Jade Mitchell is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Gemma Pranita. Pranita's casting was announced on 7 September 2010 and she began filming her first scenes the day before. The actress was in Russia when she received a call from her agent about the audition for Neighbours. She returned to Australia and her agent managed to get her in on the last day. Pranita won the part of Jade and she was given a twelve-month contract with the show. She relocated to Melbourne for filming and she made her first screen appearance as Jade during the episode broadcast on 10 December 2010. In June 2012, Pranita announced her departure from Neighbours. She filmed her final scenes in August and departed on 29 October 2012.
Jade is the younger sister of Sonya Mitchell (Eve Morey). Prior to her arrival in Erinsborough, the sisters had been estranged for seven years. Pranita revealed that Jade was holding onto one of Sonya's darkest secrets and that she would have the potential to cause trouble for her. Jade was portrayed as "vivacious, confident" and "very opinionated". She is a feminist, with a fighting spirit. While Jade is flirtatious and a bit of a maneater, Pranita said she is "anti-relationships" and more interested in finding fun. Jade is a personal trainer and Pranita chose to take up an exercise routine for the role. Jade's early storylines focused on her attempts to mend her relationship with Sonya and bond with her nephew, Callum Jones (Morgan Baker), and Sonya's partner Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney).
Later storylines revolved around Jade's romantic relationships; she kissed Lucas Fitzgerald (Scott Major) shortly after her arrival, she had a one-night stand with Mark Brennan (Scott McGregor), and she later had an affair with Malcolm Kennedy (Benjamin McNair). Producers established a long-term relationship between Jade and her housemate Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan), which initially began as a friends with benefits arrangement. Further exploration of the character's background began when it emerged that Jade had been in an abusive relationship with Sonya's former boyfriend, Troy Miller (Dieter Brummer). The character departed for the United States to launch her business. Jade returned on 1 March 2019, after Pranita reprised the role for Sonya's exit storyline.
Casting On 7 September 2010, a reporter for the Herald Sun announced Pranita had joined the cast of Neighbours as Jade Mitchell. They said Pranita's character would arrive on Ramsay Street to expose a secret held by her sister, Sonya (Eve Morey). Pranita was in Russia researching Anton Chekhov when her agent called her about an audition for Neighbours. She told a writer for Channel 5 "They were holding auditions and I happened to be in Russia doing a Chekhov pilgrimage because I'd received a grant. I just thought, oh well, it's not to be but then I came back and my agent called and said I can squeeze you in on the last day. So within a week I was moving cities." Pranita was initially given a twelve-month contract and she began filming her first scenes on 6 September. She made her first on screen appearance as Jade in December 2010. During an interview published the Neighbours official website, Pranita revealed that she had found the filming schedule was "quite full-on" and that she was still getting used to the early starts.
Development
Characterisation Jade has been described as being "vivacious, confident and beautiful" by a writer for the official Neighbours website. She has a flirtatious side and a "fighting spirit", which means nothing will stand in her way. Jackie Brygel, writing for TV Week, said Jade "clearly isn't backward in coming forward when it comes to getting what she wants in life." Pranita told Brygel that Jade is a feminist and a bit of a man eater. The actress believed that she was not that similar to her character, saying "She is very opinionated which I can be, but I don't think I'm brash with my ideas or assert my ideas on to people which she does." Pranita also said Jade is "anti-relationships" and more interested in having fun, whereas she has been in a relationship for five years. However, when she was asked about what she would like to see in Jade's future, Pranita said she wanted her to meet a love interest who "really challenges her and breaks her down a bit, because she's a little bit of a martyr."
Jade is a personal trainer and a "fitness freak". Pranita took up exercise during her research for the role, something she had not done before, and commented that she had enjoyed it. In May 2011, Pranita confessed that she had not been able to maintain Jade's fitness routine and that, while she was still into it, her filming schedule had increased. The actress also revealed that she had found that she now shared some similar personality traits with her character. Pranita admitted that she and Jade hide their vulnerability and they do not like putting their "issues onto other people". In July 2011, executive producer, Susan Bower revealed Jade would continue to be a "naughty girl" and that she was hiding a dark secret. Pranita teased the storyline further saying Jade was too proud to share her secret with anyone and initially only the audience would know what the secret was. Viewers would also see Jade go on a "self-destructive path and becomes involved with an older man."
During an August 2011 interview with Digital Spy's Daniel Kilkelly, Pranita said she was pleased with how the audience had responded to her character considering she was a "big personality". Pranita quipped that viewers had forgiven her "brash approach" and said they liked having a strong female character around. Asked if she had managed to put her own stamp on the character, Pranita revealed "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." Pranita said she was pleased that Jade was getting her own storylines away from her sister, as it gives her the opportunity to discover new things about her character. She added that Jade was starting to become tri-dimensional and the audience were learning that she is quite complex. Pranita later called her character "beautifully flawed".
Family
Before her arrival in Erinsborough, Jade had been estranged from her sister for seven years. Jade calls Sonya out of the blue and Pranita explained "Sonya's response is 'Why are you calling me? Why now? Don't come anywhere near me!' But Jade keeps ringing and harassing Sonya and then rocks up on her doorstep." Jade's appearance on her doorstep sends Sonya into a panic. Pranita told TV Week's Jackie Brygel that the history between Jade and Sonya is bad and that Jade is "holding one of Sonya's darkest secrets". Pranita believed that Jade had the potential to cause a lot of trouble for Sonya and expose her for lying to the people around her. She added that Jade would "completely rock the boat." Morey revealed that the last time Sonya saw her younger sister was when she left her son, Callum (Morgan Baker) with their grandmother, Hilda (Maureen Edwards). Sonya believes that Jade has come to Erinsborough to get "some revenge." When Jade learns that Sonya has been living with Callum and that he is unaware of who she really is, she urges her sister to tell him the truth. However, after seeing how happy the family is, Jade changes her mind.
Pranita stated that Jade and Sonya's relationship was initially very "rocky", but after Jade sees how happy her sister is, she becomes "fiercely supportive" of her. Pranita said "It's almost the Mitchell sisters against Ramsay Street." Of her role in the Sonya/Callum storyline, Pranita told a writer for the show's official website "I was overwhelmed and completely intimidated, especially since Jade is such a confident character. I was so nervous and terrified but I had to exude confidence which was really hard. But at the same time it was thrilling. I was definitely thrown in the deep end with a bang." Susan Bower said Jade "loves and adores" her sister and nephew and she quipped that the audience could tell Jade is "not a cold fish." Jade does not initially get on well with Sonya's partner, Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney). Pranita said both characters struggle with each other. She told a reporter for Channel 5 "It's a very push-pull relationship and they can both be quite fiery so they really lay into each other." Jade and Toadie eventually learn they both have a secret passion for board games and they begin to bond with one another. When Sonya suffers a pregnancy scare she immediately confides in Jade, who is "level-headed" about the situation. She encourages her sister to take a second pregnancy test just to be sure. Pranita later stated that Jade and Sonya would continue to support each other as sisters.
Relationship with Kyle Canning When Pranita was asked which character she would like Jade to start a relationship with, she chose Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan). She thought Jade and Kyle's contrasting personalities would work together, saying "They're opposites and personally, I really enjoy working with Chris. I think the characters can learn a lot from each other. Jade is very worldly and smart and Kyle has a more simple and uncomplicated nature." Jade eventually develops feelings for Kyle and Pranita believed her character's feelings were for real and said it had taken her by surprise. Jade and Kyle share a house together and on the night of their housewarming party they kiss, making Jade fall for Kyle even more. However, she is frustrated when Kyle reveals that he still sees her as a friend. Pranita told a Channel 5 reporter that Jade is trying to fight her feelings for Kyle because she is terrified of relationships, however she does want him. Jade decides to "let go of her reservations" and gets dressed up to make a move on Kyle. They have sex and Kyle suggests they engage in a friends with benefits arrangement to which Jade agrees. Pranita told an Inside Soap journalist that Jade agrees to the arrangement as it is her way of working Kyle out of her system, but the opposite happens and she falls in love with him. Kyle is unaware of Jade's feelings for him and he flirts with local nurse, Danielle Paquette (Georgia Bolton), in front of her. Jade becomes jealous and Pranita said she has never been affected like that before and is unsure how to handle it.