Gemma Reeves
| Gemma Reeves | |||||||||||||
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| Neighbours character | |||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Kathryn Beck | ||||||||||||
| Duration | 2013–14 | ||||||||||||
| First appearance | 7 October 2013 | ||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 10 January 2014 | ||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Richard Jasek | ||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; recurring | ||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||
| Other names | Ursula Abel | ||||||||||||
| Occupation | Biology teacher | ||||||||||||
| Home | Birregurra | ||||||||||||
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| Father | Barry Reeves |
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| Mother | Coral Reeves |
| Brothers | Tad Reeves (adoptive) |
| Aunts | Angie Rebecchi |
| First cousins |
Toadfish Rebecchi Georgia Brooks |
| Other relatives |
Callum Jones Nell Rebecchi |
Gemma "Gem" Reeves is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kathryn Beck. The actress's casting was first announced in September 2013, while a promotional trailer for the character was also released. Beck commented that she loved playing Gem because she pushed boundaries. The character made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 7 October 2013. She departed on 10 January 2014, with series producer Jason Herbison commenting that she could return in the future.
Gem was introduced as the cousin of established characters Georgia Brooks (Saskia Hampele) and Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney). She was portrayed as "a schemer", "cunning", manipulative and having "a nasty streak". Using her position as a biology teacher, Gem sabotaged some of her students, while also encouraging Bailey Turner's (Calen Mackenzie) crush on her. Gem later used Bailey to achieve her own needs. Gem's obsession with Georgia led her to manipulate and isolate her from her friends and fiancé. After showing her true colours, Gem attacked Georgia and left her for dead.
Critical opinion on the character has been mostly positive. She has been described as someone "viewers love to hate", a "superbitch" and a "fun whacko", but Gem also been called "one of the soap's most irritating characters". One critic thought Beck was doing "an excellent job" and the character's appearance and introduction also received positive attention.
In September 2013, the show's then executive producer Richard Jasek teased Gem's introduction, saying established character Georgia Brooks (Saskia Hampele) would have "a relative coming to visit, who's going to cause absolute merry hell for everyone." That same month a promotional trailer previewing Gem's arrival was released. The character had previously been mentioned on-screen by her family members, but had never been seen before. It was also announced that actress Kathryn Beck had been cast in the guest role of Gem. Beck commented "I loved playing Gem because she pushes all the boundaries and just when you think she has gone too far, she goes further." The actress made her first screen appearance as Gem during the episode broadcast on 7 October 2013.
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