Janae Timmins

Janae Timmins
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Eliza Taylor-Cotter
Duration	2005–08
First appearance	4 April 2005
Last appearance	8 February 2008
Introduced by	Ric Pellizzeri
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	Student at Erinsborough High (2005-06) Mechanic (2006–08) Boxer (2007) College Student (2008–)
Home	Cairns
Family Father Kim Timmins Mother Janelle Timmins Brothers Dwayne Timmins Brandon Timmins Dylan Timmins Stingray Timmins Sisters Anne Baxter Bree Timmins Pepper Steiger (step) Husband Boyd Hoyland (2006–07) Grandfathers Alwyn Timmins Grandmothers Loris Timmins Uncles Kevin Rebecchi Nieces Kerry Mangel First cousins Shane Rebecchi Toadfish Rebecchi Stonefish Rebecchi

Janae Timmins (previously Hoyland) 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 character Scott Timmins. In 2007 Taylor-Cotter's on-screen family were axed, however Pellizzeri decided to keep Janae in the serial. After three years in the serial Taylor-Cotter quit the serial because she didn't feel that the show was the same as when she joined, she finished filming in 2007. Janae herself last appeared on-screen on 8 February 2008.

Janae was involved in many storylines including shop lifting, boxing, having her drink spiked with rohypnol and the victim of an attempted sexual assault. Janae has also been at the center of an under-age marriage with fellow character Boyd Hoyland, with actor Kyal Marsh branding the subsequent storyline which saw him being unfaithful to Janae as "a stupid storyline". Janae has been described as a "rebel and a troublemaker" by certain critics and on-screen she has matured from a troubled teenager into a young woman. Taylor-Cotter has also been praised for the role and has been nominated for a number of awards for her portrayal.

Casting

Actress Eliza Taylor-Cotter secured the role of Janae after previously appearing in a guest role in 2003. Taylor-Cotter had originally auditioned for the role of Lana Crawford, however, it was actress Bridget Neval who was eventually cast.

In 2007 Nell Feeney and Sianoa Smit-McPhee, who play onscreen mother Janelle Timmins and sister Bree Timmins, were axed by executive producer Ric Pellizzeri, but it was confirmed that they wanted Taylor-Cotter to remain in the serial as Janae. Later that year, Taylor-Cotter decided to quit the serial to pursue other projects such as pantomime and a further career in America. One of the contributing factors that helped Taylor-Cotter reach this decision was because all her on-screen family had been written out and new cast members gave the serial the feel of a different place. She also added: "It just didn’t feel like the family that I joined when I started three years ago." Taylor-Cotter was one of many cast members that quit the serial at the same time. Taylor-Cotter finished filming her final studio scenes on 28 September 2007 and received a goodbye gathering from cast and crew.

Character development

Characterisation

Network Ten describe Janae as being in many ways, simply a younger version of her mum Janelle, but add Janae would hate any comparison being made. The describe her as "keen not to make the same mistakes", but because she is married at sixteen, history is repeating itself. They also add: "Janae developed a complicated attitude to men. She knows how to stick up for herself and isn't afraid to get physical if necessary." In her early days Janae used sex to get attention and affection from others. But underneath it is her father's disappearance that affected her self-esteem.

HIV scare

The serial portrayed the issue of HIV through Janae. The storyline features Janae discovering that her ex-boyfriend Mike Pill (Alexander Cappelli) carries the virus, forcing Janae to be tested. Taylor-Cotter told the BBC that she had heard rumours about the storyline a number of months beforehand. She also had "mixed feelings" about the storyline because she worried that Janae might have been written out of the series. Taylor-Cotter found the issue challenging, very emotional and daunting because she had to put herself in Janae's situation. While Taylor-Cotter had previously difficulty crying on cue - she found it "pretty easy" because she felt sorry for Janae. Taylor-Cottor was pleased that Neighbours had chosen to portray an issue lead storyline. She stated; "I don't think there's enough publicity surrounding HIV, it's a very serious disease and there are so many people out there suffering from it. I think there should be a lot more awareness about it."

Janae is characterised as not being "very good at rational thinking" so she attempts to end her relationship with Boyd Hoyland (Kyal Marsh), in order to protect him. Taylor-Cotter revealed that she was thankful that Boyd "sees straight through it" and agrees to support her. Janae also confides in her younger sister Bree but is reluctant to tell anyone else. Janae "approaches it the best way she knows how and that's by pushing everyone that cares about her away." Taylor-Cotter told Inside Soap that Janae cannot tell Janelle about her situation because "she fears she'll judge her". The truth is revealed during an argument between the pair. Taylor-Cotter and Feeney got on so well off-screen, that they purposely avoided each other while on set to add to the "intensity" of the scenes. Janae is "so afraid of taking after her mother" that she blames Janelle for her predicament, telling her that she is at fault if she is HIV positive. Janelle is upset that Janae could not confide in her about an "important matter". Taylor-Cotter said that Janae ends up receiving support from her family because "the Timmins clan always reunite in the end".

Relationships

In one storyline Janae marries Boyd, he later has an affair with fellow character Glenn Forrest (Cleopatra Coleman), which ruins his relationship with Janae. Behind the scenes Marsh was furious over the storyline and criticised the producers and branded it as "stupid", also stating: "I absolutely hated my character at the end. I couldn't believe what they made me do, I thought it was a stupid storyline and I copped a lot of flack over it. I was really upset."

Janae later starts a relationship with Ned Parker (Daniel O'Connor). Ned's ex-girlfriend, Kirsten Gannon (Nikola Dubois), attempts to steal him away from Janae. Ned and Kirsten travel to Oakey for a reunion and Janae cannot make it. O'Connor said that Janae is "concerned" about leaving Ned alone with Kirsten because she believes they have feelings for each another. Ned is constantly reassuring Janae that nothing is going on, but Janae is aware that Kirsten is manipulative while Ned remains "oblivious". Janae follows the pair to the reunion and causes an argument. O'Connor said that Janae behaves "totally over-the-top and embarrasses Ned". He opined that Ned ultimately views Janae as "a bit of a loose cannon".

Janae's final storyline involves her kissing Darren Stark (Todd MacDonald), which leads to the breakdown of his relationship with Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine). Janae is described as sad at the sight of hurt she causes Ben Kirk (Blake O'Leary) so decides to leave, of this Taylor-Cotter states: "It is too hard for Janae to stay, she needs a new start." Describing the storyline, Dan Bennet speaking for Network 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. I won't give too much away about how exactly she leaves, but audiences will need to have their tissues handy for this one!"

Storylines

Janae grew up in Colac, Victoria and is the daughter of Janelle and Kim Timmins (Brett Swain). Janae and Bree move to Erinsborough to live with Janelle and brothers Dylan (Damien Bodie) and Stingray Timmins (Ben Nicholas). She develops an attraction to Boyd, but loses interest because of his relationship with Sky Mangel (Stephanie McIntosh). Janae dates Mike Pill, who treats her like a possession and allows his friends to try and seduce her. Mike pressurises Janae to kiss his friend at a club, but she refuses and walks away from Mike. Janae meets photographer Chris Cousens (Simon Mallory) on her way, who tells her she has the potential to become a model. Chris spikes Janae's drink with rohypnol and attempts to take her home. Janae feels unwell and calls for help from her siblings, who attack Chris and take Janae to the hospital. Janae decides to end her relationship with Mike.

Janae kisses Boyd who he rejects her, Janae turns to the school counselor, Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher). Janae is upset when Karl breaks confidentiality by talking to Stringray. When she overhears Janelle telling Stringray that he is her only child of any worth, Janae leaves home. Janelle convinces Janae to stay, Janae opens up to her about incident with Chris. Janelle is upset that Janae did not feel able to talk to her and decides to make more effort with Janae. She becomes more dependent on Karl as their counseling sessions continue. Karl takes Janae to the theatre and realises that she has an ulterior motive. Karl suggests that they ease the counseling program which upsets Janae. She then admits that she wished he was her father. He tells Janae to contact Kim and take up a new hobby. Janae decides to participate in the basketball team. However she becomes upset over Karl again and Janelle assumed that she is inappropriately involved with Karl. Janae runs off to Colac leaving Karl under suspicion, while there she discovers details about Kim. Janae returns to clear Karl's name, she begins to date Boyd and Kim returns to reunite with the rest of the Timmins family. Boyd starts working at a clinic and begins to question Janae about her relationship with Mike. Janae breaks into the clinic and reads Mike's file and discovers that he is HIV positive. Janae confides in Bree and Boyd who convince her to take a test. Janae later gets the results of the test which reveal that she does not have HIV.

Janae tells Boyd that she does not want their relationship to be based on sex. Janae becomes jealous when Boyd socialises with other girls on his medicine course. Janae threatens his new friends and becomes obsessed with the idea of having children. Sasha Hennessey (Eliose Grace) tells Boyd that Janae is trying to trap him into marriage, which puts an end to their relationship. Janae discovers that Bree is not Janelle's biological child. Janae reveals the truth about Bree and decides that she does not need anyone else. However, when Boyd proposes to Janae she accepts. Boyd's father Max Hoyland (Stephen Lovatt) does not approve but Max invites Janae to live with the Hoyland's to make her realise the hardship of marriage. When this does not work, Max threatens to disown Boyd and Janelle voices her disapproval. Janae and Boyd decide to elope, Janae provides a fakes birth certificate marries Boyd. Max threatens to inform the police about the certificate and ruins their chances of moving into a flat. Janae finds married life hard, so she Janae takes a job as the hospital's cleaner to see more of Boyd. He does not appreciate her constant attention and is happy when Karl warns her about kissing in the workplace. Janae struggles with school and pays a friends to write her essays. When Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) learns she is cheating, Janae decides to leave school. Boyd travels to Tasmania in search of Max who has run away. Upon his return he tells Janae that he kissed a girl named Glenn who he saved from drowning; Janae decides to forgive him. Glenn arrives in Erinsborough and Boyd realises that he still has feelings for her. Janae decides to give him time, but he leaves her for Glenn.

Janae starts working for Rex Colt (David Serafin), who tries to sexually assault her. Janae hits Rex to protect herself, when she escapes she is the one charged with assault. Janae discovers that Ned is responsible for ruining Dylan's relationship with Elle Robinson (Pippa Black). Janae and Janelle blackmail Ned into becoming their slave. Janae eventually forgives Ned and he soon becomes her boxing coach. Ned's brother Steve Parker (Steve Bastoni) and his family arrive in Erinsborough. After Ned reveals his feelings for her, the two get together. Ned found out that he has a son with previous girlfriend Kirsten. Mickey (Fletcher O'Leary), is left by Kirsten in Ned's care and Janae decide to help him to look after the child. Ned then moves in with her and so did Mickey. Kirsten returns on a more permanent basis and clashes with Janae, after Kirsten reveals that she still has feelings for Ned. At the Oakey reunion, Kirsten kisses Ned who rejects her. This causes Janae's insecurities to grow. After an argument about the Timmins' house, Janae kisses Darren. Kirsten witnesses the kiss through a window and begins blackmailing Janae. Janae eventually tells Ned, though he forgives her and they attempt to solve their problems. Janae decides it would be for the best if she were to leave and reveals that she is moving to Cairns. Ned follows Janae to the airport where they say good-bye to one another.

Reception

At the 2007 Inside Soap Awards, Taylor-Cotter was nominated in the category of "Best Actress". The following year she was nominated in the "sexiest female" category. British newspaper The Sun describe Janae as "the Neighbours troublemaker". Adelaide based newspaper The Advertiser refer to Taylor-Cotter as "making her name playing the Ramsay Street rebel". The Herald Sun state that they found the Timmins family "unappealing" but added that Janae had been made the most of during her duration, an branded Taylor-Cotter a "talented blonde" for her portrayal. British local newspaper the Dorset Echo refer to Janae as a "feisty car mechanic".

Fellow cast member Ian Smith who plays Harold in the serial expressed his sadness that the Timmins family were axed. However, he added he was glad Janae had been chosen to stay on stating: "Fortunately, we're still left with Janae, played by Eliza Taylor-Cotter. If you want an actress who's going places, look to her." Clare Morgan of The Sydney Morning Herald branded Janae as "trashy" and criticised her and Boyd for circling around one another in "excruciating fashion". She added that they should "just go to the school dance together and spare us this high-school-drama emoting."

External links

• Character profile at the Official AU Neighbours website