Terese Willis Neighbours Appreciation Thread
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I think Terese is great in neighbours i think she will be a really great character:)
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Posts: 139 [Deleted User]
Posts: 139
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Brillant actress and character!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebekah-Elmaloglou-Fanpage/194150680746290
Neighbours' UK fans have been introduced to newcomer Terese Willis this week following her appointment as the new manager of the Lassiter's hotel.
Terese made her first appearance in Tuesday's episode (June 11), but viewers can expect to see much more of her in the next few weeks as she moves into Ramsay Street with husband Brad (Kip Gamblin) and their twin children Joshua and Imogen (Harley Bonner and Ariel Kaplan).
Former Home and Away actress Rebekah Elmaloglou, who plays Terese, recently chatted to Digital Spy about joining Neighbours and what's to come.
How well have you settled in at Neighbours over the past few months? [b/]
"Like a duck to water! Everyone has made me feel so welcome and really helped me ease into things, but honestly, it hasn't been difficult at all. I feel like I've been here for ages."
How did the role come about? Is a part on Neighbours something you've always had your eye on?
"Well, my agent asked me to go for an audition like you do for all roles. I've been in lots of series but never Neighbours, so sure, it was something I thought would be interesting to do - particularly after being on another soap."
Has your time at Home and Away helped you to be well-equipped for Neighbours, or are the two shows quite different?
"They're very similar in terms of pace and structure, even down to the colour of the paper used in the production schedule, so it's no surprise to me. It's been nearly 20 years since I was on Home and Away, and production techniques have evolved of course, but the speed is still the same. Although Neighbours is probably a little faster because we film six episodes per week!"
How do you feel about being part of the revamp at Neighbours? Does it put you under any pressure?
"It's actually very exciting. I don't feel any pressure because I think I've come into the series at a great time. The story team are terrific, we have brand new sets and what is coming through for all the characters in terms of stories is really compelling. I'm loving it."
How do you describe Terese?
"She's ambitious, organised and extremely capable when it comes to her job, and can come across as a tough nut. However, there is definitely a softer side when it comes to her husband and family which I really like about the character - she's very changeable which makes her interesting.
"Terese has a lot to sort out at Lassiter's which means dealing with Paul Robinson, which is always a challenge. There are also some issues in her own family that need to be addressed, so she has a lot on her plate."
Terese does come across as a very warm character outside of work. Could there be another side to her, though?
"There isn't a devious side if that's what you mean. But she is ambitious and probably a bit too self assured at times, as she'll make decisions on behalf of others which doesn't always sit well in some situations."
Do you think Terese is capable of holding her own against someone like Paul Robinson?
"Absolutely. In her work environment, she certainly holds her own. It will be more a case of Paul having to keep pace with her!"
How will Terese feel about living in such close proximity to Brad's old flame Lauren?
"She is totally relaxed about it at the moment. She's known about Brad's relationship with Lauren, and she is very confident and secure about her marriage. That's not to say that it's a perfect marriage but in her mind, they're in a good place."
Should Terese be worried about Lauren's unresolved feelings for Brad?
"At the moment, she isn't aware of Lauren's feelings for her husband, so she isn't pre-empting any issues. But you'll have to wait and see how this plays out!"
Would we see a different side to Terese if she felt that her marriage was under threat?
"Definitely. Terese is devoted to her marriage and her family, and she'll fight for them."
Do we find out more about Terese and Brad's history over time? Are there any skeletons in the closet?
"Hmm, it wouldn't be fun if there weren't skeletons! The story will unfold over the coming months, so stay tuned."
We'll see that Imogen often feels neglected in the family in comparison to her twin brother Joshua, who's an elite swimmer. Do you think she's justified in wanting a bit more attention from Terese and Brad?
"Anyone that has a child that excels at a particular sport will appreciate the commitment by the parents and the whole family. While it's not intentional, I can certainly see how other children can be overshadowed. Terese and Brad will find themselves having to deal with fall-out of this in the near future."
Can we expect to see Terese form friendships with other characters on the street like Toadie, Sonya, Karl and Susan?
"Yes, absolutely, she is very social!"
In real life, who have you made friends with from the cast?
"Oh, gosh, everyone! My on-screen husband Kip [Gamblin], we've been friends for a long time. Also, Kate Kendall, Colette Mann, Jackie Woodburne and of course, my children - Harley and Ariel... everyone!"
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s14/neighbours/scoop/a489591/neighbours-rebekah-elmaloglou-on-terese-role-willis-family-plots.html
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fanpage-for-Terese-Willis-and-Brad-Willis/1412496968969529
Published Monday, Sep 30 2013, 00:02 BST | By Daniel Kilkelly
Neighbours' Willis family are at the centre of more drama on UK screens this week as Imogen finally breaks down and admits that she has an eating disorder.
After weeks of denying her problem, Imogen's resolve crumbles after her worried mum Terese finds evidence of her food binges.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Rebekah Elmaloglou, who plays Terese, for a chat about the storyline and life at Neighbours.
After a few months filming at Neighbours now, how's it all going?
"I'm absolutely loving it. The cast and crew are just incredible, and they've been so welcoming. It's been lovely to work with the younger cast, who are new to the industry but very professional. I'm also really loving working with the established cast who have been there for years. It's really exciting and I'm so pleased to be part of the Neighbours family."
We've seen lots of positive feedback for Terese, so you must be pleased with how people are responding to her!
"Absolutely. I've just found out recently that people are really loving her, so I'm stoked about that. She's so much fun to play, as there are so many different sides to her. On one hand you have the smart and career-minded woman, but then there's also the softer side we see when she's with her family. I think that softer side is starting to come out a little bit more now, and you'll see that on screen soon.
"Terese is my dream role and I'm having a ball playing her. People also seem to be enjoying the Terese/Paul interaction, which is so much fun to do."
What was Imogen's eating disorder storyline like to film?
"It was amazing. Ariel Kaplan, who plays Imogen, is a beautiful little actress and she's been amazing with that whole storyline. It was very much Ariel's storyline and I was there as a support for her, but the feedback for both of us has been fantastic. It's a hard storyline to do, but people have really taken it on board. I'm really happy that Ariel has been acknowledged for the brilliant work she's done on the storyline.
"We also had a beautiful director, Fiona Banks, who directed the full-on block where the story comes to a head. She was amazing too, as she was very soft and calm with us during those scenes. It was a lovely storyline to work on."
Will we see a lot of guilt from Terese and Brad for not noticing Imogen's problems?
"Yes, because so much of their attention has been focused on Josh and his storylines. This situation with Imogen makes them wake up and realise that they have been neglecting her. There is an element of regret that they weren't more in tune with Imogen and her problems."
How strong would you say Terese and Brad's marriage is?
"It's absolutely solid. That's the interesting thing, because everyone's asking, 'Will Terese and Paul get together?' or 'Will Brad and Lauren get together?' Everyone has been asking me that, but at this stage, definitely not.
"Who knows what might happen down the track, but at this stage the producers have been telling us that their marriage is on track. They're very strong as a couple and they love each other very much. Although they're very different, they work together well and I think that's often the case with marriages in real life."
There's always a lot of expectation when a new family joins the show. Were you nervous about that?
"I wasn't nervous about the family - I just knew that the character I'd been cast as was fantastic. I just love every aspect of her. I actually didn't know too much about the family at first, I just knew that the producers were changing the show by bringing in new families and giving things a bit of an upheaval.
"It was only later that I found out how full-on things would be, with the Willis and Turner families having a connection and things like that. But I think the family are working really well together."
Are you hoping that we meet Terese and Brad's other daughter Piper before too long?
"I think it's definitely on the cards. It's something that we haven't talked about too much with the producers at this stage, but we are starting to talk about her in the storylines, which is nice. It'd be great to add in another dynamic with her, because she's 14 and so a little bit younger. I'd like to see her come in for sure."
We know that Melissa Bell recently returned for another stint as Lucy Robinson. Did you share many scenes together?
"I have had a few scenes with her. Melissa is absolutely gorgeous and lovely to work with. I've worked with her before in the industry and it was great to see her back on Neighbours. I think the viewers love seeing familiar faces return to the show. There's a few scenes with Terese and Lucy, but Lucy is mostly interacting with Paul and having storylines with him this time."
What are your memories of your time on Home and Away as Sophie Simpson?
"It was an amazing learning platform to work on a show from the age of 15 to 19. It was incredible. I lapped it up and loved every minute of it. I loved the character of Sophie and still do. I also loved working with the people there - some of them are still working at Home and Away, while others have gone back a few times. I have very fond memories."
Does that soap background help you much with Neighbours?
"It does, as the two shows are really similar with the way they're shot. The only difference is that we film six episodes a week on Neighbours, compared to the five that Home and Away does. We're working at a much faster pace but I thrive doing that - I really enjoy working at that speed.
"It's just amazing now to be working with such incredible people who I've admired over the years and met at various awards and events. I have a great deal of respect for them, so the first day I stepped onto Ramsay Street, I was a little bit starstruck! But they've all welcomed me with open arms and it's been a great experience."