Cara Varga-Murphy
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | March 18, 1985 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia, United Kingdom, international (via Amazon Freevee) |
| Website | www |
Neighbours is a long-running Australian soap opera that first aired on 18 March 1985 and is currently broadcast on Amazon Freevee and Network 10. The show's 39th season commenced with Episode 8904 on 18 September 2023, following a 14-month break after the previous UK broadcaster, Channel 5, ceased airing it. Among the new additions are members of the Varga-Murphy family—JJ (Riley Bryant), Cara (Sara West), Remi (Naomi Rukavina), and Dex (Marley Williams)—alongside Reece Sinclair (Mischa Barton) and Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar). Haz's dog, Trevor, made an appearance two episodes later. Other newcomers include Eden Shaw (Costa D'Angelo) in October and Reece’s half-sister, Krista Sinclair (Majella Davis), arriving in November.
JJ Varga-Murphy
JJ Varga-Murphy, played by Riley Bryant, was introduced on 18 September 2023 as a member of the newly formed Varga-Murphy family, brought in under the guidance of executive producer Jason Herbison. This family unit also consists of parents Cara (Sara West) and Remi (Naomi Rukavina) along with brother Dex (Marley Williams). The cast emphasized the family's close-knit relationships both on-screen and off, as well as their representation of the LGBTQIA+ community. Herbison remarked that this family would introduce "many new stories to tell."
A central plotline involves JJ’s search for his biological father, which motivates the family’s relocation to Ramsay Street. Cara explains that JJ’s father is an American sperm donor; however, JJ suspects Andrew Rodwell (Lloyd Will) might be his biological father after meeting Andrew’s daughter Sadie Rodwell (Emerald Chan) alongside Nell Rebecchi (Ayisha Salem-Towner). Believing Andrew to be his father, JJ suggests renting 24 Ramsay Street, a storyline that deepens his involvement within the neighbourhood.
Cara Varga-Murphy
Cara Varga-Murphy, portrayed by Sara West, made her debut on 18 September 2023. Announced on 22 June 2023, Cara is a member of the newly introduced Varga-Murphy family alongside her wife Remi (Naomi Rukavina) and their children JJ (Riley Bryant) and Dex (Marley Williams). West expressed her pride in joining the cast and highlighted the importance of representing a lesbian couple to authentically reflect the LGBTQIA+ community. She described Cara as having a "bold, impassioned love for her family" driven by good intentions. Executive producer Jason Herbison stressed that introducing this new family marks a fresh chapter for Neighbours.
Laura Jane Turner and Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy recognized the Varga-Murphys among the top 16 LGBTQ+ television moments of the year, commending their role in showcasing evolving perspectives on rainbow families and noting Cara and Remi’s promise as memorable Ramsay Street figures.
Remi Varga-Murphy
Remi Varga-Murphy, portrayed by Naomi Rukavina, also appeared from 18 September 2023 as part of the new family unit. Rukavina praised Neighbours for its genuine depiction of diverse family dynamics and described her experience filming as "a great adventure." Executive producer Jason Herbison highlighted the importance of welcoming this family into the storyline.
As revealed in an official introduction video, Remi is a medical doctor. Upon arriving at Ramsay Street, she quickly becomes involved with neighbours by providing assistance during emergencies, such as helping Mary Ryan through a choking episode. This leads to an introduction to nurse Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher). Observing Cara’s difficulties finding employment, Remi convinces Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) to offer Cara a position at Lassiters Hotel.
Dex Varga-Murphy
Dexter "Dex" Varga-Murphy, brought to life by Marley Williams, made his first appearance on 18 September 2023. The announcement of his casting, along with the rest of the Varga-Murphy family, was revealed on 22 June 2023. This role marks Williams' debut on television. The family comprises his parents Cara (Sara West) and Remi (Naomi Rukavina), as well as his brother JJ (Riley Bryant). West emphasized the family's representation of the "beautiful LGBTQIA+ community," while Rukavina highlighted their "unique connection." Executive producer Jason Herbison expressed excitement about introducing the family, anticipating "numerous fresh storylines."
Reece Sinclair
Reece Sinclair, portrayed by Mischa Barton, debuted on 18 September 2023. Her casting was publicized on 17 April 2023 as the first new character following the series' revival. Reece is an American whose arrival in town is "not what it seems." Barton shared her enthusiasm for joining this iconic series and delving into her complex, unpredictable character. Executive producer Jason Herbison anticipated that audiences both in Australia and worldwide would warmly receive Reece. Although Barton had not previously watched the show, she accepted the role after being approached by producers who believed she was an excellent fit. Reece’s initial storyline spanned ten weeks, concluding on 23 November, with social media hints suggesting a potential comeback.
Haz Devkar
Hari "Haz" Devkar, played by Shiv Palekar, first appeared on 18 September 2023. Palekar’s casting was announced on 7 June 2023 through the show's social media channels. Haz arrives as the new manager of Harold's Café and owns a dog named Trevor (Bodie). Upon settling in, Haz shares a house at Number 32 Ramsay Street with established residents Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone) and Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux). The three have been cohabiting for three months, with Haz relocating from Geelong. Despite their vastly different professions, they maintain a harmonious living arrangement.
The writers positioned Haz as a possible romantic interest for Mackenzie, who has been widowed since her husband Hendrix Greyson (Ben Turland) passed away two years earlier. Mackenzie is depicted as ready to move forward. Stone described their relationship as a "will they? won’t they?" scenario, emphasizing Haz’s traits: "kind," "authentic," "humorous," and "grounded." Palekar remarked that Haz admires Mackenzie deeply, valuing her "honesty and sense of justice," placing her on a pedestal.
Their storyline explores romantic complications involving Mackenzie's connection with Eden Shaw (Costa D'Angelo) and interference from Billie Alessio (Georgia Walters), further complicated by Haz prioritizing his dog Trevor over Billie.
Trevor
Trevor, played by Bodhi, made his debut on 20 September 2023 as Haz Devkar's canine companion. The introduction was announced via the official Neighbours X account on 3 August 2023, continuing the show’s tradition of featuring a dog character. Bodhi is a Groodle (a Golden Retriever-Poodle mix) provided by the animal talent agency "Paws on Film" and trained by Luke Hura, who has previously trained other on-screen pets such as Bouncer. Hura describes Bodhi as intelligent but occasionally distracted during filming sessions. Lauren Sellwood served as the animal wrangler for Trevor’s appearances. Within the narrative, Haz describes Trevor as "an agent of chaos—beautiful chaos" who invariably steals every scene.
In 2024, Trevor’s original owner Alyssa Gavalas (Imogen Sage) is introduced when she spots him being walked by Byron Stone. Alyssa reveals that Trevor’s original name was Bodie and attempts to reclaim him, which causes Haz to worry about losing his dog and seek legal counsel.
Trevor’s storyline focuses on his status as a rescue dog owned by Haz. Despite concerns regarding health and safety, Haz brings Trevor to Harold's Café where he causes various disturbances including damaging Mackenzie Hargreaves’ pillows and contaminating food with hair. Trevor experiences anxiety when left alone, sparking conflicts between Haz and his girlfriends Billie Alessio and Holly Hoyland over their treatment of him. Alyssa's efforts to recover Trevor create tension; however, after meeting Alyssa’s son, Haz agrees to return him. Nevertheless, Trevor escapes back to Haz, leading the Gavalas family to ultimately return him upon realizing he is homesick.
Trevor’s presence highlights themes of responsible pet ownership and emotional attachment within the evolving narrative of the show.
Eden Shaw
Eden Shaw, brought to life by Costa D'Angelo, made his first appearance on 16 October 2023 as a potential romantic partner for Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone). Initially introduced at The Waterhole under the name "Ed," he quickly establishes a flirtatious connection with Mackenzie. It is subsequently revealed that he is Eden, the troubled former boyfriend of Holly Hoyland (Lucinda Armstrong Hall), whose difficult breakup has been alluded to in earlier episodes. D'Angelo characterized Eden as a "complex and troubled individual," while Armstrong Hall remarked that Eden's treatment of Holly was harsh.
OK! Magazine described Eden as a "bad boy" who plays "a pivotal role" during the show's flashback week, which explores events that occurred during the series’ hiatus. Armstrong Hall shared that Eden was Holly’s first love; they met in the UK and traveled together to Australia. Holly had intended for Eden to meet her family but delayed this plan due to existing family conflicts. Instead, Eden, Holly, and Krista Sinclair (Majella Davis) embarked on a backpacking trip, forming a close but ultimately strained bond when Holly discovered Eden and Krista had been involved romantically.
At The Waterhole, Eden flirts with Mackenzie and later secures employment at Yorokobi Winery. Upon encountering Holly, he panics and absconds, taking Mackenzie’s rings along with belongings belonging to friends. Holly and Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar) recover the stolen items; however, Eden locks Holly inside a shed, assaults Haz, and escapes before law enforcement arrives. Later on, Sharon Davies (Jessica Muschamp) recognizes Eden, prompting another flight. He subsequently knocks out Nell Rebecchi (Ayisha Salem-Towner) at Melanie Pearson’s (Lucinda Cowden) residence; Melanie tends to Nell and contacts authorities after Nell’s father Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) reports her missing. Holly is left stunned upon learning that Eden was responsible for Nell’s injury.
A year earlier, Eden had betrayed Holly by being unfaithful with Krista. Following an incident where Melanie pushed Krista into a pool causing injury, Eden coerced Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) into concealing the event. Although Krista survived, she remained under Eden’s influence. Eventually, Holly and her friends locate Eden at an abandoned estate where Krista is found, resulting in his arrest.
After serving time in prison, Eden confronts Krista and her partner Leo Tanaka (Tim Kano), revealing he is aware of her pregnancy. A confrontation ensues involving Leo and David Tanaka (Takaya Honda), culminating in David’s fatal fall while urging that Eden receive medical attention first. Despite surviving surgery, Eden refuses to explain how he tracked down Krista. Subsequently, Paul threatens Eden over the disclosure of Krista’s plans, indirectly contributing to David's demise. Weakened post-surgery, Eden escapes from the hospital and takes Melanie hostage with a scalpel until law enforcement surrounds the premises. Toadie Rebecchi intervenes by subduing Eden and freeing Melanie, leading to his rearrest.
Krista Sinclair
Krista Sinclair, portrayed by Majella Davis, debuted on 13 November 2023. She is introduced as the half-sister of Reece Sinclair (Mischa Barton), with her storyline linked to a mystery that triggered Reece’s arrival in Erinsborough. Although Krista appeared to die on-screen on 21 November, it was later confirmed that this death was staged; official announcements confirmed Davis would continue portraying the character under a year-long contract. She was subsequently added to the opening credits starting 27 November 2023. Prior to this role, Davis auditioned unsuccessfully for characters such as Chloe Brennan and Nicolette Stone. For her portrayal of Krista, Davis earned a longlist nomination for "Best Daytime Star" at the 2024 Inside Soap Awards.
Krista’s narrative includes friendships with Holly Hoyland (Lucinda Armstrong Hall) and Eden Shaw (Costa D'Angelo), which were explored during a special flashback week designed to reveal events occurring throughout Neighbours’’ broadcast hiatus. Armstrong Hall described their relationship as a youthful escape; Krista and Holly grew close over the course of a year, while Krista’s intimate involvement with Eden creates a significant betrayal plotline. A trailer released by Amazon Freevee on 12 November confirmed these connections through an image featuring all three characters.
In the digital series Ramsay Street Revelations, Davis portrayed Krista as lively, fun-loving, and eccentric—embodying a party atmosphere. She only learned about her character’s familial link to Barton’s role after joining the cast. Krista is depicted as unwilling to follow in her family’s footsteps and instead chooses to avoid this path by relocating to Ramsay Street. Davis hinted at story arcs filled with challenges and opportunities for redemption for her character.
Others
| Date(s) | Character | Actor | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 September | Mary Ryan | Carissa McPherson | After choking during a meal at The Waterhole, she receives aid from Remi Varga-Murphy and Karl Kennedy. |
| 2 October 2023–12 March 2024 | Billie Alessio | Georgia Walters | Begins dating Haz Devkar following an introduction via an online dating app. Their relationship dissolves due to disagreements involving Haz's dog. Subsequently, Billie is disqualified from the Lassiters Lie-In contest for interfering with Haz's food. |
| 12 October 2023–3 January 2024 | Noah Dawes | Zane Ciarma | A student who bullies Dex Varga-Murphy because he has two mothers; receives a three-day suspension. Participates in a New Year's Eve gathering where underage drinking occurs. |
| 12 October | Pete Dawes | Gabriel Egan | Father of Noah, disputes the school's disciplinary measures and threatens to reduce his son's attendance. |
| Monique Fallon | Lily Mooney | Identified by Reece Sinclair from a distance. | |
| 18 October | Sandy Phillips | Juliana Begue | Housekeeper at Lassiters Hotel, responsible for lost property alongside Katrina Marshall. |
| 23 October | Garrett Wilkins | Scott Reid | Participates in a guided visit of Erinsborough High School. |
| Antonia Hammond | Katie Weston | Also takes part in the school tour. | |
| James Douglas | Andy Steuart | Architect working for Terese Willis, inspecting the proposed site for school development. | |
| 23 October 2023–12 December 2024 | Tess Carmichael | Anica Calida | Oversees the Sinclair group, major investors in Lassiters. Monitors Reece Sinclair’s activities, initially urging her return home but ultimately permitting her to stay. Returns to supervise Lassiters' operations and collaborates with Heath Royce in a scheme against Krista Sinclair and Lassiters. Following police involvement, Tess is arrested and commits to taking responsibility. |
| 25 October | Tina Marin | Paris Valentino | Employed at the Lassiters Hotel Dayspa; supplies Reece Sinclair with guest data. Dismissed for poor performance but reinstated through Paul Robinson’s influence in exchange for political backing from her father. |
| 25 October 2023-27 March 2024 | Penny Shrewster | Jessica Husband | Lassiters staff member who causes disturbances resulting in termination; involved in attempted theft and linked to an incident harming Krista Sinclair. |
| 1-15 November 2023, 21 November 2024- | Hudson Greene | Nikita Chronis | Mechanic at Erinsborough#Fitzgerald Motors, facilitates vehicle sales associated with key individuals. Retained as manager after ownership changes; mentors apprentice Max Ramsay. |
| 1 November | Theo Kaloudis | Lawrence Hawkins | Student who sells Reece Sinclair a car previously owned by her missing sister, Krista. |
| 9 November | Ted Munce | David Simes | Receptionist at a backpackers' hostel who fails to recognize Krista Sinclair from photographs. |
| 16 November 2023, 30 September-4 December 2024 | Senior Sergeant Tony Thompson | Damien Aylward | Police officer involved in investigating Krista Sinclair’s death and handling local incidents. Suspends fellow officer Andrew Rodwell for misconduct. Assists Krista in locating a friend. |
| Date(s) | Character | Actor | Context |
|---|
|- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 20 November
| Gillian Byrne | Sally Cheng | Councillor of Erinsborough attending a proposal combining educational and aged care facilities. |- | Anthony Marin | Gregory Caine | Conservative councillor bribed by Paul Robinson to endorse the proposal in return for reinstating his daughter's employment.
|- ! scope="row"|
| Neil Martello | Steven Oktaras | Security personnel employed by Terese Willis at Erinsborough High School; involved in removing protesters and inadvertently causes injury during escort duties.
|- ! scope="row"|
| Tamara Daine | Jodie Dry | Former client of Byron Stone’s escort service; attempts to rehire him despite his recent separation from Reece Sinclair.
|- |}