Amber Turner

Amber Turner
Occupation	Fictional character
Years active	2013–2016
Known for	Neighbours

Amber Turner is a fictional persona featured in the Australian soap Neighbours, brought to life by actress Jenna Rosenow. Having previously appeared as a background extra, Rosenow successfully secured the role after auditioning and subsequently relocated from Geelong to Melbourne to participate in filming. Amber was introduced alongside her family during a significant cast restructuring, making her first appearance on 7 February 2013. In April 2015, Rosenow revealed she would be leaving upon the expiration of her contract; Amber's exit occurred on 8 January 2016, with a brief return on 5 April.

Portrayed as an outgoing, warm-hearted, and compassionate teenager, Amber also exhibits a degree of innocence. Rosenow characterized her as fiercely loyal to those close to her, often acting with good intentions but occasionally making misguided choices. Her story arcs include romantic involvements with Robbo Slade (Aaron Jakubenko), Josh Willis (Harley Bonner), and Daniel Robinson (Tim Phillipps), alongside struggles such as a pregnancy scare, experiences of bullying, unreciprocated affections, and dealing with her child's critical health condition.

Creation and casting

On 4 November 2012, it was announced that the Turner family, consisting of five members, would join Neighbours in February 2013 as part of a major revamp of the cast. The family matriarch Lauren (portrayed by Kate Kendall) explained that producers intended to reintroduce core family values through engaging characters and relatable plots. The Turners were connected to established character Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver), who is Lauren’s father and Amber’s grandfather.

Jenna Rosenow was cast in the role of Amber Turner, the sole daughter of Lauren and Matt Turner (Josef Brown). This opportunity marked Rosenow’s first regular television role following previous background appearances. After progressing through auditions and callbacks, she earned the part and relocated to Melbourne for filming purposes. Rosenow expressed excitement about joining Neighbours and developing Amber’s persona, highlighting how easily she integrated alongside fellow new cast members.

In December 2012, Neighbours launched an online mini-series titled Amber's Blog, which chronicled Amber’s family's move from Mount Isa to Erinsborough. Rosenow made her television debut as Amber in February 2013 and later extended her contract through 2014.

Characterisation

Prior to Amber’s debut, Kendall described her as "the typical teenage girl," while Rosenow viewed her as an ordinary 17-year-old with some naivety. A writer for the official Neighbours website portrayed Amber as friendly and lively, navigating the ups and downs of adolescence. Rosenow depicted Amber as "kind and caring," someone who would do anything for loved ones but tends to be shy around boys. She noted that although Amber often acts with good intentions, sometimes her decisions are misguided. Beneath the surface of "the perfect good girl," Amber arrives in Erinsborough harboring a secret.

At first, Amber is hesitant about living in Erinsborough, missing her previous home and friends in Mount Isa. Rosenow observed that although Amber initially appeared "disinterested" and "moody," she gradually became more open as she made an effort to adjust. Amber shares a strong, affectionate relationship with her family, especially bonding over horses with her mother and being cherished by her father. She also maintains good relationships with her brothers Mason and Bailey.

Connection with Robbo Slade

Amber maintained a covert relationship with Robbo Slade (Aaron Jakubenko) while living in Mount Isa, a fact kept hidden from her family. According to Rosenow, Amber devoted considerable effort to this romance as a way to escape her domestic troubles. Robbo, who was acquainted with Mason, had a reputation as a "bad boy"—charming on the surface but deceitful behind her back. Once his criminal activities came to light, Robbo absconded from town.

Shortly afterward, Amber became anxious over a possible pregnancy, which caused her great distress. Rosenow noted that Amber remained emotionally connected to Robbo, her first love and sexual partner, and hoped that the pregnancy might reunite them. Unsure how to handle the situation, Amber confided in her teacher Kate Ramsay for guidance without alarming her parents. Kate recommended taking a pregnancy test, which ultimately proved negative.

The scare prompted Amber to disclose her involvement with Robbo, unveiling other family secrets and deeply upsetting Lauren. When Robbo resurfaced months later, stirring trouble for the Turners, Amber struggled to keep her distance despite promising otherwise. Rosenow described Robbo as a master manipulator who spun stories of love and future plans—a narrative Amber desperately wanted to believe.

Amber’s brother Bailey caught her with Robbo, but she denied any connection between them. She later returned to Robbo and was drawn in again, although she was less emotionally invested following a recent breakup. It soon became apparent that Robbo was exploiting Amber as a means of revenge against Mason. He eventually threatened to blackmail Amber by threatening to release footage of them together. After a hit-and-run incident involving Robbo, Amber was among eight individuals questioned by authorities.

Cyberbullying and Infatuation with Chris Pappas

On 18 April 2013, Kilkelly revealed that Amber would develop an unexpected crush on her friend Chris Pappas (James Mason). Chris, who is openly gay, befriended Amber following her difficulties at school after a fallout with Cassie Nicholls (Lisa Marie Shaw). When tensions rose between Amber and Cassie, Chris invited Amber on what he described as a "friendly date" to lift her spirits; however, Amber misread this as romantic interest. Their conflict intensified through "catty comments" exchanged on Twitter. The situation escalated further when Cassie briefly went missing, causing Amber considerable concern.

This plotline led Mason and Rosenow to participate in a video produced by Neighbours addressing the issue of cyberbullying. Rosenow highlighted the significant emotional harm cyberbullying can cause and stressed the need for collective efforts to combat it. Amber’s crush concluded during "Episode 6646" when Georgia Brooks (Saskia Hampele) informed her that Chris was gay and unlikely to reciprocate her feelings. Despite this revelation, Amber openly expressed her emotions, resulting in a "sweet moment" where Chris clarified his sexuality while affirming their continued friendship.

Involvement with Josh Willis

In May 2013, Josh Willis (Harley Bonner) joined the cast of Neighbours, with promotional materials featuring him alongside Amber. Bonner hinted at potential chemistry but refrained from confirming any romantic storyline. After Josh moved into Ramsay Street with his family, Amber quickly developed an attraction toward him; however, her subtle attempts at flirting initially went unnoticed. She even followed him to the local swimming pool, but Josh remained focused on training for the Commonwealth Games. When Amber admitted to watching him swim, Josh reacted indifferently. Later, when she nervously asked him out, he declined due to prior commitments, leaving Amber disappointed and assuming he lacked interest.

Their relationship advanced when Amber assisted Josh with his homework; this led to their first kiss and subsequent dating. However, they broke up within weeks. At a party hosted by Josh's sister Imogen, Amber caught Josh speaking with another girl and responded by kissing Clay Blair in retaliation. Josh witnessed this kiss, creating tension among all involved parties. Imogen found herself caught between concern for both her brother and friend. Subsequently, Amber dated Clay and convinced Josh that reconciliation was unlikely.

Following Amber’s disclosure that she had been intimate with Robbo, she and Josh faced difficulties rebuilding their relationship. Their parents eventually forbade them from seeing each other due to worries about their closeness, forcing them into secret meetings. Differences in their expectations—particularly regarding physical intimacy—added further strain; Josh wished to become intimate sooner than Amber was comfortable with, as she preferred to wait six months. Bonner later characterized their relationship as flawed but genuine in its emotional connection.

Relationship with Daniel Robinson

Following Daniel Robinson's arrival in May 2014, played by Tim Phillipps, he and Amber connected through their mutual interest in photography, forming a close friendship that stirred conflict with Josh. Amber felt a strong attraction to Daniel, experiencing a "sexual chemistry" she initially attempted to suppress because of her commitment to Josh. Eventually, Amber engaged in an affair with Daniel but found it difficult to end things with Josh. When Paige Smith sensed the emotions between Amber and Daniel, she kissed Daniel, which led Amber to fully commit to him.

Josh discovered Amber and Daniel sharing a kiss just two weeks into their secret relationship. Rosenow commented on the inevitable pain involved and held Josh responsible for treating Amber poorly. In retaliation, Josh vandalized the darkroom that Amber and Daniel used, causing lasting damage that fractured friendships and family ties.

During a tornado in Erinsborough, Daniel impulsively proposed to Amber while they were taking shelter together. Despite their engagement, they faced obstacles including Imogen’s feelings for Daniel and the arrival of his former girlfriend. Rosenow described Amber as somewhat naive and Daniel as impulsive, both holding idealistic views about love despite their youth.

In October 2014, Rain Taylor, Daniel’s ex-girlfriend, appeared on the scene and founded a commune named New Eden. After forming a friendship with Amber, Rain manipulated her into joining the commune and dropping out of university. Despite warnings from Lauren and Daniel, Amber resisted their concerns. Rain attempted to control Amber’s mind during meditation sessions to convince her to break off the engagement with Daniel; although this failed, it caused Amber to question their relationship and ultimately call it off.

Following the theft of Amber’s car, Daniel came to her rescue, which led to their reconciliation. On their wedding day, Daniel went searching for an antique ring connected to his ancestor but became trapped in a well alongside Imogen, prompting Amber to suspect they had eloped. That evening, Josh comforted a distressed Amber, resulting in a one-night stand. After Daniel and Imogen were rescued, Amber reunited with Daniel but tried to move beyond her encounter with Josh.

Their relationship eventually became strained due to pregnancy and other life changes, leading them to realize that ending their relationship was necessary.

Pregnancy

A few weeks post-wedding, Amber found out she was expecting. Uncertain whether Daniel or Josh was the father, she initially kept this information from Daniel but later shared it with him; he was "overjoyed." Josh also learned about the pregnancy and realized he might be the father, complicating Amber’s relationships further. After taking a paternity test confirming Josh as the father, Daniel was devastated. The ensuing tension affected Amber’s health, causing high blood pressure and prompting a brief stay at a beach cottage.

Amber and Josh later discovered their baby had congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), initially thought to be severe—a diagnosis that deeply distressed Amber. However, after consulting with a specialist, they learned it was a mild form of CDH, which offered some reassurance. Rosenow reflected on the emotional toll of this storyline and commended Amber’s resilience in supporting her child despite adversity. She also noted Josh’s well-meaning but occasionally misguided attempts to assist. This narrative highlighted Amber’s personal development and growing independence throughout 2015.

Departure

In April 2015, Rosenow revealed her intention to exit Neighbours once her contract expired, aiming to explore acting prospects in Los Angeles. By November, Kendall had officially confirmed her departure. Amber’s narrative concluded with her relocating to Queensland to accept a job opportunity, accompanied by her daughter Matilda. Although Josh initially intended to accompany her, he ultimately remained after Amber persuaded him to stay due to concerns about his post-natal depression. Amber left the show on 8 January 2016 and later made a brief return on 5 April 2016.

Storylines

Amber arrives in Erinsborough with her family but finds it difficult to cope with the absence of friends and harbors a secret relationship with Robbo, who is implicated in a warehouse robbery and subsequently dies in a hit-and-run accident. Amber undergoes police interrogation but is exonerated when Hudson Walsh confesses to the crime.

She embarks on a relationship with Josh Willis but they break up due to trust issues. Amber briefly dates Clay Blair before reconciling with Josh. After Josh suffers a shoulder injury that ends his swimming career, Amber stands by him during his recovery. She develops a close connection with Daniel Robinson through their shared interest in photography, which escalates into an affair that creates tension between Josh and Imogen Willis.

Daniel proposes to Amber during a combined hen and bucks party; however, opposition from their families introduces strain into their relationship. Amber briefly joins Rain Taylor’s New Eden commune but leaves upon realizing she is being manipulated. She ends her engagement with Daniel, reunites with Josh, and later becomes engaged again to Daniel amid ongoing family disputes and misunderstandings involving Imogen.

Following Matt's death, Amber discovers she is pregnant but is unsure whether Josh or Daniel is the father. A paternity test confirms Josh as the father. Their child is diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), prompting Amber and Josh to plan fetal surgery in the United States despite facing resistance.

Josh’s unlawful behavior places strain on their relationship; as a result, Amber distances herself from him except when co-parenting. After going into premature labor triggered by a fire at Erinsborough High, Amber delivers daughter Matilda via caesarean section, who then undergoes successful surgery.

Accepting a position with a CDH charity in Queensland leads Amber to move away, sparking legal disputes within the family over Matilda’s care that are eventually resolved amicably. Josh intends to relocate to Brisbane but dies heroically while saving Daniel during an explosion at Lassiter's Hotel, leaving behind a final video message for Amber and Matilda.

Reception

In 2014, Rosenow received a nomination for Best Daytime Star at the Inside Soap Awards for her portrayal of Amber. TV Week's Ilona Marchetta and Jackie Brygel described Amber as "the sulky teenage daughter." Dianne Butler of news.com.au characterized Amber as "dewy." Mark James Lowe from All About Soap featured Amber and Robbo in an article about "toxic, troublesome pairings," highlighting Amber’s persistent involvement with her "bad-boy lover" despite family warnings. Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap remarked on Robbo’s blackmail of Amber, stating she "doesn't deserve that!"

When Amber confessed to Chris about sabotaging his date, a Sunday Mail journalist observed that her honesty complicated their friendship. A TV Week columnist humorously noted about Amber and Joshua: "Never before have two such genetically blessed individuals been drawn together," yet predicted their relationship would be short-lived. Anthony D. Langford from TheBacklot.com criticized their pairing as lacking chemistry. In February 2015, the Sunday Mail reported that Amber appeared to have chosen Daniel as her preferred partner following a lengthy storyline arc.

External links

• Amber Turner at the Official AU Neighbours website
• Amber Turner at the Official UK Neighbours website