Andrea Somers
Andrea Somers | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Fictional character |
| Known for | Neighbours |
| Notable work | Neighbours |
Andrea Somers is a fictional persona featured in the Australian soap Neighbours, brought to life by actress Madeleine West. West had earlier portrayed Dee Bliss, a character who vanished following a car accident shortly after marrying Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney). Although initially announced as Dee’s return, it was later uncovered that West’s role was actually Andrea Somers, a con woman impersonating Dee to deceive Toadie. Andrea made her first appearance on 20 January 2017 and departed on 23 March. Under the facade of Dee, Andrea appeared composed and charming; however, her real personality is marked by impatience, insecurity, and irritability.
West reprised the role in brief intervals at the end of 2017 and mid-2018, with ambiguous credits designed to keep audiences guessing about her true identity. Andrea came back into the storyline when Toadie discovered he was the father of her son, Hugo (John Turner). The storyline expanded with the introduction of Andrea’s mother, Heather Schilling (Kerry Armstrong), who took on the role of nanny for Toadie’s children and sought to bring Toadie and Andrea back together. In 2019, while undergoing rehabilitation, Andrea transferred full custody of Hugo to Toadie and hinted at the possibility that Dee might still be alive.
Later in 2019, West returned as Dee Bliss herself, with Andrea exploiting the uncertainty surrounding Dee’s fate to manipulate Toadie further. This led to a dramatic confrontation between Andrea and Dee. Both Andrea and Heather were subsequently incarcerated. West resumed her portrayal of Andrea in 2020, focusing on regaining custody of her son. Filming wrapped early that year, with Andrea’s concluding scenes airing on 25 June.
Creation
Upon being invited to play Andrea Somers, West accepted immediately after previously declining due to family priorities. The introduction of Andrea served to address unresolved questions linked to Dee's presumed death. West valued the intricate and compelling nature of Andrea’s narrative. Production began in September 2016. Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison remarked on the complexity of reintroducing Dee without revisiting old plots, choosing instead a surprising new angle through the character of Andrea.
Characterisation
Andrea is characterized by impatience, insecurity, restlessness, and quick agitation—qualities that starkly contrast with those of Dee. West noted that Andrea’s multifaceted personality fuels intense motivations that can sometimes lead her astray. She described Andrea as "a complicated character" whose background was explored more deeply during this storyline arc. While appreciating Dee’s gentleness, West found Andrea intriguing as a figure who initially masqueraded as Dee. She also labeled Andrea "definitely a nasty piece of work," navigating life largely without guidance. Laura Denby from Radio Times described her as "cold and manipulative."
Backstory and scam
Andrea Somers was mistaken for Dee Bliss by Sindi Watts (Marisa Warrington) while working at a mining site, leading them to collaborate on defrauding Toadie Rebecchi out of money intended for Dee. Together, Andrea and Sindi concocted a story claiming Dee had survived, with Sindi impersonating Emily—the rescuer—during phone calls. They fabricated DNA evidence using a sample from Toadie's daughter, Nell (Scarlett Anderson), producing a paternity test that convinced Toadie that Willow Somers (Mieke Billing-Smith) was his biological child. After swindling money from Toadie, Andrea absconded to London with Willow, prompting Toadie and Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) to pursue them.
Channel 5 promoted this London-based plotline as "unmissable drama," with a network commissioner highlighting its significant dramatic effect. While in London, Andrea and Toadie engaged in an intimate encounter during which Toadie's wife, Sonya Rebecchi (Eve Morey), observed via Skype. Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy described this moment as the "ultimate betrayal." Following the revelation that Andrea was not actually Dee, Toadie ended their relationship. Moloney remarked that setting this storyline abroad added layers to one of the series’ most talked-about plots.
Family introductions
A significant part of Andrea’s deception involved a DNA test concerning Willow, which was initially kept from the audience. Herbison remarked that Willow’s arrival introduced an intriguing dynamic, portraying a child compelled to take on a parental role for an adult. He described Willow as "a leaf caught in the storm created by Andrea." Frequently, Willow resists Andrea’s control and even escapes London to avoid her influence. The following year, Sindi Watts returns and reveals to Toadie that he has a son named Hugo, whose mother is Andrea. Willow then recounts the circumstances surrounding Hugo’s birth to Toadie and Sonya.
In 2018, the storyline expanded with the introduction of Heather Schilling (Kerry Armstrong), Andrea’s mother, who comes to Erinsborough under the guise of Alice Wells, a nanny employed by the Rebecchis. Heather attempts to poison Sonya in a bid to reunite Andrea with Toadie. After Andrea’s incarceration in 2019, the real Dee begins to suspect a familial connection with Andrea and eventually uncovers that they are twins separated at birth—Dee was adopted by the Bliss family while Andrea remained with Heather.
Returns
At the close of 2017, Andrea was seen observing Toadie and Sonya as they renewed their vows. For this appearance and her return in 2018, West was credited solely as a guest rather than as either Andrea or Dee. McMullan from Digital Spy observed that this unusual crediting hinted at upcoming twists concerning the identities of Andrea and Dee. Subsequently, Sonya and Paul Robinson locate Andrea in a psychiatric hospital, where she insists she is the genuine Dee. Andrea is portrayed as suffering from post-natal depression following Hugo’s birth.
In 2019, West reprised her role as Andrea when Sonya confronts her about being diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer. Andrea consents to transfer full custody of Hugo to Toadie and speculates about Dee’s survival after a stranger refers to her as 'Karen.' The storyline culminates with Andrea meeting Dee and pushing her off a cliff. Despite another attempt to deceive Toadie, Andrea is arrested when the real Dee appears.
In 2020, Andrea escapes from prison with assistance from guard Owen Campbell. Heather Schilling aids Toadie in recovering Hugo, which leads to Andrea’s return behind bars. Denby commended this plotline for its satisfying resolution and Heather’s path toward redemption.
Executive producer Herbison praised West’s repeated returns as Andrea, describing it as "the gift that keeps on giving" and expressing his admiration for the character.
Storylines
Andrea arrives in Erinsborough impersonating Dee Bliss, claiming she suffers from brain damage sustained in a car accident involving Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney). She explains that a woman named Emily found her but did not seek help, believing she was protecting Andrea from Toadie. Andrea alleges witnessing Toadie with Sindi Watts (Marisa Warrington) and not wanting to interfere. When Toadie requests a DNA test, Andrea asserts that Dee's sister, Cecile Bliss (Molly McCaffrey), is deceased. Mark later acquires Cecile's DNA sample; Andrea provides a hair strand leading to a positive match. She reveals that Willow Somers (Mieke Billing-Smith) is Toadie's daughter; although a paternity test confirms this, Andrea later admits she swapped Willow's sample with one from Nell Rebecchi (Scarlett Anderson).
Andrea’s true intention becomes clear: she aims to gain access to the Bliss family inheritance. She collaborates with Sindi in a scheme where Andrea impersonates Dee while Sindi pretends to be Emily over the phone. Sindi demands her original $20,000 share be doubled to $40,000; however, Andrea discovers the estate funds have been exhausted. Confessing her feelings for Toadie, she accepts $100,000 from him for Willow’s education before fleeing to London with Willow. Toadie follows her; they become intimate before he discovers her passport and realizes she is not Dee. He rejects her advances. Willow attempts unsuccessfully to convince Andrea to return the money. Months later, Andrea watches Toadie and Sonya renew their vows.
One year later, Sindi informs Toadie that Andrea is in Perth and presents him with Hugo Somers (John Turner), revealing his paternity. Willow explains that Andrea left a note asking Toadie to visit but was persuaded not to inform him sooner. After developing post-natal depression, Andrea left Hugo in Sindi's care. Sonya finds out that Andrea is hospitalized; she visits alongside Toadie, Willow, and Hugo. Andrea fails to recognize them and insists she is Dee. They agree to finance her treatment for the sake of the children. Later, Heather Schilling (Kelly Armstrong), Andrea’s mother, reveals she deceived the Rebecchis into hiring her as nanny Alice Wells with the goal of sabotaging their marriage and freeing Toadie for Andrea. Heather flees after her plan collapses.
Following an incident where Andrea arranges for a social worker to assess Sonya during Hugo's custody dispute, Sonya visits her in hospital and learns of her ovarian cancer diagnosis. In exchange for dropping fraud charges against her, Andrea signs full custody of Hugo over to Sonya and Toadie. Before departing, she mentions being mistaken for "Karen," whom she suspects is the real Dee Bliss. Weeks later, Shane Rebecchi (Nicholas Coghlan), Toadie's brother, contacts Andrea; she relocates to Geelong. Shane informs her about Sonya’s death and asks about Karen; Andrea says the man believed he had spent time with her.
Andrea returns to Erinsborough offering assistance in locating Heather and Dee in exchange for visitation rights with Hugo. She introduces Toadie to Ian Packer (Nathan Carter), who claims he met Dee—now going by "Karen"—who supposedly moved to South Africa. This turns out to be part of another con involving Ian; they engage in a sexual encounter as part of the scheme. Heather locates the real Dee in Byron Bay, but Andrea pushes Dee off a cliff and attempts once again to impersonate her in Erinsborough. This plan fails; Andrea is apprehended by authorities. DNA testing reveals that Andrea and Dee are twins born of Heather Schilling. Consequently, Andrea receives a prison sentence with a minimum term of ten years.
A year later, Andrea shares a prison cell with Elly Conway (Jodi Anasta). In exchange for protection from other inmates, Andrea requests Elly persuade Toadie to contact Dee on her behalf. Secretly contacted by Claudia Watkins (Kate Raison) through lawyer Samantha Fitzgerald (Simone Buchanan), Andrea is paid to instigate a prison riot designed to discourage Elly from having her daughter Aster Conway (Isla Goulas; Scout Bowman) join her behind bars. She reveals plans to exploit Dee's compassion in an attempt to regain custody of Hugo. Their relationship deteriorates when Elly leaves prison with Aster’s custody and warns Dee against trusting Andrea.
Seeking reconciliation with Hugo, Andrea manipulates Owen Campbell (Johnny Ruffo) into assisting her impersonate Dee once more. Owen drugs Dee so that Andrea can swap clothes and escape with Hugo and Owen himself. After being spurned by Andrea, Owen confesses; police arrest Andrea with Heather's cooperation. Before leaving town to search for their father Peter Wilson in Alaska, Dee pays one final visit to Andrea in prison.
Reception
Jason Herbison, the executive producer of Neighbours, conveyed his approval of Andrea's narrative arc, highlighting the intense reactions from the audience and the difficulty in satisfying a wide range of viewer expectations. He stressed how crucial it was to maintain audience interest and noted the favorable feedback the storyline received.
Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy characterized the plot as one of the series' most intricate and wild, featuring elements such as elaborate scams, forged DNA results, lookalikes, and enigmatic figures. Although the twists enthralled many fans, some found the storyline somewhat perplexing.
Madeleine West's portrayal of Andrea earned acclaim for progressing one of the soap opera's lengthiest mysteries. Laura Denby of Radio Times praised both West and Ryan Moloney for their performances, deeming the storyline a "success" rather than a potential failure. She emphasized the creative "good versus evil twin" concept and Andrea's intense confrontation on a cliff, which effectively sustained viewer engagement. Denby summarized this as one of Neighbours' boldest yet most rewarding storylines.
Andrea secured the fourteenth spot on HuffPost's compilation of "35 greatest Neighbours characters," with journalist Adam Beresford lauding the plot as among the most exceptional in soap opera history.