Kirsten Gannon

Kirsten Gannon
Nikola Dubois as Kirsten Gannon (2008)
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Nikola Dubois
Duration	2007–08
First appearance	19 June 2007
Last appearance	31 July 2008
Introduced by	Ric Pellizzeri
Classification	Former; recurring
Profile
Occupation	Hairdresser Barmaid Lassiter's receptionist
Home	Perth
Sons Mickey Gannon

Kirsten Gannon is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Nikola Dubois She first appeared on-screen on 19 June 2007. Although Dubois was not contracted as a regular cast member, Kirsten appeared constantly for more than a year. In the short time Kirsten was featured, she was central to many key storylines including blackmail, an affair, burns and abandoning her young child. She left the show on 31 July 2008.

While the casting process was under way actress Nikola Dubois auditioned, she subsequently went on to play the part. During her audition Dubois revealed that she found the audition easy stating: "It was a strange audition because I remember reading the scene and I just understood where this poor woman was coming from. And I didn't need to learn the lines either... I just knew them." Dubois was originally only contracted for three works of filming as the character was only intended to guest in the series. Producers later saw potential in keeping the character, of this Dubois has said: "I was really only ever meant to be on the show for three weeks, but the writers liked the way I took the character and so they invited me back for another month. It just kept happening like that, an extra few months here and there, and before I knew it, I'd been on the show for over a year!" Of her casting she said: " I was quite shocked that I got the role – and very excited. I was even more shocked when my agent called to tell me they wanted me to come back and then have an affair with Paul Robinson!"

Kirsten was portrayed as a scheming, at times desperate character who tried her best to achieve high, but often failed due to her bad choices. Of this Dubois stated during an interview about her character: "Kirsten was really fun to play. It's always fun playing the trouble maker. I think Kirsten was really misunderstood on Ramsay Street – she never found a place where she belonged... and she so desperately wanted to fit in." Also adding: "Mickey was her number one priority. She did everything that she did because she wanted to be something Mickey could be proud of. I think she made a lot of mistakes – but desperation sometimes makes you do things without thinking first." She has also described Kirsten as desperate at time, due to her troubled past, but brave.

Describing a storyline in which Kirsten exposes Janae Timmins (Eliza Taylor-Cotter) and Darren Stark's (Todd MacDonald) kiss, Dan Bennet speaking for Network Ten states: "Very early on, the kiss will be exposed. Kirsten saw it all &, being the vindictive ex that she is, she'll make Janae's life hell. The relationship between Janae & Ned is very much tested after her kiss."