Sunny Lee

Sunny Lee
Occupation	Fictional character
Years active	2009
Known for	Neighbours

Sunny Lee is a fictional persona featured in the Australian soap series Neighbours, brought to life by actress Hany Lee. Her first appearance was on 8 April 2009, a creation of executive producer Susan Bower who aimed to address criticisms regarding the show's lack of ethnic representation. Hany Lee came to the producers' attention after competing in a contest run by Dolly Magazine for a three-month contract; despite not winning, she was soon cast as Sunny. It was announced in August 2009 that both Lee and her character would exit the series, with Sunny’s final episode airing on 19 November 2009.

Sunny is portrayed as a South Korean exchange student taken into the care of Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne). Exhibiting common adolescent vulnerabilities, she often seemed brusque and distant. Her story arcs involved a romantic link with Zeke Kinski (Matthew Werkmeister), an unexpected kiss from Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie), and becoming the focus of affection from Robin Hester (Benjamin Jay). The character generally received unfavorable reviews from critics.

Creation and casting

In mid-2008, Neighbours was criticized for its predominantly white cast, particularly by black and Asian audiences in the UK. Media reports underscored the underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in popular television programming. Similar concerns about diversity were voiced in Australia regarding soap opera casting. Responding to this, executive producer Susan Bower introduced characters reflecting greater ethnic variety, including casting 15-year-old Korean actress Hany Lee as exchange student Sunny Lee. Bower acknowledged potential backlash but stressed the importance of cultural inclusivity.

Hany Lee earned consideration through participation in Dolly Magazine's "Neighbours' Next Big Stars" competition, reaching the final ten but ultimately not securing the six-week contract. Nevertheless, producers later cast her as Sunny based on her audition submission from the contest.

Lee’s departure was confirmed in August 2009; she completed filming the following month, with her final scenes broadcast in November. She expressed that she would miss the friendships developed during her time on set.

Development

Characterisation

Sunny’s experience of Western culture led her to challenge the traditional patriarchal values of her Korean background, positioning her as somewhat rebellious among her contemporaries. Upon introduction, Five's Holy Soap described her as detached yet intelligent, self-assured, outspoken, and "full of contradictions". She displayed typical teenage anxieties such as feeling self-conscious about wearing braces and lacking romantic experience, which contributed to a sometimes harsh demeanor. What's on TV highlighted Sunny’s initial dissatisfaction with life in Erinsborough, portraying her as pretentious and unapproachable—a façade concealing deeper insecurities.

Lee noted that Sunny’s fashion sense and attitude reflect her Asian heritage and that she shares experiences like having strict parents. Upon leaving the show, Lee remarked that Sunny’s decision to depart was motivated by a desire to avoid causing family turmoil, especially following Susan’s health challenges.

Relationships

Initially finding it difficult to bond with other girls, Sunny confided in Pirate Net’s 'Lost Boy' about her troubled history and sibling disputes.

Tensions frequently arose between Sunny and housemate Zeke Kinski, prompting speculation about a possible romance. Their relationship eventually developed after Sunny revealed some of her vulnerabilities. Holy Soap described their romance as emerging through much "to-ing and fro-ing". Network Ten credited Sunny with aiding Zeke’s emotional recovery and stability. Executive producer Bower referred to them as the show's "Romeo and Juliet couple," emphasizing how cultural differences fueled their interactions.

Robin Hester (played by Benjamin Jay) developed an infatuation with Sunny and sought to undermine her relationship with Zeke. Digital Spy characterized Robin as manipulative, while Holy Soap labeled him "creepy". Robin even confined Zeke in a storeroom at Pirate Net to isolate him. Lee identified this plotline as one of her favorites because it revealed multiple facets of Sunny’s personality.

Same-sex kiss

A prominent storyline for Sunny involved an unexpected kiss with fellow character Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie). This occurred after Donna discovered that Sunny had been composing love letters on behalf of Donna's boyfriend. Donna then impulsively kissed Sunny, catching her off guard. Lee remarked, "Sunny had been thinking about kissing Zeke, but Donna stole that moment – which didn’t please Sunny..."

Previously, a kiss between Lana Crawford (Bridget Neval) and Sky Mangel (Stephanie McIntosh) in 2004 had attracted complaints from conservative groups. The producers described the Sunny-Donna kiss as spontaneous rather than part of an ongoing gay storyline; Robbie added it was merely "an impulsive peck." This plot unfolded shortly after rival soap Home and Away experienced backlash over its same-sex romance portrayal.

The storyline drew criticism from the Australian Family Association, which expressed concerns about television normalizing same-sex relationships. Conversely, psychologist Dr Janet Hall commended it for fostering family conversations. Executive producer Susan Bower defended the scene, clarifying it was filmed prior to the Home and Away controversy and describing it as "a sweet story about friendship" without sexual connotations. She added that if Neighbours were to explore a lesbian narrative fully, it would be handled appropriately, emphasizing that this was simply a teenage romantic moment.

Storylines

After their stepdaughter leaves home, Susan and Karl Kennedy welcome exchange student Sunny into their household. On her first night, Sunny calls into Pirate Net radio and confides in 'Lost Boy' about her past struggles—unaware he is actually housemate Zeke Kinski.

During auditions for a school play where they are both cast in lead roles, romantic tension develops between Sunny and Zeke. She initially quits when required to kiss him but later reconciles upon learning he is 'Lost Boy'. Jealousy arises when Donna Freedman rehearses kissing scenes with Zeke. Despite obstacles, Sunny and Zeke begin dating.

Sunny assists Ringo Brown by writing love letters to Donna; when Donna uncovers this secret, she kisses Sunny unexpectedly, upsetting her. Sunny shares her first kiss with Zeke during the play but ends their relationship due to difficulty with public displays of affection and declining academic performance; she admits lying about informing her parents.

At a music festival, an interrupted kiss causes Sunny to fall down a cliff injuring her ankle; Zeke also falls but both are rescued by Declan Napier and Lucas Fitzgerald. Susan and Karl contact Sunny's parents who insist she return home. To alleviate concerns, Zeke moves out temporarily but returns; Sunny deceives her father about their relationship status.

After a radio broadcast reveals personal details, Robin Hester arrives in Ramsay Street pursuing Sunny. He invades her privacy and locks Zeke inside Pirate Net’s storeroom. Despite warnings from Zeke, Sunny initially trusts Robin until his violent behavior becomes apparent. After ending things with Zeke, she rejects Robin’s advances.

Libby accuses Zeke of cheating on an essay; however, Sunny confesses she wrote it under duress from Kyle Canning. Karl and Susan urge Sunny to inform her parents about Zeke; they request she come home. Although Zeke offers to accompany her back to South Korea, he remains after Sunny recognizes how much the Kennedys rely on him. On her last day in Erinsborough, Zeke arranges a picnic featuring The Black Skirts at Charlie's bar. After departing, Sunny sends Zeke a text asking him not to contact her again.

Reception

During her tenure on Neighbours, reception toward Sunny was predominantly negative. Upon introduction, a reporter from the Western Mail predicted audiences would quickly grow weary of Sunny's character, describing her as "downright irritating." Ruth Deller from entertainment site Lowculture called the character "annoying" without additional depth or complexity. She also doubted that Zeke—portrayed as a consistently moody emo teenager—would realistically fall for her and hoped for a brief stay for Sunny on Ramsay Street. In November, Deller dismissed the storyline involving Sunny, Zeke, and Robin as "ludicrous," ranking Sunny at number one on a list of "soap characters we love to hate," citing frustration over her continued presence.

In an overview highlighting top soap characters over the decade's best and worst lists, Sunny ranked eighth among worst characters. Deller noted that although Neighbours has faced challenges incorporating ethnic diversity effectively, introducing a non-white lead like Sunny resulted in one of the most wooden and irksome roles since Ned. She expressed hope this negative reception would not discourage future casting of ethnically diverse actors.