Nicolette Stone
Nicolette Stone is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Charlotte Chimes and Hannah Monson. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 15 July 2020. Chimes auditioned for the role at a time she felt creatively fulfilled owing to her work on another series. Despite her nonchalant approach, Chimes was invited to a second audition, which the then Sydney based actress had to perform over video-tape due to the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions imposed in Australia. Chimes was successful and assumed the role of Nicolette, who writers created as the daughter of the heritage character, Jane Harris. From her introduction, Nicolette was portrayed as "straight talking" and "brash", unafraid to hurt other character's feelings. Nicolette is a lesbian and is confident with being open about her sexuality. Writers often used Nicolette's characterisation in her storylines. Writers created a fractured backstory between Nicolette and Jane, owed to Jane's request that Nicolette conceal her sexuality from her opinionated grandmother. Nicolette's early stories commonly featured her and Jane's journey to reconciliation. Writers further explored Nicolette's backstory with the introduction of her friend Audrey Hamilton, who had helped Nicolette commit fraud.
Nicolette quickly formed a friendship with Chloe Brennan, acting as a live-in-carer for her ill mother Fay Brennan. Nicolette develops romantic feelings for Chloe which are forbidden. Writers established her first feud with Chloe's husband Pierce Greyson and via their rivalry they fully developed Nicolette's manipulative and brash persona. Nicolette eventually wrecks their marriage and moves in with Chloe's brother Aaron Brennan and his husband David Tanaka. Neighbours used the trio to create their first surrogacy storyline involving three gay characters. Chimes believed the story created the ideal opportunity for Nicolette to create the family she had longed for. Writers marred the storyline with drama ranging from accidents, a romance with Chloe and family feuds, most notably between Nicolette and David's suspicious father Paul Robinson.
When David's scheming brother, Leo Tanaka attempts to snare Chloe from Nicolette, she betrays David and Aaron and absconds, later giving birth to a baby, Isla. Producers removed Nicolette from the opening credits to create further uncertainty about the story. When Nicolette returns one of her most notable stories played out on-screen, featuring the revelation Nicolette swapped her baby with Britney Barnes and Leo's daughter Abigail to gain revenge. Nicolette is then involved in a legal case to gain custody of Isla until she reaches an agreement with David and Aaron. Writers then created a relationship with Kiri Durant, which was not fully developed because of Channel 5's cancellation of Neighbours. Writers continued to feature Nicolette until the show's finale episode, reconciling her family and romantic relationships. When the show returned in September 2023, the character did not initially feature but was reintroduced two months later, now played by Monson after Chimes declined to return. Nicolette's manipulative behaviour has garnered her a reputation with television critics as being a "troublemaker" and "villain". Critics praised Nicolette's characterisation as portrayed by Chimes, and the development writers had managed to achieve in just two years on-screen. Monson's portrayal has also been well received.
Casting
When Chimes auditioned for the role of Nicolette, she felt "blasé about it" because she felt "creatively fulfilled" producing work for the Build Series Sydney. Chimes did not want to pitch her entire career hopes on a single audition but later reflected that her career satisfaction played a large part in securing the role. She recalled "it was like oh I think I'm gonna get this, it happened very easily, so easily really, oh I guess that's the key." Chimes was invited to perform a second audition for the role. As Chimes was located in Sydney during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was unable to travel to Melbourne for the call back auditions. Chimes filmed a video audition in her mother's kitchen. Her mother also read other characters lines and Chimes described it as a surreal experience as they pretended to flirt and proceed to argue.Securing the role made Chimes confident about beginning filming until two days prior. Chimes explained that "imposter syndrome" affected her and she was unsure if she could portray the character. A conversation with her acting coach, who like Nicolette is gay, helped her better prepare. Chimes explained that it was important to portray LGBTQ characters with authenticity and bring a truth to Nicolette. Chimes was eager to play Nicolette on her first day on-set and recalled stating "finally I'm here, now lets get to work".
The character and Chimes' casting were announced on 27 June 2020. Producers signed Chimes to a three-year contract. Nicolette is Chimes' first ongoing role after previously acting in two mini-series projects. Chimes reflected that she felt "immense gratitude" to be cast in an "iconic" series and secure long-term work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicolette is introduced into Neighbours as the estranged daughter of Jane Harris. Her debut coincides with the permanent reintroduction of Jane, who was once a regular character and had been appearing on a recurring basis for two years. Writers created a backstory for her, which details a fractured relationship with Jane ever since Nicolette decided to come out as lesbian. Discussing the announcement, Jones stated "audiences will learn more about her family, as fans are introduced to her daughter Nicolette for the first time." Chimes made her first appearance as Nicolette during the episode broadcast on 15 July 2020. Actress Majella Davis, who went on to play Krista Sinclair, revealed that she also auditioned for the role.
Development
Characterisation
Nicolette's character profile on the show's official website states that she is "deeply practical and fantastic in a crisis" and adores being active because she "has an adventurous streak a mile wide". Nicolette chose nursing as a career because she it would "provide plenty of variety and excitement". It also branded her a "straight talker" who "never holds back when something important is on the line." Nicolette also struggles to interpret with her own feelings and "can sometimes be oblivious when her straight talking has hurt feelings." Chimes' first scene was filmed with Rebekah Elmaloglou who plays Terese Willis. The scene depicts Nicolette meeting with Terese and Nicolette reveals that she has a difficult relationship with Jane. Nicolette also announces that she is a lesbian. Chimes described Nicolette as making a statement of "this is who I am, this is what's going on, I have nothing to hide anymore."In her first interview with Inside Soap, Chimes described Nicolette as an optimistic character with "cheerful, adventurous and fun" personality traits. Though she believed that Nicolette was not well adapted to dealing with her emotions. Nicolette is often portrayed as "brash", she talks in literal terms and "calls a spade a spade." Chimes was pleased that writers portrayed Nicolette being confident and open about her sexuality. Nicolette is portrayed as a villainous character but writers often showcased her vulnerable side. Chimes "loved" playing Nicolette as a villain and found her going "head-to-head" more exciting. She also enjoyed Nicolette the most when "she's being naughty". Chimes was protective of Nicolette, despite her villainy. She told Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy that "sometimes when she's remorseful, I get very protective of her and I think: 'Well, she's not entirely wrong and why is she always the one apologising?'" When Chimes filmed the character's more mundane scenes, directors allowed her to amp-up the comedy in Nicolette's scenes. Chimes told Kilkelly that "I thought of some weird, quirky things I could do to bring the scenes to life in the most Nicolette way possible." Chimes was fond of the contents of Nicolette's wardrobe and described her as having "exceptional style".
Chimes told Stephen Patterson of Metro that she sometimes found it both difficult and fun to play Nicolette. Chimes never shied away from expressing Nicolette's "human-ness in her" and her "ugly" characteristics. Chimes assessed that Nicolette had many "Cha Cha's", which she explained were stories in which Nicolette's actions would see her progress "two steps forward and one step back." Nicolette is often involved in animosity with other characters, especially Paul Robinson, Pierce Greyson and her mother Jane. Chimes concluded that collectively this was Nicolette as "not her best self" but was her "favourite" content to portray.
In a later story, Nicolette questions if she and established villain Paul are alike as they concoct schemes together. Chimes believed that this signified that Nicolette still had the same characterisation but she "had softened as a person". Nicolette becoming a parent also affected her personality. Chimes believed Nicolette never stopped being "a fiery firecracker" but motherhood grounded her and made her "very conscious" about parenting as she settled into her first "stable home environment".
Mother-daughter conflict
Chimes was thrilled to play the daughter of Jane, one of the show's legacy characters. Chimes felt it was more "rewarding" because of the rich backstory Jane provided Nicolette within the series. One of Nicolette's main story arcs created from this backstory is her fractured relationship with Jane. Chimes told Sarah Ellis of Inside Soap that Nicolette and Jane's problems arose from when Nicolette came out as lesbian whilst they lived at her grandmother's house. Jane did not want Nell to know about Nicolette's sexuality which left her feeling unaccepted by Jane. Chimes believed that neither character was able to communicate their wanting of a better family relationship and the issue is "swept under the carpet" and festers.Jones thought that Nicolette and Jane's problems stemmed from them being "polar opposites". Jones added that "I think Jane wishes she would be more like her, which of course she isn't." Jane is hopeful they can solve their differences about what happened when Nicolette came out, but the latter is not as keen. Jones reasoned it was difficult because Nicolette moved to Australia and trained to become a nurse, while Jane remained in the UK to care for Nell. This time and distance only served to add to their rift. Jones concluded that the entire issue leaves Jane feeling "like a complete failure again" and finds it "very hard" to deal with.
Writers continued to play on their fractured relationship during Nicolette's stories. When Nicolette decides to become a surrogate mother, Jane disapproves and expresses her concerns Nicolette is being hasty. Chimes believed that having a baby would be "healing" for Nicolette because of her own upbringing. She branded Nicolette and Janes relationship "tumultuous" and wants the child "to be fully expressed" because Jane did not allow Nicolette to express her sexuality when she was young. Despite Jane's disapproval, Chimes noted Jane's behaviour is because she "deeply loves and cares" for daughter. Chimes believed that her and Jones' good dynamic and workplace happiness was vital in portraying Nicolette and Jane's relationship. She described their artistic approach in which they strived to produce scenes that were superlative. If a scene required Nicolette to be arguing with Jane they spared no effort in shouting, "Come on! Come at me!"