Sindi Watts

Sindi Watts
Neighbours character
Portrayed by Marisa Warrington
Duration 2002–2005, 2017–2018
First appearance 19 July 2002 (2002-07-19)
Last appearance 2 August 2018 (2018-08-02)
Introduced by
Classification Former; regular
Profile
Occupation
  • Travel agency worker
  • Legal secretary
  • Television presenter
  • Exotic dancer
  • Astrologer
  • Magazine columnist
  • Barmaid
  • Temporary manager of The Flametree Retreat
Home Sydney

Sindi Watts (also Parker) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Marisa Warrington. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 19 July 2002. Sindi was initially a recurring character, before she was promoted to the regular cast. Her storylines often focused on her romantic relationships, including her affair with Rocco Cammeniti (Robert Forza) and marriage to Stuart Parker (Blair McDonough). She also attempted to break up Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) and Dee Bliss (Madeleine West), and briefly became a lapdancer to raise much needed money.

The character was written out in May 2005 and she departed on 26 August 2005. In January 2017, it was announced that Warrington had reprised her role, and Sindi returned on 7 February. She was revealed to be involved in a scam with Andrea Somers (Madeleine West). The following year saw the character make a brief appearance on 12 February 2018, before returning for a longer guest stint from 26 June until 2 August 2018.

Casting

Warrington joined the cast in 2002 and she described her character as "one-part stalker, one-part lunatic."[1]

In May 2005, it was announced that Warrington's character would be written out of the show in a "surprise shake-up" of the cast.[2] Actors Kevin Harrington (David Bishop) and Marcella Russo (Liljana Bishop) were also told their contracts were not being renewed, as producers sought actors to form a new family for the show.[2] Warrington had 18 months left on her contract and expressed her disappointment at leaving the show, after she worked on making her character "more appealing" to conservative viewers.[3]

Development

Characterisation

Warrington told the BBC that she enjoyed playing the "evil" Sindi that tried to break up Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) and Dee Bliss (Madeleine West).[4] She said that the writers then changed Sindi and made her more "dippy." She added "The current Sindi character is incredibly sweet and honest, she has a lot of good points."[4]

Relationships

Jack Scully (Jay Bunyan) becomes interested in Sindi and he goes to Toadie for advice on how to win her over.[5] However, Toadie is resentful of Jack, as he likes Sindi too. Toadie struggles to admit to himself that he has feelings for Sindi because he is in mourning for his late wife, Dee.[5] Warrington explained the situation, "This is the point at which Toadie starts to become interested in Sindi, but just because he's not ready to reveal his feelings, he doesn't want anyone else to go after her either. There's a nice little love triangle that develops."[5] Sindi and Toadie begin a brief relationship, but they break up because Toadie still loves Dee.

Sindi leaves town for a while, but when she returns she tells Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha) that she is in a relationship with a married man.[6] She explains that she has been trying to stop it, but she has trouble going through with it. Lyn disapproves, but she supports Sindi.[6] When Sindi's feelings for Toadie resurface, she decides to end her relationship with the man she calls "Tiny."[6] It is then revealed that Sindi is having an affair with criminal Rocco Cammeniti (Robert Forza). Warrington admitted that Sindi's friends would be shocked to learn who she is dating.[6] Toadie realises that he cares deeply for Sindi and she tries again to break off her relationship with Rocco. However, she is left stunned when Rocco tells her that he has left his wife and gives her an engagement ring.[7] Warrington said, "Sindi can't admit to Rocco that she's in love with someone else, and she's also worried that something will happen to Toadie if she tells Rocco who she is in love with. So she uses the excuse that she doesn't want to be Rocco's secret 'other woman' anymore."[7] However, Rocco then chooses that moment to give Sindi an engagement ring, which she has to accept.[7] She later tells Toadie that she loves him and they agree to start their relationship again.[7] Sindi finally manages to end her relationship with Rocco to start a new life with Toadie, but she is unaware that Rocco has hired someone to spy on her.[8] Rocco is not happy when he is given photos of Sindi and Toadie together, and Warrington commented that he "goes a bit crazy" as he believes Sindi is his girl.[8] When she was asked what it was like to date someone like Rocco, who is nearly twice her age, Warrington replied "Robert, who plays Rocco is a lovely guy, so it was fine. However, I must confess, when I was about 24 I briefly dated a man who was in his 40s and I have to say that it did look a bit wrong! He looked like my uncle!"[4]

When her boyfriend, Stuart Parker (Blair McDonough), is left blind following a fire, Sindi turns to exotic dancing to raise money for an operation to restore his sight.[9] She decides to keep her decision a secret from Stuart. Of the situation, Warrington said "Sindi lies to Stu about where she's going and stripping off is horrible."[9] However, Stuart discovers what she is doing and asks her to stop, but then he starts to see colours. Sindi's manager offers her some higher paid work, where she would have to have sex with men for money and Sindi accepts.[9] Warrington explained, "She hates the idea of sleeping with a man for money, but if it will give Stu his sight back she'll do it."[9] Stuart and Sindi became engaged in 2005 and they begin planning for their wedding.[10] However, Toadie becomes suspicious that something is wrong with Sindi and that she "may not be all she's cracked up to be."[10] He confronts her at the wedding ceremony, but Stuart punches him and he and Sindi marry.[10]

Returns

"Sindi appears to be a changed woman now, but a leopard never really changes its spots. It's not very long before she gets up to her old tricks and is slap-bang in the middle of causing big trouble for Toadie."[11]

—Madeleine West on Sindi's return.

On 24 January 2017, Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy announced that Warrington had reprised her role and would be returning to Neighbours for a guest stint from 7 February.[11] Sindi's return was part of a storyline surrounding the reappearance of Dee Bliss.[11] After arriving in Erinsborough, Sindi tells Toadie that she heard the news about Dee being alive, so she had to come and see for herself.[12] Toadie's wife Sonya Rebecchi (Eve Morey) is suspicious of Sindi, and Morey stated "Sonya finds it all a bit strange – first there was Dee, now Sindi! Why have they both turned up now? Also Dee makes out that the two of them are friends, but from what Toadie has told Sonya, Dee and Sindi were definitely not mates!"[12]

The woman claiming to be Dee is revealed to be a con artist named Andrea Somers (West), and it soon emerges that Sindi is her accomplice.[13] Scenes between the two characters explained that Sindi met Andrea when they worked at a catering kitchen together and she told her that she looked like Dee Bliss. They then came up with a plan to claim money from the Bliss family estate, with Sindi asking for $20,000 in exchange for her help.[13] Sindi later poses as Dee's saviour Emily on the phone to the police, leading her to increase her share of the money to $40,000.[13]

Warrington reprised the role again, along with several other returning cast members, for a feature-length special episode, which first aired on 12 February 2018. The episode centres on a belated 21st birthday party for Toadie.[14] As Toadie leaves his party, he is surprised to meet a "bitter" Sindi, who reveals that Andrea is back in Australia. She then gives Toadie a phone number for Andrea.[15] Sindi returned for a guest stint from 26 June,[16] until 2 August 2018.[17]

Storylines

2002–2005

Sindi meets Darcy Tyler (Mark Raffety) at Lassiter's and there is an attraction between them. Darcy later treats Sindi's hurt ankle, but does not pursue anything further as he is dating her sister Penny (Andrea McEwan). Sindi seizes the opportunity to blackmail Darcy by threatening to tell Penny about his flirting with her unless he gives into her demands which include paying for clothes and shoes. Penny sees the pair together one day and as revenge reports Darcy to the medical board for having an affair with a patient. Sindi soon leaves Erinsborough. The following year, Sindi crosses paths with Darcy again and is used as a pawn in his game to drive a wedge between Toadie and Dee, in order for Darcy to win Dee back. Sindi goes through with the plan by flirting with Toadie, but ends up falling for him for real. Darcy is annoyed, but Sindi threatens to expose his dubious dealings. When Sindi leaves an earring behind and goes to retrieve it from Toadie's house, she meets Dee, who assumes Sindi has moved in. Sindi tries to explain, but Dee leaves before she can.

Several months later, Sindi returns when Tim Collins (Ben Anderson), Toadie's colleague, hires her to work at their legal practice. Things are awkward at first, but Sindi settles in the job and she and Toadie remain amicable. As the amount of time they spend together increases, Sindi reveals she still loves Toadie, but he is not over Dee who drowned several months previously in a car crash on their wedding day. Sindi leaves once again.

Sindi returns to Ramsay Street as the director, producer and host of Making Mansions, a home make over show. She chooses number 26, the Scully family's house as the venue to be redesigned. Things do not work out as Sindi manages to insult her crew, prompting them to walk out on her. Luckily, several friends and neighbours help her and the work is eventually completed. Toadie and Sindi begin a relationship, which goes through many twists and turns including the revelation of Sindi's affair with Rocco Cammeniti and his refusal to let her go, which results in Toadie being kidnapped and ending up comatose. Sindi shares a kiss with Toadie's friend and housemate Stuart Parker and is consumed with guilt and confesses all to Toadie after he asks her to move into Number 30.

Lou's Place is set on fire and Sindi becomes trapped inside. Stuart runs in to save her, but they both become trapped and pass out due to smoke inhalation. The firefighters are about to give up looking for them, until Sindi manages to call Toadie. She and Stuart are rescued, but Stuart is left blind. They discover that an operation to restore his sight will cost $50,000 and Sindi raises the money by stripping and selling her body. Her only client, Gary Evans (Ian Scott) gives her the money after he loses a coin toss. Stuart refuses to accept the money due to how Sindi got it and she gives it to Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) for the Salvation Army. Stuart changes his mind, but it is too late. Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) later offers to pay for the operation from his charity, the Helen Daniels Trust fund.

Sindi loses her job at All Her Magazine and then she is snubbed at a school reunion by her old classmates. Several of her neighbours suffer mysterious accidents. Sindi later proposes to Stuart, which he accepts, but Sindi's behaviour becomes more and more unhinged. Sindi runs over Trent Hoffa, one of Stuart's police colleagues in order to help Stuart get a promotion. Toadie does some detective work and on the day of the wedding, he tries to stop the ceremony with his explanations of Sindi's behaviour only to be punched by Stuart for his trouble. Stuart finally realises the truth when Sindi pushes Toadie down some stairs after he confronts her on their honeymoon.

It emerges that Sindi has been suffering from paranoid delusions and was briefly hospitalised during her teens after pushing schoolmate Kelly Weaver (Simone Ray) down some stairs leaving her paralysed. Sindi asks for an annulment, which Stuart refuses and she is transferred to a clinic in New South Wales. She promises she will return one day when she is better. In 2006, Stuart calls Sindi and asks her to join him in Oakey, which she agrees to do.

2017–2018

Sindi and Stuart later divorce. While working in a kitchen, she meets Andrea Somers (also Madeleine West), and they concoct a plan where Andrea poses as her lookalike, the presumed dead Dee Bliss, to scam Toadie. She eventually returns to Erinsborough and tells Andrea she regrets her part in the scam, but demands her share of the money to be increased. Weeks later, Sindi returns to the news that Andrea has conned Toadie out of $100,000 and fled to London. Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) reads Sindi's texts and discovers Andrea's true identity. A panicked Sindi then leaves town.

Nearly a year later, Sindi returns to Erinsborough to give Toadie Andrea's phone number. She then visits Andrea's daughter Willow Somers (Mieke Billing-Smith), who urges Sindi not to involve Toadie in Andrea's life. Months later, Sindi brings Andrea's infant son Hugo Somers (John Turner) to Ramsay Street, and breaks the news that Toadie is Hugo's father. While Toadie organises for a DNA test, he allows Sindi and Hugo to stay with him. Gary Canning (Damien Richardson) gives Sindi a job at The Flametree Retreat. He decides not to inform the owner Steph Scully (Carla Bonner) because she may disapprove due to Sindi's involvement with Andrea. Amy Williams (Zoe Cramond) becomes suspicious of Sindi and warns her not to cause trouble for her friends. Gary asks Sindi to stay on for an extra week, while he takes care of his daughter. While returning to the retreat to make sure she locked up, Sindi is confronted by Jeremy Sluggett (Tamblyn Lord), who demands her keys so he can retrieve a bag of money from a drawer. Sindi manages to contact the police, and Jeremy knocks her unconscious as he escapes. While Amy is visiting Sindi, she tells her about a job offer as a sales manager in Sydney. Sindi is reluctant to accept as she wants to makes amends to Sonya and Toadie, but Sonya gives Sindi her blessing. Sindi comes to Ramsay Street to say her goodbyes and Toadie asks if she ever told Andrea about his first kiss with Dee, but Sindi tells him that she did not mention it.

Reception

When Sindi's cousin, Lana Crawford (Bridget Neval), came out to her, a Sydney Star Observer reporter called Sindi "sympathetic" and said her nice reaction to Lana's news was "good to see."[18] A writer for the BBC's Neighbours website said Sindi's most notable moments were "Dating Toadie for money. Acting like a bogan to put Rocco off. The Making Mansions fiasco."[19] Fergus Sheil of The Age said: "Sindi Watts knows that dishonesty, a meditation tape and a lavender wheat bag should be an integral part of any intimate relationship, and that's why we love her to bits."[20] Billy Sloan of the Sunday Mail branded the character "disaster-prone".[21] A TV Soap reporter branded Sindi a "slightly unhinged material girl" and said she took "drastic steps" during her time on the show.[22]

Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy said "we always had a soft spot for Sindi in her hilarious Making Mansions days."[23] Upon on her 2017 return, the reporter believed Sindi's life was "weirder than ever".[24] Kilkelly profiled eight evil Sindi moments, observing that she has "never been shy when it comes to bending the rules for a fast buck." He added that trouble seemed to follow her around.[24] Kilkelly also branded her a "comedy character", "bubbly blonde", "outrageous character" and "butter-spreading ladder fiend".[24]

References

  1. ↑ Usher, Robin (18 December 2002). "Dream run for endless night". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  2. 1 2 Wilkes, Neil (8 May 2005). "Three top 'Neighbours' stars axed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  3. ↑ "Shock exits". TV Week (20): 91. 14–20 May 2005.
  4. 1 2 3 "Actor: Marisa Warrington". BBC. Archived from the original on 17 August 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 "A new love?". TV Week (10): 29. 6–12 March 2004.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Brygel, Jackie (13–19 March 2004). "Tiny's big secret". TV Week (11): 29.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Brygel, Jackie (27 March – 2 April 2004). "Sindi's love dilemma". TV Week (13): 32.
  8. 1 2 Brygel, Jackie (10–16 April 2004). "Spy games". TV Week (15): 29.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Guide to the soaps". The Sun. 20 May 2005. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 Green, Kris; Wilkes, Neil (16 October 2005). "Issue #7: The Perfect Blend". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  11. 1 2 3 Kilkelly, Daniel (24 January 2017). "Neighbours brings back another character as Sindi Watts returns for scenes with Dee and Toadie". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Toadie's in demand!". Inside Soap (5): 29. 4–10 February 2017.
  13. 1 2 3 Kilkelly, Daniel (7 February 2017). "Neighbours unleashes more Fake Dee revelations in Sindi Watts's big return episode". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  14. ↑ Lindsay, Duncan (19 January 2018). "Neighbours spoilers: Late night special for dramatic Izzy Hoyland return and Ryan Thomas' debut". Metro. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  15. ↑ Hughes, Johnathon (5 February 2018). "Neighbours: fake Dee is back! Toadie gets a shock in next week's bonus episode". Radio Times. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  16. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (9 June 2018). "Neighbours spoiler: Toadie faces a Fake Dee baby bombshell". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  17. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (21 July 2018). "Neighbours spoiler: Toadie has a crucial question about Fake Dee". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  18. ↑ "Neighbours". Sydney Star Observer. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  19. ↑ "Character: Sindi Watts". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 4 July 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  20. ↑ Sheil, Fergus (21 April 2005). "Critic's view - Monday". The Age. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  21. ↑ Sloan, Billy (14 August 2005). "Television : Police dig up trouble for Chrissie and Sam.(Features)". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 25 January 2017. (subscription required)
  22. ↑ "Back for an encore". TV Soap. (nextmedia): 48. 28 May 2018.
  23. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (3 February 2017). "Neighbours: 8 ways the Fake Dee story could go next". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  24. 1 2 3 Kilkelly, Daniel (8 February 2017). "Neighbours: 8 evil Sindi Watts moments you've forgotten". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 29 July 2018.

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