Beth Brennan
| Beth Brennan | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Neighbours character | |||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Natalie Imbruglia | ||||||||||
| Duration | 1992–1994 | ||||||||||
| First appearance | 6 January 1992 | ||||||||||
| Last appearance | 29 August 1994 | ||||||||||
| Introduced by |
Don Battye (1992) Stanley Walsh (1994) |
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| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||
| Other names | Beth Willis | ||||||||||
| Occupation | Chambermaid Builder's apprentice |
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| Home | Sydney | ||||||||||
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| Father | Bill Brennan |
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| Mother | Phyllis Brennan |
| Brothers | David Brennan |
| Husband | Brad Willis (1993–; divorced) |
| Sons | Ned Willis |
Elizabeth "Beth" Brennan (also Willis) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Imbruglia. She made her debut screen appearance in the episode broadcast on 6 January 1992. She married Brad Willis in 1993, and the couple left Erinsborough for Perth. Behind the scenes Imbruglia quit the serial. Beth returned briefly in 1994 for the naming day of Brad's nephew, Zac Willis.
Imbruglia was sixteen when she auditioned for and was cast in the role of Beth. Imbruglia later revealed that she was asked to parade up and down in a bikini during her audition and it left her with a fear of disrobing for the cameras. The actress had to relocate from Sydney to Melbourne for filming. Imbruglia's character was initially written into the show for just a few weeks and she had to wait two months to find out whether she would become a permanent cast member. Imbruglia told a reporter for Inside Soap "It was eight weeks of sheer torture. Every time the phone rang my nerves jangled, too. When my agent finally called to break the news, she knew how nervous I was so she told me to get a chair and sit down." Imbruglia's agent told her that the show's producers wanted to sign her for a year and she believed the permanent position would allow her to prove herself.
Imbruglia found being a celebrity uncomfortable and when she became disappointed by the scripts given to her, she asked the producers to write her out. Imbruglia briefly reprised the role for three weeks in 1994. The storyline saw Beth return to Erinsborough to meet Gaby Willis's (Rachel Blakely) newborn son. Imbruglia turned down an offer to return full-time, but she said she was open to making a few guest appearances. Imbruglia was asked to take part in the show's 20th anniversary celebrations, but she declined. When asked about a return to Neighbours she said "I'll always be grateful to the show for launching my career, but I wouldn't want to revisit that time."
Beth is "Country girl" at heart, she went on a journey during her time in the serial. Beth came to Ramsay Street in search of a new life, having been abused by her stepfather. She has been described as a "principled and sweet-natured girl". She was portrayed as a virgin desperate to shed her innocence after Annalise Hartman's (Kimberley Davies) harsh words. She came across as over keen and desperate, on different occasions asked Brad Willis to sleep with her, later begging him to stay with her. She also didn't fit the female stereo-type and worked in the construction business, in the show she faced prejudice from male employer who would not offer her an apprenticeship.
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