| Jen Handley | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbours character | |||||||||
| Portrayed by | Alyce Platt | ||||||||
| Duration | 1995–96 | ||||||||
| First appearance | 14 February 1995 | ||||||||
| Last appearance | 6 March 1996 | ||||||||
| Classification | Former, regular | ||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||
| Date of birth | 15 June 1965 | ||||||||
| Home | Northern Territory | ||||||||
| Occupation | Medical student Artist Chez Chez Barmaid (1996) |
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Jen Handley is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Alyce Platt. She made her first on-screen appearance on 14 February 1995. Jen is Luke Handley's sister. She departed on 6 March 1996.
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In December 1994, Rachel Browne of The Sun-Herald reported Platt had joined the cast of Neighbours as Jen Handley, a mature age medical student.[1][2] Platt's introduction coincided with Network Ten's relaunch of the soap. The network decided to add new faces and sexier storylines in a bid to improve ratings.[1] Platt's first scenes began airing from early 1995.[1]
Platt left Neighbours in 1996 and she told Sue Malins of the Daily Mirror "In the end, I don't think the scriptwriters knew what to do with me."[3] On screen, Jen departed Erinsborough to pursue an art scholarship, following the break down of her relationship with Philip Martin (Ian Rawlings).[3]
Jen begins a medical class at Eden Hills University and she makes friends with Cody Willis (Peta Brady). Jen reveals the reason she is studying medicine is to research Aplastic anemia, which killed her younger sister, Morgan. She wants to prevent others from suffering in the same way. Cody introduces Jen to Philip Martin, whose wife, Julie (Julie Mullins), had died several months earlier. Jen and Philip begin dating after several hurdles and they earn Philip's daughter, Hannah's (Rebecca Ritters) blessing. Jen becomes scared of how fast the relationship is moving and she fears she is losing her independence, forcing Philip to back off. Their relationship soon resumes.
When Brook Allen (Felix Nobis), Jen's ex-boyfriend arrives in Erinsborough, Philip feels threatened as Brook is closer to Jen's age than he is. Jen sees that Philip is constantly trying to change his image to keep up with Brook and she tells him to remain himself and Brook soon leaves. Philip later asks Jen to move in with him and Hannah. Jen begin sleepwalking and is nearly run over by Kevin Rebecchi's (Don Bridges) truck. She soon realises she that is under stress from exams. Things are not helped when during a relaxation break Jen becomes obsessed with a daytime soap opera.
Jen's relationship with Philip ultimately crumbles after it becomes evident that she wants out after behaving mysteriously. Philip's son Michael (Troy Beckwith) returns at Christmas and warns Jen off any attempt at a reconciliation. Jen then moves into Number 30 with her brother, Luke (Bernard Curry) and Cody. She gets a job at Chez Chez as a barmaid. After a brief relationship with James Grimmer (Matthew Parkinson), Jen decides to leave Ramsay Street to pursue an art scholarship. She and Philip reconcile and after an emotional goodbye with Luke and Cody, Philip drives her to the airport. When Cody is killed a few weeks later, Jen sends a message to her memorial service describing Cody as her best friend.
The BBC said Jen's most notable moment was "Offering a kidney to her cousin."[4]
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