Sky Mangel

Sky Mangel
Stephanie McIntosh as Sky Mangel (2007)
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Miranda Fryer (1989–91) Stephanie McIntosh (2003–15)
Duration	1989–91, 2003–07, 2015
First appearance	1 February 1989
Last appearance	20 March 2015
Created by	Ray Kolle
Introduced by	Don Battye (1989) Ric Pellizerri (2003) Jason Herbison (2015)
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	Student at Erinsborough High (2003–05) Waitress (2003–07) Cartoon writer (2004–05) Student at Eden Hills University (2006–07) DJ (2006) Telemarketer (2006)
Home	Port Douglas
Father Eric Jensen Mother Kerry Bishop Adoptive father Joe Mangel Brothers Toby Mangel (adoptive) Sons Scotty Daughters Kerry Mangel Grandfathers Harold Bishop Len Mangel Grandmothers Mavis Bishop Nell Mangel Madge Bishop Uncles David Bishop Aunts Liljana Ristic First cousins Serena Bishop Jane Harris

Sky Mangel (also Bishop) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 1 February 1989. The character was originally played by Miranda Fryer until 1991. When Sky was reintroduced on 13 August 2003, Stephanie McIntosh took over the role. She departed on 3 August 2007. McIntosh reprised her role as part of the show's 30th anniversary celebrations and Sky appeared via Skype on 20 March 2015.

Miranda Fryer was cast in the role of an infant Sky after being spotted in a supermarket. When the character was brought back in 2003, Stephanie McIntosh was cast in the role. McIntosh told Heather Gallagher from The Age that she had completed a term of Year 12 when she was offered the part of Sky. She made the decision to leave school because the role was "just too good to refuse." McIntosh made her first screen appearance as Sky on 13 August 2003.

McIntosh described Sky as being "a lot of fun, intrigued about life and very positive." She said that Sky was "pretty out there", more than herself, but could not ask for a better character to portray. The actress also thought that a lot of viewers could relate to Sky, who had endured the tragedy of her mother's death and bullying at school. McIntosh added "She's shown you can stand up for yourself and that's OK." For the role, McIntosh, who is a natural blonde, had to cut her hair short and dye it black and blue. The actress told Gallagher that she hated Sky's hair and it made things difficult for her in real-life, saying "A couple of times I walked into a shop and people watched me, waiting to see if I was going to steal anything." Sky's hairstyle later became long and blonde, which McIntosh revealed had come from her, but it was also in keeping with the character's evolution.

In 2004, Lana Crawford (Bridget Neval) was introduced to Neighbours. She was the soap's first ever openly lesbian character. Sky was seen by viewers becoming friends with Lana and they later shared Neighbours' first on-screen lesbian kiss.

After the kiss was shown in the G-rated timeslot, the storyline was attacked by radio callers and conservative groups for "making homosexuality look cool". Peter Stokes, chief executive of Christian group Salt Shakers said "It just saddens me that we give our young people the message that these relationships are OK". Ric Pellizzeri, Neighbours' executive producer, said the show was reflecting reality by becoming more contemporary. He said "We are not condoning or promoting homosexuality...ultimately, we're telling a story about tolerance". Pellizzeri also added that the kiss was as far as the show would go, but it would not be "dissuaded from telling stories about homosexuality".