| Caitlin Atkins | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbours character | |||||
| Portrayed by | Emily Milburn | ||||
| Introduced by | Stanley Walsh | ||||
| Duration | 1997–98 | ||||
| First appearance | 29 September 1997 | ||||
| Last appearance | 24 June 1998 | ||||
| Classification | Former, regular | ||||
| Profile | |||||
| Home | Adelaide | ||||
| Occupation | Student Swimmer |
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Caitlin Atkins is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Emily Milburn. She made her first on-screen appearance on 29 September 1997 and departed on 24 June 1998.
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Milburn was given the role of Caitlin six months after she auditioned for the character of Anne Wilkinson.[1]
Caitlin arrived in Erinsborough to live with her adopted brother, Ben (Brett Cousins), while their parents went overseas for work.[2] Caitlin decided to stay in Ramsay Street and "fire up the neighbourhood" when she felt lost and rejected by her parents.[1] Describing her personality, the Illawarra Mercury said "Caitlin Atkins manages to stir up trouble in Ramsay Street, hiding her inner feelings under an air of tough bravado."[1] Milburn found that her character was very different from her and she called Caitlin her "worst nightmare."[1] She told the newspaper: "I had to think about my worst nightmare and play it like that because I'm usually pretty calm. I hold back a little bit and I don't think like Caitlin does, but it was fun to cut loose and just go for it."[1] Caitlin was a talented swimmer and the BBC said she "displayed an intense dedication to her training regime."[2] Caitlin was "quite a determined young woman", especially when she set her sights on Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer) and used her "feminine wiles" to try to date him.[2] Caitlin and Billy later kiss, which causes heartache for his girlfriend, Anne (Brooke Satchwell).[3] Caitlin continues to pursue Billy and Michelle Hamer of The Sydney Morning Herald branded Caitlin a "scheming teen temptress."[3] Caitlin later dated a fellow swimmer called Josh (Sullivan Stapleton).[2]
When her parents decided to move away temporarily to the Middle East for her father's work, Caitlin decided she wanted to stay in Australia. With one brother, Nicholas (Jason Crewes), travelling the world tutoring the children of wealthy families, Caitlin was shipped off to stay with her other brother, Ben. Caitlin's main passion in life was swimming, at which she competed at professional levels. Upon arriving in Erinsborough, Caitlin immediately heads down to the local pool to check out the facilities. She soon meets Billy Kennedy who works as a pool attendant and she soon decided that he would be hers. When Caitlin learns that Billy is already in a relationship with Anne Wilkinson (Brooke Satchwell), Ben's biological half-sister, she is disappointed, but this is not enough to put her off.
Caitlin manages to make friends with Mandi Rodgers (Sabina Lokic) from the swim team, but fails to impress her neighbours and housemates on Ramsay Street with her behaviour.Sarah Beaumont (Nicola Charles) is particularly unhappy about having to share with a teenager. Caitlin begin to feel increasingly isolated on the street, and her friendship with Billy strengthens, especially when Caitlin learns that he is a very competent swimmer and he joins the local team. The more time Caitlin and Billy spend together training causes Anne to feel paranoid. When the team heads off to Sydney to compete, and Billy and Anne have been going through an especially rocky patch, Caitlin seizes her opportunity to make a move on Billy. She kisses him, unaware that Anne had followed Billy to Sydney in order to resolve the problems in their relationship. Anne sees them kissing in Billy's hotel room, which causes further damage to their already fragile union.
Upon their return to Erinsborough, things are frosty and are not helped when Ben falls into a coma following a racing accident at Calder Park. Caitlin and Anne briefly put their differences aside out of concern for their shared brother. After Ben makes progress, Anne and Caitlin resume the grudge and Billy is forced to choose between them. Billy chooses Anne. However, Anne and Caitlin remain friends and play a trick on bully Jacinta Myers (Caroline Morgan) during the Erinsborough High Swim Carnival by switching places, which fools Jacinta into thinking she is initially racing weaker swimmer Anne, when in fact she is up against Caitlin who bests her in the event.
Josh Hughes arrives in Erinsborough to train with the swim team. Despite him being a few years older, Caitlin quickly falls for him. One day, The couple decide to skip swimming class and spend the day together, but while play fighting, Josh falls and sprains his arm. However, it soon emerges that he is exaggerating his injury in order to escape from training and spend more time with Caitlin. As the couple find themselves in trouble from all angles – including from Caitlin's brother Nicholas, who has come to look after her during Ben's convalescence- they decide to run away. However, the couple do not get very far and upon their eventual return, Josh has to go home and Caitlin realises things have failed to work out for her once again.
Caitlin constantly clashes with Nick as he is not only her guardian but her teacher at school now and finds things a lot tougher than when Ben was in charge. Meanwhile, things between Billy and Anne stall as he is unable to cope with her jealousy. Billy starts spending more time with Caitlin and attempts to start a romance with her, but Caitlin is unimpressed after all that had happened in the past. Caitlin's problems worsen when she pushes herself too far during swimming while training to win a place at the AIS and ends up collapsing in the pool at home. Caitlin is rushed to hospital and diagnosed by Dr. Veronica Olenski (Caroline Lloyd) with exhaustion. After several days rest, Caitlin figures that there is no point in making herself ill for her passion.
Caitlin notices how much Anne's twin brother, Lance (Andrew Bibby) is missing Amy Greenwood (Jacinta Stapleton) as his girlfriend, she hatches a plan to help Lance win her back. Caitlin and Lance begin pretending to see each other, making Amy extremely jealous. Amy confronts Caitlin in the toilets at Little Tommy Tucker's and warns her off, leaving Caitlin happy that her plan has worked. When Nick receives news that their mother had decided to return to Australia and wants him and Caitlin to return home to Adelaide, Caitlin refuses to believe him, but reluctantly agrees to leave with him but before her departure she paints "Never Forget Cait + Nick!" on the road as something for her friends to remember her by.
The BBC said Caitlin's most notable moment was "Kissing Billy."[4] The Illawarra Mercury said Caitlin was "nothing short of a nightmare."[1]