Debbie Martin
Encyclopedia
Deborah "Debbie" Martin is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
, played by Marnie Reece-Wilmore
. She made her first on-screen appearance on 27 July 1985. Debbie was initially played by Mandy Storvik and later Katrina McEwan. Reece-Wilmore was cast in the role in 1992. Debbie remained in the show until late 1994 and returned in 1996 and left again on 22 October 1997. In 2005, Reece-Wilmore reprised her role as Debbie for the show's 20th anniversary. It was revealed that Debbie is working for Lassiter's in New York.
when Julie Robinson arrives at their neighbour's house to break the news of a car accident that leaves Philip paralysed and Loretta dead. Julie helps look after the children and eventually marries Philip and they all move to the country and are heard from sparingly throughout the years.
The Martin family return to Erinsborough in 1992 for the funeral of Todd Landers
(Kristian Schmid) but get lost along the back roads, after finding Helen Daniels
(Anne Haddy
) (who was taken hostage earlier by Todd's father, Bob (Bruce Kilpatrick). The family settle into Ramsay Street and Debbie is immediately attracted to Rick Alessi
(Dan Falzon
) and they begin dating much to Julie's chagrin. When Rick wins tickets to see Michael Jackson
in London, he invites Debbie but knowing their respective parents, the teens concoct a plan with Rick's older brother, Marco
(Felice Arena
) acting as Rick's chaperone and while Helen and Debbie tell Philip and Julie that they will be visiting a friend of Helen's in the outback. The plan works and the four of them arrive in London. While there, Rick and Debbie encounter George Carter (Andrew Dicks), a young thief who has been stealing to raise money for his dying brother, Terry (Lee Cheesewright) to see Michael Jackson in concert. Rick and Debbie then give their tickets away. Their act of generosity makes news and the two appear on the Casey Butler show. They worry about the show being broadcast in Australia but are assured that it won't. However, it makes Australian news and is eventually broadcast leaving Julie livid, sparking a war between the Martins and Alessis.
Debbie and Rick's relationship steps up a gear when the couple decide to have sex. Soon after, Rick's parents decide to move to Sydney, which could spell the end for the couple. However, Rick gets to stay. Debbie and Rick later break up and Debbie begins dating Darren Stark
(Scott Major
), who unknown to her, has served time in a juvenile detention centre with Michael. Rick tries to warn Debbie about Darren but she ignores the advice. After a robbery goes awry, resulting in Michael being shot while trying to save Debbie, Debbie realizes Rick was right about Darren.
When Andrew "Macca" McKenzie (John Morris) begins working for Doug Willis (Terence Donovan
), Debbie becomes besotted with him. When Macca rejects Debbbie's advances, she questions him and he reveals he is gay. Debbie spirals into an eating disorder, which is discovered by Cody Willis
(Peta Brady
and Brett Stark
(Brett Blewitt
)
More problems arise for Debbie when Julie dies and Philip is the prime suspect for pushing her off the roof of the hotel they stayed in during a Murder Mystery Weekend. Philip is cleared when Debbie reveals Julie had been drunk that night and she watched her fall from the roof.
Following Julie's funeral, Debbie agrees to go with Rosemary Daniels
(Joy Chambers
) to New York. Several weeks later, Debbie receives a phone call while on 5th Avenue and talks with Philip.
In 1996, Debbie returns home in the wake of an affair with Rosemary's boyfriend, Joel Supple. After settling back in the area, Debbie begins first working at the pub and later the coffee shop. She is upset to find Darren has been released from prison and is cold towards him.
When Luke Handley
(Bernard Curry
) is diagnosed with cancer and undergoes chemotheraphy, Debbie is keen to help him and ends up embroiled in a battle for his affections with Danni Stark (Eliza Szonert
). In the end, Luke chooses Danni.
Debbie later becomes manager of the coffee shop and briefly begins a second romance with Darren. This isn't to last as Debbie believes Darren still has feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Libby Kennedy
(Kym Valentine
). When Helen dies in October 1997, the family are devastated. Michael, who arrives home for the funeral suggests Debbie comes back to Marree with him. Their younger sister, Hannah
(Rebecca Ritters
) feels like everyone is deserting her but Debbie comforts her and leaves with Michael after the funeral
In 2005, Debbie is seen in Annalise Hartman
's (Kimberly Davies) documentary about Ramsay Street where she is seen at a desk at the New York branch of Lassiter's talking about how she was a mess when she lived on Ramsay Street until Rosemary offered her a job.
named Debbie's most notable moments as "Going to London to see Michael Jackson" and "Tipping a bowl of dip over Rick Alessi's head during dinner." Heckler Spray placed Debbie on their list of "The Best Ever Mid-90s Neighbours Characters". Of Debbie they said "One word: eyebrows."
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
, played by Marnie Reece-Wilmore
Marnie Reece-Wilmore
Marnie Reece-Wilmore is an Australian actor from Sydney. She is best known for her role in Neighbours during the 1990s.-Early work:...
. She made her first on-screen appearance on 27 July 1985. Debbie was initially played by Mandy Storvik and later Katrina McEwan. Reece-Wilmore was cast in the role in 1992. Debbie remained in the show until late 1994 and returned in 1996 and left again on 22 October 1997. In 2005, Reece-Wilmore reprised her role as Debbie for the show's 20th anniversary. It was revealed that Debbie is working for Lassiter's in New York.
Casting
In 2005, it was confirmed that Reece-Wilmore would be reprising her role of Debbie to join many ex-cast members returning for the show's 20th anniversary episode.Storylines
Debbie is first seen on screen in hospital after she tries to commit suicide after tensions between her parents Philip and Loretta escalate. Several months later, Debbie reappears with her brother MichaelMichael Martin (Neighbours)
Michael Martin is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Troy Beckwith. He made his first on-screen appearance on 8 October 1985. The character was originally played by Samuel Hammington. Beckwith took over the role in 1992...
when Julie Robinson arrives at their neighbour's house to break the news of a car accident that leaves Philip paralysed and Loretta dead. Julie helps look after the children and eventually marries Philip and they all move to the country and are heard from sparingly throughout the years.
The Martin family return to Erinsborough in 1992 for the funeral of Todd Landers
Todd Landers
Not to be confused with Simpsons character Todd FlandersTodd Robert Landers is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Kristian Schmid. He made his first on-screen appearance on 15 February 1988. Todd died on 13 July 1992, but reappeared as a ghost the...
(Kristian Schmid) but get lost along the back roads, after finding Helen Daniels
Helen Daniels
Helen Daniels is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by Anne Haddy. Following the death of Jim Robinson in 1993, she remained the only original character left in the series until her own death in 1997, making her the second longest-serving original character...
(Anne Haddy
Anne Haddy
Anne Haddy was an Australian film and television actress, best known for her role in the long-running soap opera, Neighbours.-Early and personal life:...
) (who was taken hostage earlier by Todd's father, Bob (Bruce Kilpatrick). The family settle into Ramsay Street and Debbie is immediately attracted to Rick Alessi
Rick Alessi
Riccardo "Rick" Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Dan Falzon. He made his first on-screen appearance on 8 June 1992 and he remained until his departure on 9 March 1995.-Casting:...
(Dan Falzon
Dan Falzon
Dan Falzon is an Australian actor of Maltese descent, best known for his role as Rick Alessi on the television soap opera Neighbours. He also appeared in the Channel Nine drama The Alice, as a park ranger. He also formed the short lived pop group Milk with his brother, releasing the single...
) and they begin dating much to Julie's chagrin. When Rick wins tickets to see Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
in London, he invites Debbie but knowing their respective parents, the teens concoct a plan with Rick's older brother, Marco
Marco Alessi
Marco Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Felice Arena. He made his first on-screen appearance on 5 May 1992 and departed the series on 18 November 1992.-Casting:...
(Felice Arena
Felice Arena
Felice Arena is an Australian children's author and illustrator, and occasional actor. He is best known for the bestselling and award-winning Specky Magee series, and his hilarious Farticus Maximus books...
) acting as Rick's chaperone and while Helen and Debbie tell Philip and Julie that they will be visiting a friend of Helen's in the outback. The plan works and the four of them arrive in London. While there, Rick and Debbie encounter George Carter (Andrew Dicks), a young thief who has been stealing to raise money for his dying brother, Terry (Lee Cheesewright) to see Michael Jackson in concert. Rick and Debbie then give their tickets away. Their act of generosity makes news and the two appear on the Casey Butler show. They worry about the show being broadcast in Australia but are assured that it won't. However, it makes Australian news and is eventually broadcast leaving Julie livid, sparking a war between the Martins and Alessis.
Debbie and Rick's relationship steps up a gear when the couple decide to have sex. Soon after, Rick's parents decide to move to Sydney, which could spell the end for the couple. However, Rick gets to stay. Debbie and Rick later break up and Debbie begins dating Darren Stark
Darren Stark
Darren Stark is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Todd MacDonald. He made his first on-screen appearance on 20 July 1993 and was originally played by Scott Major. When the character was released from prison in 1996, MacDonald took over the role and remained...
(Scott Major
Scott Major
Scott Major is an Australian actor. Major's acting début was playing Murray on Home and Away in the 1990s. He joined the Neighbours cast for a brief period in 1993 as the original Darren Stark. and then was a part of the Heartbreak High cast as "Rivers" from 1994–1995...
), who unknown to her, has served time in a juvenile detention centre with Michael. Rick tries to warn Debbie about Darren but she ignores the advice. After a robbery goes awry, resulting in Michael being shot while trying to save Debbie, Debbie realizes Rick was right about Darren.
When Andrew "Macca" McKenzie (John Morris) begins working for Doug Willis (Terence Donovan
Terence Donovan (actor)
Terence Donovan , also known as Terry Donovan, is an English-born Australian actor and the father of fellow actor and entertainer Jason Donovan...
), Debbie becomes besotted with him. When Macca rejects Debbbie's advances, she questions him and he reveals he is gay. Debbie spirals into an eating disorder, which is discovered by Cody Willis
Cody Willis
Cody Willis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, originally played by Amelia Frid. She made her first on-screen appearance on 24 November 1989. The character departed in 1991, but returned in 1993 with Peta Brady in the role...
(Peta Brady
Peta Brady
Peta Brady is an Australian actress. She is best known for playing Cody Willis in the TV soap opera Neighbours. Since she left the show, Brady has appeared in the film Mullet, the TV sitcom Kath & Kim and the SBS series RAN ...
and Brett Stark
Brett Stark
Brett Stark is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Brett Blewitt. He debuted in the episode airing on 30 November 1993, along with his sister, Danni Stark and remained as a regular in the show until 8 March 1996. Blewitt returned as Brett for five...
(Brett Blewitt
Brett Blewitt
Brett Blewitt, is an Australian actor who played Brett Stark on the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 1993 to 1996...
)
More problems arise for Debbie when Julie dies and Philip is the prime suspect for pushing her off the roof of the hotel they stayed in during a Murder Mystery Weekend. Philip is cleared when Debbie reveals Julie had been drunk that night and she watched her fall from the roof.
Following Julie's funeral, Debbie agrees to go with Rosemary Daniels
Rosemary Daniels
Rosemary Daniels is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Joy Chambers. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 February 1986 and appeared intermittently. Rosemary is the adoptive daughter of Helen Daniels and the sister of Anne Robinson....
(Joy Chambers
Joy Chambers
Joy Chambers is an Australian actress and author. She is best known for such television soap opera roles as Rita Merrick in The Restless Years, Dr Robyn Porter in The Young Doctors, and Rosemary Daniels in Neighbours. Chambers has played Rosemary since 1986. Rosemary is the only character who has...
) to New York. Several weeks later, Debbie receives a phone call while on 5th Avenue and talks with Philip.
In 1996, Debbie returns home in the wake of an affair with Rosemary's boyfriend, Joel Supple. After settling back in the area, Debbie begins first working at the pub and later the coffee shop. She is upset to find Darren has been released from prison and is cold towards him.
When Luke Handley
Luke Handley
Luke Handley is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Bernard Curry. He made his first on-screen appearance on 7 March 1995. Luke's storylines included a brief fling with Libby Kennedy, a relationship with Serendipity Gottlieb, suffering a breakdown, being...
(Bernard Curry
Bernard Curry
Bernard Curry is a Sydney-based Australian actor, best known for his role in soap operas Neighbours and Home and Away.-Career:...
) is diagnosed with cancer and undergoes chemotheraphy, Debbie is keen to help him and ends up embroiled in a battle for his affections with Danni Stark (Eliza Szonert
Eliza Szonert
Eliza Szonert is an Australian actress.Szonert is best known for playing Danni Stark in Australia's long-running soap opera, Neighbours, from 1993 to 1996. Szonert reprised the role in 2005 for the show's 20th anniversary....
). In the end, Luke chooses Danni.
Debbie later becomes manager of the coffee shop and briefly begins a second romance with Darren. This isn't to last as Debbie believes Darren still has feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Libby Kennedy
Libby Kennedy
Elizabeth Grace "Libby" Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kym Valentine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 and departed in 2004, before returning on 12 November 2007. Libby is the only daughter of Karl and Susan Kennedy...
(Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine is a Maltese Australian actress best known for her portrayal of Libby Kennedy in the soap opera Neighbours.-Early and personal life:...
). When Helen dies in October 1997, the family are devastated. Michael, who arrives home for the funeral suggests Debbie comes back to Marree with him. Their younger sister, Hannah
Hannah Martin
Hannah Martin is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Rebecca Ritters. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 July 1992. Hannah is the only child of Philip and Julie Martin and the younger sister to Michael and Debbie. The Martin family were written out...
(Rebecca Ritters
Rebecca Ritters
Rebecca Ritters is an Australian actress, mostly known for her role as Hannah Martin in the soap opera Neighbours. She first appeared in the show in 1992 when she was eight years old and remained in the show for a further seven years...
) feels like everyone is deserting her but Debbie comforts her and leaves with Michael after the funeral
In 2005, Debbie is seen in Annalise Hartman
Annalise Hartman
Annalise Kratz is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Kimberley Davies. She debuted on-screen in the episode airing on 15 January 1993 and departed in 1996, and a brief return in 2005. Annalise has often been portrayed as having a conniving persona...
's (Kimberly Davies) documentary about Ramsay Street where she is seen at a desk at the New York branch of Lassiter's talking about how she was a mess when she lived on Ramsay Street until Rosemary offered her a job.
Reception
The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
named Debbie's most notable moments as "Going to London to see Michael Jackson" and "Tipping a bowl of dip over Rick Alessi's head during dinner." Heckler Spray placed Debbie on their list of "The Best Ever Mid-90s Neighbours Characters". Of Debbie they said "One word: eyebrows."