Izzy Hoyland

Izzy Hoyland
Neighbours character
Portrayed by Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Duration 2003–2007
First appearance 1 September 2003
Last appearance 29 March 2007
Introduced by Ric Pellizzeri
Classification Former; regular
Profile
Occupation
  • Co-owner and manager of The Coffee Shop
  • Co-owner of The Scarlet Bar
  • Lassiter's Business Affairs manager
Home London

Isabelle "Izzy" Hoyland is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Bassingthwaighte. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 1 September 2003. Izzy is the daughter of Rosie Hoyland and sister to Max Hoyland. The character departed in 2006, following Bassingthwaighte's decision to focus on her music career. However, in March 2007, Bassingthwaighte made a brief return to film a few episodes set in London. The character was well received by critics and viewers and Bassingthwaighte earned three Logie Award nominations for her role.

Casting

Bassingthwaighte joined the cast of Neighbours in 2003, in her first full-time television role.[1] The actress had been working in musical theatre when she received a call saying she had secured an audition for Neighbours.[2] Bassingthwaighte told The Age, "I said to my manager, no way. I'd made the decision I'd done my last theatre show for a while, I wanted to concentrate on singing and I wanted to give film a go. We were all a little bit over the soapie star-turned singer. I didn't want to be that."[2] Her manager talked her round and within a week Bassingthwaighte auditioned for the show and won the role of Izzy.[2]

In June 2005, it was announced that Bassingthwaighte was considering leaving the soap once her contract expired the following year.[3] Bassingthwaighte said "Am I going to resign? I've had an amazing time and, while it's great to have a regular income and live a normal life, if you stay in one spot too long you get rusty".[3] Bassingthwaighte left Neighbours in 2006 to focus on her music career and she filmed her final scenes on 2 June.[4][5] Bassingthwaighte said she was "falling apart" whilst doing so.[5] However, in October of that year it was announced that she would be going to London to film a special guest appearance.[4] Neighbours began filming scenes in London from 6 November to air in March 2007.[4][6]

Bassingthwaighte was invited to return to Neighbours for the show's 30th anniversary celebrations in 2015, but she declined the offer because she felt "the timing wasn't right".[7] However, Bassingthwaighte agreed to take part in the documentary special Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.[8][9]

Development

Before she appeared on-screen she was described as a "manipulative schemer, a money-hungry man-eater and home wrecker."[10] Network Ten branded Izzy as a "bad girl" type character.[11] They also described her as "quick-witted, sexy and naturally flirtatious" and has a "masterful ability to manipulate people".[12] They said she has serious "daddy issues" and likes older men and is not bothered if they are married because she is the first to admit she is "unscrupulous".[12] She is "essentially lazy and will never work for a living if there's an easier way to make a buck" even if that way is "dishonest or immoral". They also referred to her as a "scarlet lady" and "femme fatale".[12] Bassingthwaighte described her as a "great character to play because she's got so many dimensions to her. There's the bitchiness, but also the vulnerability."[5] Bassingthwaighte revealed she preferred Izzy whilst she was being bad, because in her view she was boring when she tried to be nice.[13]

Storylines

Izzy arrives in Ramsay Street to visit Max (Stephen Lovatt). She moves in with Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) after he breaks up with his wife Susan (Jackie Woodburne). She claims that Karl is the father of her unborn baby, when it is actually Gus Cleary's (Ben Barrack). Izzy has a miscarriage and breaks up with Karl. She then forms a relationship with Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis). Darcy Tyler (Mark Raffety) discovers that the pregnancy dates do not add up and threatens to tell Karl. Izzy tries to pay him off, but he refuses to take any money. During the confrontation, Darcy falls down a flight of stairs and ends up in a coma. When he wakes up, he begins to play mind games with Izzy. Darcy forces her to give him a favourable testimony at his court hearing. Darcy then reveals the truth to Susan in a letter and she forces Izzy to tell Karl that he was not the baby's father. Karl kicks her out and she disappears, leaving Paul under suspicion for her murder. She is found alive and Paul's name is cleared. Izzy overcomes a drug problem and she and Paul move in together. Paul's daughter Elle (Pippa Black) also moves in and she takes an instant dislike to Izzy. Elle tries lacing her food with drugs to convince Paul that Izzy still has a drug problem.

Izzy has an affair with Ned Parker (Daniel O'Connor), which is initiated in an attempt to get him out of Erinsborough, which both Robert Robinson (Adam Hunter) and Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) find out about. Robert later moves in with Izzy and Paul, while pretending to be his identical twin brother Cameron. After she became suspicious of Robert's behaviour, Izzy tries to convince Paul and Elle that he is responsible for the 'accidents' she was said to have caused, such as leaving the gas on while babysitting her nephew Charlie. Everyone believes that she is just being careless and hysterical and Paul eventually throws her out. She gets Paul and the police to believe her after she discovers that Robert had been recording her phone conversations and editing them on his laptop. After Cameron is cleared of all charges, he too moved in with her, Elle and Paul. Paul and Izzy's relationship begins to decline and when Paul is caught cheating on her, she breaks up with him.

Although Izzy claims to have never stopped being in love with Paul, she tries to get back into a relationship with Karl. Karl has no interest in Izzy because of his resentment towards her, and the fact that he is trying to get back together with Susan. Karl accepts a ride home from Izzy and once they get to his apartment, she gives him too much sleeping medication. This causes him to believe that Izzy is Susan and he begs her to stay the night. Susan discovers that Izzy is pregnant and when she asks her who the father of her baby is, Izzy denies it is Karl's.

Izzy moves to London and begins an affair with Pete Gartside (Daniel Schutzmann), a married professional football player. Pete breaks up with Izzy, but they later decide to start again and raise her baby together. Karl and Susan meet Izzy while they are in London to see their son Malcolm (Benjamin McNair). Izzy turns up at their wedding and goes into labour. Karl is then forced to deliver her daughter, Holly (Chaya Broadmore). Susan later overhears Izzy saying that Karl is Holly's father and she tells him when they arrive home. Karl later tells Susan that Izzy would like her to be Holly's godmother and she agrees. In 2013, Izzy sends Holly (Lucinda Armstrong Hall) to stay with Karl and Susan, while she goes on a cruise with her new partner.

Reception

In 2006, Bassingthwaighte was nominated for "Most Popular Personality" and "Most Popular Actress" at the Logie Awards for her role as Izzy.[14] The following year, she was again nominated for "Most Popular Actress".[15] The 2006 Dolly Teen Choice Awards saw Bassingthwaighte win the "Best Slashie" award.[16] In 2007, Bassingthwaighte received a nomination for "Best Bitch" at the Inside Soap Awards.[17] At the first Digital Spy Soap Awards, Bassingthwaighte, along with co-stars Woodburne and Fletcher, was nominated in the "Storyline of the Year" category for the Karl, Susan and Izzy storyline set in London.[18]

In 2004, Izzy came joint tenth in a BBC drama poll to find the "Best Villain".[19] During a feature on the best and worst soap characters of the decade, Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture placed Izzy at number two on the best characters list.[20] Deller said "The best character in Ramsay Street for ages, if not of all time, Izzy was the best kind of soap bitch (see also Janine Butcher and Clare Devine), one whose motives you could understand, and often sympathise with. Being a member of the largely dreadful Hoyland clan didn't bode well for her, but Izzy soon won a place in everyone's hearts (and several male characters' beds). She was even bezzie mates with Harold, and she bowed out by giving birth on the Thames in the ludicrous Neighbours goes to London episodes".[20] The website later referred to her as a "archetypal soap bitch-with-a-soft-centre".[21] New Zealand television website, Throng, said that Izzy had "grown to become a fan favourite" in her time with the show.[4] Izzy has been labelled a "super-bitch" by newspaper Daily Mirror,[5] newspaper Metro,[22] entertainment website Digital Spy[23] and Australian LGBT website Samesame.[24] Bree Hoskin writing for LGBT website Gaydar, included Izzy on their list of "Top Ten Soap Bitches". She also said the serial was shaken up with her arrival and branded her "Erinsborough’s most memorable bitch and home wrecker". Also opining she met her match in Paul and it subsequently caused "a good vs. evil cul-de-sac showdown the likes of which Ramsay street had never seen before".[25]

The Herald Sun observed Izzy as "backstabbing, blackmailing and breaking more than a few hearts" during her time in the serial. They also said her behaviour "didn't win her any friends in Erinsborough".[13] Izzy was named one of the all-time most popular characters in Neighbours behind Harold, Madge and Susan. Bassingthwaighte revealed that people were shocked to see her friends with Woodburne in real life, because her portrayal of bitchiness was so convincing they assumed they had to be enemies off-screen.[13]

References

  1. ↑ McWhirter, Erin (3 April 2010). "Meet the women of Underbelly, The Golden Mile". The Daily Telegraph. News Limited. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Houston, Melinda (27 April 2006). "Street of Dreams". The Age. Fairfax Media. p. 34. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  3. 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel (26 June 2005). "Another 'Neighbours' star leaving?". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Natalie Bassingthwaighte leaves Neighbours". Throng. 9 October 2006. Archived from the original on 23 March 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Neil, Beth (7 July 2006). "Black magic woman, Actress Natalie Bassingthwaighte is out to cast a spell with her rockband". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  6. ↑ "Rogue's romantic getaway". The Daily Telegraph. News Limited. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  7. ↑ Adams, Cameron (7 December 2014). "Natalie Bassingthwaighte breaks her silence about the sudden death of her manager and mentor Mark Byrne". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Knox, David (28 February 2015). "Airdate: Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite". TV Tonight. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 March 2015). "Neighbours 30th anniversary schedule confirmed by Channel 5". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  10. ↑ Miller, Kylie (24 July 2003). "Networking". The Age. (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  11. ↑ "Special Guests". Ten.com.au. (Network Ten). Archived from the original on 27 September 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  12. 1 2 3 "Izzy Hoyland". Neighbours.com. Network Ten. Archived from the original on 5 January 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 "Living on Izzy street". Herald Sun. (The Herald and Weekly Times). 14 March 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  14. ↑ "Neighbours strikes out at Logies". Women Republic. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  15. ↑ {{cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/44033-neighbours-stars-up-for-logies%7Ctitle=Neighbours' stars up for Logies|date=29 April 2007|work=Metro|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=6 April 2010
  16. ↑ "2006 Dolly Teen Choice Awards". Dolly. Ninemsn. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  17. ↑ Green, Kris (3 July 2007). "Inside Soap Awards 2007: The Nominations". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  18. ↑ Green, Kris (21 March 2008). "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  19. ↑ "Best Villain". BBC drama. BBC. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  20. 1 2 Deller, Ruth (31 December 2009). "Soapstar Superstars: The 2000s". Lowculture. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  21. ↑ {{cite web|title=Lowculture.co.uk|url=http://www.lowculture.co.uk/labels/Channel%204.shtml%7Cwork=Lowculture|date=1 February 2008|accessdate=23 March 2011
  22. ↑ "Nat's new movie role". Metro. (Associated Newspapers). Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  23. ↑ {{cite web|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|title=Ex-'Neighbours' star discusses movie role|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a63868/ex-neighbours-star-discusses-movie-role.html%7Cwork=Digital Spy|publisher=(Hachette Filipacchi UK)|accessdate=23 March 2011|date=2 July 2007
  24. ↑ Heron, Nathan (7 November 2008). "Natalie – Alive And In Control". Samesame.com.au. (Sound Alliance). Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  25. ↑ Hoskin, Bree (18 September 2008). "Top Ten Soap Bitches". Gaydar. (QSoft Consulting Ltd). Retrieved 23 March 2011.
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