Amy Williams

Creation and casting

Amy was introduced to Neighbours as the first child of established character Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis). Nicolette Minster was cast as Amy when she was around three years old. Paul was unaware that he had fathered a child, until his former colleague Nina Williams (Leigh Morgan) brought Amy with her to Erinsborough. Nina admitted to Paul that Amy was the result of "a short fling" they had during their time working for the airlines. When the character returned to the show in 1992, Sheridan Compagnino took over the role. Paul brought Amy back to Erinsborough as he had realised that he wanted Amy to get to know him better.

In March 2015, it was announced that a storyline would see Paul trying to find Amy after receiving a cancer diagnosis. On 17 May 2015, it was confirmed that Amy would be re-introduced to Neighbours with Zoe Cramond taking over the role. Cramond was cast in March. Cramond commented, "I grew up watching Neighbours so it is a big thrill for me to be part of the show." Cramond said that the many elements of Amy's personality had attracted her to the role.

Development

Characterisation

Cramond described Amy "very straightforward yet quite complex". While a writer for Amy's profile on the Neighbours website called her "fiercely independent". Cramond admitted that she shared some similarities with Amy, including her opinionated side. She continued, "When I'm getting involved with a character I like to go straight to my qualities as a person and kind of work from there, it's a nice way to discover a character." Amy is a qualified carpenter and Cramond liked that Amy was a female "tradie", as it made her unique. Cramond called her brother and uncle for advice as they are both builders. She wanted to get it right and said, "I grew up with builders in the family so it's not as if I don't know which end to hold a saw." Cramond hoped the character would be a good role model for girls who wanted a similar job.

Family

Amy's relationship with her stepmother Christina (Gayle Blakeney) was difficult and they argued upon her reintroduction in 1992. Lisa Anthony from BIG! magazine observed two as being "at each other's throats" while Paul was caught in the middle of their bickering. Amy also stressed that she did not want to live with Paul which caused arguments between them too. Following one such altercation Amy ran in front of Paul's reversing car and he knocked her down. Amy is left unconscious and stops breathing.

When Amy turned up unannounced at Paul's penthouse, he initially failed to recognise her. Cramond said Amy felt "really hurt and angry" by his reaction and let him know it. Amy came to confront Paul, but deep down she wanted a relationship with her father. Cramond explained, "This is the first time she's seen her dad since she was a child, so she gets to say all the things she's wanted to say to him for all these years." Amy struggled to get past the hurt caused by Paul's absence and she became conflicted about staying. Cramond admitted to being "transfixed" by the character of Paul Robinson and told Russell Blackstock of The New Zealand Herald that it was "a bit surreal" playing his daughter and arguing with him. When asked if she could reconcile with an absentee father, Cramond explained that it was a hard question to answer. She thought that Amy had "a lot of pain" to confront and added "because of her son she wants them to have a relationship and through that, without her even realising at first, she develops a connection with her dad again."

Amy was reintroduced along with her young son and Paul's first grandchild Jimmy (Darcy Tadich). Amy profile states that as a single mother, Amy would do anything for her son. Cramond called Tadich fun to act alongside and said he was "such a sweet boy!" Amy is separated from Jimmy's father, as he was unreliable and eventually betrayed her. Amy was not planning to stay around after reconciling with Paul, but after securing employment and realising how much Jimmy needed to get to know his grandfather, Amy decided to stay. Shortly after returning to Erinsborough, Amy befriended Sonya Rebecchi (Eve Morey) and arranged to do some work around her house. Amy also developed a friendship with a newly returned Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner). When Jimmy went missing, Paul immediately accused Steph of taking him because of her history. But Amy refused to believe it as she liked Steph. Amy's former husband Liam Barnett (James Beck) then admitted that he was in debt to a loan shark and believed Jimmy may have been kidnapped for ransom. Amy was "furious" with Liam for putting their son in danger. Cramond told an Inside Soap columnist, "She irrationally lashes out at him in the heat of the moment – Jimmy means the world to Amy, so she wants Liam to pay for what he's done." When Liam's loan shark denied taking Jimmy, Steph become the prime suspect again.

Relationships

Amy begins working closely with Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan), whose wife is overseas. When asked if there would be a romance between them, Cramond replied "Who knows? They clash at the beginning, but soon become good mates!" Amy and Kyle eventually develop a strong friendship. Their bond grows when they spend much time together trying to replace a lost teddy bear. Amy and Kyle develop feelings for each other, but they miss the chance to be together due to his marital problems and the arrival of her former husband Liam. Kyle later dates Shay Daeng (Yasmin Kassim), but there is still a "spark" between him and Amy, which becomes clear to everyone when they compete in a pool competition. Kyle later kisses Amy.

Georgia sends Kyle a letter telling him she wants him back, causing Kyle to put off making Christmas plans with Amy, who is hurt by his lack of commitment to their relationship. Georgia later returns to Erinsborough and Amy finds her and Kyle kissing in a hotel room. Amy is "devastated" by Kyle's betrayal and flees the room just as the hotel's boiler explodes, which briefly traps her and Kyle in a lift. Kyle ends his relationship with Amy and decides to move to Germany with Georgia. He offers Amy his half of the handyman business and explains to Jimmy his reasons for leaving. Milligan reprised his role a few months later and Kyle returns for Sheila's 60th birthday party. Amy initially pretends that she has been coping without Kyle, but she later lashes out at his failure to acknowledge how much he hurt her. Amy decides that she and Jimmy should leave Number 26, causing Jimmy to confront Kyle for disrupting their lives.

Amy develops an on-off relationship with Paul's rival Leo Tanaka (Tim Kano), as she helps him and his brother David Tanaka (Takaya Honda) to find their father. Of Amy and Leo's early relationship, Cramond said "I think there's something that draws her towards him but he just keeps letting her down and that's kind of a repetition of all the men in Amy's life." Leo pursues Amy for a number weeks and she initially resists his advances, until he finally persuades her to go out on a date with him. Amy and Leo have a good time, until Elly Conway (Jodi Anasta) interrupts the date and reveals that she and Leo had a bet about whether he could get Amy to go out with him by Christmas. Kano commented that Amy was "furious and heartbroken" by Leo's actions. Amy thought the relationship was going somewhere and she feels let down and embarrassed.

Amy and Leo later reconcile and begin dating. Shortly before they have sex, they learn that Paul is David and Leo's father, making them half-siblings. Cramond called the revelation "awkward… horrible… mortifying." The actress also said that it would be hard for both of them to move on and repair their relationship. Cramond explained that Amy has bad luck with romance and is always falling for the "wrong kind of guys". She confirmed that Amy would have further bad luck with romance when she dates a man with a criminal past.

Departure and return

Cramond's departure from Neighbours was confirmed on 10 December 2019, and her final scenes aired on 1 January 2020. Amy's exit storyline sees her move to New York City on a permanent basis, so she can be with her son, Jimmy. Tadich reprised his role to facilitate the character's exit. Amy learns beforehand that Jimmy has been going through "a troublesome teenage phase" and he briefly goes missing, before turning up in Erinsborough. His arrival allows the two to talk and Amy gets him to open up about his issues. She helps out Jimmy's girlfriend, who is the victim of domestic violence, and decides to fly out to New York after Christmas to check on the situation. Jimmy later admits that he wants her to be with him permanently. Amy's exit also leads to the break up of her relationship with Kyle, as she tells him she needs a fresh start. Of the character's departure, series producer Jason Herbison explained: "2019 was a turbulent year for Amy and she ultimately makes the right decision for herself. Jimmy is very much a factor in her plans, so in many ways, she's come full circle since she arrived in the show." Herbison also confirmed that Amy's exit would have repercussions for Kyle and his future relationships. Cramond reprised the role for a brief appearance on 30 March 2020, as Amy appears via video call after learning of Gary Canning's (Damien Richardson) death.

On 7 May 2022, Dan Seddon of Digital Spy announced Cramond had reprised the role of Amy for the final episodes of Neighbours following its cancellation. Cramond was one of many cast members who agreed to return for the show's final stories. The "most memorable characters" from each decade were chosen to return and Executive producer Herbison explained that it ensured there was "something for everyone as Neighbours draws to a close."

Storylines

1988–1992

When Nina Williams comes to Erinsborough for a conference, she brings her young daughter Amy with her. Nina runs into her ex-boyfriend Paul Robinson and he meets Amy. Upon learning that she is three-and-a-half, Paul works out that he could be Amy's father, as they broke up four years ago. Nina admits that he is and Paul is angry that Nina never told him. Nina explains that Amy is happy and gets on well with Nina's fiancé Bruce, who thinks of her as his own. Paul's wife, Gail (Fiona Corke), talks with Nina and tells her that Amy deserves to be told who her father is. Before they leave, Nina tells Paul that he can set up a trust fund for Amy and she will keep him up to date with her progress. Amy gives Paul a kiss goodbye.

Four years later, Paul visits Amy in New Zealand and brings her to Erinsborough. Amy's arrival upsets Paul's wife, Christina and their relationship gets off to a bad start. Amy bonds with Christina's sister, Caroline (Gillian Blakeney). When Paul and Amy argue about him enrolling her in Erinsborough Primary School, she tells Caroline that no one likes her. Caroline explains that things are new and she will love school. Amy runs away and Paul accidentally hits her with his car, knocking her unconscious. She is rushed to hospital, but is not badly hurt. Paul apologises to Amy and asks if they can start again. Amy befriends Toby Mangel (Ben Geurens) and they explore an old house together that Paul is thinking of buying. Amy brings home a hand grenade that she found and tries to pull the ring out. Toby takes the grenade from Amy, but the ring is pulled and Toby yells out to Doug Willis (Terence Donovan). Doug throws the grenade into the lake as it explodes. Amy develops a crush on Toby, but he does not reciprocate her feelings. They try to earn some money by cleaning cars, but their day is cut short when Christina tells Amy that Nina wants her to come home. Amy says her goodbyes, before Paul takes her to the airport.

2015–2020

Amy comes to Ramsay Street looking for Naomi Canning (Morgana O'Reilly), Paul's assistant. Kyle Canning directs Amy to the Lassiter's Complex, where Amy helps Sonya Rebecchi change a car tyre. Kyle stops by to tell Amy that Naomi is likely to be at Paul's penthouse. Amy takes Naomi's swipe card from reception and goes up to see Paul. She is angered when he does not initially recognise her and tells him not to contact her again. Amy backs into Sonya's daughter's stroller and offers to complete carpentry jobs around Sonya's house to make up for it. Her cousin Daniel Robinson (Tim Phillipps) seeks her out and tries to make Amy stay, but she refuses to give Paul another chance and leaves. Daniel flies to Mount Merrion to see Amy and finds that debt collectors are taking her possessions. Daniel buys her tools for her and asks her to return to Erinsborough. She agrees, telling Daniel that she is doing it for her son Jimmy. Amy introduces Jimmy to Paul and they move in with Sonya and her family. Jimmy briefly goes missing, but he is found at The Waterhole looking for Paul. Amy gets a job with Kyle's handyman business. After she allows Paul to look after Jimmy, Amy is angered when he spoils his grandson and she returns the gifts. Amy softens towards Paul when she learns that he kept a drawing she did for him when she was younger.

When she is sexually harassed by another handyman, Amy initially dismisses it. However, she eventually asks Kyle to file an official complaint and convinces Paul to give Kyle his job back after he is fired. Sheila Canning (Colette Mann) convinces Amy to enter a competition to find Victoria's Most Unique Tradie and she wins, beating Kyle. After the last job for the council's beautification project is done, Amy states her intention to move on, but Kyle offers her a permanent job. Amy unintentionally throws out Nell Rebecchi's (Scarlett Anderson) favourite teddy bear and Kyle offers to help her retrieve it. Amy thanks Kyle with a hug, which goes on too long. She decides that she needs to leave Erinsborough, against Jimmy and Paul's wishes. She reconsiders after Paul offers her a job as his executive assistant. Amy struggles with the job and quits when she makes a mistake with some work emails, costing Lassiter's money. After talking with Kyle, Amy starts working for him again. She also helps Sonya out with Nell, after Toadie is injured. After Kyle's wife ends their marriage, he kisses Amy. She later admits that there is a spark between them.

Amy's former husband Liam Barnett comes to visit Jimmy. Kyle questions Liam's motives, but agrees to back off when Amy asks him to. Amy and Liam spend time together and have sex. Jimmy goes missing and when Liam is questioned by the police, he reveals to Amy that he stole Toadie and Sonya's benefit fund and then trashed Harold's Cafe as he is in debt. Stephanie Scully finds Jimmy hiding in the school. Amy asks Liam not to contact her or Jimmy and he leaves. Amy moves in with Kyle and Sheila. She becomes jealous when Kyle dates Shay Daeng (Yasmin Kassim), but he breaks up with her to begin a relationship with Amy. Amy agrees to work with Paul, making gazebos, but changes her mind when she learns Paul tried to gaslight Steph. Amy's mother Nina, now calling herself Nene (now Ally Fowler) comes to see her and Jimmy. Amy reads a letter from Georgia to Kyle and becomes insecure about their relationship, so she spontaneously proposes to Kyle. She then admits to reading the letter and their relationship is strained. Amy sees Kyle kissing Georgia at Lassiter's, shortly before the hotel's boiler room explodes. Amy and Kyle are trapped in the lift together and Kyle receives an electric shock. After they are rescued, Amy tells Kyle to be with Georgia and he leaves Erinsborough.

Reception

A contributor to the BBC's official Neighbours website said Amy's most notable moment was her arrival. Lisa Anthony from BIG! magazine branded Paul running Amy over as the biggest soap storyline of the week in the United Kingdom. After the character's 2015 return, a Soap World contributor branded her "mysteriously sexy and tomboyish". Carena Crawford from All About Soap branded the character "sassy". While The New Zealand Herald's Russell Blackstock called her a "feisty solo mum". Anthony D. Langford from TheBacklot.com liked Amy, calling her "a great character". He thought she and Kyle had chemistry, but did not want to see Kyle cheat on his wife with her.

Inside Soap's Sarah Ellis also praised the character, saying "Amy's one feisty lady! And luckily, she's sticking around." Ellis later stated "luckily, lovely Amy is nothing like her wicked father." After Amy learned Leo was her brother, a Liverpool Echo reporter felt sorry for her, writing "Poor Amy. She thought she'd found a handsome and reliable young man to give her heart to – and then it turns out he's her halfbrother." A South Wales Echo also commented on her relationship troubles, saying "Amy's choice of potential partners has been dubious, and she adds another this week – Terese's villainous brother Nick."