Caroline Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap operaNeighbours, played by Gillian Blakeney. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 18 January 1990, alongside her twin sisterChristina Alessi, played by Gillian's real-life twin, Gayle Blakeney. Both sisters reprised their roles in June 2019, and returned on 6 September.
Development
In 1989, twins Gillian and Gayle Blakeney were cast as sisters Caroline and Christina Alessi respectively, after they wrote to the show's producers at Grundy about making an appearance. They began filming their first scenes seven months after signing with the show. The Blakeneys had an interest in twin psychology and they worked with the scriptwriters to make sure their characters were portrayed as authentically as possible. The character's fictional backstory was detailed in Anthony Hayward's The Who's Who of Soap Operas book. It stated that Caroline and her identical twin sister Christina were born to an Australian mother and a second-generation Australian father, whose parents had emigrated from Italy. When they were younger, the twins were "very close" and played pranks on their teachers and boyfriends. As they grew older, they kept "a mischievous sense of humour" and often shared similar thoughts. Caroline is portrayed as the more academically gifted sister, and she is more "socially adept". She is characterised as being confident and outgoing, as well as organised and tidy. Lorna Cooper of MSN TV also found that Caroline was the more career-minded and confident twin, in contrast to Christina, who was quiet. Before moving to Erinsborough, Caroline worked in several hotels and restaurants, eventually moving up to a more managerial role. On 1 June 2019, it was announced that both Blakeney sisters had reprised their roles for three episodes to air in September. They filmed their during the same week, before returning to Los Angeles on 7 June. Of their return to the serial, Gillian Blakeney stated, "Strangely enough it feels so comfortable and familiar despite the obvious changes. The cast and crew have been so welcoming."
Storylines
Caroline and her sister twin Christina arrive on Ramsay Street under the pseudonym "Linda Giles" after witnessing a murder and rent Number 22 from Paul Robinson. Melanie Pearson soon discovers "Linda" is actually two people and the twins eventually reveal the truth to Paul. Carter, the murderer is soon caught and Caroline begins working at Lassiters'. Paul opts to move back in and the twins realise they are attracted to him and both girls agree not to pursue him, and Caroline begins dating Paul's father, Jim Robinson who is going through a messy separation with his wife, Beverly. Caroline later dates medical studentAdam Willis but it does not last long and they decide to become friends. After Paul and Christina marry, Caroline feels left out but soon cheers up after Rosemary Daniels offers her a job with the Daniels corporation in New York. While over there, Caroline discovers hotelier Donald Henson is plotting a takeover via a merger with Lassiter's in order to force Paul out of business and tells Paul. Paul is grateful and then asks Caroline back to work with him with a pay increase, which she agrees to. On her return to the office, she and Martin Tyrell bump heads when he mistakes her for a receptionist and they clash. Caroline begins experiencing sympathetic labour pains for Christina, who is about to give birth that day. After Christina gives birth to her and Paul's son Andrew, Caroline and Martin get caught up in the moment and kiss. They begin a relationship and suffer a setback when Caroline discovers Martin is married with children but Martin assures Caroline that his marriage to Shelley is over and they are separated. Caroline finds this is a lie when Shelley arrives at Martin's place with their children. Caroline is left heartbroken when Martin decides to go back to his family. When Caroline and Paul are stranded in the bush when their car breaks down, they become closer to one another. There is an attraction, but both deny it. When Christina throws Paul out of the bedroom, he is on the sofa. Caroline comes down for some water and Paul mistakes her for Christina and kisses her and continues even after he realises he is kissing Caroline. Caroline struggles to cope with the guilt and panics when her cousin Marco overhears a conversation between her and Paul about the kiss. Caroline quickly flees Erinsborough after taking a job in Italy running a hotel. Christina is confused and devastated but once she hears Paul confessing to Helen Daniels over Andrew's baby monitor about the kiss, she throws Paul out and goes to Milan to confront Caroline and they talk things out and reconcile. Caroline then opts to stay overseas and run her own hotel. In 2019, Caroline returns to stop Christina from sabotaging Paul and Terese Willis's wedding. After Paul and Terese flee to Queensland, Paul is shocked to find Christina at the hotel bar and is convinced the universe is giving him a sign. Christina soon tells Paul, who has followed Christina, that the ex-wives coming after him was a plot orchestrated by Elle Robinson. Caroline apologises on her Christina's behalf and the twins make amends with each other as well as Paul and Terese. Christina and Caroline act as the two witnesses for the wedding and reveal they are going to spend some time together before returning home. They bid farewell to Paul and Terese and return home.
Reception
Ian Morrison, author of Neighbours: The Official Annual 1992, observed that the twins' arrival "brought glamour to Erinsborough", as well as "a considerable amount of confusion." An Inside Soap writer opined that Caroline was the smarter sister when compared to Christina. The BBC's official Neighbours website said the character's most notable moment was "Kissing Paul after he had married her sister." James Cockington from The Sydney Morning Herald branded the story in which Caroline and Christina swap identities to secure a business deal "contrived". He accused Neighbours of making the plot raunchy to beat rival soap opera Home and Away in viewership.
