Leanna Cavanagh
Leanna Cavanagh is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Mimi Slinger. Leanna was introduced as the troublesome daughter of Liam Cavanagh when producers made the decision to explore Liam's character. After making her first appearance on 6 March 2018, her storylines in the soap included her numerous rivalries with her father's partners, her friendship and eventual rivalry with Gabby Thomas, and her on-off relationship with Jacob Gallagher. The character was killed off in the episode airing on 8 July 2021 when she is murdered by serial killer Meena Jutla.
Slinger announced her decision to leave to the production team in 2020 and was informed that her character would die, which she was shocked but excited for. It was announced in June 2021 that Meena would kill a character and viewers of the show immediately suspected that it would be Leanna. To film her death scenes in the COVID-19 pandemic with Sandhu, they formed a bubble, which she felt made the scenes more realistic. Upon leaving, Slinger said that she was missing Emmerdale and her co-stars, but felt it was the right time to pursue other opportunities in her career.
Leanna is initially portrayed as a mean and harsh character, with Slinger admitting that she would not be friends with her character. However, her backstory is later explored when it is revealed that her mother died when Leanna was a child. Due to having experienced the loss of her mother at a young age, Leanna takes out her feelings on people surrounding her, without regard for their feelings. Her attitude was initially criticised by viewers, but her impact on the series has been noted by OK! magazine. After Leanna was murdered, viewers were "sickened" and "stunned" by her death.
Casting and characterisation
In 2018, it was announced by the agents of Jonny McPherson that his character, Liam Cavanagh, had been promoted to a series regular on Emmerdale. As part of the decision to promote him, it was confirmed that viewers would find out more about his life, with the producers having "bigger plans for him in the months ahead". One of these explorations was the introduction of Leanna, as well as Liam's wife, Maya Stepney. In an interview with Susannah Alexander of Digital Spy, Slinger stated that the "proudest moment" of her life was the day that her mother called her to inform her that she had landed the role of Leanna.Speaking to Alexander about her character, Slinger described Leanna as a troublemaker and stated that she loves the attention that comes from being that way. Slinger opined that Leanna is "that stereotypical mean girl who creates drama to keep her position". She admitted that while in real life she could "be a bit cheeky on occasion", she is not like her character. Slinger stated that she would not personally be friends with Leanna if she was a real person, stating that "Leanna and people like her would definitely be the sort that steer away from", and that she would find it "difficult" to get along with her. Slinger explained that Leanna has a "hard exterior" due to events in her backstory, which causes her to be too harsh to people and not regard their feelings. Leanna's backstory involves her mother Lara's death at a young age, which led her to not have a mother figure throughout her formative years. A year later, Slinger compared the attributes that she shares with Leanna, explaining that they both value the people they love, they are both sensitive and that they both enjoy taking risks. She also admitted that she does not like Leanna's clothing.
Development
Relationship with Jacob Gallagher
Shortly after her introduction, Leanna is "quick to find romance" when she is partnered with classmate Jacob Gallagher for a school project. After Jacob hears Leanna making spiteful comments, he decides to stop talking to her, with Metro stating that he "has understandably been put off". However, the pair "grow closer" after the pair share a kiss and she "nervously unbuttons her shirt". The pair have sex, and Leanna takes the morning-after pill. She tells her father that despite the pair having sex, Jacob "just did it to make himself feel better" and has no interest in her. Liam assumes that Jacob has taken advantage of Leanna, and confronts him. In turn, Jacob "lashes out with a number of nasty comments" about Leanna. The pair eventually reconcile and agree to be "exclusive" with one another.In 2021, Emmerdale producers announced that the year would see an increased focus on the younger cast members and characters. As part of the shift, an arc for Leanna's character was announced. It was confirmed that with Jacob having moved abroad and her friendship with Gabby Thomas "in chaos", Leanna would be lonely. Slinger stated that Leanna has "found herself quite isolated" due to the change in company, and that Leanna will question "whether their relationship is strong enough to last the distance". After his return, Slinger was asked if they make a good couple. She opined that they do but admitted that they would be unlikely to last in the long-term future. She hoped that they would keep her bond with Jacob, since she enjoyed working with Warren-Plant.
Troublemaking and scheming
When 11-year-old Amelia Spencer goes missing, Leanna calls her family. She hints that she has information on Amelia's disappearance, but that she would only divulge the information for a reward. She then jokes that Amelia will return soon, but in a coffin. Metro suggested that rather than just wanting a reward, Leanna could be involved with Amelia's disappearance. Leanna instigates a series of pranks, enlisting Amelia and Noah Dingle to help her. They begin by flooding the school toilets to get time off from school and then release a number of animals from the local vets. Leanna then finds the key to Daz Spencer's car, and go joyriding in it. Leanna sets Amelia up for the crime by videoing her in the car. Amelia pulls Leanna's hair, causing her to crash, and the teens leave the car. A drunk Daz finds the car, and drives it, where he hits Graham Foster. Noah confesses to the police, but as Leanna is "desperate to save her own skin", she denies everything, claiming Amelia is responsible.When she is upset about her life, Leanna "decides to ignore all of the emotional stuff" to "numb the pain". She forms "a new plan to rebel" by organising a party at Diane Sugden's house. Jacob sees her posts on social media advertising the party and arrives to comfort her. Liam arrives, and misinterprets the situation by assuming they are about to have sex. Liam's words then "further push away his daughter". After Gabby leads Leyla to believe Liam has groomed her, Leanna plans revenge on her by starting a "smear campaign" against her. Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy wrote that she intends to "settle the score" with Gabby. She then "steps up revenge plan, planning to get Gabby fired from her new job as a waitress. She becomes determined to ensure that Gabby faces consequences for her actions against Liam, and asks Leyla Harding to join in, who declines. Leanna "goes solo" and becomes the "customer from hell".
Rivalries with her father's partners
When Leanna arrives in Emmerdale, she is accompanied by stepmother Maya, Liam's wife. However, Maya cheats on her father with David Metcalfe, Jacob's adoptive father. Leanna is "furious" when she learns that Maya has warned Jacob to stay away from her. She brands Maya a "lying, gold-digging cow", and prints flyers insulting her. Leanna posts about Maya online, as well as distributing the flyers around the local area. Her actions result in a confrontation between the two in which "sparks flew". Maya was tipped by Digital Spy to be Emmerdales next villain, with them accrediting her potential as a villain to Leanna's "evil streak". They suspected that due to "causing a right old stir with her bad behaviour", this could be a sign that Maya is "the malevolent influence" of Leanna's behaviour. When Maya later grooms Jacob, Leanna was tipped by the Daily Mirror to expose her due to the pair never getting along.Liam begins a relationship with Bernice, who Leanna takes an instant dislike to. Digital Spy wrote that in response to their relationship, Leanna "hatches a ruthless plan to destroy" it. She teams up with Bernice's daughter and "willing accomplice" Gabby Thomas. Leanna tricks Bernice into wearing an "awful ball gown" to the Woolpack, humiliating her in front of Liam and other villagers. Leanna is pleased when Liam sides with her. Despite this, the pair continue their relationship. After Leanna has sex with Jacob, Bernice buys the morning-after pill for her. Bernice does not tell Liam, since she wants to respect Leanna's privacy as a teenage girl. The secret is then revealed when Leanna vomits in front of Liam. Due to "sly remarks" that Leanna makes about her, Bernice buys Botox from the internet. She "spitefully" encourages her to use the Botox, but after Bernice has an anaphylactic shock due to being severely allergic to the ingredients, Leanna shows "genuine remorse". It was then confirmed by producers that Leanna's "surprising" and "sad backstory" would be explored in scenes. McPherson stated that Leanna is a troubled character, but that the storyline with Bernice's anaphylactic shock would show Leanna in a different light. He explained that Leanna's mother Lara died of an anaphylactic shock, so it "will bring stuff back for Leanna". McPherson said that the viewers will see why Leanna behaves the way she does, and that despite some of her actions being bad, she is not "pure evil". Giles liked that the storyline led to her character and Leanna being "able to build some bridges". She felt that since Leanna feels genuine remorse, it will bring them closer. Giles added that there is potential for Bernice to be a good stepmother to her, but only if Leanna's "fractious" relationship with her daughter Gabby improves. The pair eventually break up when Liam kisses Leyla Harding ; Slinger opined that if Liam were to have stayed with Bernice, Leanna would be happy since she "would've had the ready-made family she longs for".
When Liam begins a relationship with Leyla, he receives "backlash" from Leanna. Since Leanna "hasn't made life easy for Liam in the past when it comes to his relationships", he sees telling Leanna about their relationship as an "obstacle". Leanna does not react well to the news, and they explain their relationship to her, but she "remains dismissive" and upset over the situation. She then attempts to ruin their relationship by giving him the "huge ultimatum" of choosing her or Leyla. Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy wrote that Leanna is stubbornly refusing to accept their relationship "partly because she feels left out". Slinger explained that Liam's relationship with Leyla is difficult for Leanna since it makes her feel neglected. Leanna wants to be acknowledged by Liam, and for him to show his love for her. Slinger disagreed with her character's actions, opining that although Leanna wants Liam to be happy, she is seeming to "destroy any hope of that". After Leyla's wedding business is vandalised, she suspects Leanna of being responsible for the damage. After being patient with Leanna's schemes against her, Leyla "finally loses it with Leanna". Kilkelly wrote that the pair would be "set for a fiery showdown". Slinger stated that due to her troublemaking nature, "all eyes are on Leanna", but Kilkelly suspected that she would not be responsible for the crime. The pair argue, and Leyla slaps Leanna. Leanna explains the situation to Liam and opens up to him. She tells him that she does not feel like she has a family anymore, and that she is not Liam's priority. He breaks up with Leyla, and Amy West of Digital Spy stated that Leanna has "finally got what she wanted". However, after their breakup, Leanna sees that Liam is lonely as a single man. She then "hatches a plan" to get them back together.
Slinger explained that Liam's short-term relationships with women such as Maya, Bernice and Leyla "result in little stability for Leanna", and touched upon how Leanna "doesn't even have a family home". Slinger concluded by opining that Leanna is never Liam's priority, which is what her character wants.