Bree Timmins
Bree Timmins | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Fictional character |
| Years active | 2005–2007 |
| Known for | Neighbours |
Bree Timmins is a fictional persona featured in the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, brought to life by actress Sianoa Smit-McPhee. She made her first appearance on 4 April 2005 and was subsequently written out, with her final scene airing on 13 July 2007.
Casting
Smit-McPhee joined the cast of Neighbours portraying Bree Timmins at the age of thirteen in early 2005.
In December 2006, the show's producers opted not to renew contracts for both Smit-McPhee and Nell Feeney (who played Janelle Timmins), following the earlier exits of Ben Nicholas (Stingray Timmins) and Damien Bodie (Dylan Timmins). Fellow actor Ian Smith publicly described this decision as a "huge mistake." Bree and Janelle's characters left the series in July 2007. Smit-McPhee later clarified that her departure was influenced by contract issues and a personal desire to avoid typecasting, seeking opportunities to explore varied roles.
Characterisation
According to Network Ten, Bree stands apart from her adoptive siblings, characterized as an "introverted and studious girl" who often acts as the Timmins family's problem solver. Her vivid imagination, nurtured through extensive reading of fantasy literature, sets her apart as somewhat of an outsider. Penny Debelle from The Advertiser described her as a "chubby bookworm" frequently engrossed in fantasy novels. Initially timid, Bree adopts a goth persona after discovering she is not biologically related to the Timmins family, embarking on a journey to redefine herself as a "disaffected and disillusioned adolescent." The Age labeled her as "troubled" and "sullen," highlighting her significant growth as she "morphed into an 'emo' while mourning her brother." Actress Smit-McPhee remarked that Bree started off as an intellectual misfit struggling to find her identity following her brother’s death, likening her transformation to wanting to emulate Paris Hilton briefly. The actress herself suggested the goth makeover, appreciating the opportunity to explore a contrasting facet of Bree beyond the bookish image.
Storylines
In 2005, Bree wins a national spelling competition, earning a prize of A$15,000. She offers this money to her mother Janelle (Nell Feeney) due to their financial struggles; however, Janelle insists that everyone in the family seek employment and encourages Bree to keep the winnings. Bree also significantly revises much of Janelle’s debut novel, The Bogan's Tipped Hair, which is showcased during a fictional segment on the real Network Ten talk show Rove Live.
During 2006, a science experiment uncovers that Bree is not the biological daughter of Janelle and Kim Timmins (Brett Swain). A midwife confesses she accidentally switched Bree at birth because identification tags were missing. Bree secretly attempts to locate her birth family but receives a letter warning her to cease searching. Feeling adrift without knowledge of her biological parents, she experiments with various identities, including adopting styles inspired by Paris Hilton and gothic fashion. Her intermittent boyfriend Zeke Kinski (Matthew Werkmeister) struggles to keep pace with her evolving appearance.
Bree forms a friendship with Anne Baxter (Tessa James), who is blind and later revealed as Janelle and Kim’s biological daughter. Still in pursuit of self-discovery, Bree tries to legally change her name by deed poll but is too young; instead, she asks her friend Rachel (Caitlin Stasey) to address her as Trinity Black. After the death of her brother Stingray (Ben Nicholas), Bree abandons her gothic alter ego.
Loris Timmins (Kate Fitzpatrick), who is Bree’s non-biological grandmother, admits to Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) that she swapped Bree with Anne at birth due to concerns about Janelle’s ability to parent. Overcome with guilt, Loris leaves Erinsborough while Bree remains unaware of Loris’s involvement in the baby swap.
Anne returns in July 2007, and shortly afterward Bree meets her biological father Greg (Christopher Connolly), who arrives searching for Anne. After Greg accepts Bree as his daughter, arrangements are made for the Timmins family to relocate to Cairns in order to connect with the Baxters and other relatives living in northern Australia. The family hosts a farewell party where Steiger surprises Janelle by turning it into their wedding ceremony. Allan, Janelle, Anne, and Bree then depart for Cairns by helicopter, leaving their neighbours behind.
Reception
Smit-McPhee received a nomination for Best Young Actor at the 2006 Inside Soap Awards for her role as Bree. Larissa Dubecki of The Age commended Bree for bringing a sense of wisdom to the Timmins family, describing her as "remarkably sage-like amid the daily chaos," and likened her to Darlene from Roseanne, highlighting her "subtle raised-eyebrow wit."
In the storyline focusing on Bree's parentage, the Daily Record emphasized her intelligence and emotional depth as qualities that distinguished her from other members of the Timmins family, while also mentioning that she had "revealed a cunning side occasionally," implying a stronger familial bond.
On the other hand, Katie Baillie from Metro included Bree in a list of the "worst Neighbours characters," criticizing her consistently gloomy demeanor, goth persona, and her decision to change her name to Trinity Black, which she found "irritating."
External links
- Character profile at the Official AU Neighbours website