Finlay Roberts
Finlay "Fin" Roberts | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Fictional character |
| Years active | 1991–1994, 1996, 1997 |
| Known for | Home and Away |
Finlay "Fin" Roberts is a character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, brought to life by actress Tina Thomsen. She first appeared on 18 September 1991 and departed on 20 May 1994, with subsequent guest returns in 1996 and 1997. A younger version of Finlay was portrayed by Jessie Bullions in a flashback episode aired in 1997.
Casting
At the time of her casting, Thomsen was still a teenager and moved her family from Brisbane to Sydney to accommodate filming schedules. She revealed to Jenna Price of The Sydney Morning Herald that she was the primary motivator behind relocating, with her parents fully supporting her choice.
In February 1994, it was announced that Thomsen would be leaving the series, having completed her final scenes by 25 March. She expressed no regrets about her departure, mentioning that after three years on the show, Finlay’s storylines had become limited, prompting her decision to move on. Producer Russell Webb concurred that the character’s narrative had reached its natural conclusion. Thomsen appreciated the exposure she gained, the friendships formed, and particularly valued her connection with co-star Andrew Hill, who played Haydn Ross.
By 2012, Lynne McGranger—who plays Finlay’s on-screen mother Irene Roberts—expressed doubt about Finlay’s return to the show, noting that Thomsen had stepped away from acting to concentrate on raising her children.
Character development
Finlay becomes romantically involved with Blake Dean (Les Hill), sharing an unexpected and intense kiss. Blake is still grieving the loss of his girlfriend Meg Bowman (Cathy Godbold), who passed away due to leukaemia. After a difficult and love-deprived upbringing, Finlay believes she has finally found love. Eager to reveal their relationship publicly, she is taken aback when Blake admits he still harbors feelings for Meg. A reporter from Inside Soap observed that Finlay has "truly fallen for" Blake and feels both "hurt and embarrassed" by his initial refusal. Although Blake later reconsiders, Finlay resists his advances, unwilling to risk being hurt once more.
While Finlay declines Blake’s invitation for a date, she agrees to go scuba diving with him as friends. During the dive, she runs out of oxygen and fails to resurface, causing concern that she may have drowned. This dramatic storyline was filmed at UnderWater World in Mooloolaba, Queensland and served as the series’ cliffhanger for the end of the year. Viewers were left awaiting news of her fate; reports hinted she survived but might suffer brain damage. This situation leads to tense confrontations between Finlay’s mother Irene and Blake, who confesses his love for Finlay despite others believing he remains emotionally attached to Meg.
In a separate plotline, Finlay begins using "uppers and downers" to help with studying for her high school certificate. What starts as taking pills intended to improve concentration soon results in irritability and mood swings. When Pippa and Michael ask her to switch bedrooms, Finlay reacts angrily, provoking Michael’s disgust and making her realize she has a drug problem. Actress Tina Thomsen explained that although Finlay initially took the medication with good intentions, it caused mania and tantrums. Efforts to counteract these effects fail, raising Irene’s suspicions. Thomsen stressed that Finlay’s experience demonstrated how drugs are ultimately "bad news".
Speaking on Kilroy Down Under with Robert Kilroy-Silk, Thomsen stated that Finlay’s storyline had a positive influence on younger viewers. She enjoyed portraying the drug-related plot and received letters from young girls and mothers thanking her for addressing this issue. Thomsen related that during her own school years many faced similar pressures, making this storyline particularly relevant. She concluded that tackling such topics is "truly worthwhile" for educating young audiences.
Storylines
Finlay is introduced as a runaway who unsuccessfully attempts to obtain a free meal and spends the night in a boat shed. After waking to find her boat taken by Nick Parrish and Lucinda Croft, Lou provides her with money to stay at the caravan park. She quickly forms a friendship with Sophie Simpson and intends to support herself through schooling. With Sophie’s assistance, Fin secures employment at the Diner. She applies to Summer Bay High, but the newly appointed principal Lois Crawford, aiming to elevate the school's standards, initially denies her admission. Donald Fisher, who was demoted to accommodate Lois, advocates on Fin’s behalf. Following the dismissal of a false allegation against Lois, she is removed from her position and Donald is reinstated. Fin passes an entrance exam on her second try and enrolls in Year 11, moving in with Sophie's foster parents, Michael Ross and Pippa Ross. Donald later discovers that Fin’s mother Irene has reported her missing; Irene struggles with violent alcoholism. Despite Irene’s attempt to manipulate Fin’s brother Damian Roberts against her, Fin chooses her new life and encourages Damian to escape the toxic environment as well.
Fin uncovers that Sophie is pregnant by her deceased boyfriend David Croft. When Sophie begins dating Simon Fitzgerald, Fin betrays Sophie's trust by disclosing the pregnancy secret. She develops a friendship with Meg Bowman and grieves deeply after Meg succumbs to leukaemia. Fin dates Randy Evans, though Michael disapproves of the relationship. After enduring a difficult weekend with Randy’s friends, she stays temporarily with Bobby and Greg Marshall before returning home, where Michael and Pippa officially become her foster parents. Damian runs away from their abusive mother Irene; Fin and Sophie hide him until he is found but permitted to remain with the Ross family. Irene’s aggressive attempts to reclaim Damian fail, resulting in both siblings being fostered by Michael and Pippa.
Concerned about Damian's association with troublemaker Shane Parrish, Fin initially suspects Damian of involvement in a robbery but defends him when Shane’s blackmail is uncovered. Fin shares a kiss with Blake Dean, mistakenly believing they are a couple; upon realizing it was a setup, she retaliates by disrupting Blake’s exam alarm. She later dates Robert Davis and tries to match Sophie with his friend Gary, though Sophie declines the offer. When Sophie and Ryan Lee accidentally discard Fin’s study notes, Robert supplies stolen exam papers for cheating; after confessing, Fin is required to repeat the year.
Fin strengthens her bond with Blake through scuba diving lessons; following a near-drowning incident, they begin dating seriously. Irene returns sober, but both Fin and Damian remain cautious, hiding alcohol in the house and refusing to live with her again. Blake’s sister Karen causes conflict; after Blake departs town following an altercation involving Karen, Fin is left heartbroken. Irene settles permanently in Summer Bay and assists Fin with medication for studying while they work on rebuilding their relationship. Fin's older brother Nathan appears after being released from jail but soon reoffends and is incarcerated again. Michael's son Haydn returns; Fin dates him until his gambling addiction emerges. After deceiving Michael and Pippa, Haydn flees but later returns seeking forgiveness. Roxanne Miller persuades Fin to give him another chance; however, Haydn's efforts to repay his debts fail, leading him to leave town once more. Shortly afterward, Fin leaves Summer Bay to attend college.
Two years later, Fin returns, revealing she suffered a miscarriage six months earlier and is now unable to conceive children naturally. Her boyfriend Barry proposes marriage; they ask Irene to act as their surrogate mother, which she agrees to do. The couple travels to the United States for the surrogacy procedure. Months later, Fin becomes pregnant herself but commits to raising both children. She returns for Irene’s delivery; however, shortly afterward Irene’s son Paul is kidnapped. Irene tells Fin that Paul is not her child and orders her away.
Later on, off-screen reconciliation occurs between Fin and Irene following the birth of Irene’s other son Mark. Irene reunites with Paul and sends him to live with Fin.