her as an actress because she highlighted that having an asthma attack "can be really frightening". In 1994, Lisa Anthony from ''BIG!'' reported that

Angel Brooks Angel Parrish (also Brooks) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', portrayed by Melissa George. She made her first on-screen appearance on 30 March 1993, arriving as a teenage runaway. The character became popu ...

(

Melissa George Melissa George (born 6 August 1976) is an Australian actress and entrepreneur. A former national artistic rollerskating champion and model, George began her acting career playing Angel Parrish in the Australian soap opera Home and Away (1993– ...

) would give Sarah a make-over transforming her from "square to sex goddess". Sarah's new attire included little shorts, Vasquez told Anthony that her character's style was still "daggy" because she is a "country girl" and "just so conservative compared to Angel".

Relationship with Tug O'Neale

Sarah's first relationship storyline is with

(

). Bancks told a writer from ''

Look-in ''Look-in'' was a children's magazine centred on ITV's television programmes in the United Kingdom, and subtitled "The Junior ''TVTimes''". It ran from 9 January 1971 to 12 March 1994. In the ''Home and Away – Official Collector’s Edition'' a writer said that Tug was "absolutely furious" when he learned that his "archenemy"

Shane Parrish Shane Parrish is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Dieter Brummer. He made his first on-screen appearance on 28 May 1992 and he departed on 13 March 1996. Casting In 1992, actor Dieter Brummer suc ...

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Dieter Brummer Dieter Kirk Brummer (5 May 1976 – 24 July 2021) was an Australian actor. He was best known for his roles in television soap operas, including playing Shane Parrish in ''Home and Away'' from 1992 to 1996 and Troy Miller in ''Neighbours'' from 20 ...

), planned to kiss Sarah. But it was later revealed that Sarah did love Tug and "that kiss was only a ploy to make Tug jealous". Tristan Bancks 2

Vasquez told Lisa Anthony from ''BIG!'' that she and Bancks "hit it off straight away". While Vasquez and Bancks had formed a friendship due to their characters' romance, journalists became convinced that the actors were in a relationship. Bancks told Ally Oliver from ''

'' that the media often "pestered" them about the nature of their off-screen relationship. A magazine printed a story that they had admitted they were in a relationship and pictures of Vasquez with her arms around Bancks. ''Home and Away'' producers were "furious" with Vasquez and Bancks because they felt it ruined the show's image. But the pair denied the magazines claims. Bancks told Mary Fletcher from ''

'' that as they were "spending eight hours a day as teenage sweethearts" made them contemplate a relationship, but they decided against it. The two characters were involved in many "snogging scenes" and Vasquez said that she was single at the time which made the scenes easier to deal with. Sarah and Tug's first kiss was filmed during the school holidays. Vasquez said that filming the kiss was "quite nerve-racking" because there was a "circle of school kids" surrounding them. The actors were already nervous about the scenes, but having school children watching them made the situation worse. Bancks told Anthony that it was a "nightmare situation" and found the experience of kissing Vasquez in front of "seven hundred thousand people" really "strange". The fans even began to hassle Bancks as they had predicted that his character would be required to kiss Sarah. Vasquez said that working alongside Bancks on the Sarah and Tug romance for six months had resulted in them becoming "best friends". Vasquez later revealed that it was her first on-screen kiss and the "biggest thrill" to kiss Bancks. But Bancks said that it was "awkward" because they kept bumping their heads together. The two characters become engaged, but Sarah later decides to hand the ring back to Tug. Vasquez explained that Sarah changes her mind because "Tug's problem is that he's unsure of himself because he hasn't had a good upbringing." But the actress believed that there was still hope for their relationship because Sarah is always there to give him the attention he needs. Sarah offers Tug "understanding and makes him a better person". Vasquez added that Sarah and Tug are "really two different people" but their commonality is that they "get on pretty well together". Sarah also begins a relationship with Nathan Roberts (David Dixon). He attempts to convince Sarah to lose her virginity to him. The scenes formed the serial's annual cliffhanger storyline in 1993. Dixon told Richard Galpin from ''BIG!'' that Nathan gets her "in the back of my

Charger Charger or Chargers may refer to: * Charger (table setting), decorative plates used to fancify a place setting * Battery charger, a device used to put energy into a cell or battery * Capacitor charger, typically a high voltage DC power supply ...

, then I put the hard word on her and go for it". The actor did not entirely enjoy filming the scenes because he was too busy concentrating on his following lines. Like with Bancks, Vasquez took Dixon's first on-screen kiss.

Storylines

Sarah arrives at

Summer Bay Summer Bay is the fictional coastal town featured in the Australian soap opera, '' Home and Away''. Palm Beach, the most Northern beach of Sydney, is used for the show's exterior scenes in order to depict the Bay. Between 2010 and 2014, the ...

High to enroll in Year 11 as the school near her father Matthew's farm has closed down. She talks to

Donald Fisher Donald George Fisher (September 3, 1928 – September 27, 2009) was an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded The Gap Inc. clothing stores with his wife Doris F. Fisher. Early life and education Fisher was born i ...

(

Norman Coburn Norman Coburn (born 6 March 1937) is an Australian former actor best known for his television serial and soap opera roles. He started his early career in theatre, film and television in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s. Coburn became famous ...

) and

Luke Cunningham '' Home and Away'' is an Australian soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in 1993, by order of first appearance. They were all introduced by the show's then ...

( John Adam) but Matthew forces her to return home. After Luke argues the case for Sarah attending school, She begins staying with Donald's daughter,

Bobby Marshall Robert Wells Marshall (March 12, 1880 – August 27, 1958) was an American sportsman. He was best known for playing football; however, Marshall also competed in baseball,

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Nicolle Dickson Nicolle Dickson (born 29 January 1969) is an Australian former actress, who was best known for playing the original character of teenage tearaway Bobby Simpson in soap opera ''Home and Away'' from 1988 to 1993. She left the acting profession a ...

) and her husband

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Ross Newton Ross Newton (born 20 February 1967) is an Australian actor born in Melbourne, Victoria, he graduated from NIDA in 1989, and is best known for playing Greg Marshall in the television soap opera '' Home and Away''. Career Newton grew up in the ...

). Sarah makes friends with

Damian Roberts Damian Roberts is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Matt Doran. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 6 November 1991, and departed on 15 March 1996. Ben Hamil ...

(

Matt Doran Matthew James Doran (born 30 March 1976) is an Australian television and film actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Damian Roberts in the Australian soap '' Home and Away'' from 1991 to 1996, "Mouse" in the 1999 film ''The Matrix'', ...

) and shows some interest in him but he does not make a move. Tug O'Neale, however attracts Sarah's attentions and they become a couple. Sarah then meets Angel and they become the best of friends. Sarah's relationship with Tug is met with several dramas. The first of which occurs when Sarah suffers a severe Asthma attack while in the bush and Tug runs for help. Sarah is then robbed while in the city and almost abducted. She is later fostered by Ailsa and her husband Alf (

Ray Meagher Raymond Francis Meagher (born 4 July 1944) is an Australian actor, who has appeared in Australian film and television since the mid-1970s. He is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, portraying Alf Stewa ...

) and befriends

Roxanne Miller Roxanne "Roxy" Miller is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Lisa Lackey. She made her first screen appearance in the episode broadcast on 13 October 1992 and departed on 9 February 1995. Casting La ...

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Lisa Lackey Elizabeth Lackey (born 2 March 1971), is an Australian actress sometimes credited under the name Lisa Lackey. Career Lackey grew up in Orange, New South Wales, and attended Orange High School. Lackey was working as a model before she was cas ...

) one of her teachers, who becomes a big sister figure to her. Sarah wins the female lead in the school musical arranged by Luke and Roxy but Tug is enraged when he finds out Sarah is starring opposite his nemesis Shane, who has taken the part as revenge for framing him for burglary. On opening night, Shane overdoes a kissing scene with Sarah, resulting in Tug punching him and ruining the show. Sarah is distraught and refuses to speak to either Tug or Shane again. Sarah, now single receives attention from her classmates but they cancel their dates. Angel suspects Tug is threatening them and sets Shane up as a decoy and convinces Tug that Shane and Sarah are seeing each other. Sarah quickly finds out and warns Shane but Tug attacks him. She then confronts Tug, forcing him to see the relationship is over and they agree to be friends. Damian's older brother, Nathan is released from prison and Sarah falls for him. Damian and Tug try to warn Sarah but she will not listen and is convinced Nathan has changed and begins seeing him in secret when Alf and Ailsa disapprove. They are furious when they discover the relationship and ask her to leave. Sarah learns Nathan is behind a robbery at the school and admits she had been wrong about him, managing to patch things up with the Stewarts. Her friendship with Angel takes a dive when she discovers Angel wrote a story which is published in a magazine and finds it is clearly based on her experiences with Nathan. Sarah is angry for a while as she told Angel everything in confidence but eventually forgives her. Following the Year 12 formal, Matthew suffers a heart attack and Sarah persuades the Stewarts to let him stay with them while he recovers. Matthew is keen to get Tug and Sarah back together so they can run the farm but Sarah dashes his hopes and later leaves Summer Bay to attend University after she lets

Duncan Duncan may refer to: People * Duncan (given name), various people * Duncan (surname), various people * Clan Duncan * Justice Duncan (disambiguation) Places * Duncan Creek (disambiguation) * Duncan River (disambiguation) * Duncan Lake (d ...

(Lewis Devaney) wander out into the road while watching him. She returns in April 1995 to serve as Angel's bridesmaid at her wedding to Shane. In 2002, Alf mentions to a newly paroled Nathan (now played by Craig Ball) that Tug and Sarah have since married and are expecting their second child. Sarah returns three years later for Alf's 60th birthday, confirming she and Tug are still together.

Reception

Anthony writing for ''BIG!'' said that "quiet" Sarah and "tough" Tug were not an obvious match. Justine Cullen from ''Inside Soap'' said that Sarah did not have a "lorra luck in love". The episodes featuring the climax of Tug and Shane's feud where Sarah is caught in the middle at the school musical were nominated for "Best Television Episode in a Serial Drama" at the Australian Film Institute awards in 1993.

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Sarah Home and Away characters Television characters introduced in 1993 Female characters in television