Janelle Timmins
Janelle Steiger | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Janelle Timmins |
| Occupation | Fictional character |
| Years active | 2004–2007, 2015 |
| Known for | Character on Neighbours |
Janelle Steiger (also known as Timmins) is a fictional persona from the Australian soap Neighbours, brought to life by actress Nell Feeney. She made her first appearance on 11 November 2004 and exited the series on 13 July 2007. Feeney reprised the role for a special episode commemorating the show's 30th anniversary on 11 March 2015.
Introduction and portrayal
Janelle was introduced as the second character from the Timmins family. Producer Peter Dodds referred to her as "quite a character," highlighting her "complicated relationship" with her son Stingray (Ben Nicholas), which generated numerous story conflicts. She is the younger sibling of Kevin Rebecchi (Don Bridges) and mother to six children with ex-husband Kim Timmins (Brett Swain). The official series website described Janelle as "a tough-as-nails bogan" with a romantic streak, noting her tendency to manipulate men while remaining loyal to Kim. Early plotlines involved disputes arising from her parking a trailer in the middle of Ramsay Street. Prior to this role, Nell Feeney appeared in 2003 as Joanne Blair.
Exit
In December 2006, the production team behind Neighbours opted to remove both Janelle and her on-screen daughter, Bree (Sianoa Smit-McPhee), deciding against renewing their contracts following the departures of Nicholas and Damien Bodie (Dylan Timmins).[1] Co-star Ian Smith (Harold Bishop) criticized this decision as a "huge mistake".[1] Janelle and Bree's final scenes aired in July 2007.[1]
Comeback
On 28 November 2014, Feeney returned to portray Janelle once more for the special celebrations marking Neighbours' 30th anniversary events.[2] Janelle reappeared during the Erinsborough Festival's baking contest on 11 March 2015.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name During this visit, she became involved in a dispute between Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) and Sheila Canning (Colette Mann), reigniting her rivalry with Susan.[3] After their cakes were sabotaged, judge Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher)'s trifle won the competition, which united the women in shared frustration.[3] Ultimately, Janelle, Susan, and Sheila were jointly awarded the People's Choice Award.[3]
Storylines
Janelle arrives on Ramsay Street seeking assistance from her son Stingray and nephew Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) following a car crash. She asks Stingray to remain and help care for her daughters Bree and Janae Timmins (Eliza Taylor-Cotter). After securing $5,000 in compensation, she settles into Ramsay Street, taking a job at the local hair salon and reconnecting with son Dylan. Alongside Lyn Scully and Susan Kennedy, she briefly dates Bobby Hoyland but retaliates when he deceives them.
Facing mounting credit card debt, Janelle initially flees with her daughters to Canberra but returns to launch a courier business and write an autobiographical novel titled The Bogan's Tipped Hair, inspired by life on Ramsay Street. Following Dylan's presumed death, Kim reappears; although Janelle resists at first, they eventually reconcile. The novel attracts interest from publishers; meanwhile, it emerges that Bree was switched at birth, complicating family relationships.
Kim's illegal DVD sales aimed at funding their wedding result in police involvement; Janelle accepts responsibility and confronts fines and legal action. Bree befriends Anne Baxter (Tessa James), who later reveals herself as Janelle's biological daughter. After Anne is reclaimed by her birth parents, Kim's mother Loris purchases Number 26 and moves in with the family. During this period, Janelle dates Allan Steiger (Joe Clements) while managing various family health crises and coping with Stingray's unexpected death.
Allan proposes marriage; they wed before relocating to Cairns along with most of the family. Eight years later, Janelle returns for the Erinsborough Festival baking contest where she reconnects with Susan and Karl Kennedy. After sharing the People's Choice Award with Susan and Sheila, she departs back to Cairns.
Reception
A BBC writer in 2005 highlighted Janelle's introduction as a significant moment, anticipating more developments.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Sarah Ellis of Inside Soap dubbed her a "madcap mum," applauding her comedic blunders.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Roz Laws from the Sunday Mercury referred to her as one of "the three witches of Erinsborough" during a love triangle storyline.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
John Mangan from The Age portrayed Janelle as a determined "battler" who transformed her life from humble trailer park beginnings into publishing a novel about her experiences.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Larissa Dubecki labeled her initially as a "wannabe trash novelist airhead" and later described her as an "arch bogan".Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The Daily Record commented that "honesty isn't a word in her vocabulary".Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name On the Huffpost list of "35 greatest Neighbours characters," she ranked twenty-sixth and was described as a "much-missed character" whose family represented "true blue bogans".Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Her return in 2015 was included among Neighbours' 30 most memorable moments by the Herald Sun. Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name