Ellie Mills
Ellie Mills is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Sarah Baxendale. The character made her first on-screen appearance on 15 February 2002. Ellie is part of the show's Hunter family. She had been referenced on-screen numerous times as her family were searching for her after she goes missing in Ibiza. She later arrives in Chester which shocks her family. Ellie is characterised as a confident and independent female but has selfish tendencies. Ellie's stories have revolved around her relationships, especially with Toby Mills, who she later marries. Writers portrayed Toby as a serial killer who goes on a prolonged murder spree in the community. Writers embroiled Ellie into his crimes and she choses not to report him to the police. Ellie later fears for her safety and flees to Liverpool. The scenes formed part of a late-night spin-off episode titled Hollyoaks: Leap of Faith, which featured Toby's death. Ellie was featured in one of the show's biggest stunts when she and Toby fall from a one-hundred foot building. Ellie survives and later allows her brother, Dan Hunter to take the blame for the murders. Ellie's lies are soon discovered and she is arrested and put on trial for covering up Toby's murders.
Baxendale left Hollyoaks in 2005. She made her final appearance as Ellie during the episode broadcast on 25 March 2005. For her portrayal of Ellie, Baxendale was nominated for "Best Bitch" at the 2004 Inside Soap Awards and Ellie and Toby's rooftop fall was nominated for a Spectacular Scene of the Year accolade at the 2004 British Soap Awards. Ellie has been reviewed as a selfish character by television critics, with others branding her as high maintenance and fiercely independent.
Casting
Ellie is Sarah Baxendale's first regular television role after graduating from drama school. Of her casting, Baxendale stated she was "thrilled" to appear in Hollyoaks, adding "it's a big step for me". Baxendale made her first on-screen appearance as Ellie during the episode broadcast on 15 February 2002. Her first scenes feature her breaking into the Hunter family home and looking through her old family photograph albums. She told Steve Hendry from the Sunday Mail that "coming into it is exciting. I'm working with people I've been watching for a long time, but they have made me welcome."Development
Characterisation and introduction
On the show's official website, Ellie is described as a "gregarious, determined and independent" female. Prior to Ellie's introduction into the series, she played a significant part of the Hunter families stories. Ellie had been missing in Ibiza for some time and unexpectedly arrives in Chester. Ellie's disappearance caused the Hunter family a great deal of emotional distress. Ellie fails to understand their predicament. Baxendale told the Sunday Mail's Hendry that her character "is a bit of a bitch". Not having to answer to anyone for two years has made her this way. She had been able to do whatever she wanted and make her own decisions. She added that Ellie does not think she needs to watch her behaviour to please others or think about anyone other than herself. Baxendale assessed that Ellie "doesn't try to be a bitch, but she does end up being that way. She's not malicious, but she is quite harsh to people. Ellie is very confident, selfish without trying to be and holds her emotions back from her family because she doesn't know how to deal with them." Baxendale enjoyed playing Ellie because she was completely different to her. She branded Ellie a "really meaty character rather than a weak victim-type – she is all about going for it."She told Alison James from Soaplife that Ellie ran away because she was fed up with looking after her siblings. Ellie enjoyed working in bars and clubbing during her time away. Baxendale revealed that "she's been having a good time and reckons she deserved it." Ellie returns because she started missing her family and wants to reconnect with them. Though she has ulterior motives because she is "bored, tired and skint". She added that Ellie chose to cease contact with her family so they were unable to convince her to return home. Baxendale added that Ellie does not realise the trouble she has caused her family until she returns and "the guilt kicks in". Ellie's family have different reactions to her arrival in Hollyoaks. Ellie's younger sister Lisa Hunter is delighted by her return. Atkinson told Francesca Babb from All About Soap that "Lisa couldn't be more pleased to see her." She added that everyone is "really surprised" and she finds it difficult to believe she is back because her family did not expect to see her again.
Ellie's brother Dan Hunter is angry at her. Dan believes their family are being too kind towards Ellie. Atkinson added that "she put the family through hell and now they are all treading on eggshells around her. Dan thinks they at least deserve an explanation as to the reasons why she disappeared." Lisa cannot understand Dan's frustrations and warns that his behaviour could cause Ellie to run away again. Ellie soon makes it clear that she is staying and bonds with Lisa. Atkinson described Ellie as "very confident" and Lisa "loves" her attitude. She added that Ellie is also a "very bolshy and bitchy" which her family choose ignore to please her. Ellie soon starts behaving in a "quite arrogant" and "flippant" way and Atkinson concluded that "the Hunters are too scared to say anything to her". Ellie's mother Sally Hunter is also angry with Ellie. Baxendale explained that "once the initial euphoria has worn off", Sally cannot cope with her return. Sally tries to convince Ellie to explain where she has been but she refuses. This leaves Sally feeling "awkward" around Ellie, but the actress believed Ellie's treatment of Sally comes from her own guilt about having a good time in Ibiza while her family were "going through hell".
Early relationships
Writers created a relationship between Ellie and Ben Davies. The two characters were used to break a world record of the longest kiss featured in film, set by the Guinness Book of Records. The two characters kissed for a total of 3 minutes and 15 seconds. It broke the record previously set in 1941, from the comedy film You're in the Army Now. To achieve the record the characters take part in an event on National Kissing Day, hosted at their local nightclub The Loft. The episode was broadcast on 2 July 2002. Baxendale described filming the scenes during an interview with Emma Johnson from the Liverpool Echo. She recalled "I think we did it in about five takes but not every kiss went on for the full three minutes! I had kissed Marcus before, because our characters have been a couple for a few weeks now, but I cleaned my teeth about 50 million times." In another interview with Allison Maund from Inside Soap, Baxendale revealed she nearly ruined the kiss by laughing. Hollyoaks held the title until 2013.Writers soon showcased Ellie's bitchy persona when she makes more drama for her ex-boyfriend Toby Mills. When he begins a relationship with Mandy Richardson, she decides to interfere. Toby finds Mandy overbearing and he finds it difficult to have a serious relationship after the drama Ellie caused him. Luxemburg told All About Soap's Babb that Toby has a "light-hearted" relationship with Mandy after "all the troubles" Ellie caused for him. He is "wary" of getting into a long-term relationship because Ellie made it "so complicated". Mandy fails to notice Toby's reluctance and Ellie takes delight in mocking the couple. Luxemburg explained that "Ellie has been teasing him for being under the thumb which isn't helping things. She has a way of getting at Toby, she knows exactly what to say to wind him up and when she makes comments about Mandy, it really annoys him."
Toby tries to show Ellie that he and Mandy are casual and invites her and Ben around for dinner. He plans a takeaway but Mandy changes their plans and gets out her best silverware. Toby is embarrassed and thinks it will provide Ellie with more reason to mock him. Toby misinterprets a conversation between himself and Mandy and incorrectly believes that she wants to end their relationship. He attends a party the following day, only to discover Mandy still believes they are together. Ellie notices his predicament and decides to publicly humiliate the pair. Ellie has "no qualms" about announcing that Toby does not want to be with Mandy in front of her friends. Luxemburg concluded that "Toby is furious at Ellie for shooting her mouth off. And he's absolutely gutted she had to find out this way."
Writers later used Ellie to begin a feud between her brother Dan and Jake Dean. Ellie develops an attraction to Jake but soon Dan interferes. Sacre told an Inside Soap journalist that "Ellie takes a shine to Jake" but Dan witnesses Jake spending time with Debbie Dean but does not realise they are siblings. Sacre added that Dan presumes Jake is flirting with both Ellie and Debbie, "so he goes for him" and attacks Jake.
Writers made Ellie unpopular with other characters via her friendship with a known rapist, Scott Anderson. Ellie works as a barmaid in the local nightclub, The Loft. When it faces closure, Scott decides to buy the club and keeps Ellie on as his staff. Ellie is thankful that Scott saves the club and her job but other characters are appalled with her behaviour. Baxendale told Sarah Ellis from Inside Soap that Ellie is shocked about Scott being her boss but relieved the club will not shut down. She added that Ellie is determined not to move back home with her family and wants to remain in work and begins to scheme to secure her future. Other characters target Scott and refuse to let him forget his crimes of sexual assault. Scott rethinks his decision and informs Ellie that he may sell the club because of the abuse he receives. Baxendale revealed Ellie "panic" and begins to flirt with Scott to make him believe he has an ally.
Ellie's friend Izzy Davies takes issue with Ellie's behaviour because Scott had previously attacked her. Baxendale added "Izzy is especially upset because they're close friends and she's worried bad things will happen to Ellie." Toby is also upset with Ellie and Baxendale revealed their "brother and sister type relationship" plays into the story. Toby becomes "overprotective" of Ellie but her "headstrong" characterisation allows Ellie to remain undeterred about befriending a rapist. Baxendale concluded that Ellie knows her friends are right about Scott. As the story continues it explores a "power struggle" between Ellie and Scott which worried the actress, because Ellie would endanger herself getting into trouble with Scott. Baxendale was happy with the story because she believed Ellie had gone through a "quiet period" prior to her involvement with Scott.