Bianca Scott
Bianca Scott is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Lisa Gormley. Gormley had recently graduated from NIDA when she secured the role of Bianca, who was introduced as the sister of fellow new character April Scott. Bianca debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 9 July 2010. Bianca is the daughter of an Italian father and Australian mother. She retains certain Italian traits as she is characterised as a "fiery, opinionated, beautiful, sophisticated" female. Gormley has said that Bianca puts up a feisty attitude to hide her "softer side". Bianca's vice has often been powerful men who break her heart. She arrives in Summer Bay to "nurse a broken heart" after her fiancé, Prince Vittorio Seca is unfaithful to her.
Bianca can speak English, Italian and French; she secures employment as a language teacher. She soon meets Liam Murphy. Initially, Bianca does not find happiness with Liam as the serial implemented a "love-triangle storyline", which sees Vittorio return in hope of a reconciliation. This results in Bianca becoming confused as to which man she should be with. The storyline cumulated in the programme's annual cliff-hanger episode where she chooses Liam. Their relationship is a main focus for Bianca's storyline during the early 2011 quarter. However, Liam's drug addiction weakens their relationship. The serial introduced an issue lead storyline for Bianca, in which she becomes drunk and is sexually assaulted by a mystery assailant. The storyline raised awareness of the outcome that binge drinking can hold. Bianca's ordeal ruined her romance with Liam.
Other storylines included a friendship with Gypsy Nash and an attraction to local "bad boy" Heath Braxton. In late 2011, Bianca featured in a plot in which she fabricates the scene of the car accident and lies to the police. After marrying Liam, Bianca learned she was pregnant with Heath's child. Bianca and Liam ended their marriage and Bianca began a relationship with Heath. Their son died of sudden infant death syndrome, causing Bianca to turn to drugs to block out the pain. She and Heath later married. Some critics from publications such as TV Week and Holy Soap praised Bianca's introduction – stating that she "made an impression" and "impact" on Home and Away. Her relationship with Liam has proved popular with certain critics. After Gormley decided to leave Home and Away, Bianca departed on 12 June 2014. She made a brief appearance for Heath's departure on 29 July 2014. In June 2016, it was confirmed that Gormley had reprised the role for a short stint and Bianca returned on 17 November.
Character development
Creation and characterisation
In 2010, it was announced that actress Lisa Gormley had joined the cast of Home and Away playing Bianca Scott. The character was created as sister for fellow new character April Scott. Gormley had just graduated from National Institute of Dramatic Art and the serial quickly signed her up to appear as Bianca. Gormley said that the character is a fun role to portray. Bianca debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 9 July 2010.Style is an important to Bianca, but she does not care for vanity because she "values intelligence over everything". Bianca can speak English, French and Italian and has used her skill to become a language teacher. She has previously dated men in big career roles such as doctors and Italian royalty. While she is reluctant to give her heart away easily and cannot trust many men, she is passionate about romance. Bianca is not afraid to speak her mind even when she knows she is in the wrong. Bianca and her sister, April, share a mother, Joanna, but they have different fathers. Bianca's father is Italian while April's is French. Bianca and her sister have a fiery, but supportive relationship. Bianca is often protective over April's choice in men and likes to make sure they treat her right. Bianca has good points and flaws about her personality. Gormley had fun portraying the character from the one-dimensional state of a "feisty blonde Italian" girl to showing why Bianca wants to live in Summer Bay. Gormley summarised Bianca as being "the kind of woman every girl wishes she had the confidence to be". She also opined that Bianca's feisty persona is a front to hide a "softer side". Channel 5 similarly describe her as "Strong, opinionated and beautiful", but attribute her qualities as coming from her parents.
Vittorio Seca and Liam Murphy
Bianca arrives in Summer Bay to get over a broken heart. Bianca had recently discovered that her fiancé, Prince Vittorio Seca, had cheated on her. Bianca soon develops an attraction to Liam Murphy. Initially Gormley said Bianca views Liam as "a bit of fun" because she is a "little bit broken-hearted" and not looking for love. Bianca wants to gain control of her love life, so she enjoys a "bit of cat and mouse fun" with Liam. Gormley and Whitehead told The Morning Show that Bianca doesn't fall for the "Liam Murphy charm" quite so easily. Whitehead said that Bianca is a "tough nut to crack" for Liam. While Gormley said it was because she had been hurt in the past. It was later announced that Richard Brancatisano has signed up to play Vittorio. The development was described as the start of a "love-triangle storyline", which sees him arrive and attempt to win Bianca back, who in turn romancing Liam. When Vittorio arrives, Bianca realises she has feelings for him and kisses him, causing Liam to leave. Whitehead said that upon Liam's return to the serial he introduces a new girlfriend Nina Bailey to Bianca. Liam "puts on a tough-guy act and pretends everything is cool" while pretending to have moved on. Whitehead opined that Liam is not being truthful with himself and the fact they are both moving on could "spell the end" for their future together.Bianca agrees to marry Vittorio and plans her wedding. However, Liam still has feelings for Bianca and the pair decide to talk about their situation. Whitehead said that his character was "quite sensitive" about the "issue" because he believes Bianca has made the choice to be with Vittorio. The two characters have "very strong feelings" still present and talk about the past. The scenes were described as "hot and steamy" as the pair kiss. Whitehead said it was the start of the build-up to the series finale. He branded it "a really good week of episodes" as Bianca reaches the point she must choose who she wants to be with. Whitehead explained that "Bianca has dismissed what happened between them as an infatuation and tells him that her future is with Vittorio." However, he said that Bianca does not "have the courage to follow her heart". Bianca manages to make it down the altar but cannot take her vows and chooses to be with Liam. The scenes formed the serial's annual "cliff-hanger" episode. While filming the wedding episode, the director chose to play a piece of emotional music. Whitehead said he had to stop himself from crying because he thought the music "perfectly" fitted what the characters were going through. Whitehead said the scenes that follow were a "cool" moment in which Liam puts Bianca "on the back of a Harley and riding off into the sunset". He also said the scenes were fun to play and a personal highlight.
Liam previously battled a drug addiction, which then resurfaces and threatens to ruin Bianca's relationship with him. The serial were highlighting the issue of those closest to drug addicts effectively being unable to help. Whitehead told Digital Spy that not being able to help Liam is "crushing for her". Bianca thinks that "tough love and leaving him to his own devices" was the correct way to approach Liam. However, his addiction takes over and "she can't do anything about it". While Liam is in rehab Bianca sleeps with Heath Braxton.
Sexual assault
In 2011 the serial decided to portray the issue of sexual assault through Bianca. Bianca gets drunk at a "Bachelors & Spintsters Ball" where she is drugged and attacked by a mystery assailant. Gormley explained that Bianca is "heartbroken because she's realised her relationship with Liam Murphy is over". As he has checked out of rehab and not contacted her "Bianca decides to dress up and have a good time". She said that Bianca drinks alcohol to excess to "hide the pain; it's like hitting the self-destruct button". Bianca becomes "oblivious" and flirts with Heath because "she's happy to have attention from anyone". Television journal TV Week noted that is a common reaction to go "on a bender to numb the pain" of losing a partner. However, they said it is not always a "smart" idea because Home and Away portrayed how binge drinking can lead people into "serious trouble".The next morning Bianca cannot remember who attacked her because she was drugged. Liam later returns to Summer Bay to "mend fences" with Bianca. Though she is "in a pretty bad state herself" and does not want to speak to Liam. Whitehead explained that Liam feels "terrible and wants to support her". He is shocked to learn Heath is a suspect and that Bianca slept with him. He said there was some irony in the storyline because "of all the people she could have ended up with, it had to be Heath Braxton". Heath was Liam's drug dealer so he "hates Heath, he wants him out of his life". Bianca remembers the real identity of her attacker who is revealed to be guest character, Dean O'Mara and soon breaks up with Liam.
Friendship with Gypsy Nash
Bianca later forms a friendship with Gypsy Nash, Cooper said that off-screen she had become best friends with Gormley too. Gormley said it was good to have another "strong willed female" living with Bianca. She is someone for her to go out and have a drink with. While Cooper stated that Gypsy's first impression of Bianca is "at least she is not as uptight as her sister" Gypsy has trouble with her daughter Lily Smith and does not get on with April. They both explained that the pair bond over drinks as Bianca "moves Gypsy from the firing line" and helps her.Gormley opined that Gypsy is "hot stuff" and Liam is single, so Bianca has "suspicions" about Gypsy stealing Liam. She added that it causes a "tension" and Liam likes the idea of "two girls fighting over one man". However, in "classic Bianca fashion" she pretends that she does not care and Cooper said that because of this "Gypsy doesn't even notice" an issue. Though Liam is "obviously still in love with Bianca". Gormley and Cooper predicted that viewers would like Bianca and Gypsy's double act because they "had so much fun" filming the storyline. Whitehead said that Liam is attracted to Gypsy's "energy and spirit" and he thinks he has lost Bianca. Liam assumes Bianca is sleeping with Heath and this is the "final straw" for Liam. He has a deep conversation with Gypsy and they kiss, only for Bianca to find them together. Whitehead said that "it's pretty embarrassing for everyone". The incident has bigger implications because "Bianca and Gypsy also have to deal with this" and the effect it has on their friendship.