Joey Rainbow

Joey Rainbow
Occupation	Fictional character
Years active	1996–1999 (on Home and Away)
Known for	Portrayal in the Australian soap opera Home and Away

Joey Rainbow is a fictional persona featured in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, brought to life by actor Alex O'Han. He first appeared on screen on 20 June 1996. O'Han joined the cast while still attending high school and received support from a tutor present during filming. He departed from the series in May 1999 to prioritize his academic pursuits.

Joey's narrative includes leaving his parents' commune to find belonging in Summer Bay, where he eventually settles with Irene Roberts. He forms friendships with Liam Tanner, Casey Mitchell, and Stephanie Mboto. Joey attempts to start a romantic relationship with Casey, but she declines his advances. O'Han described his character as "innocent and naive," more adept at academic quizzes than matters of romance.

Subsequently, Joey becomes involved with Tiegan Brook, takes on a role as an assistant at Marilyn Chambers' beauty salon, and faces a diagnosis of schizophrenia while completing his HSC. To portray this complex storyline authentically, O'Han conducted thorough research on mental health conditions. His portrayal led to him becoming the ambassador for SANE Australia's mental health campaign, which resulted in a doubling of calls to their helpline promoted via the show's website.

Casting

The role of Joey marked Alex O'Han's first significant television opportunity. He valued portraying a character who differed from himself and managed to balance acting commitments with schooling through the assistance of an on-set tutor. After undergoing appendix surgery in late 1996, filming resumed with modified scripts to accommodate his recovery.

In early 1999, O'Han decided to exit the series to focus fully on his education. Reflecting on his departure, he shared mixed feelings about leaving behind the cast and crew. His final appearance was broadcast in May 1999.

Characterisation

Joey arrives in Summer Bay seeking to escape a troubled upbringing and enrolls at Summer Bay High, where Selina Roberts identifies him as the son of Saul Bennett. Having been raised within Saul's commune, Joey’s background is notably dramatic. He is portrayed as "intelligent but reserved," initially struggling to adjust before finding a sense of belonging with Irene Roberts. He builds friendships with Casey Mitchell, Stephanie Mboto, and Liam Tanner. Known as "nerdy," Joey excels academically, particularly in school quizzes, rather than in social or romantic areas.

Actor Alex O'Han described Joey as "very innocent and naive," often feeling like an outsider unfamiliar with typical teenage experiences. His upbringing in the commune contributed to these difficulties. O'Han noted that Joey was indifferent to social status or appearance, unlike most adolescents. After an embarrassing incident at a party, Joey withdraws socially as his peers focus on relationships; however, he eventually reconnects when others recognize his value as a member of the school quiz team.

Tiegan Brook

Joey’s main romantic involvement is with Tiegan Brook, whom the official show website refers to as "a kind of romance" marked by "ups and downs." From Tiegan’s first day at Summer Bay High, Joey attempts to keep her out of trouble and becomes her steady source of support. When Tiegan is placed with another foster family but later returns seeking Joey, this creates tension with Casey, who also harbors feelings for him.

Sally Marrett, portraying Tiegan, explained that Joey was the first person Tiegan wanted to see upon her return, underscoring their close connection. Tiegan struggles with others’ perceptions of her and conceals her affection for Joey, while Casey’s jealousy threatens their relationship. This situation leads to a rivalry between Tiegan and Casey over Joey.

Schizophrenia

During his final year of school, Joey begins to exhibit symptoms of schizophrenia. Previously well-adjusted, his behavior starts to change in unusual ways, though he remains composed about his condition, in contrast to the anxiety it causes those around him. Irene is the first to identify his mental health struggles and attempts to assist him, but Joey responds with aggression. Actor Alex O'Han conducted thorough research on schizophrenia to ensure an authentic portrayal.

To manage the auditory hallucinations he experiences, Joey turns to marijuana. Initially, O'Han was hesitant about this plot development, stressing the need for an accurate and sensitive depiction of the illness. He acknowledged the storyline’s potential to educate younger audiences, especially those between 16 and 25 years old, offering a more relatable understanding of schizophrenia than conventional documentaries.

O'Han described this as his inaugural long-term storyline, emphasizing the progressive nature of Joey's mental health deterioration. Through this role, he gained insight into the various forms and symptoms associated with schizophrenia. While the scripts outlined Joey’s unpredictable conduct at different phases, O'Han and the director collaborated to determine how best to represent these behaviors. The part challenged him to convincingly convey a dramatic transformation from Joey’s typical personality.

Prior to this arc, Joey was among the least likely characters on the show to engage in substance use such as alcohol or drugs. This marked the series' first exploration of a character living with a mental illness, presenting a novel experience for both O'Han and the production team. He worked closely with producers and the charity SANE, becoming a prominent figurehead featured in campaign materials like posters and leaflets. The Australian Minister for Health commended SANE’s initiative in using Joey’s character for a public health campaign aimed at raising awareness about schizophrenia.

Storylines

Joey arrives in Summer Bay after departing from a nearby commune. It is revealed that he is Saul’s son, which unsettles Selina, who had previously been abducted by Saul. Joey explains that he left the commune to explore life beyond its confines. Irene, acting as Selina’s guardian, agrees to foster him. Early difficulties include adjusting to eating meat and an awkward incident in the Women’s toilets at the Surf Club. Marilyn Chambers encourages Joey to remain in Summer Bay. Conflict arises between Joey and Alex Bennett over their differing opinions of Saul; they later discover they are half-brothers and eventually make peace.

Joey starts attending school but feels self-conscious about his surname, Rainbow. He forms a friendship with Liam and pursues Casey, who is interested only in Liam. The three face danger during a shark attack while out boating. Stephanie joins their circle but tragically dies after falling. Tiegan arrives as Pippa Ross’s newest foster child; Joey assists her with literacy challenges before she is moved elsewhere.

When Irene’s surrogate baby Paul is kidnapped by Wendy Bachelor—whose husband was incarcerated alongside Saul—Joey devises a plan involving returning to the commune to mislead Saul in order to recover Paul. Saul uncovers their deception, traps Joey, Casey, and Liam inside a shed, and sets fire to the commune while holding Selina hostage. Jesse McGregor intervenes and rescues them; Saul is presumed dead, leaving Joey devastated. Paul is found safe and handed over to Irene’s daughter Finlay. Saul later reappears, abducts Selina once again, but is ultimately killed by Constable Terri Garner.

Casey develops an interest in Joey; however, Joey remains fixated on Tiegan, who joins the rock band Monkey Jam before leaving him for its lead singer Colt. Around the time of their HSC exams, Joey begins exhibiting erratic behavior: he has an outburst during an exam and alienates Tiegan when she returns to support him. He behaves rudely toward Will and Hayley Smith and disappears for several days before coming back accompanied by Kaia Stokes from the city. His condition deteriorates further when he claims invulnerability while standing atop a cliff.

Following Aaron’s return, a camping trip ends poorly when Joey panics after smoking marijuana. His symptoms reach a peak when he hallucinates Saul appearing on his computer screen urging him against Irene. In a dangerous episode, Joey attempts to smother Irene but is stopped by Chloe Richards and James Fraser. He then voluntarily admits himself into a psychiatric hospital where he receives a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

After undergoing treatment, Joey develops romantic feelings for Miranda Porter, who reveals she is HIV positive; they maintain a supportive friendship. Although accepted into university, Joey chooses to delay enrollment so he can travel across Australia delivering talks on mental health issues despite concerns expressed by Irene and his friends as he says goodbye to Summer Bay.

Reception

The storyline addressing Joey's schizophrenia received positive acclaim from critics and played a crucial role in boosting mental health awareness for SANE Australia. Collaborating with SANE, whose helpline information was featured on the Home and Away website, the organization experienced a doubling in the volume of calls. An Inside Soap contributor commended the plot for its "carefully observed and thoughtfully portrayed" depiction, highlighting the deliberate selection of a thoughtful, well-rounded character to represent schizophrenia and underline its impartial impact. Channel 5 identified the episode where Joey risks his life to rescue Saul during the commune fire as one of the most memorable Home and Away episodes. Furthermore, a reporter from Soap Stars noted Joey's evolution into a "magnet for admirers," signaling his increasing popularity.

External links

• Joey Rainbow on IMDb