Paige Smith
Paige Carpenter-Smith is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Olympia Valance. The actress was cast in February 2014 after a lengthy audition process, which included four call-backs. Series producer Jason Herbison said Valance was cast in the role as she was "the perfect fit" for the character. Valance had been a successful model prior to her casting and Paige marked her first acting role. Valance's half-sister Holly Valance previously appeared in the show as Felicity Scully. Valance was initially contracted for three years. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 2 June 2014. Valance filmed her final scenes in November 2017 and Paige's departure aired on 30 March 2018. Valance returned on 24 February 2020, as part of the serial's 35th anniversary celebrations. On 4 May 2022, Valance confirmed that she was returning for the show's final episodes and Paige returned on 20 July 2022 until the show's final episode on 28 July 2022.
Paige is portrayed as being "feisty", "tough", "unpredictable" and resourceful. Valance said Paige was not a mean character and often hid her softer side behind a "hard exterior". The character was introduced as the biological daughter of Brad Willis and Lauren Carpenter and her early storylines focused on building relationships with her parents and half-siblings. Paige initially chose to keep her identity a secret as she was scared that she would not be accepted. Paige also developed a relationship with her housemate Mark Brennan and was blackmailed into selling illegal car parts alongside Tyler Brennan. The character has received mostly positive attention from critics, with one saying she had caused "quite a stir" since her debut and another who noted that she had a distinctive on-screen presence. Valance earned a nomination for Most Popular New Talent at the 2015 Logie Awards for her portrayal of Paige.
Casting
On 9 March 2014, Colin Vickery from news.com.au reported that Olympia Valance had joined the cast of Neighbours as Paige Novak. Valance had been a successful model prior to her casting in February and Paige marked her first acting role. She won the part after a lengthy audition process, which included four call-backs that got "harder and harder" each time. Of her casting, Valance commented "When I got the call to say the part was mine, I was so excited. In Australia, if you're on Neighbours, you're considered to have one of the best jobs in the world. It's iconic." One of the first people Valance called was her half-sister Holly Valance, who previously appeared in Neighbours as Felicity Scully. She later said that working with people who knew her sister made her feel "very comfortable" on-set.Series producer Jason Herbison confirmed that Valance had won the role based on her own talents, saying she was "the perfect fit for Paige". Valance was initially contracted for three years. She made her screen debut as Paige on 2 June 2014. In December, Valance commented that she would leave Neighbours at the end of her contract, as she had a desire to move to London. However, in October 2016, Fiona Byrne of the Herald Sun reported that Valance had decided to extend her contract with the show for another six to eight months. Valance commented, "I love my job and I don't feel ready to leave just yet and they were happy to have me for a bit longer."
Development
Backstory and characterisation
In her fictional backstory, Paige had "a miserable upbringing" with her adoptive parents, and always felt second best to brother Ethan. After leaving her boarding school, Paige became self-sufficient and worked various jobs. Her adoptive parents would send her "guilt-induced cash gifts" which she spent quickly on holidays and parties. Ahead of her introduction, Valance said "Paige isn't a mean character – she's cool and sexy and a bit edgy — and I think everyone is going to love her." She also thought Paige's personality had many layers and hoped viewers would like her and find her interesting.Valance later described Paige as being "feisty", "unpredictable", "funny" and "very compassionate". She called Paige resourceful and said her "hard exterior" often hid her softer side. The Neighbours official website branded Paige "tough" and "volatile", adding that she works hard and enjoyed partying and skateboarding in her spare time. Valance liked her character and said she could identify with her family situation, as she is one of eight half-siblings. She also felt lucky to be playing someone with "such a complex history".
Family
Paige first became aware that her biological parents, Brad Willis and Lauren Carpenter, were looking for her when Brad met with Ethan in Adelaide. Valance told All About Soap's Carena Crawford that Paige felt relieved that she had finally found her parents, but there were so many unanswered questions surrounding them and her adoption. Paige became curious about her parents and followed them back to Erinsborough to find out more about them. She decided to keep her identity a secret, in order to find out what Brad and Lauren were really like. Paige checked into the local hotel with the fake surname Novak and made up a back story about being from Tasmania. Paige immediately ran into Josh Willis and flirted with him, unaware that he was her half-brother. Valance explained that Paige was naturally flirty and thought Josh was "pretty hot" until she learned they were related. Paige's actions also put her half-sister, Amber, offside as she was dating Josh at the time.Paige met her mother at her café and managed to get herself a job as a waitress. Lauren and Paige made a good impression on each other and Valance said there was a connection between them. Paige also engineered a meeting with Brad by joining the gym he managed, and Valance commented that Paige really liked her father. However, Brad's wife, Terese, was quite suspicious of who Paige was, especially as Paige had no ID and had checked into the hotel with "disposable cash". Paige also struggled to get along with her other half-sister, Imogen, as she was also suspicious of her, but Paige bonded well with her younger half-brother Bailey. Valance thought that deep down Paige was scared that her parents would not accept her as their daughter. She later said, "She builds relationships with people on the street who think she's someone she's not. Afterwards, people will find it hard to accept her because of it. There are a lot of people involved."
Paige's grandmother, Kathy Carpenter, was the first to discover her true identity. Paige learned that Kathy had hired a private detective to find her granddaughter and realised that she would soon have to tell everyone the truth. When Kathy asked Paige to mind her own business, Paige became angry and "in the heat of the moment", she took Kathy's heart medication. Valance insisted that Paige regretted her actions and intended to return the pills. While they were out for a drive together, Kathy found Paige's sketchbook with a drawing of Lauren inside that had the world "mum" underneath it. Kathy was so startled that she drove away without concentrating and crashed into Toadfish Rebecchi. Kathy then struggled to breathe as her scarf was choking her, and Paige had to step in and save her. Valance commented, "This isn't the way she wanted things to work out, of course, and she knows that she has to do everything she can to save Kathy's life."
After Kathy was rushed to hospital, Paige decided to leave town, believing that everyone would be disappointed in her. Valance said it would be hard for Paige to convince her parents that she did not mean to cause trouble, as she had been lying to them for so long. Paige left two teddy bears Lauren gave her at birth on her doorstep and caught a bus. Lauren managed to catch up to her and they had a "very emotional" reunion. Lauren then took Paige to Brad who was shocked at the revelation. When he asked Paige for a DNA test, Valance understood why. Her siblings had mixed reactions; Amber was not happy about Paige being her sister, while Imogen and Josh were accepting and started "to warm to her". However, Amber later showed them Paige's sketchbook and the unkind things she had written about them, which undermined the progress Paige had made with them. Valance did not think things would be easy for Paige going forward, but hoped that her new family would realise her heart was in the right place, even though she went about things the wrong way.
Neither Terese or Matt were pleased when Paige revealed her identity. When Lauren asked Matt to welcome Paige into the family, he agreed. But Terese then asked him to join her in excluding Paige from both their families. When Matt learned Paige was responsible for trashing Harold's Store, he was forced to arrest her. Paige trashed the store after becoming frustrated over hiding her identity from Lauren. Paige admitted to the crime, while Lauren pleaded with Matt to go easy on her, but he could not give Paige any "special treatment" and they had to leave it to the law. Things between Paige and Terese eventually got easier, and Elmaloglou explained that there was a point where Terese finally accepts that Paige is not going anywhere. She hoped that Terese would take Paige under her wing in the future.
Relationship with Mark Brennan
Paige became Mark Brennan's new housemate when she moved onto Ramsay Street. Valance did not rule out a relationship between Mark and Paige, saying "Hmmm, she is single, he is single – I can't say anymore!" In August 2014, it was confirmed that producers had planned a romance storyline for Paige and Mark. They grew closer and realised that they had a deeper connection than friendship. During a gym work out, Paige proposed a little competition that meant whoever lost had to buy the other dinner. Paige pushed Mark over, causing him to lose and agree to take her out, but neither of them call it a date. Valance commented that Paige had been "really attracted" to Mark from the start, so she gets dressed up for the dinner. However, Mark struggled with the idea of moving on from his deceased fiancée Kate Ramsay, and even though he knew it was a date, he had not admitted it out loud.Mark made the situation worse by ignoring Paige afterwards, causing her to confront him as a storm hit Erinsborough. Valance explained "They're both saturated from bringing in everything from outside and she's super fired up. She just loses it and screams in his face." Mark and Paige then consummated their relationship. Paige and Mark's first official date ended abruptly when Paige turned up wearing Kate's dress, which she had purchased from a charity shop. Mark reacted angrily and accused Paige of being up to something, before shouting at her to get out of the bar. Mark later realised that he had been too harsh on Paige, but just as he decided to give their relationship another go, he saw her kissing another man. McGregor commented "He thinks he's blown his chances with her – but he's also wondering if this is what he really wants." McGregor was cautious about his character getting involved with Paige, as he believed that they were "at different stages of their lives". There was an age gap between them and a difference in maturity, which McGregor thought would impact on their future as a couple.
Paige later witnessed Mark kissing Dakota Davies, leaving her "hurt and frustrated". After sitting down to discuss their relationship, Mark told Paige that he had been undercover with the police and was investigating Dakota, who kissed him. Paige made it clear that Mark had not been treating her right, especially as he did not confide in her about his job. They then decided that their relationship was not working. A few weeks after their break-up, Mark invited Paige to an afternoon tea for Sonya. But when she arrived she witnessed Mark engaging in "a heart-to-heart" with Rain Taylor and she left. Following Brad's advice, Paige told Mark that she loved him, but he explained that he did not feel the same way and probably never would. Valance told Alana Wulff of TV Week Soap Extra that being with Mark was the first time Paige had "ever fallen deeply in love". Even when he moved on with Naomi Canning, Paige did not give up hope that he might reciprocate her feelings eventually.
The following year, Mark realised that he still had feelings for Paige, but did not act on them as he believed she was dating his brother Tyler. When he learned Paige and Tyler were about to break up, he offered Paige his support. Paige then tried to kiss him, but he rejected her advances. Valance commented, "Paige still has deep feelings for Brennan, and it's very hard for her to keep them under wraps." The actress thought that Mark pulled away because he was scared to get involved while she was still with Tyler. Valance backed a reunion for Mark and Paige, telling Digital Spy's Sophie Dainty, "Paige just absolutely adores him. She completely loves him and even now that she is doing whatever with Tyler, deep down she is just completely besotted with Brennan." Valance stated that the relationship had become popular with viewers and wanted to work more with McGregor, who she felt she shared a good chemistry with. The couple did reunite after Paige "pours her heart out" to Mark following a stalking incident. Paige was "touched" when Mark came to check on her, but when he told her he was just doing his duty, she confronted him and they ended up kissing.
Mark and Paige later become engaged, after Paige proposed. Valance described the moment as "a bit of an accident" and thought it happened rather suddenly. The actress also pointed out that Paige was not sure about whether she wanted to get married, but she did want to be with Mark. When Paige started planning the wedding, she began to realise that she did want to get married and she became excited about it. Valance had fun picking out her character's wedding dress and she enjoyed having her hair and make-up done differently. Ahead of the wedding, Paige had been framed for several robberies, so she was unable to enjoy her hen party. She also told Lauren about her fears that Mark will soon find out what kind of woman he is marrying. On the day of the wedding, Paige assumed that she had gotten away with handling the stolen items. But when Mark turned up at the house, he arrested her in front of their friends and family. Mark then ended their relationship due to a lack of trust between them.