If audiences thought Terese Willis’ life couldn’t get much more complicated in Australian soap Neighbours – think again.
Actress Rebekah Elmaloglou admitted that she “doesn’t know” if her character will ever truly reconcile with her husband Paul – and said that Terese’s current descent into alcoholism could “keep going” for a long time.
The troubling storyline comes as the Aussie soap celebrated its 35th year last year, with Daily Star taking a look back at its most dramatic moments.
For Rebekah, the dramatic drinking storyline she’s currently embroiled in after Paul’s betrayal is “challenging” – but gives her a chance to play a very different character from usually savvy businesswoman Terese.
She sat down to chat to Daily Star Online about Terese’s marital problems, and whether Terese and Paul will ever find a way through.
Speaking about a potential reconciliation with Paul after Terese discovered he’d used the money from their business to buy a baby in place of Nicolette’s, Rebekah explained: “That’s just the tip of the iceberg!
(Image: Fremantle/Channel 5)
“She’s come to a point where she’s just done, and the fact that he used money from the bank that was a loan that was going to be used towards their business together to basically buy a baby is just, for Terese… that’s what tips her over, and she’s done.”
But will Terese and Paul ever overcome their spat?
“To be honest, Stefan [Dennis] and I don’t really know!” Rebekah confessed.
“We love each other so much, and we love working together so we don’t want to go down this path and have them never get back together.
(Image: Fremantle/Channel 5)
“But to be honest, we just don’t know. I think they will end up back together – but it will certainly be a long road and there’ll be a lot of ups and downs.”
She added: “It would take a lot for Terese to forgive Paul – especially at the moment. She’s not buying any of it, because he’s constantly trying to get her back, like organising for Jesse to come back.
“He’s doing everything that he can but she’s not quite buying any of it at the moment. So I don’t know what it would take!”
Terese is also beginning to worry about Harlow, who she fears is beginning to take after Paul.
(Image: Fremantle/Channel 5)
“Terese is mortified,” Rebekah explained. “She’s devastated that Harlow – who is this beautiful girl – is starting to go down the Paul path.
“Terese has seen this double of Paul, and she’s sort of feeling like the two of them are in on it together in a sense. So she’s just scared of what’s going to become of Harlow, and thanks to Paul those are not great things.”
It’s clear to see why the tension in Terese’s life is causing her to turn back to drink – but how was it for Rebekah, playing those scenes?
She admitted the “raw” scenes tend to be very “confronting” – but she wouldn’t have it another way.
“Because Terese is a businesswoman and she’s always very together, most days it’s almost like second nature for me to be in that sort of role. So being given these sorts of storylines is fantastic, because it’s a chance to break out of that a little bit,” Rebekah explained.
“But, in saying that, we’ve shot some scenes where it’s had to be very, very raw. They are a huge challenge, and there’s a sense of vulnerability and emotion that one has to dig up to bring that to life and to make it as real as possible.
“So it’s quite confronting as well. But it’s great. I work in this incredible job where I get to play all sorts of kooky parts!
(Image: CHANNEL 5)
“Terese is a bit of a comedian, but then she gets to do dramatic stuff too. I’m so blessed to have this job, because it does give me the opportunity to play all different types of storylines and character variants. It’s really exciting!”
And what does the future hold for Terese?
It looks like it’s going to be a struggle for her to fight her way out of the alcoholic haze she’s found herself in.
“I think this storyline arc is going to keep going for a very long while,” she admitted. “But I don’t know what the future’s going to hold.
“I imagine that forgiving Paul will not be a quick fix, and with the drinking thing I think there is going to be a big storyline. They’ve also brought back Glen, which throws a massive spanner in the works in various ways with him being Paul’s step-brother! There’s a lot of stuff that’s going to happen.”
Rebekah added: “It’s exciting having another Robinson in the family, to have another man of that age come in. You’ll be surprised – stuff is going to go down and it’s gonna be pretty intense!”
Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
