Yahoo News Neighbours star promises "terrifying" Finn scenes
Neighbours kicks off a big new storyline for Elly Conway this week as she's reunited with her estranged sister Bea Nilsson.
Elly couldn't be more excited to have this opportunity to build bridges with her sibling after years apart, but there's a very unsettling twist when we later find out that Bea (Bonnie Anderson) is dating the dastardly Finn Kelly.
With Bea under the impression that Finn (Rob Mills) is called "Patrick", it's clear that he's pulling all the strings and back to his old manipulative tricks. But how long will it take the sisters to realise that?
Digital Spy recently caught up with Jodi Anasta, who plays Elly, to hear more about the storyline.
How did you feel about Neighbours bringing in Elly's sister for the first time?
"I remember they told me about it six months ago and I have just been so excited this whole time. To then find out it was Bonnie Anderson playing Bea was even better, because it's been an absolute joy to work with her.
"Bea's arrival gives Elly that next level of depth. It gives the audience the opportunity to really get to know her better and to see those family relationships play out. You'll see the good and the bad history that Elly has with her sister, so it's really exciting."
Can you tell us a bit about the history between the two sisters?
"When Elly was growing up, she was always really close to her mum Liz. On the other hand, Bea always reminded Liz of Bea's dad. That brought a lot of pain to Liz, so she sided with Elly all the time and that made Bea feel really left out.
"On top of that, Elly was really selfish when she was growing up. She was partying too hard, and she was obsessed with uni and boys. Elly never gave Bea the time of day, so she has a lot of making up to do.
"There are huge things that happen once Bea arrives and the backstory starts to unfold. It's such a great storyline."
To make matters even more complicated, Finn Kelly is back...
"Finn Kelly is like a cat with nine lives – I was in shock when I heard that he was coming back! I didn't think that Finn would manage to make his way back to Erinsborough, but here he is again and it's an absolutely huge storyline.
"It's been a lot of fun to play that storyline with Bonnie and with Jackie Woodburne. I don't know how much I can go into it, but it really affects nearly everyone in Erinsborough."
We're guessing Elly should be pretty worried about Finn's connection to her sister...
"Yeah, I think once Elly cottons onto that, everything changes. But she doesn't realise what's going on at the start. Elly doesn't even realise that Finn is back in town until it's too late, and by that point, she's in a very dangerous position. A lot of the family is in a very dangerous position and it's almost a little bit too late.
"You'll have to wait and see what happens, but it's quite terrifying. Rob Mills plays that character so well."
Are you glad that you've made this move into another long-running soap?
"I absolutely love it. I can honestly say that I wake up every morning and it's exciting and inspiring to go to work. I get to play out these incredible storylines, I have a character that I love, and I'm working with great, honest people who are also awesome actors. There's a really great sense of camaraderie and family at Neighbours, and I really like that."
Do you monitor the fan reaction to Elly?
"I remember when I first started in the show, I would have people tell me what people were saying all the time – but it was not to my benefit to know. Especially not when Elly first joined the show, because she was still stuck in her old ways and people weren't warming to her.
"I knew people would warm to her eventually, once the facade came down and people got to know her. I knew they would really embrace her, but at the start it was quite horrible. Every character has that, though – there are people who like you and people who hate you.
"I haven't found that it's beneficial to monitor the reaction, but if I need some feedback, I like to speak to the producers, the directors or fellow cast members. Sometimes I'll even find out my family's opinion of her, because if they don't like something Elly is doing, they'll give it to me in a different way.
"When it's online, it can stray into people attacking you for personal reasons, so I try not to worry about that. I just focus on the work that I'm doing and enjoying it."
Did you enjoy playing Elly's edgier side, or do you prefer it when she's nicer?
"At the start, it was a challenge for me playing this character who was doing outrageous things. I'd find myself thinking: 'I can't believe I'm doing this – how am I going to make this girl loveable? How am I going to find the truth, the honesty and the vulnerability in everything she's doing? There's definitely a story behind why she's acting out so much'.
"It's been a great journey for me to find all these things out about Elly and slowly showing them, but it was a challenge at the start. I really like the space that Elly is in now. She's doing really well with work, she's responsible, she's focused and she's doing the right thing.
"She's supporting a lot of the relationships around her, and she has a wonderful friendship with Amy. She's getting to know her sister Bea again, and there's her mum Liz and her aunty Susan too. I find that more exciting and a little bit deeper, so I'm enjoying it."
Would you like Elly to find the right guy and settle down with him?
"I feel like Elly has already found him, but it's just a timing thing. He's right in front of her eyes and always has been, but it's finding that time for two people to be together. I've always believed who Elly should be with from the start and I've felt that the writers have always leant towards that.
"Mark and Elly only dated for a little while, but they've always shown that they had this really special energy about them. We'll see what happens."
What's it like to work with Jackie Woodburne (Susan) and Alan Fletcher (Karl)?
"It's phenomenal and I feel really lucky. I really look up to Jackie in lots of ways. Not only on set as an actor, but also as a person and a woman. I find her really inspiring, both on and off the screen.
"So getting to do the majority of my huge storylines with Jackie and with Fletch as well, I'm in a room with the best of the best. They will pull me up at any second if they think they can help me or make me better. As an actress, that's a really safe environment to be in and one where you can learn and grow very quickly."
You must be pleased to see Felix Mallard (Ben Kirk) landing his big new role in the States?
"He's killing it. I'm so proud and happy for him. Not only is he a great actor, but he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met in my life and he's so humble. He's just so deserving of everything that comes his way. Felix is incredibly talented with acting and with music as well, so there are only bigger and better things coming for him."
What would be your dream storyline to play as Elly?
"To be honest, you're probably not going to believe me, but my dream storyline was for Elly to have a sister and for the sister to come to Erinsborough! When I was growing up, I always wanted a little sister but I never had one.
"When I first came to Neighbours, I thought it'd be nice for Elly to have a sister and to live out that little girl dream on screen. So it's a really special time and I'm really loving this storyline at the moment."
Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.
Read more news, spoilers and gossip on our Neighbours homepage
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