Marco Alessi
Encyclopedia
Marco Alessi is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
, played by Felice Arena
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 5 May 1992 and departed the series on 18 November 1992.
and Caroline Alessi
but quit due to disappointment with the direction of his character and filmed his final scenes that October. In an interview with TV Week, Arena told Mark McGowan "I sat down with the producers and the writers and it was decided the storylines weren’t going to go on. They are leaving it open for the character to return". Arena moved to the UK to star in several West End musicals, including Jesus in Godspell, but eventually found his true calling in writing. He is now one of Australia's biggest selling children's authors, best known for the Specky Magee and the Farticus Maximus series.
), rushes to her aid and confronts Marco. Marco explains that he thought that Number 32 was where his cousin Christina Robinson (Gayle Blakeney) and her husband Paul
(Stefan Dennis
) lived.
After settling in with the family at Number 22, Marco helps out in the coffee shop and befriends several of the locals including Brad Willis (Scott Michaelson
), Beth Brennan
(Natalie Imbruglia
and Lucy Robinson
(Melissa Bell). One day, Marco accidentally overhears Christina's sister, Caroline
's (Gillian Blakeney) conversation with Paul about a kiss they shared. Marco threatens to tell Christina everything unless Caroline comes clean. This results in Caroline fleeing to Milan
.
When Paul and Caroline's affair is revealed over Andrew's
(Shannon Holmes) baby monitor, Christina throws Paul out and takes legal proceedings against him. Marco is then asked to testify in court about Paul harassing Christina but cannot lie under when the judge asks whether Paul has been aggressive to Christina, as Marco has seen no such evidence.
When Beth moves to Erinsborough full-time, Marco is smitten with her but she rejects his advances as she prefers Brad. Rick
(Dan Falzon
), Marco's teenage brother, arrives in Ramsay Street after being expelled from boarding school and asks him for a job. Marco refuses and insists Rick attend Erinsborough High School. The brothers later move in with Cameron Hudson (Benjamin Grant Mitchell
) at Number 32 in order to give Paul and Christina some space to reconcile.
Benito
(George Spartels
) and Cathy (Elspeth Ballantyne
), Marco and Rick's parents arrive in Ramsay Street to get Rick to come home but with very little success. In the end, The Alessis move into Number 22 after Paul and Christina renew their vows and move to Hawaii.
After hearing his parents talk about a daughter they gave up for adoption when they were only 16, Marco goes to track down his sister, Lindsay Steiner. Marco brings Lindsay home and Benito and Cathy assume that she is Marco's girlfriend,. The truth is revealed and things are awkward between Marco and his parents for a while, but Lindsay agrees to keep in touch with her new family.
Later in the year, Marco finds himself indebted to loan sharks who make threats against him and his family including phone calls and ransacking the house. When Rick and his girlfriend Debbie Martin
(Marnie Reece-Wilmore
) win tickets to see Michael Jackson
, who is touring in support of his album Dangerous in London, Marco agrees to go as Rick's chaperone and flees several days after arriving. Benito and Cathy are worried when Rick and Debbie return without Marco, but are relieved when he later sends a postcard from Italy, where he is staying with relatives.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
, played by Felice Arena
Felice Arena
Felice Arena is an Australian children's author and illustrator, and occasional actor. He is best known for the bestselling and award-winning Specky Magee series, and his hilarious Farticus Maximus books...
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 5 May 1992 and departed the series on 18 November 1992.
Casting
Felice Arena previously guested in Neighbours as Bob Cooper under name Fashia Arena (a credit typo, not a name by choice) in 1991. In March 1992, Arena won the role of Marco Alessi, cousin of established characters ChristinaChristina Alessi
Christina Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Gayle Blakeney. She made her first on-screen appearance on 18 January 1990, when she moved into Ramsay Street with her twin sister, Caroline. Christina marries Paul Robinson and gives birth to their son,...
and Caroline Alessi
Caroline Alessi
Caroline Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Gillian Blakeney. She made her first on-screen appearance on 18 January 1990 and remained until 11 May 1992.-Characterisation:...
but quit due to disappointment with the direction of his character and filmed his final scenes that October. In an interview with TV Week, Arena told Mark McGowan "I sat down with the producers and the writers and it was decided the storylines weren’t going to go on. They are leaving it open for the character to return". Arena moved to the UK to star in several West End musicals, including Jesus in Godspell, but eventually found his true calling in writing. He is now one of Australia's biggest selling children's authors, best known for the Specky Magee and the Farticus Maximus series.
Storylines
Marco first appears when he is mistaken for a burglar at Number 32 Ramsay Street by Faye Hudson (Lorraine Bayly). Faye's brother, Doug Willis (Terence DonovanTerence Donovan
Terence Donovan may refer to:*Terence Donovan, Baron Donovan , British Labour Party Member of Parliament 1945–1950, Law Lord 1964–1971*Terence Donovan , Australian actor, and father of Jason Donovan...
), rushes to her aid and confronts Marco. Marco explains that he thought that Number 32 was where his cousin Christina Robinson (Gayle Blakeney) and her husband Paul
Paul Robinson (Neighbours)
Paul Stewart Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, a long-running serial drama about social life in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. He is played by Stefan Dennis. Paul debuted in the serial's first episode in 1985 and appeared on a...
(Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis is an Australian actor, best known for playing the role of Paul Robinson in the soap opera, Neighbours, from its first episode in March 1985 to the present day...
) lived.
After settling in with the family at Number 22, Marco helps out in the coffee shop and befriends several of the locals including Brad Willis (Scott Michaelson
Scott Michaelson
Scott Michaelson is an Australian actor and manager who is most famous for playing Brad Willis in Neighbours...
), Beth Brennan
Beth Brennan
Elizabeth "Beth" Willis is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Imbruglia. She made her debut on-screen during the episode airing on 6 January 1992. She married Brad Willis in 1993, and the couple left Erinsborough for Perth. Behind the...
(Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Jane Imbruglia is an Australian singer-songwriter, model and actress. In the early 1990s, Imbruglia was known to audiences as Beth Brennan in the popular Australian soap Neighbours. Three years after leaving the programme, Imbruglia launched a singing career with the international hit,...
and Lucy Robinson
Lucy Robinson
Lucy Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Melissa Bell. She had previously been portrayed by Kylie Flinker and Sasha Close. She was created by producer Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' original characters. Lucy was a prominent figure...
(Melissa Bell). One day, Marco accidentally overhears Christina's sister, Caroline
Caroline Alessi
Caroline Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Gillian Blakeney. She made her first on-screen appearance on 18 January 1990 and remained until 11 May 1992.-Characterisation:...
's (Gillian Blakeney) conversation with Paul about a kiss they shared. Marco threatens to tell Christina everything unless Caroline comes clean. This results in Caroline fleeing to Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
.
When Paul and Caroline's affair is revealed over Andrew's
Andrew Robinson (Neighbours)
Andrew Benito Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jordan Smith. He made his first on-screen appearance on 13 November 1991. Shannon Holmes previously played the role from the character's birth in 1991 until 1992...
(Shannon Holmes) baby monitor, Christina throws Paul out and takes legal proceedings against him. Marco is then asked to testify in court about Paul harassing Christina but cannot lie under when the judge asks whether Paul has been aggressive to Christina, as Marco has seen no such evidence.
When Beth moves to Erinsborough full-time, Marco is smitten with her but she rejects his advances as she prefers Brad. Rick
Rick Alessi
Riccardo "Rick" Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Dan Falzon. He made his first on-screen appearance on 8 June 1992 and he remained until his departure on 9 March 1995.-Casting:...
(Dan Falzon
Dan Falzon
Dan Falzon is an Australian actor of Maltese descent, best known for his role as Rick Alessi on the television soap opera Neighbours. He also appeared in the Channel Nine drama The Alice, as a park ranger. He also formed the short lived pop group Milk with his brother, releasing the single...
), Marco's teenage brother, arrives in Ramsay Street after being expelled from boarding school and asks him for a job. Marco refuses and insists Rick attend Erinsborough High School. The brothers later move in with Cameron Hudson (Benjamin Grant Mitchell
Benjamin Grant Mitchell
Benjamin Grant Mitchell is a writer, singer and actor now living in Melbourne, Australia. He is the author of The Last Great Day, an 'autobiographical' novel released in 2011....
) at Number 32 in order to give Paul and Christina some space to reconcile.
Benito
Benito Alessi
Benito Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by George Spartels. He made his first on-screen appearance on 28 July 1992 and remained until 28 May 1993.-Storylines:...
(George Spartels
George Spartels
George Spartels is an Australian actor of Greek descent, who is best known for his role on the television soap opera Neighbours, playing Benito Alessi. He was married to actress Elizabeth Alexander....
) and Cathy (Elspeth Ballantyne
Elspeth Ballantyne
Elspeth Ballantyne is an Australian actress, born in Adelaide. Having started her career as a laboratory Technician, she then attended the prestigious drama school, the National Institute for Dramatic Arts...
), Marco and Rick's parents arrive in Ramsay Street to get Rick to come home but with very little success. In the end, The Alessis move into Number 22 after Paul and Christina renew their vows and move to Hawaii.
After hearing his parents talk about a daughter they gave up for adoption when they were only 16, Marco goes to track down his sister, Lindsay Steiner. Marco brings Lindsay home and Benito and Cathy assume that she is Marco's girlfriend,. The truth is revealed and things are awkward between Marco and his parents for a while, but Lindsay agrees to keep in touch with her new family.
Later in the year, Marco finds himself indebted to loan sharks who make threats against him and his family including phone calls and ransacking the house. When Rick and his girlfriend Debbie Martin
Debbie Martin
Deborah "Debbie" Martin is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Marnie Reece-Wilmore. She made her first on-screen appearance on 27 July 1985. Debbie was initially played by Mandy Storvik and later Katrina McEwan. Reece-Wilmore was cast in the role in 1992...
(Marnie Reece-Wilmore
Marnie Reece-Wilmore
Marnie Reece-Wilmore is an Australian actor from Sydney. She is best known for her role in Neighbours during the 1990s.-Early work:...
) win tickets to see Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, who is touring in support of his album Dangerous in London, Marco agrees to go as Rick's chaperone and flees several days after arriving. Benito and Cathy are worried when Rick and Debbie return without Marco, but are relieved when he later sends a postcard from Italy, where he is staying with relatives.