| Helen
Daniels Anne Haddy 1985-1997: A matriarch in the truest sense of the word,
Helen was the essence of Neighbours for the 12 years she featured in the
show. From the beginning, she managed to dispel the myth that mothers-in-law
were crabby and interfering. Helen took on the responsibility for her
grandchildren when her daughter, Anne, died and this theme continued as the
years went on. Whenever there was a teenager with nowhere to go, Helen was
quick to offer them a home or, at the very least, some good advice. Despite
going through her own personal problems, including being kidnapped several
times, marrying a bigamist and a series of health concerns, Helen never
stopped being there for her friends and neighbours. Sadly, during her last
couple of years in the show, Helen's health really began to fail her,
reflecting the real-life problems of the wonderful actress Anne Haddy. Much
of her final months were spent off-screen in hospital, but Helen returned to
Ramsay Street one last time, in a bid to end the feud between the Bishops
and Martins. Having reunited them over a video of
Scott and
Charlene's wedding, Helen quietly passed away on
the settee, an event from which Ramsay Street never really recovered.
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Reg Watson created the part of Helen Daniels to dispel the myth that all
mothers-in-law are battle-axes. Played by Anne Haddy, she was the longest
serving character until she left in 1998. She is the linchpin of Neighbours
and the person people turn to when they're in trouble. Her life of
experience means she has words of comfort for every situation: she was
happily married to Bill Daniels for over forty years, or so she thought. It
was only after his death she learnt her sister Laura had had an affair with
him.
She also had the pain of burying one daughter (and bringing up her children)
and telling the other that she was adopted. She married again twice, first
to Bill's cousin Michael (but this was later annulled as he was revealed to
be a bigamist) and to Ruben White who died shortly after the ceremony. Helen
is everyone's friend and is universally loved.
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Occupation: Artist, owner of Home James chauffers.
Lived at: 26 Ramsay Street
Related to: Mother of Anne Daniels, adoptive mother of Rosemary Daniels,
mother-in-law of Jim Robinson. Grandmother to Paul, Scott and Lucy Robinson,
and Julie Robinson-Martin. Great-grandmother to Hannah Martin.
Also: Hilary Robinson, Matt Robinson, Beverly Robinson, Phil Martin, Michael
Martin, Debbie Martin.
Love interest: Bill Daniels (late husband) Douglas Blake, Gerard Singer,
Michael Daniels, Len Mangel, Reuben White,
Most notable moment: Being kidnapped.
Married,
Michael Daniels, July 1991.
Rueben White, May 1995 |
