Vanessa Villante
| Vanessa Villante | |||||||||||
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| Neighbours character | |||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Alin Sumarwata | ||||||||||
| Duration | 2012–13, 2015 | ||||||||||
| First appearance | 14 March 2012 | ||||||||||
| Last appearance | 16 November 2015 | ||||||||||
| Introduced by |
Susan Bower (2012) Jason Herbison (2015) |
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| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||
| Occupation | Chef and waitress | ||||||||||
| Home | Daylesford | ||||||||||
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| Father | Tony Villante |
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| Mother | Francesca Villante |
| Husband |
Alek Pocoli (until 2013) Lucas Fitzgerald |
| Sons | Patrick Villante |
| Daughters | Sebastiana |
Vanessa Francesca Antonella Villante is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Alin Sumarwata. The actress's casting was announced on 5 December 2011, though she began filming the week before. Sumarwata and her family relocated to Melbourne and purposely moved near to the studio, so she could manage work and be close to her daughter. The actress stated that she was excited about the role, while the show's executive producer Richard Jasek commented "She's a wonderful actor and we think her character has so many exciting possibilities for us." Sumarwata made her debut screen appearance as Vanessa during the episode broadcast on 14 March 2012. In August 2013, it was revealed that the actress had been written out of the show. Sumarwata returned with Major as part of the show's 30th anniversary celebrations on 4 March 2015. She then appeared in additional episodes and departed the show on 16 November 2015.
Before her arrival on screen, Vanessa was described as someone who embraces life to the full. She is Italian and a professional chef. A TV Week writer called Vanessa "volatile", while an Inside Soap columnist said was "fiercely independent". Sumarwata described her character as being someone who wears their heart on their sleeve. The actress stated that Vanessa's background would be explored in the future, adding a new dimension to the character. Vanessa's first storyline saw her have a one-night stand with Lucas Fitzgerald (Scott Major), before falling pregnant. Sumarwata thought the storyline was a great way to get viewers talking about the character. Vanessa later developed a relationship with Rhys Lawson (Ben Barber), became involved in a sham wedding storyline and gave birth to a son.
On 5 December 2011, Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy reported Sumarwata had joined the cast of Neighbours as regular character, Vanessa Villante. Sumarwata relocated to Melbourne from Sydney with her husband and their young daughter, and she filmed her first scenes the week before her casting announcement. She told Kilkelly "Everything happened so quickly and it coincided with the move from Sydney - it was very chaotic at first and it did take a while. I felt I was coming to work, then dashing back to the baby between scenes - very full on! However, now I feel settled and I know what to expect." The actress explained that she and husband deliberately moved close to the studio where Neighbours is filmed, so she could work and be close to her daughter. Sumarwata said she was "very excited" about her new role, while executive producer Richard Jasek quipped "We're thrilled to bits that she's joined the cast. She's a wonderful actor and we think her character has so many exciting possibilities for us." Sumarwata made her first screen appearance as Vanessa on 14 March 2012.
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