Kirsten Gannon
Encyclopedia
Kirsten Gannon is a fictional character
from the Australian Network Ten
soap opera Neighbours
, played by Nikola Dubois
She first appeared on-screen on 19 June 2007. Although Dubois was not contracted as a regular cast member, Kirsten appeared constantly for more than a year. In the short time Kirsten was featured, she was central to many key storylines including blackmail
, an affair
, burns
and abandoning her young child. She left the show on 31 July 2008.
Describing a storyline in which Kirsten exposes Janae Timmins
(Eliza Taylor-Cotter
) and Darren Stark
's (Todd MacDonald
) kiss, Dan Bennet speaking for Newtwork Ten states: "Very early on, the kiss will be exposed. Kirsten saw it all &, being the vindictive ex that she is, she'll make Janae's life hell. The relationship between Janae & Ned is very much tested after her kiss."
(Daniel O'Connor). Of the character's backstory Dubois said: "The back story was that her parents died just after Mickey was born, (She would have been 16 at the time) and so she moved in with her grandparents – who also died just before she came to Ramsay street."
), she first appeared when she brought Mickey to Ramsay Street
and told Ned he was the father and left Mickey with him. A few weeks later she returned announcing to Ned that she was unable to look after Mickey anymore and yet again left Ramsay Street without him.
When Kirsten returned she wanted Mickey back. She went to the park with him and convinced him to go with her by stating that Ned wouldn't care about him if he went, emphasising that he wouldn’t even cry. However, this was not the case as Ned did cry when he found that Mickey had decided to go with her. When Ned discovered that Kirsten had attempted to unfairly woo Mickey, he was determined to make a custody fight. Ultimately, Mickey chose to stay with Ned but yet again Kirsten interfered and took Mickey away. After days of searching they found him and Kirsten trying to go home. Ned and Janae confronted her where Kirsten decided she should leave and Mickey stay in Erinsborough.
Kirsten caught Janae and Darren kissing. She threatened to tell Ned unless she told him. When Janae told Ned he was upset with her. When they were at a party Janae accidentally let slip what had happened forcing Darren to tell Libby Kennedy
(Kym Valentine
). As result of the aftermath of the revelation Janae left Ramsay Street.
Kirsten had an affair with Paul Robinson
(Stefan Dennis
) but broke it off when she found out he was still with Rebecca Napier
(Jane Hall
). They then got back together and Paul said he would give up Rebecca for her. Elle Robinson (Pippa Black
) discovers the affair and tells her to leave Ramasy Street. Elle catches Paul and Kirsten together and says that she will tell Rebecca, however Elle then decides that she can't say anything to Rebecca because it will break up the family. Mickey nearly discovered her affair. She later goes to meet Paul in Paris, whilst on holiday with Mickey.
When Kirsten returned she goes straight to Number 22 intending to tell Rebecca she has ended the relationship with Paul. Elle tells her to keep this quiet and threatens to fire her from Lassiters, keeping her silent. After Paul's blackmailing by Lyn Scully, he proposed to Rebecca. Lyn, however, confessed to Susan Kinski (Jackie Woodburne
) about Paul's secret affair with Kirsten, and Susan told Rebecca leading to an ostrasicing of Kirsten. In July 2008 Carmella Cammeniti
(Natalie Blair
) threw a surprise birthday for Marco Silvani
(Jesse Rosenfeld
), which was followed by a forest fire. and half of the Ramsay Street residents. Kirsten, Ned and Marco were missing and Ned found Kirsten badly hurt. She was rushed to hospital and was in a critical condition.
The July bushfire saw Kirsten hospitalised. During her hospitalisation, Kirsten went into cardiac arrest and was successfully given CPR. Ned kept on helping her but Kirsten refused. Paul Robinson came in and confessed that he left Kirsten for dead. Amazingly she forgave him and asked him if he could stay. On learning that Kirsten was not recovering, Ned decided to leave with her to live in Perth where she could receive treatment. Paul offered to pay for Kirsten's hospital transfer, which Ned accepted. Kirsten left Ramsay Street on 31 July 2008.
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 Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
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 Nikola Dubois
Nikola Dubois
-Neighbours:Dubois appeared as a recurring character on Neighbours. She played the role of Kirsten Gannon in 2007–08. She was nominated in the "Best Bitch" category at the "2008 Inside Soap Awards".-Other TV appearances:*Last Man Standing...
She first appeared on-screen on 19 June 2007. Although Dubois was not contracted as a regular cast member, Kirsten appeared constantly for more than a year. In the short time Kirsten was featured, she was central to many key storylines including blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
, an affair
Affair
Affair may refer to professional, personal, or public business matters or to a particular business or private activity of a temporary duration, as in family affair, a private affair, or a romantic affair.-Political affair:...
, burns
Burn
A burn is an injury to flesh caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation, or friction.Burn may also refer to:*Combustion*Burn , type of watercourses so named in Scotland and north-eastern England...
and abandoning her young child. She left the show on 31 July 2008.
Casting
While the casting process was under way actress Nikola Dubois auditioned, she subsequently went on to play the part. During her audition Dubois revealed that she found the audition easy stating: "It was a strange audition because I remember reading the scene and I just understood where this poor woman was coming from. And I didn't need to learn the lines either... I just knew them." Dubois was orinially only contracted for three works of filming as the character was only intended to guest in the series. Producers later saw potential in keeping the character, of this Dubois has said: "I was really only ever meant to be on the show for three weeks, but the writers liked the way I took the character and so they invited me back for another month. It just kept happening like that, an extra few months here and there, and before I knew it, I'd been on the show for over a year!" Of her casting she said: " I was quite shocked that I got the role – and very excited. I was even more shocked when my agent called to tell me they wanted me to come back and then have an affair with Paul Robinson!"Personality and identity
Kirsten was portrayed as a scheming, at times desperate character who tried her best to achieve high, but often failed due to her bad choices. Of this Dubois stated during an interview about her character: "Kirsten was really fun to play. It's always fun playing the trouble maker. I think Kirsten was really misunderstood on Ramsay Street – she never found a place where she belonged... and she so desperately wanted to fit in." Also adding: "Mickey was her number one priority. She did everything that she did because she wanted to be something Mickey could be proud of. I think she made a lot of mistakes – but desperation sometimes makes you do things without thinking first." She has also described Kirsten as desperate at time, due to her troubled past, but brave.Describing a storyline in which Kirsten exposes Janae Timmins
Janae Timmins
Janae Timmins is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Eliza Taylor-Cotter. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 4 April 2005. The character was created by executive producer Ric Pellizzeri as part of the new Timmins family, joining established...
(Eliza Taylor-Cotter
Eliza Taylor-Cotter
Elizabeth Jane "Eliza" Taylor-Cotter is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Janae Timmins in long-running soap opera Neighbours.-Biography and Career:...
) and 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...
's (Todd MacDonald
Todd MacDonald
Todd MacDonald is an Australian actor who is best known for his roles on the soap opera Neighbours and the drama series The Secret Life of Us and Rush....
) kiss, Dan Bennet speaking for Newtwork Ten states: "Very early on, the kiss will be exposed. Kirsten saw it all &, being the vindictive ex that she is, she'll make Janae's life hell. The relationship between Janae & Ned is very much tested after her kiss."
Backstory
Kirsten's backstory was spoke about on-screen on different occasions and it was revealed in her early scenes she had already had a relationship with established character Ned ParkerNed Parker
Ned Parker is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Daniel O'Connor. He made his first appearance on-screen on 9 August 2005, arriving to see his brother, Stuart...
(Daniel O'Connor). Of the character's backstory Dubois said: "The back story was that her parents died just after Mickey was born, (She would have been 16 at the time) and so she moved in with her grandparents – who also died just before she came to Ramsay street."
2007–08
Kirsten is the mother of Mickey Gannon (Fletcher O'LearyFletcher O'Leary
Fletcher O'Leary is an Australian child actor. He is best known for playing the role of Mickey Gannon in the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 19 June 2007 to 14 July 2009.-Biography:...
), she first appeared when she brought Mickey to Ramsay Street
Ramsay Street
Ramsay Street is the fictional cul-de-sac in which the characters of the Australian soap opera Neighbours live. The street is set in the equally fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. Neighbours storylines primarily centre around the residents of the Street, which was named after the...
and told Ned he was the father and left Mickey with him. A few weeks later she returned announcing to Ned that she was unable to look after Mickey anymore and yet again left Ramsay Street without him.
When Kirsten returned she wanted Mickey back. She went to the park with him and convinced him to go with her by stating that Ned wouldn't care about him if he went, emphasising that he wouldn’t even cry. However, this was not the case as Ned did cry when he found that Mickey had decided to go with her. When Ned discovered that Kirsten had attempted to unfairly woo Mickey, he was determined to make a custody fight. Ultimately, Mickey chose to stay with Ned but yet again Kirsten interfered and took Mickey away. After days of searching they found him and Kirsten trying to go home. Ned and Janae confronted her where Kirsten decided she should leave and Mickey stay in Erinsborough.
Kirsten caught Janae and Darren kissing. She threatened to tell Ned unless she told him. When Janae told Ned he was upset with her. When they were at a party Janae accidentally let slip what had happened forcing Darren to tell 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:...
). As result of the aftermath of the revelation Janae left Ramsay Street.
Kirsten had an affair with Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson (Neighbours)
Paul Stewart Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, a long-running serial drama about social life in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. He is played by Stefan Dennis. Paul debuted in the serial's first episode in 1985 and appeared on a...
(Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis is an Australian actor, best known for playing the role of Paul Robinson in the soap opera, Neighbours, from its first episode in March 1985 to the present day...
) but broke it off when she found out he was still with Rebecca Napier
Rebecca Napier
Rebecca Jane Robinson , is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Jane Hall. The show suffered a ratings decline in early 2007 and plans were put in place for storylines to focus more on relationships and family dynamics. During this period, the...
(Jane Hall
Jane Hall (actress)
Jane Hall is an Australian actress and comedian.-Biography:Born in Melbourne, Hall grew up in the Dandenong Ranges....
). They then got back together and Paul said he would give up Rebecca for her. Elle Robinson (Pippa Black
Pippa Black
Pippa Black is an Australian actress. From 2005 to 2009, Black played Elle Robinson in the soap opera Neighbours. Black played Tonya in the NBC series Outsourced from 2010 to 2011.-Career:...
) discovers the affair and tells her to leave Ramasy Street. Elle catches Paul and Kirsten together and says that she will tell Rebecca, however Elle then decides that she can't say anything to Rebecca because it will break up the family. Mickey nearly discovered her affair. She later goes to meet Paul in Paris, whilst on holiday with Mickey.
When Kirsten returned she goes straight to Number 22 intending to tell Rebecca she has ended the relationship with Paul. Elle tells her to keep this quiet and threatens to fire her from Lassiters, keeping her silent. After Paul's blackmailing by Lyn Scully, he proposed to Rebecca. Lyn, however, confessed to Susan Kinski (Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne is a Northern Irish-born Australian actress.-Personal life:Woodburne was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Her father was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. She has two older siblings: John and Stephen. At age three she emigrated with her family to...
) about Paul's secret affair with Kirsten, and Susan told Rebecca leading to an ostrasicing of Kirsten. In July 2008 Carmella Cammeniti
Carmella Cammeniti
Carmella Cammeniti is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Blair. She appeared on a recurring basis from 2003-05, then became a main character from 2006-08, before making a final guest appearance in 2011...
(Natalie Blair
Natalie Blair
Natalie Louise Blair is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Carmella Cammeniti on Neighbours, an Australian TV series.-Career:...
) threw a surprise birthday for Marco Silvani
Marco Silvani
Marco Silvani is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jesse Rosenfeld. He made his first on-screen appearance on 19 October 2007. Marco began a relationship with a pregnant Carmella Cammeniti, which caused tensions between himself and the baby's father, Oliver...
(Jesse Rosenfeld
Jesse Rosenfeld
Jesse Rosenfeld is an Australian stage, television and film actor, best known for playing Marco Silvani on the soap opera Neighbours.-Biography:Jesse was born in Melbourne, Australia, but spent much of his childhood in Cairns....
), which was followed by a forest fire. and half of the Ramsay Street residents. Kirsten, Ned and Marco were missing and Ned found Kirsten badly hurt. She was rushed to hospital and was in a critical condition.
The July bushfire saw Kirsten hospitalised. During her hospitalisation, Kirsten went into cardiac arrest and was successfully given CPR. Ned kept on helping her but Kirsten refused. Paul Robinson came in and confessed that he left Kirsten for dead. Amazingly she forgave him and asked him if he could stay. On learning that Kirsten was not recovering, Ned decided to leave with her to live in Perth where she could receive treatment. Paul offered to pay for Kirsten's hospital transfer, which Ned accepted. Kirsten left Ramsay Street on 31 July 2008.