Kat Chapman
Katarina Chapman is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Pia Miller. The actress joined the cast in July 2014 following a successful audition. She began filming during the following month, and initially commuted from her home in Melbourne to the set in Sydney. Home and Away marked Miller's first major acting role. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 5 February 2015. The actress was drawn to the part after reading that her character was a strong and resilient policewoman, who was not sexualised in any way. Miller wanted viewers to focus on Kat and not her appearance. The actress filmed her final scenes in August 2017 and Kat was killed off in the season finale, broadcast on 18 December 2017.
Kat's first storylines saw her interact with Darryl Braxton as she investigated him for murder. She forms a relationship with local doctor Nate Cooper, which is tested a number of times. Kat has survived falling over a cliff face and being shot. Towards the end of 2015, she was targeted by villain Charlotte King. The character's background was explored further with the introduction of her abusive former fiancé Dylan Carter, who arrived in the Bay to lead the investigation into Charlotte's murder. Following Dylan's departure, Kat began a relationship with Martin "Ash" Ashford. She also faced problems in her career and briefly resigned from the police force. Miller earned a nomination for the Logie Award for Best New Talent for her portrayal of Kat.
Casting
On 4 August 2014, Luke Dennehy of the Herald Sun reported actress and model Pia Miller had joined the regular cast of Home and Away as Katarina. Miller said joining the show had been "such a whirlwind". She auditioned for the role in July, two weeks before the casting announcement, and began filming her first scenes on 5 August. She initially commuted from her home in Melbourne to Sydney, where the show's studios are based. She later relocated to the city to be closer to the set. Home and Away marked Miller's first major acting role. She made her debut as Kat on 5 February 2015. Miller marked two years on the show in 2017. She stated "To get a job like this that is consistent, and I have a character I can really work in all those nuances and little things about her that I can relate to and make up and put my own touch on. It is just so much fun to have a character I can sink my teeth into."Development
Characterisation and introduction
Ahead of her introduction, Jonathon Moran of The Daily Telegraph described Kat as "a tough and resilient police officer driven by success in her work life." Miller explained that Kat is dedicated to her career, but she feels that "she has a lot to prove to others and to herself." Miller also said Kat displayed a "laid back charm" on the surface, but she was "her own harshest critic." In an interview published on the official website, Miller said she shared some similarities with the character. Both she and Kat were "straight down the line" people. Series producer Lucy Addario said it would not be immediately clear why Kat has moved to the Bay, and that she would have "a darker story behind her." As she settles into the Bay, Kat's walls begin to come down.Miller wanted viewers to focus on the character and not her looks, commenting "Katarina is quite removed from being the 'hot chick' that comes into town." Miller was drawn to the role when she saw the character breakdown, as Kat was not sexualised at all. She comes to Summer Bay to do her job as a policewoman and help people. Miller continued, "She is probably the coolest chick ever! I'm proud to get to play her. She is a strong woman, a city girl, and she's been through a bit and had experiences – some good and some not so great. She came to Summer Bay with the idea of putting her head down and getting back to the city." Some critics and fans pointed out that Kat resembled former character Charlie Buckton. Miller replied that although Kat and Charlie were both women and were in the police force, they were two different characters.
Kat's introductory storyline saw her assigned to the investigation into Dean Sanderson's death. Evidence leads the police to Darryl Braxton. Even though Kat is from the city, she has heard all about the reputation of the Braxton family. As she investigates the case, she feels empathy and sympathy for them. Miller explained that the human aspect of Kat comes into play during the story, and she is also battling against her professionalism. She continued by saying the "cop/Braxton relationship" does gets tested. Brax's friend Martin "Ash" Ashford confronts Kat with a theory that Dean was murdered by Sam Kennedy. Kat is "less than enthusiastic" about Ash's hunch, and will not listen to his theory, unless he can produce some evidence to back it up. She also reminds Ash that the police have already looked into Sam and dismissed him as a suspect, since he has no criminal history or connection to the murder.
Relationship with Nate Cooper
When asked if there was any romance ahead for Kat, Miller said Kat was "not immune to the Summer Bay romance", but it was not high on her agenda after her arrival. A few weeks later Kat befriends local doctor Nate Cooper, who is ready to move on from his failed marriage to Sophie Taylor. Pryor said Nate is attracted to Kat's cheeky personality, and thinks he can "press her buttons." Kat agrees to go on a date with Nate, and she takes the opportunity to learn more about his former relationship with Bay resident Ricky Sharpe. Following their date, Kat and Nate spend the night together at his place. Pryor commented that Kat and Nate had a lot in common, and there was an undeniable spark between them. Believing that they are forming a connection, Nate is left disappointed when Kat leaves early the following morning. When they later catch up, Kat explains that she just wants to keep their relationship casual and a secret. Pryor said Nate was a little confused as to why Kat did not want people knowing about them, because they are both adults and should not be ashamed. Nate goes along with Kat's wishes, but when she realises that people are already gossiping about them, she breaks up with him.Kat later challenges Nate to race her in a Color Run, and agrees to meet Chris Harrington for a coffee, after he asks her to prove that nothing is going on between her and Nate. Miller commented that Kat has fun with Chris, while Stephen Downie of TV Week pointed out that she has more in common with Nate. Miller also said that Kat and Nate's relationship is full of "cheekiness" and they bring out a competitive streak in each other. In June 2015, series producer Lucy Addario revealed that Kat would eventually open up to Nate about her past and her history would explain why she acts the way she does. Addario also revealed that Billie Ashford's crush on Nate would test his relationship with Kat. The storyline began to play out that same month as Kat and Nate rescue Billie from drowning in the sea. Nate administers mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to get Billie breathing again, and as he assures her that she will be okay, Billie begins to develop her crush. Billie tries to break up Kat and Nate's relationship, but when her plans fail, she accuses him of sexually assaulting her. Nate is questioned by Kat's Sergeant, Mike Emerson, who produces evidence of a sexually explicit text sent from Nate's phone to Billie.
Kat initially wants to support Nate and believes Billie is lying, but she also has a duty as a police officer to take such accusations seriously. When she learns of the text message, Kat lets go of Nate's hand and he realises that she doubts his innocence. Kat then opens up to him about her "troubled past" and why she briefly doubted him. Kat and Nate plead Nate's innocence to Chris and ask him to help catch Billie out. When Chris discovers that Billie is behind an embarrassing poster that threatened to ruin Kat's career, he agrees to help. Chris invites Billie over to his house and tries to get her to confess to setting Nate up, by explaining that he wants to see Nate punished. Billie notices that Chris is recording the conversation and she switches his phone off, while claiming that she did frame Nate. Chris then reveals that he is actually wearing a police wire and Billie is arrested by Emerson. Nate and Kat's relationship becomes strained and they decide to take some time apart. Nate grows closer to Ricky again during that time. When he and Kat resume their relationship, they continue to have problems due to Kat's lack of trust in him.
Kat struggles when she learns Nate had sex with Ricky, and when Nate finds out how upset she is, he tries to apologise. Pryor commented, "He hated what he did to Kat. So, while there's a pull towards Ricky, he tries to man up and stick by their relationship." Kat refuses to accept his apology and she later sees him talking to Ricky, leaving her "confused and humiliated." Kat tells Nate that she is prepared to forgive him if he commits to their relationship, and he agrees. Pryor said Nate wants to do the right thing by Kat, as he knows she has been having a hard time, just like Ricky. Kat later notices Ricky staring at Nate and becomes suspicious of the pair once again. Kat and Nate's relationship ends for good, and Nate reunites with Ricky. Pryor told TV Week's Gavin Scott, "He's worried about telling Kat. He doesn't want to hurt her, considering everything she's been through. He will always care for her. However, he knows what is best for both of them, and that's being apart."
Cliff fall and shooting
Billie is later accused of arson and becomes depressed when her brother Ash doubts her innocence. Nate grows concerned for her mental and physical health when she goes missing from the hospital. He contacts Kat, who realises Billie is close to breaching her bail conditions, and she and Ash start a search for Billie. However, they fail to locate her and have to call the search off for the night. The following day, Kat receives a call about a sighting of a young woman near the lighthouse on the headland. Worried that Billie could jump any minute, Kat gently tries to coax her away from the edge. Billie continues to stare out to sea, until she is startled by Kat's radio and fearing that she is about to be arrested, she moves closer to the edge of the cliff. Kat lunges towards her to pull her back, but Billie steps to the side at the last minute, causing Kat to go over the edge of the cliff instead. She manages to grab hold of the ledge and calls Billie to help her. Billie eventually manages to pull Kat back over.In early August 2015, Stephen Downie of TV Week reported that a character would be shot in an upcoming siege storyline and left fighting for their life. Kat was named as one of four potential victims, along with Josh Barrett, Evelyn MacGuire, and Marilyn Chambers. The storyline begins with Kat investing local drug dealer Damo Adams, after receiving a tip off from Josh Barrett. Kat and her colleagues raid Damo's dorm room and find his stash of drugs and money. Damo finds Josh at his home and uses a cricket bat to smash various objects, scaring Josh. Marilyn sees what is happening through the window and contacts the police. Josh is trying to talk Damo around when Kat enters the house, but Damo pulls Josh into a headlock. Kat tries to coax him into dropping the bat by putting her gun down on a table. When Damo hears police sirens outside, he lunges for the gun and Kat is shot. She is rushed to the hospital where Nate watches on as she is treated.