Drew Curtis (Home and Away)

Drew Curtis
Home and Away character
Portrayed by Bobby Morley
Duration 2006–08
First appearance 7 July 2006
Last appearance 21 March 2008
Introduced by Julie McGauran
Classification Former, regular
Profile
Occupation Student at Summer Bay High (2006-08)
Barman
Mechanic (2007)
Home Sydney

Andrew "Drew" Curtis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Bobby Morley. He made his first on-screen appearance on 7 July 2006 and departed on 21 March 2008.

Casting

Whilst acting in a production of Angels with Dirty Faces, Morley was spotted by the Home and Away casting agents who asked him to come in and have a chat.[1] The chance to audition for Drew came up and Morley was cast in the role, despite being older than the character.[2][3] Morley relocated from Melbourne to Sydney for the show and he admitted that he was quite nervous during his first six weeks on set and that he had to get used to the fast speed at which they shoot scenes.[1][2]

Morley quit Home and Away at the end of 2007.[4] Of his reason for leaving, Morley said "It wasn't a good place to be in. Home and Away is a great place to learn, but it's a machine and it can chew people up and spit them out. I stepped out not really caring whether I had another job."[5] Morley told The Daily Telegraph that he often had to take his shirt off for scenes and that he was treated like a "meat puppet" on the show.[6]

Character development

Morley told The Age that Drew is "very strong-willed and stubborn and headstrong", which is similar to how he was at seventeen.[1] Drew is also quite defensive and independent.[1] Morley added "I do remember what I was like when I was younger and I thought that I knew everything and it's quite easy to go back to that mentality when I'm playing Drew." [1] The official Home and Away website described Drew as "brooding" and having a "chip on his shoulder the size of Queensland."[7] Drew is cocky, tough and a bit of a loner.[7] Despite giving off the impression that he does not need anyone, Drew desperately wants love and acceptance.[7]

Drew ruins his relationship with Belle Taylor (Jessica Tovey) when he has an affair with her mother Amanda Vale (Holly Brisley).[8] Morley told Inside Soap that the storyline was uncomfortable for both himself and Brisley.[9] He said "It was such an intense storyline, and Holly and I put a lot of work into figuring out how to play the scenes."[9] Morley explained that it was a hard thing to motivate why Amanda would sleep with her daughter's boyfriend and why Drew would go along with it all.[9] Tovey said Belle was left "angry and humiliated", when she discovered the reason Drew ended their relationship.[8] She added that though Drew felt terrible about his actions, Belle was unable to forgive his deceit because "she thinks he and Amanda are as bad as each other."[8]

Storylines

Drew first arrived in Summer Bay when he found out about his father Peter Baker's (Nicholas Bishop) 'death' and left boarding school to attend the memorial. His uncle, Dan (Tim Campbell) was surprised but allowed Drew to stay with him and Leah.

As soon as he arrived, Drew began to have feelings for feisty, Belle. Although Dan was against this, Drew and Belle got together. But Drew broke up with Belle after he fell for her mother, Amanda. Although, after her relationship with Lucas Holden (Rhys Wakefield), Drew and Belle were reunited as a couple. But Drew broke up with Belle again when he discovered that she knew about Amanda's affair with Peter but they soon got back together.

After all the events that occurred, Drew decided to leave Summer Bay. On his way out of town, a masked man dragged Drew out of his car and drove him to an abandoned building. The mystery captor was later revealed to be his father, Peter. The mystery of Peters fake death was revealed during the 'kidnapping'. He explained to Drew that he was in Witness Protection from Dennis Gillen (Danny Adcock) and Drew decided that he wanted to get to know his dad. When Dennis and his men showed up at the building, Peter told Drew to run and get help but Drew heard a gunshot and he broke down- crying. But Peter was not dead and Drews relationship with his dad grew.

Drew had broken up with Belle and decided to leave Summer Bay and go to the city. Jazz Curtis (Rachel Gordon), Drews mother who arrived to buy Amanda's house, and Ric Dalby (Mark Furze) went to the city to persuade him to come back but failed. He lives with Amanda and Peter in the city.

Reception

For his portrayal of Drew, Morley was nominated for the "Most Popular New Male Talent" Logie Award in 2007.[10] Scott Ellis of The Sun-Herald branded Drew a "teenage tearaway."[3] While Paul Kalina of The Age called him a "bad-boy heart-throb."[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Gallagher, Heather (13 August 2006). "Yak Attack - Bobby Morley, 21, actor". The Age (Fairfax Media). p. 29. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Bobby Morley". Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 6 January 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ellis, Scott (21 September 2008). "Star sheds teen image". The Sun-Herald (Fairfax Media). p. 5. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kalina, Paul (9 October 2008). "An actor going through a stage". The Age (Fairfax Media). p. 16. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  5. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 October 2008). "'Home and Away' star criticises producers". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  6. ↑ "Bobby Morley's Home and Away used me as a 'meat puppet' rage". The Daily Telegraph (News Limited). 3 October 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Drew Curtis Played by Bobby Morley". Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 4 January 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Hell's Belle". Inside Soap (Hachette Filipacchi UK): 17. 2–9 February 2007.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "You ask...Bob Morley". Inside Soap (Hachette Filipacchi UK): 42. 6–12 October 2007.
  10. ↑ "Logie Award nominations". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). 2 April 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2011.

External links