Ruth Wilkinson
| Ruth Wilkinson | |||||||||||||
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| Neighbours character | |||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Ailsa Piper | ||||||||||||
| Duration | 1996–99, 2005 | ||||||||||||
| First appearance | 3 October 1996 | ||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 27 July 2005 | ||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Stanley Walsh (1996) Ric Pellizerri (2005) |
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| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||
| Occupation | Physiotherapist | ||||||||||||
| Home | Darwin | ||||||||||||
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| Husband | Bill Hails (until 1996) Philip Martin (1998–) |
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| Sons |
Ben Atkins Lance Wilkinson |
| Daughters | Anne Wilkinson |
| Stepsons | Michael Martin |
| Stepdaughters |
Debbie Martin Hannah Martin |
| Grandsons | Jackson Kennedy |
Ruth Wilkinson (previously Hails) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ailsa Piper. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1996. Ruth was a divorced single mother, who came to Erinsborough as Helen Daniels' new physiotherapist. Ruth began a relationship with Philip Martin, which attracted some opposition from their children. Ruth and Philip also had to cope with Ruth's long lost son, Ben, arriving to meet his mother. Philip and Ruth married in 1998, amid a breast cancer scare for Ruth. Producers decided to write the Martin family out of Neighbours and they departed on 20 October 1999. In 2005, Piper reprised her role for the show's 20th anniversary.
Piper was an established theatre actress and had not acted in television until she joined the cast of Neighbours in 1996. Piper was considered for the role of Susan Kennedy before she was cast as Ruth, a new love interest for Philip Martin (Ian Rawlings). In September 1999, Inside Soap reported that the Martin family had been written out of Neighbours and that they had already filmed their final scenes. Piper revealed that she had expected to leave after her first two-year contract ended and the extra time had been a bonus. Piper added that filming her final scenes was very emotional. In April 2005, Piper reprised her role as Ruth for Neighbours' 20th anniversary episode in July of that year.
Ruth was a Physiotherapist who arrives in Ramsay Street to care for Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy). Ruth was a single mother to Lance (Andrew Bibby) and Anne (Brooke Satchwell) and the Illawarra Mercury said Piper's role allowed her to "portray the non-traditional family unit in a positive light." When asked in what ways she was similar to her character, Piper told The Sydney Morning Herald, "We share the same legs and the same quick temper." Ruth gets on well with Helen, but not with her grandson-in-law, Philip (Ian Rawlings). However, when her ex-husband, Bill Hails (Ian Stanley), appeared, Philip becomes a "useful ally." Phil becomes nervous about asking Ruth out and he is "egged on" by Helen who plays matchmaker. The Daily Record said "the makers of Neighbours can stretch out this relationship for several episodes before we have a clear idea if it's actually going anywhere." Lance later catches Ruth and Philip sharing a secret kiss and they begin a relationship. The BBC said Ruth and Philip's relationship was "no picnic" and their children took time getting used to it. Philip's youngest daughter, Hannah (Rebecca Ritters), resents Ruth until they have a heart to heart talk.
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