Georgia Brooks
Georgia Brooks is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Saskia Hampele. The actress was travelling through Kakadu with her boyfriend when she received a call from her agent about a regular role on Neighbours. Hampele was then asked to film an audition for the show and she said that she could not turn down the opportunity to play Georgia. She also believed that she was meant to get the part because the character was originally called Daisy, a nickname her boyfriend and friends call her. Hampele made her first screen appearance as Georgia during the episode broadcast on 5 October 2012. Hampele decided to leave the show in 2015 to pursue new acting opportunities, and Georgia made her departure in May of that year. She later returned for guest appearances in August 2015 and April 2016.
Georgia was introduced to Neighbours as the cousin of established character Toadfish Rebecchi and she soon moved in with him and his partner, Sonya. Georgia is a graduate nurse from the country. Hampele stated that she is a positive person, while writers for TV Week and Soap World described her as being "bubbly" and "vivacious". When Georgia's childhood sweetheart, Scotty Boland, was introduced, she began questioning their relationship after developing feelings for Kyle Canning. After Georgia learned that Scotty was gay, she went on a downward spiral and briefly lost her job at the hospital due to a drugs scandal. Georgia later became engaged to Kyle, developed a singing career, had a miscarriage and a cancer scare.
Casting
On 1 August 2012, it was announced that Hampele had joined the cast of Neighbours as Georgia Brooks, the cousin of established character, Toadfish Rebecchi. While travelling with her boyfriend, Kayne Tremills, in Kakadu, Hampele received a call from her agent about a regular role on Neighbours. She was asked to record "an impromptu audition" for the show's producers and the actress noted that the Australian outback featured in the backdrop of her video was "a far cry from Ramsay Street". Hampele revealed that she could not turn down the opportunity to play Georgia and work in Melbourne, following a stint auditioning for shows in Los Angeles.The actress thought that she was meant to get the part because the character was originally named Daisy, a nickname Tremills and her friends have given her. Hampele later told Erin McWhirter from TV Week that after a few weeks of filming, she felt part of the Neighbours family and she took an instant liking to Moloney. She explained "Ryan is absolutely lovely and I think because I came into the show as family. I took an instant liking to him and see him as an older brother. He's been able to show me the ropes a little bit." A day before she appeared on-screen, a video featuring Hampele receiving a tour of Erinsborough from cast members Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne was released. Hampele made her first appearance as Georgia during the episode broadcast on 5 October 2012.
Development
Characterisation
Moloney told a writer from MSN that Georgia would "stir things up" in Toadie's household. Shortly after she arrived, Georgia moved in with her cousin and his then pregnant partner, Sonya Mitchell. Moloney quipped that she was another mouth to feed and the house was becoming a bit full what with the baby arriving too. Of how Georgia fits in, the actor explained "It looks as though she's annoying Sonya and she's going to be a bit of a pain in the neck, but then Sonya and her get on like a house on fire and it backfires on Toadie. He's stuck with someone who agrees with Sonya's hippy birthing ways. But it's lovely to have another member of the family on the street." A writer for Channel 5's Neighbours website also stated that as the cousin of Toadie, Georgia already had an established bloodline coming into the show. McWhirter revealed that Georgia is a graduate nurse and described her as being "bubbly", while a Soap World columnist called her "vivacious". Georgia is also a country girl. Hampele thought her character was a positive person and hoped that whatever happens during her storylines, she would not change completely.Hampele later commented that she enjoyed playing Georgia, explaining "life keeps throwing some pretty heavy stuff her way, but she always maintains her integrity and optimism, even if it gets challenged along the way. She's a great role model - she's caring, loving, naive - but can also be strong, independent and fearless when she needs to be." The actress added that Georgia is the type of person she would befriend.
Love triangle
Georgia's childhood sweetheart, Scotty Boland, was introduced in December 2012. Scotty is a country farmer who decides to follow Georgia to Erinsborough. David Knox from TV Tonight commented that Scotty was "not impressed" that his girlfriend had left Birregurra. Georgia is happy to see Scotty, but starts to realise that they have less in common with each other that she first thought. Georgia then questions her relationship with Scotty when he fails to understand why her work is having an emotional impact on her. Instead Kyle Canning gives Georgia the support she needs, leaving her with some questions about her future with Scotty. Georgia become torn between Kyle and Scotty. When she decides to spend the afternoon at a fundraising barbecue with Kyle, Georgia starts to feel guilty about ditching Scotty for the day and quickly leaves. Hampele told an Inside Soap columnist, "Kyle has definitely been a distraction for Georgia. She and Kyle spend the afternoon together raising funds for baby Patrick, and Georgia has a great time. That's when she realises there's an attraction." Georgia's hasty exit from the fundraiser causes Kyle to become confused and he thinks she has developed a crush on Rhys Lawson.Kyle believes that Georgia's feelings for Rhys will lead her to have her heart broken and he urges her to mend her relationship with Scotty, which leaves Georgia "gutted". Hampele quipped that Georgia likes Kyle and she thinks he feels the same way, so it comes as a blow to her. The actress continued that Georgia has been brought up to stand by her man, so her feelings about Scotty are conflicted. Kyle's grandmother later tells Rhys that Georgia fancies him, so he decides her to ask her out. However, a "bewildered" Georgia turns him down. Georgia and Kyle continue to hide their feelings for each other, but Georgia struggles to contain her jealously when Kyle begins dating Jana Noviac. Georgia realises that her feelings for Kyle mean that her relationship with Scotty is over and she breaks up with him over the phone. When Kyle comes over to Georgia's place to fix the pool, she offers to put some sunscreen on his back and TV Week's Thomas Mitchell declared that "the electricity is off the grid!". However, Georgia's aunt, Angie Rebecchi, interrupts them. Milligan said "Kyle and Georgia have that sexual tension. They both know deep down that they have feelings for each other but something just isn't working in their favour yet."
Georgia and Scotty later get back together and Scotty comes to stay with her on Ramsay Street. Georgia is grateful when Scotty appears unaware of her attraction to Kyle. When Scotty suddenly proposes to Georgia, she accepts. She also scolds Kyle for being jealous when Scotty informs her that Kyle has been "mistreating" him. Scotty and Georgia plan to elope in secret, but before they can leave, Kyle reveals that Scotty made sexual advances towards Chris Pappas. Georgia is initially unwilling to believe the story, until Scotty confirms he is gay. A Soap World columnist noted "Georgia is shattered to think that she missed all the signs throughout their eight-year relationship". Georgia is hurt further when Scotty abruptly leaves town without saying goodbye. Hampele revealed that Georgia cannot believe her first serious relationship has ended this way and she is frustrated that she did not get a chance to confront Scotty because his letter did not provide the answers that she needs. Georgia has also been left feeling like she was not good enough for Scotty and she becomes angry about that. Hampele added that moving forward, Georgia and Kyle would be a good match as they share similar outlooks on life and are both "a little kooky."
Downward spiral
In April 2013, it was announced that Georgia would become involved in a drugs scandal storyline. Following the revelation about Scotty's sexuality, Georgia goes on "a downward spiral" which begins affecting her personal and professional life. She swears off any future relationships with men and rejects her friend's attempts to console her. A Soap World reporter wrote that Georgia is "ashamed to be around anyone who knows her." Georgia avoids her own birthday celebrations and when she is treating Pete Clark at the hospital, she is unaware that he is flirting with her. However, when she realises that Pete is interested in her, Georgia decides to go for a drink with him. When Pete rejects her kiss, she becomes even more embarrassed and starts suffering from insomnia. Georgia asks Karl Kennedy for some strong sleeping pills, but her behaviour concerns him and he later organises for Georgia to have some time off work. While she is at Charlie's, a conversation with Pete takes "a dark and potentially dangerous turn" when he offers her drugs.When asked how she felt about the storyline, Hampele replied that she enjoyed it, especially as it meant that she got to explore another layer of her character's personality. When some drugs go missing from the hospital, Georgia is wrongly accused of taking them as she is responsible for the drug store. She realises that she left Pete alone with the keys to the store when he came into the hospital again, but struggles to admit that to anyone. During a search of Georgia's bag, sleeping pill prescriptions are found and she suspects Pete had something to do with them. When Georgia is forced to reveal the truth about her own drug use, she is shocked and devastated when she is fired from the hospital. Hampele told Kilkelly "It's going to be extremely difficult for her to get her job back, because it appears initially that she has broken every rule in the book. However, I think she has only touched the surface as a nurse and hospital settings provide some of the most interesting storylines, so I would definitely like to see her remain as a nurse." Kyle helps Georgia to clear her name when he finds the person behind the drugs theft. Georgia's reputation is restored and she is allowed to return to work.