| Teresa Bell | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbours character | |||||
| Portrayed by | Krista Vendy | ||||
| Introduced by | Stanley Walsh | ||||
| Duration | 1999–2001 | ||||
| First appearance | 17 September 1999 | ||||
| Last appearance | 18 September 2001 | ||||
| Classification | Former, regular | ||||
| Profile | |||||
| Home | London | ||||
| Occupation | Teacher at Erinsborough High School (1999–2001) | ||||
|
|||||
Teresa "Tess" Bell is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Krista Vendy. She made her first on-screen appearance on 22 October 1999 and departed on 18 September 2001.
Contents |
Vendy previously auditioned for the role of Sarah Beaumont, but lost out to Nicola Charles.[1] Three years later, she auditioned for another role in Neighbours through her agency.[2] Vendy auditioned three times in total and she revealed she was one of three girls up for the role.[3] The actress told the official Neighbours website she learnt she had won the part of Teresa six months later.[3] Of her reaction to the news, Vendy said "I'd put it out of my mind until one night when I got a call from my manager, Scott. He called me all the way from the UK to say 'congratulations, you've got the part'. It was a dream come true for me because I've been trying to get into acting for such a long time."[3]
Vendy told Jason Herbision of Inside Soap that she had initially auditioned to play a different character.[4] She said "The role was originally that of a barmaid called Tamsin Flynn, but after I got the part, the producers took a look at my audition piece and changed my name and occupation."[4] Vendy said Tamsin was supposed to be a surfer and a party girl, but when the character became Teresa she was changed into a "strait-laced schoolteacher" instead.[1][4] Vendy revealed her cousin, Kristian Schmid (who played Todd Landers), gave her some advice before she entered the show. The actress said "Kristian told me to always think about the motivation of other characters as well as my own."[1] Vendy filmed her first scenes on location at the Erinsborough High set.[3] Two months after her on screen debut, Gina Leros of The Sun-Herald said Vendy would be the one to watch in Neighbours in 2000.[5]
Teresa was introduced as a 24 year old, married English teacher. She moved to Erinsborough to regain her independence and found employment at the local high school.[3] Vendy said Teresa prefers to be called Tess and she described her character as a "perfectionist", especially when it came to teaching and cleaning.[2][3] Vendy said while she is not a "cleaning freak" like Tess, she does share the same work ethic as her.[2] The actress revealed Tess has a vivacious side to her and she has been married to her husband for a couple of years.[3] Vendy told Inside Soap she was glad her character had more depth than a bimbo and she said Tess is nothing like the person she thought she would be playing.[1] When asked if it felt strange to be playing a married school teacher, Vendy said "Yeah! It is weird because in real life, I have no desire to get married whatsoever! Teresa has many more responsibilities than Krista, so it has been interesting to play someone like her."[3] The official Neighbours website called Tess "headstrong and intelligent."[6]
Shorty after her arrival, Tess makes the decision to leave her violent husband, Brendan (Blair Venn).[1] Vendy said Brendan had been physically and mentally abusing Tess and she was desperate to get away from him.[1] The Kennedy family suspect Brendan has been hitting his wife when they notice a scratch on Tess' face.[1] They ask her to move in with them and Tess opens up about Brendan and his behaviour.[1] Of her character's marriage to Brendan, Vendy explained "Teresa is a very strong woman, but she has lost a lot of her confidence during the abusive marriage. She is only 24 years old and she looks up to Brendan because he is 11 years her senior and is a successful lawyer. Sadly, he only sees her as a trophy."[1] A writer for Inside Soap said Neighbours rarely strayed from its formula of light-hearted storylines, so when the producers decided to tackle the issue of domestic violence they made sure it would be handled realistically and sensitively.[1] Vendy said to get her head around what Tess was going through, she researched domestic violence and made sure the storyline was dealt with carefully.[1]
Brendan comes to Ramsay Street to see Tess and he tries talking his way back into her affections.[6] Vendy said despite Brendan's past behaviour, Tess wants her marriage to work and her stubbornness keeps her going back for more.[6] The actress explained "She doesn't want to be seen as a failure, or to think she has failed herself. She believes Brendan when he says that he has changed, because she wants to believe him. She doesn't see any of the warning signs."[6] Tess' friends, Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner) and Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne), become alarmed when they learn Tess has allowed Brendan back into her life and they try to warn her about him.[6] However, this just makes Tess want to be with him more and Vendy said Tess and Steph fall out over the situation.[6] Tess believes Brendan has changed, but she is unaware he has turned on a few people and has shown a split personality.[6] The actress revealed she had received positive reactions about the storyline from viewers.[6]
Teresa is first seen when principal Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) interviews her for a teaching post Erinsborough High. Tess is successful and secures the position. During her first week at the school, Tad Reeves (Jonathon Dutton) is a constant thorn in Tess's side but she ultimately gets the better of him. On New Year's Eve 1999, Tess arrives at Number 28 with a cut on her face and admits to Susan that her husband, Brendan is responsible. Susan sympathizes and helps Tess collect her stuff, only to find Brendan has changed the locks. After smashing her way in with a rock, Tess is then caught by Brendan who tries to put on a calm front, but Susan isn't fooled and speaks to former Neighbour Philip Martin (Ian Rawlings) about renting his old house, Number 32 Ramsay Street to Tess.
After Tess settles in Ramsay Street and makes friends with Anne Wilkinson (Brooke Satchwell) who moves in with her, Brendan is persistent in her life making it seem like Tess is overreacting about him. Tess then softens after Brendan goes away for a while then returns leaving her flowers. Tess surprises her students when she comes to school in the same clothes she had been wearing the previous night.
When Daniel Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker) moves into Number 32 while his house is repaired, Tess worries how Brendan may react to find her sharing with another man. When Brendan returns, Tess unexpectedly kisses him and the couple move closer together after she lets him stay when his car fails to start. Tess' friends Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) and Steph Scully (Carla Bonner) are unimpressed with the fact that she has forgiven Brendan but Tess is adamant they can make it work this time.
Things become strained with Tess and her friends and when Brendan loses his patience with Paul McClain (Jansen Spencer) and Michelle Scully (Kate Keltie) for nearly running him over on their bikes, Susan mentions it to Tess, but she shrugs it off.
Upon Brendan's return, he is incensed to find out from Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) that Tess has gone clubbing. Brendan storms out into a vicious downpour and drives to confront his wife. While on the road he pulls out from behind a bus and collides with Steph and Libby on a motorcycle, injuring the three of them. Tess rushes to hospital and Brendan explains that it was an accident. Tess believes him at first but doubts it when Toadie tells her about the incident leading up to the crash. After Brendan is charged with reckless driving, Tess wonders if she will ever forgive him but Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) breaks the news that Brendan is dead.
Being racked with guilt on top her own grief, Tess tries to build bridges when it is learned that the accident has rendered Libby unable to have children. Everyone realises she was just as much a victim in of this.
When Daniel returns and begins staying once again, Tess is worried when she becomes more and more attracted to him. Daniel reveals that the one person he is interested in is Steph, and likes Tess as a friend.
Local nurse Dione Bliss (Madeleine West) moves in with Tess as her next housemate, but her living habits don't sit with well with Tess at first. After Dee sprains her ankle, Tess has no choice but to let her stay but with some binding house rules. The ladies then become fast friends.
When Philip sells the house, Tess and Dee decide to put in a bid but they are beaten by new teacher, Evan Hancock (Nicholas Opolski) on auction day. Tess and Dee then look for new accommodation, with Dee moving next door into the spare room Number 30. Tess, deciding she can't live in a student environment with Toadie and his friend Joel Samuels (Daniel MacPherson), looks further afield and begins house-sharing with Veronica "Ronnie" Anderson (Monika Karwan) in a nearby suburb.
Tess later forges a friendship with doctor Darcy Tyler (Mark Raffety), Dee's boyfriend, which later turns into love affair. Dee later finds out and exposes the affair in the pub leaving Darcy and Tess humiliated. Tess flees and goes into hiding for a while, ending things with Darcy.
Darcy, however, refuses to give up and proposes to Tess, who shocks everyone by accepting. When Tess stumbles upon Darcy's scheme to take over the local surgery and leave Karl jobless, she has doubts which mount up until the day of the wedding.
After contacting Darcy's ex-girlfriend, Alice Jamison (Pip Sallabank), Tess decides not to go through with the wedding and stands Darcy up. Before leaving for London to find teaching work, Tess pays Dee a visit and they resolve things.
The BBC said Tess' most notable moment was Dee's discovery of her affair with Darcy.[7]
|
||||||||||||||||||||