Sienna Cammeniti
Encyclopedia
Sienna Cammeniti is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
, played by model Erin McNaught
. McNaught was cast in the role to help boost falling ratings in Australia. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 2 May 2008. Sienna was introduced as the cousin of the established Carmella Cammeniti
(Natalie Blair
). In July 2008, McNaught took the decision to cut her contract short and Sienna departed on 3 October 2008. During her time on Neighbours, McNaught's casting and acting were negatively received by critics, acting agencies and viewers.
(Nicola West
) and former Australian Idol
contestant Dean Geyer
(Ty Harper
) in a bid to "sex up" the cast. McNaught took acting classes in preparation for the role of Sienna and she began filming her first scenes on 17 December. On joining the show, McNaught said "Everyone has grown up watching Neighbours, of course I am nervous. It is a big change from what I have been used to doing".
In March 2008, McNaught's contract was extended by three months after she impressed the Neighbours bosses. However, she was still described as a guest cast member and was not expected to be signed beyond the deal. In July 2008, it was announced that McNaught had opted to relinquish her role as Sienna, for the benefit of her relationship with Braith Anasta
and because she was homesick. On her departure McNaught said "It was a great experience and I'm really happy with what I have been achieving in acting – so it was a tough decision to make.
about Sienna and her past with Carmella, saying "There was a bit of rivalry between Sienna and Carmella when they were growing up, so it'll be interesting to see what happens now. Sienna's been working in the country and has come to the city to try her hand at something new and discover more about who she is." When asked if there was any romance coming up for her character, she said "I'm not sure. She might even set her sights on someone who's already taken! That could be well be in her nature."
Network Ten
describe Sienna as being "one of a seemingly endless array of Cammeniti cousins", she is attractive and passionate, but can occasionally be misguided. Sienna and Carmella did not get on when they were younger and they often fought each other for their family's attentions. Ten said they tried to be "more beautiful and charming than the other. While they're both old enough to know better now, it remains to be seen whether Carmella and Sienna can leave their competitiveness behind."
(Jesse Rosenfeld
) and Lou Carpenter
(Tom Oliver
). Lou becomes besotted with Sienna and he offers her a job at the Store after she bakes him some muffins. When Carmella returns she is shocked to find Sienna working at the Store. Carmella and Sienna did not get on well with each other when they were younger, but Sienna believes that it is finally time to get to know each other properly. Sienna makes friends with the locals and gives out advice.
During Carmella's shopping addiction, Carmella steals money from the Store's till and Sienna is wrongly accused and fired. Carmella later admits to stealing the money and Sienna is rehired. Sienna helps Carmella admit to her problem. Sienna then moves in with Carmella and Marco. Carmella throws a party in the bush for Marco's birthday and he decides to propose to Carmella. A bush fire is started and heads towards the group. Sienna is not hurt, but Marco goes missing. Marco is eventually found and is rushed to hospital, where he is told that he does not have long to live. Marco and Carmella decide to get married and Sienna acts as bridesmaid.
Ty Harper
's (Dean Geyer
) band, Nothing Doing decide to hold auditions for a female lead singer and Sienna is tempted to audition. Ty wants Rachel Kinski
(Caitlin Stasey
) to be the lead singer, but his bandmates disagree. Ty comes up with a plan to get a large group of bad singers to audition, in the hope that his bandmates would see that Rachel was the best singer. Ty overhears Sienna singing along to some music badly and picks her to audition. Sienna sings reasonably well and Ty's bandmate, Logan Ellis (Nick Cain) falls for Sienna and he and the rest of the band pick her to be the lead singer.
Sienna struggles with some of the bands songs and Carmella asks Rachel if she could help Sienna out. Rachel admits to Sienna that she also struggles with some of Ty's songs too and she helps Sienna improve her sound. At her first gig, Sienna's nerves get to her and she asks Rachel to sing with her. Ty tries to persuade his bandmates that Rachel is better and he gets Zeke Kinski
(Matthew Werkmeister
) to turn Rachel's volume up on the sound system. The gig goes well and during a break, Logan tries to kiss Sienna. Sienna is shocked and quits the band, as she believes that she was hired for her looks.
Sienna's cousin, Rosetta
(Natalie Saleeba
) gives birth to a boy and she and her husband send Carmella tickets to fly to Italy for a visit. However, Carmella is too busy with the Store and Sienna decides to go instead. Lou hopes that Sienna and Logan would patch up their differences and hopes that if Sienna has a boyfriend, she will not go. However, Sienna and Logan make up and she announces that she is taking Logan with her. Sienna says goodbye to everyone and promises Lou that she will return one day.
said "Despite enormous press interest surrounding her joining the show, McNaught's character has made little impact on the series and she seemed to be counting down the days until her contract with the show finished".
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 model Erin McNaught
Erin McNaught
Erin McNaught is an Australian television personality and former beauty pageant titleholder who won 2006 Miss Australia and represented Australia in the Miss Universe 2006 competition...
. McNaught was cast in the role to help boost falling ratings in Australia. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 2 May 2008. Sienna was introduced as the cousin of the established 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:...
). In July 2008, McNaught took the decision to cut her contract short and Sienna departed on 3 October 2008. During her time on Neighbours, McNaught's casting and acting were negatively received by critics, acting agencies and viewers.
Character creation and casting
In November 2007, it was announced that model and former Australian Miss Universe representative, Erin McNaught would be joining the cast of Neighbours to help boost falling ratings in Australia. Producers also recruited fellow model Imogen BaileyImogen Bailey
Imogen Bailey is an Australian model, actress and singer. She is currently based in Sydney and is best known for her role on the long-running Australian soap Neighbours as Nicola West.-Modeling:...
(Nicola West
Nicola West
Nicola West is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Imogen Bailey. She made her on-screen debut on 5 May 2008. She departed the show on 8 October 2008...
) and former Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
contestant Dean Geyer
Dean Geyer
Dean Stanley Geyer is an Australian Singer-Songwriter and Actor who came third in the 2006 season of the talent show television series, Australian Idol.-Early life:...
(Ty Harper
Ty Harper
Ty Harper is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by singer Dean Geyer. He made his first appearance on-screen on 27 March 2008. He was introduced to the show as the cousin of Taylah Jordan and as a potential romantic interest for Rachel Kinski...
) in a bid to "sex up" the cast. McNaught took acting classes in preparation for the role of Sienna and she began filming her first scenes on 17 December. On joining the show, McNaught said "Everyone has grown up watching Neighbours, of course I am nervous. It is a big change from what I have been used to doing".
In March 2008, McNaught's contract was extended by three months after she impressed the Neighbours bosses. However, she was still described as a guest cast member and was not expected to be signed beyond the deal. In July 2008, it was announced that McNaught had opted to relinquish her role as Sienna, for the benefit of her relationship with Braith Anasta
Braith Anasta
Braith Anasta is a Greek-Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League...
and because she was homesick. On her departure McNaught said "It was a great experience and I'm really happy with what I have been achieving in acting – so it was a tough decision to make.
Character development
McNaught spoke to TV WeekTV Week
TV Week is a weekly television magazine in Australia, first published as a Melbourne-only publication in December 1957 , and bearing a strong affiliation to television station GTV.The publication is still publishing weekly...
about Sienna and her past with Carmella, saying "There was a bit of rivalry between Sienna and Carmella when they were growing up, so it'll be interesting to see what happens now. Sienna's been working in the country and has come to the city to try her hand at something new and discover more about who she is." When asked if there was any romance coming up for her character, she said "I'm not sure. She might even set her sights on someone who's already taken! That could be well be in her nature."
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...
describe Sienna as being "one of a seemingly endless array of Cammeniti cousins", she is attractive and passionate, but can occasionally be misguided. Sienna and Carmella did not get on when they were younger and they often fought each other for their family's attentions. Ten said they tried to be "more beautiful and charming than the other. While they're both old enough to know better now, it remains to be seen whether Carmella and Sienna can leave their competitiveness behind."
Storylines
Sienna leaves her job as a nurse in the countryside and moves to Ramsay Street due to problems at home. Sienna arrives at Harold's Store looking for her cousin Carmella (Natalie Blair), but discovers that Carmella is in Italy. Sienna meets Carmella's partner Marco SilvaniMarco 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....
) and Lou Carpenter
Lou Carpenter
Louis "Lou" Carpenter is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Tom Oliver. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 March 1988. Lou appeared for a brief time, before leaving and later returning in January 1992 as a regular cast member. He is the longest...
(Tom Oliver
Tom Oliver
Tom Oliver is an English television, film and theatre actor best known today for playing the role of Lou Carpenter in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Career:...
). Lou becomes besotted with Sienna and he offers her a job at the Store after she bakes him some muffins. When Carmella returns she is shocked to find Sienna working at the Store. Carmella and Sienna did not get on well with each other when they were younger, but Sienna believes that it is finally time to get to know each other properly. Sienna makes friends with the locals and gives out advice.
During Carmella's shopping addiction, Carmella steals money from the Store's till and Sienna is wrongly accused and fired. Carmella later admits to stealing the money and Sienna is rehired. Sienna helps Carmella admit to her problem. Sienna then moves in with Carmella and Marco. Carmella throws a party in the bush for Marco's birthday and he decides to propose to Carmella. A bush fire is started and heads towards the group. Sienna is not hurt, but Marco goes missing. Marco is eventually found and is rushed to hospital, where he is told that he does not have long to live. Marco and Carmella decide to get married and Sienna acts as bridesmaid.
Ty Harper
Ty Harper
Ty Harper is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by singer Dean Geyer. He made his first appearance on-screen on 27 March 2008. He was introduced to the show as the cousin of Taylah Jordan and as a potential romantic interest for Rachel Kinski...
's (Dean Geyer
Dean Geyer
Dean Stanley Geyer is an Australian Singer-Songwriter and Actor who came third in the 2006 season of the talent show television series, Australian Idol.-Early life:...
) band, Nothing Doing decide to hold auditions for a female lead singer and Sienna is tempted to audition. Ty wants Rachel Kinski
Rachel Kinski
Rachel Kinski is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Caitlin Stasey. She made her first on-screen appearance on 18 August 2005. She is the middle child of Alex Kinski and sister to Zeke and Katya. Rachel's storylines ranged from parental bereavement and first...
(Caitlin Stasey
Caitlin Stasey
Caitlin Jean Stasey is an Australian actress from Melbourne, who is best known for her previous role as Rachel Kinski in Neighbours. Previously she played Francesca Thomas in The Sleepover Club...
) to be the lead singer, but his bandmates disagree. Ty comes up with a plan to get a large group of bad singers to audition, in the hope that his bandmates would see that Rachel was the best singer. Ty overhears Sienna singing along to some music badly and picks her to audition. Sienna sings reasonably well and Ty's bandmate, Logan Ellis (Nick Cain) falls for Sienna and he and the rest of the band pick her to be the lead singer.
Sienna struggles with some of the bands songs and Carmella asks Rachel if she could help Sienna out. Rachel admits to Sienna that she also struggles with some of Ty's songs too and she helps Sienna improve her sound. At her first gig, Sienna's nerves get to her and she asks Rachel to sing with her. Ty tries to persuade his bandmates that Rachel is better and he gets Zeke Kinski
Zeke Kinski
Ezekiel "Zeke" Kinski is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Matthew Werkmeister. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 August 2005. Zeke is the son of Alex Kinski and the younger brother of Katya and Rachel...
(Matthew Werkmeister
Matthew Werkmeister
Matthew Werkmeister is an Australian stage and television actor. He is best known for his role as Zeke Kinski in the soap opera Neighbours which he joined in 2005...
) to turn Rachel's volume up on the sound system. The gig goes well and during a break, Logan tries to kiss Sienna. Sienna is shocked and quits the band, as she believes that she was hired for her looks.
Sienna's cousin, Rosetta
Rosetta Cammeniti
Rosetta "Rosie" Cammeniti is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Saleeba. The character was introduced into the serial as part of a group of four "20 somethings." Saleeba began filming in July and she made her first on-screen appearance on 12 October...
(Natalie Saleeba
Natalie Saleeba
Natalie Saleeba is an Australian actress best known for her roles as Jessica Singleton in the medical drama series All Saints and Rosetta Cammeniti on Neighbours....
) gives birth to a boy and she and her husband send Carmella tickets to fly to Italy for a visit. However, Carmella is too busy with the Store and Sienna decides to go instead. Lou hopes that Sienna and Logan would patch up their differences and hopes that if Sienna has a boyfriend, she will not go. However, Sienna and Logan make up and she announces that she is taking Logan with her. Sienna says goodbye to everyone and promises Lou that she will return one day.
Reception
During her time with Neighbours, McNaught's acting skills came in for criticism and the decision to add McNaught, Bailey and Geyer to the cast outraged the acting industry. Agents accused the show of "sacrificing quality in favour of ratings". Chief of Brisbane acting agency Ego Management, Mark Eaton said that the shows producers were "simply hunting for eye-candy when they hired Erin and fellow lad mags' favourite Imogen Bailey". He added "This is all done to try to get viewing figures up the producers are not worried about the quality of the show at all". Viewers said that McNaught's acting made them "cringe". Fiona Byrne of the Herald SunHerald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
said "Despite enormous press interest surrounding her joining the show, McNaught's character has made little impact on the series and she seemed to be counting down the days until her contract with the show finished".
External links
- Character profile at the Official AU Neighbours website
- Character profile at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...