Annalise Hartman
Annalise Hartman | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Television character |
| Years active | 1993–1996, 2005, 2025– |
| Known for | Neighbours |
Annalise Hartman is a character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, brought to life by actress Kimberley Davies. She first appeared on 15 January 1993 and departed on 31 January 1996, with subsequent returns in July 2005 and again starting 28 July 2025. Annalise gained recognition for her scheming nature and was featured in story arcs involving a cancer scare, surviving a plane crash, and being left at the altar. The media often labeled her a "man-magnet" and a "blonde bombshell."
Casting
The casting team of Neighbours discovered Davies while she was out with her then-partner Scott Michaelson, who portrayed Brad Willis, and offered her the role of Annalise. Davies decided to leave the series in 1996 to explore other career opportunities. In 2005, she was invited back to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary; although initially uncertain due to recently becoming a mother, she agreed, citing fond memories of her previous time on the show. In June 2025, it was confirmed that Davies would reprise her role once more, with Annalise returning to an Erinsborough that had undergone significant changes.
Characterisation
At the outset, Annalise displayed manipulative behavior and was used to having things her way. Her somewhat antagonistic demeanor elicited some unfavorable responses from viewers directed at Davies herself. Upon her return in 2005, Davies described Annalise as more mature: "She’s calmer now but still sharp and scheming, content in her personal life—married to Sam and deeply in love—and flourishing in her career. Currently, she’s employed by the BBC producing a documentary about Ramsay Street."
Storylines
Annalise makes her entrance at Number 24 Ramsay Street, introduced by friend Beth Brennan (Natalie Imbruglia) to landlord Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver). Lou invites her to share his home with him, Beth, and Cameron Hudson (Benjamin Grant Mitchell), and they begin dating until Lou learns that Annalise is only 17 years old. Their relationship ends after Lou catches Annalise kissing another man. Motivated by her mother Fiona (Suzanne Dudley) to complete her education, Annalise attempts to seduce her teacher Wayne Duncan (Jonathon Sammy-Lee), later falsely accusing him of harassment before issuing an apology.
After leaving school early, she takes a job as a chambermaid at Lassiter's before becoming a barmaid at The Waterhole, where she clashes with manager Gaby Willis (Rachel Blakely). Disgusted when Fiona scams Jim Robinson (Alan Dale) out of money and flees town, Annalise moves in with Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy) and Wayne Duncan at Number 26, supporting Helen through her mourning.
Following her failure to report a gas leak that results in an explosion at the pub, she confesses the truth to Philip Martin (Ian Rawlings), who subsequently dismisses her. Cathy Alessi (Elspeth Ballantyne) then hires Annalise at the Coffee Shop. When new head chef Mark Gottlieb (Bruce Samazan) arrives at Lassiter's, both Annalise and Gaby vie for his attention; Mark chooses Annalise, and they begin dating. After Fiona dies in a car accident and con artist Luke Foster (Murray Bartlett), who claims to be her half-brother, is exposed, Annalise is heartbroken.
During Christmas, Annalise reconciles with Gaby on a plane that later crash-lands; both survive with minor injuries. Though engaged to Mark, their wedding is called off when he opts to become a priest.
Announced affections from Sam Kratz (Richard Grieve) lead to a relationship between them. After false pregnancy claims by Squirrel (Brooke Howden) are disproven by Sam's cousin Danni Stark (Eliza Szonert), Annalise undergoes health scares but is ultimately cleared. Planning to relocate with Sam, she meets her half-sister Joanna Hartman (Emma Harrison) and their father Tony Hartman (Michael Carman), initially struggling with Tony’s occupation as a female impersonator before reconciling. The sisters launch a public relations firm but fall victim to fraud by a con artist.
After developing feelings for and briefly having an affair with Stonefish Rebecchi (Anthony Engelman), Sam ends their relationship; despite Joanna's pleas, Annalise departs but Sam later follows her. Nine years later, Annalise returns to Erinsborough presenting her Ramsay Street documentary and reveals she married Sam five years prior.
By 2025, Annalise reveals that she and Sam have recently separated, referring to him as her former husband.
Reception
The BBC identified Annalise's most unforgettable event as being "left at the altar by Mark Gottlieb, who chose to pursue the priesthood." To celebrate Neighbours' 25th anniversary, Sky featured 25 of the show's most iconic characters, with Annalise among them. Sky portrayed her as a "magnet for men," highlighting her numerous prominent relationships with figures such as Wayne Duncan, Mark Gottlieb, Sam Kratz, and her fiancé Lou Carpenter. They also recalled one of the series' standout scenes involving her throwing a fit after missing the Pet Shop Boys concert. Annalise made a subsequent appearance in a documentary commemorating Ramsay Street's 20th anniversary, which Sky regarded as less compelling than her earlier story arcs.
The media outlet Virgin Media described her as a "blonde bombshell," chiefly remembered for the dramatic moment when Mark abandoned her at the altar. Lorna Cooper, editor at MSN TV, commented on the intricacies of Annalise’s romantic entanglements and observed how the show leveraged her physical appeal. The telecommunications provider Orange highlighted her wedding to Mark as her defining moment, while All About Soap magazine ranked this event eighth among the greatest soap opera weddings, underlining the irony of Mark leaving her to enter the clergy.
Sue Heath from The Northern Echo remarked on Annalise’s surprising shift into documentary production, criticizing her approach as little more than assembling congratulatory remarks. In the Huffpost list of "35 greatest Neighbours characters," she was placed thirty-first. Critic Adam Beresford described her as a beloved figure whose turbulent romantic affairs shaped much of the mid-1990s narrative and labeled her jilting at the altar as her most shocking "WTF?" moment.
In 2022, Sheena McGinley of the Irish Independent ranked Annalise eleventh among legendary Neighbours characters, dubbing her "Erinsborough’s equivalent to Pamela Anderson" and recalling her early relationship with Lou Carpenter. Additionally, a Herald Sun journalist included Annalise’s arrival in their compilation of "Neighbours' 30 most unforgettable moments."