Nate Cooper
Nate Cooper is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Kyle Pryor. The character made his first screen appearance on 26 September 2013. Pryor originally auditioned for another character before he was offered the role of Nate. He had to keep his involvement with the show a secret prior to arriving on-screen. The actor had moved from another country for work which made him similar to his character. Nate is characterised as a career driven and respected doctor. He comes to work Northern Districts Hospital because he had longed to work in a busy emergency department. Personally he is calm and collected with a love of kayaking.
Nate's storylines have often focused on his on/off relationship with Ricky Sharpe. The pair have reunited at various points during Nate's time in the show. However, the constant presence of Ricky's ex-partner Darryl Braxton has always ruined their relationship. In 2014, the show explored Nate's backstory by casting Bridgette Sneddon to play Nate's estranged wife Sophie Taylor. Their marriage had broken down because of the latter's drug addiction. Her arrival prompts Nate to give her another chance. However, her mental health and obsessive nature cause Nate endless problems. She starts fires, attacks Nate's friends, kidnaps him and causes a bus crash. Other relationships include Nate developing feelings for Hannah Wilson and later romancing Katarina Chapman. Their relationship was jeopardised by a false accusation of sexual assault made by Billie Ashford. Another main story for Nate involved him being in a life-threatening accident in the Australian bush damaging his liver. Nate has proved to be a popular character with critics of the genre due to his attractive appearance. Nate made his final appearance during the episode broadcast on 5 June 2017.
Casting
The character and casting was announced on 8 September 2013. Pryor originally auditioned for the role of Andy Barrett, but Tai Hara was cast instead. However, the producers liked Pryor so much, that they asked him to return to try out for the part of Nate. Pryor had begun filming four months prior to his casting announcement. Of having to keep his role a secret, the actor admitted "It can be quite difficult not spilling the beans but it is a good exercise in self-control." British born Pryor had also moved to Australia following living in New Zealand. He said that he and his character had been on similar journeys.Development
Characterisation and introduction
Nate is characterised as a career driven man due to his childhood experiences. Nate's profile on the show's official website details a backstory of having to cope with a terminally ill mother, a poor financial situation while studying a medical degree. Nate is described as a "fighter" who keeps on progressing despite a troubled personal life. Other character's are drawn to Nate due to his positive outlook on life. He comes to work Northern Districts Hospital because he had longed "for the adrenalin rush a busy Emergency Department provides." Nate is a respected medic and fellow residents appreciate his skills. Nate is a calm character and it takes a lot of drama to unsettle him. Writers have only used Nate's love for others to "shake him" emotionally. One of Nate's hobbies often portrayed in the show is kayaking. Production asked Pryor if he had any sporting abilities. He informed them that he had kayaked when he was younger and believed they would not be interested. However, they liked the idea and made Nate a kayaking enthusiast.Relationship with Ricky Sharpe
Nate enters a relationship with Ricky Sharpe who had recently separated from Darryl Braxton after he was sent to prison. The pairing was formed over many episodes as Nate supported Ricky through the aftermath of a bomb blast, a miscarriage and Brax's incarceration. The two characters grow close and attend a funeral together, where it becomes obvious they share feelings for each other. A TV Soap writer noted that Ricky had tried to suppress her feelings for Nate, but could no longer hide it. When Nate kisses Ricky she decides to avoid being in his company. Ricky believes she has unresolved issues with Brax that prevent her from entering a relationship with Nate. She also faces disapproval from Brax's brother Kyle Braxton which results in a confrontation with Ricky. When Kyle realises that Ricky has the right to move on, he encourages her to date Nate.When Brax is released from prison he tries to win Ricky back. Nate visits Brax to request that he leave Ricky alone and avoid complicating her life. Sveen believed that Nate's actions were motivated purely out of concern for Ricky. However, Ricky is defined as an independent woman and would not like Nate intervening. Ricky and Nate argue when she learns the truth. Pryor said that Brax's reintroduction would have always created friction and drama for the duo. He added that his character had forgotten "that fire" Ricky has for her own independence. She views Nate as "condescending" and orders him to leave her alone. Ricky is left confused about her feelings for both men. Nate decides to fight for Ricky and confirms his love for her. He "pours his heart out" and tells her that he will always strive to make her happy. When she visits Brax the pair end up sleeping together. Sveen believed that Ricky has always loved Brax. She told a reporter from Inside Soap that viewers were divided as to who Ricky should be with. She added that older female viewers prefer Nate while the rest prefer Brax. Their storyline concludes when Ricky leaves Nate in favour of a photography career in London.
Marriage to Sophie Taylor
Bridgette Sneddon was hired to play Nate's estranged wife Sophie Taylor. She arrives in Summer Bay and introduces herself to Nate's ex-girlfriend Ricky. She is furious with Nate for keeping his marital status a secret, which leaves Nate confused as she is back with Brax. Sneddon told an Inside Soap reporter that Nate and Sophie's marriage was ruined by Sophie's drug addiction. She explained that writers created a backstory in which Sophie was involved in a car accident and relied on pain killers in her recovery. As Nate had access to medication in his profession he was able to supply her with the medication she needed. As she became reliant on the drugs it caused trouble in their relationship, resulting in Nate leaving her. The character remained in the series and aimed to convince Nate to give their marriage another chance. When she feels ill, Nate fears that she is pregnant and is attempting to trap him. She later collapses and is diagnosed with appendicitis. Her operation causes pain and she is required to take prescription medication to aid her recovery. Nate fears that Sophie will become hooked on the drugs once again.Nate's friend Leah Patterson-Baker begins to worry about Sophie's condition. Nate tires of Leah's interference and he becomes aggravated. Pryor said that Nate wants to move on with Sophie but cannot because Leah keeps reminding him of his past. Sneddon added that Sophie takes a dislike to Leah and there is tension between them. Pryor added that Nate is "really pushing his concerns about Sophie to the back of his mind." Sophie uses an opportunity to divert Leah's interest elsewhere and encourages her to romance Zac MacGuire. Sneddon explained that while Sophie genuinely tries to help Leah and Zac, "it helps her cause" to have Nate to herself.
Sophie's dislike of Nate's friends grows. She becomes convinced that Nate is sleeping with his colleague Hannah Wilson. Her accusation is not unfounded as Hannah is secretly in love with Nate. Sophie becomes jealous of their friendship and annoyed when she witnesses Nate consoling Hannah. Nate becomes unhappy with Sophie and his attraction to Hannah grows and the pair kiss. Pryor told Stephen Downie from TV Week that "it's a spur of the moment thing" as Nate too had been in denial. He has relationship problems with Sophie but continues to protest she is imagining the attraction. Pryor added that Hannah is attractive and Nate is not having fun in his marriage. While he should keep away from her, "he's looking for moral support and he finds that in Hannah." Pryor also believed that Nate wanted to help Sophie with her issues but it no longer matters to him.
Following time apart Sophie tries to spend time with Nate. He tells her that he will not give their marriage another chance despite her pleas to overcome her addiction. Sneddon explained that she still had faith in the estranged couple because they share a connection. Nate decides the only way to escape Sophie is to leave Summer Bay. Sophie becomes delusional and tells Ricky that Nate is sending her love letters when he has not. When Ricky confronts Nate he reveals that Sophie has a history of mental health issues. He reveals that when he originally called time on the marriage, she attempted to run him over. Pryor said that it was a difficult situation for Nate because he does love Sophie. However, being apart from each other is the only solution. "Nate believes that tough love is the only approach here." Sophie is upset and begins to forget what day it is. Her "bizarre behaviour" worries other residents. Sophie cannot deal with the "harsh reality" that her marriage is over. She has a mental breakdown and begins a fire in her caravan to attract Nate's attention. Pryor described her as "working herself into a state". Sneddon stated that Sophie "knows what to do to keep Nate on the end of the fishing line." Her plan works and Nate risks his life and pulls her from the burning caravan.
Sophie's mental state deteriorates and she begins to behave more obsessively towards Nate and later stalks him. Nate tries to distance himself from her further but she lures him to her hotel room and knocks him unconscious. She pours petrol around the room and threatens to start a fire with a candle. Pryor found filming the scenes an intense experience. It took a series of thirteen scenes shot over an entire day. Pryor told Colin Vickery of news.com.au that "it was a big challenge emotionally as well as technically, I felt a strong sense of responsibility in playing that." Nate tries to convince Sophie to let him go and promises they will leave Summer Bay to restart their relationship elsewhere. While driving away she realises he has lied and she crashes his car which collides with a bus filled with several other regular characters. The scenes formed the 2014 annual series cliffhanger. In the aftermath of the accident Nate battles to save as many lives as possible. Pryor explained "Nate feels extremely guilty for what's happened, he's trying everything he can to save these people, because he feels very much responsible. He wants to take control of things now, and deal with the repercussions later."