Sonya's sister Jade Mitchell

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Actor Gemma Pranita is the latest addition to the cast of Neighbours.
The 24-year-old will play Jade Mitchell and arrives on Ramsay St to expose a dark secret of her on-screen sister Sonya, played by Eve Morey.
Filming started this week with the former Bell Shakespeare Company actor's screen debut in December.

In more Neighbours news, veteran actor Jane Clifton, perhaps most well-known for her role as Margo Gaffney in drama Prisoner, will also appear on the soap - this time on the other side of the law - when she plays guest character Judge Willow.
During filming, Clifton caught up with former Prisoner cohort turned Neighbours longtime resisdent Janet Andrewartha.
Clifton's scenes with air in November.


DS

[tammyy2j]

She might be a new love interest for Lucas

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Neighbours star Gemma Pranita has hinted that there are darker times ahead for her character Jade Mitchell in forthcoming storylines.

The actress, who made her debut in the role late last year, confirmed that viewers will learn more about Jade over the coming months before the personal trainer finds herself on a downward spiral.

"There will be a big secret revealed shortly," Pranita told Channel 5's Neighbours website. "She is far too proud to share it with anyone - she is like a vault, and only the audience will know her secret soon."

Discussing how things progress, she continued: "Jade goes on a bit of a self-destructive path and becomes involved with an older man, and that's all I'm going to say!"

Pranita added that she is pleased with her current storylines as she believes Jade is "constantly developing and evolving".

"We will see different shades of her personality soon, which I think will surprise viewers," she said.

Neighbours' executive producer Susan Bower recently told Digital Spy that Jade will "continue to be a naughty girl" in upcoming plots.

[LostVoodoo]

Discussing how things progress, she continued: "Jade goes on a bit of a self-destructive path and becomes involved with an older man, and that's all I'm going to say!"

well, i think that just has to be Paul Robinson...

[Perdita]

Jade Mitchell's unresolved feelings for her housemate Kyle Canning come back to the fore on Neighbours next week as she tries to help him get his handyman business off the ground. Chatting with Lou about the launch event for 'Dial-A-Kyle', Jade innocently suggests that Kyle should make a speech in front of his potential customers - unaware that public speaking is his worst nightmare. To Kyle's horror, Lou loves the idea and threatens to withdraw his support unless he goes along with it.

When Kyle starts to experience severe anxiety as he fears public humiliation, Jade tries and fails to boost his confidence ahead of his big moment. With few options left, Jade recruits Kate Ramsay to get Kyle prepared for his speech - but the feisty personal trainer may live to regret her decision as the pair start growing closer… Here, Gemma Pranita - who plays Jade - has a quick chat with Digital Spy about next week's episodes.

We've recently seen Jade and Kyle move in together and they're currently living as friends. How does Jade feel about that?
"I think she is struggling with the idea of that. It's one of those things where it's a blessing and a curse to have him so near, because she is very fond of him and she is still coming to terms with the feelings she has for him."

How does Jade feel when she realises that her speech idea has pushed Kyle into his worst nightmare?
"There is an element of guilt initially, but I think she realises that it's an important step for him and something he needs to overcome. As a personal trainer, in her mind it's something you can beat and you treat it like reaching a training goal."

When Jade gets Kate involved, is it a difficult choice to bring another girl into the situation, or doesn't she feel threatened by Kate?
"She is threatened by Kate initially and doesn't want her to get too involved in helping Kyle, but then her loyalty to her friendship with Kyle takes over. She'll do whatever it takes to help Kyle - even if it means him taking advice from Kate."

The speech actually goes well for Kyle, so how does Jade feel about that?
"She is really happy that the speech goes well for Kyle but she is bitterly hurt that Kyle is solely thankful to Kate! She knows there's a possibility they could get together, as she knows Kyle is into Kate."


However, Kate soon has a one-night stand with Rhys, which Jade finds out about. Is she tempted to ruin Kate's chances with Kyle by telling him about it?
"No, not really. I think she is more shocked about how ashamed Kate is of it, whereas it's very natural for Jade to have a one-night stand and move on without any guilt."

Jade and Kate have an interesting friendship, so do you think it would be a shame for them to fall out over a guy?
"Yes. It has already happened with Brennan and fortunately all was forgiven and forgotten and everyone moved on. So it would be a shame for them to go down that track again. Also, Jade appreciated their friendship much more after the fallout with Brennan, so she wouldn't want to jeopardise that even though she has prickles of jealousy."

There seems to be a sense of Jade fighting her feelings for Kyle. Why won't she tell him how she really feels?
"She is terrified of the outcome, whether it's a yes or a no. Jade is a commitment-phobe!"


In the long-term, do you hope Jade and Kyle can sort everything out and become a couple, or is that still a long way off?
"There are certainly developments on that front coming soon so I can't say too much, but it isn't smooth sailing. I actually think they would be good together, they balance each other but that might be too easy…"

You've been part of the Neighbours cast for quite a while now. How's it all going?
"I've been a part of it for nearly a year so it just feels like home! I love it."

The response to the character of Jade seems to have been really positive - you must be pleased with the reaction?
"Yes, I'm really pleased. I'm glad the audience jumped on board with Jade considering she is such a big personality, and have been forgiving of her sometimes brash approach. I love it that viewers are up for such a strong female character."

Have you been given much room to put your own stamp on the character?
"I think there has been a marriage between the work I've done and what the writers have created, so we have inspired each other. Jade has developed into exactly what I would like her to be."

Jade was brought into Neighbours as Sonya's sister but she's now getting her own storylines. Are you glad to be exploring her in her own right?
"Absolutely. I'm discovering new things about Jade and I like that she is becoming very tri-dimensional, and you learn she is quite complex. For an actor, that is so much more fun to play."

Who are your favourite people to work with on set?
"Definitely Chris Milligan and Eve Morey. Chris and I are known as the 'A-Team' on set, I can proudly say - because we're very quick and efficient! We sit opposite each other in the green room so we're very good at running our lines together so we're super prepared. And Eve because she is so much fun."

Are there any more interesting scenes coming up between Sonya and Jade, and will they continue to support each other as sisters?
"Yes, there is Sonya's fight for the community garden and an even bigger one when Sonya thinks she is pregnant and turns to Jade for support."

Finally, fans have been intrigued by the news that Jade could have a secret. Can you give us any clues on what she's hiding?
"Not a lot, but just to say it does involve Kyle and there is a lot to be revealed about Jade's past…"

[Perdita]

Neighbours minx Jade Mitchell will finally open up to love interest Kyle Canning in a forthcoming storyline, reports have revealed.

Kyle (Christopher Milligan) is currently absent from Erinsborough while he cares for his sick mother, but he returns to Ramsay Street in time for Christmas and soon woos Jade with a romantic gift.

As the residents of the share house welcome Kyle back with an early Christmas lunch, Jade is stunned when he presents her with a handmade photo frame he worked on especially for her.

Gemma Pranita, who plays Jade, told TV Week: "She's very surprised that he would go to that much effort. It just makes her fall for him even more, and that's dangerous territory. But in that moment, she indulges in it and the feelings she has for him."

After kissing Kyle under the mistletoe, Jade fills him in over the secrets behind her commitment issues, explaining that she used to have a violent partner.

Pranita continued: "She's never told anyone, not even her sister Sonya. But Jade's a vault like that and, as hard as it is for her to talk about it, deep down there's an element of relief to share a part of her life with him."

Although things are beginning to look rosy for the pair, more trouble lies ahead when Kyle discovers that Jade has been having an affair with Malcolm Kennedy (Benjie McNair) - leaving viewers to wonder whether he can forgive her.

Neighbours airs these scenes next week on Eleven in Australia and in January on Channel 5 in the UK.