Danni Stark

Danni Stark
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Eliza Szonert
Introduced by	Ian Bradley
Duration	1993–96, 2005
First appearance	30 November 1993
Last appearance	13 November 1996 27 July 2005 (cameo)
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Date of birth	11 September 1976
Occupation	Student at Erinsborough High (1993–96) Coffee Shop Assistant Chez Chez Barmaid (1996) Fashion Designer
Family Father Maurie Stark Mother Cheryl Stark Brothers Darren Stark Brett Stark Sisters Janine Stark Half sisters Lolly Allen Grandfathers Hector Kratz Grandmothers Marlene Kratz Uncles Patrick Kratz Cousins Sam Kratz

Danielle "Danni" Stark is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Eliza Szonert. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 30 November 1993 and remained in the show until 13 November 1996, with a brief cameo in 2005 in Annalise Hartman's documentary about Ramsay Street, celebrating the serial's twentieth anniversary. She is Cheryl Stark's youngest daughter and suffered from diabetes. She had a complex, long-term relationship with Malcolm Kennedy.

Character creation and casting

The character of Danni was created in 1993 as part of a new family; the Starks. She joined already established characters, brother Darren Stark (Todd MacDonald) and mother Cheryl Stark (Caroline Gillmer).^[1] Danni arrives with her brother, Brett (Brett Blewitt), another new addition to the serial's cast.^[1] After being apart of the Neighbours cast for almost a year, Szonert said "I'm really getting into it now, but I hated seeing myself on screen at first and the long hours and routine took a lot of getting used to."^[2]

In 2005, Szonert was asked to return in a cameo capacity, she accepted and was one of many ex-cast members who made a return to Neighbours to appear in an episode celebrating the show's 20th anniversary.^[3]

Character development

Danni arrives in Ramsay Street with Brett after they are both expelled from boarding school. Upon her arrival, Danni was described as being a "tearaway" and having a "devil-may-care" attitude.^[2] Of her character, Szonert said "Danni like to get what she wants and she can be a right little schemer. She likes to concoct plans to get her own way and can be real troublemaker."^[2] Danni can be manipulative at times, especially when she wants something.^[1]

Danni is diabetic. When she is caught injecting insulin with a needle, fellow residents thought she was using heroin after Michael Martin (Troy Beckwith) gossiped about her.^[4] She had previously been emotionally neglected at boarding school and decides to pretend to be an addict because she loves attention.^[4] Danni can be incredibly moody at times and she often leads her brother Brett astray.^[4][5]

Danni is not happy with Cheryl's relationship with Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) and she makes her feelings about the subject very clear to her mother.^[2] Szonert explained that Danni is "angry at life" and that she has not sorted out her feelings regarding her father's unexpected death.^[2] Danni initially does not like Lou interfering in her family's lives, but her relationship with Lou gradually grows better.^[2]

Storylines

Danni arrives with Brett and Cheryl moves in with them. Cheryl initially does not want her children around as she prefers to live the high life after her Lotto win. After seeing Danni inject insulin, Michael Martin spreads a rumour that she is using drugs, she plays along with this for attention. Michael is infuriated with her when she reveals the truth, but she seduces him. Danni begins a relationship with Michael, they also sleep together without contraception on one occasion. Cheryl becomes annoyed with Danni over their relationship, but she continues seeing him in secret regardless of her mother's opinion. In turn Danni makes it clear that she disapproves of Cheryl's relationship with Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver), refusing to be happy for her mother's new found happiness. She and Michael separate and she begins seeing Malcolm Kennedy (Benjamin McNair) for one year. Danni believes she is love with Mal; they later move in together to prove they are serious about one another. Their relationship crumbles after one year; upon their break-up she dates Kingston White (Simon Wilton). She later dates Ben Dalziel (Stephen Pease), Steve George (Alex Dimitriades) and Luke Handley (Bernard Curry). Danni is devastated when Cheryl is hit by a car and dies. She emotionally blackmails Luke into starting a new life with her; this along with Darren's wild behavior against Mal, Lou and Karl makes Brett decide to leave. She later leaves after being offered the job overseas, leaving at the same time as Brett.

Reception

The BBC said Danni's most notable moment was "Being caught with Michael Martin in Lou and Cheryl's bed."^[6] Editor of MSN TV, Lorna Cooper, described the character's storylines as typical, stating: "Danni experienced the typical growing pains of a Ramsay Street female teen (school and boys)."^[7] Anthony Cowdy of British newspaper, The Independent, called Danni "the nubile enfant terrible of BBC1's Neighbours".^[8] Following Danni's expulsion from school, he added "In your adamant refusal to renege on your contracts to protect school bullies and other unsavoury youngsters, you had a quiet dignity that was truly attractive."^[8]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Mercado, Andrew (2004). Super Aussie soaps: behind the scenes of Australia's best loved TV shows. Pluto Press Australia. p. 219. ISBN 1-86403-191-3. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=i-U_OkpqpKMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=super+aussie+soaps&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 31 May 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Arnold, Richard (November 1994). "She's a right little troublemaker!". Inside Soap (Hachette Filipacchi UK) (27): 36. 
3. ^ Green, Kris (14 April 2005). "More Neighbours returns confirmed". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a20611/more-neighbours-returns-confirmed.html?rss. Retrieved 3 June 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Monroe, Josephine (1996). Neighbours: the first 10 years. Michael Joseph LTD (Penguin Group). pp. 23. ISBN 0718142128. http://isbndb.com/d/book/neighbours_a11.html. Retrieved 4 June 2010. 
5. ^ "The Best Ever Mid-90s Neighbours Characters". Hecklerspray.com. 15 April 2009. http://www.hecklerspray.com/the-best-ever-mid-90s-neighbours-characters/200932420.php. Retrieved 4 June 2010. 
6. ^ "Character: Danni Stark". BBC. Archived from the original on 17 May 2004. http://web.archive.org/web/20040517162954/http://www.bbc.co.uk/neighbours/whoswho/characterbiogs/index.shtml?content/_dannistark/page1. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
7. ^ Cooper, Lorna (17 March 2010). "TV's Neighbours: where are they now?". MSN. http://tv.uk.msn.com/photos/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=149729015&page=37. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Cowdy, Anthony (6 June 1995). "Dear Neighbours". The Independent (Independent Print Limited). http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/dear-neighbours-1585186.html. Retrieved 22 February 2011. 

External links

• Character profile at the BBC
• Characater profile at the Internet Movie Database