April Scott is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Rhiannon Fish. The actress successfully auditioned for the role of April and she described the process as quick. Fish's role in the soap was announced in May 2010 and she made her first on screen appearance as April on 15 June 2010. In April 2013, it was announced that Fish had decided to leave Home and Away and April departed on 13 November 2013.
Before her arrival on screen, April was described as being "worldly, intelligent and quick witted" by a writer for The Daily Telegraph. April has travelled the world and has become independent and wise beyond her years because of it. She is passionate, has strong opinions and stands up for what she believes in. With her outgoing and thoughtful nature, April makes friends easily. She has a unique and quirky dress sense and likes to reinvent her outfits, not caring what other people think of her style. April has a fiery relationship with her half-sister, Bianca (Lisa Gormley). Fish said she enjoys playing April, especially as she has gone on quite a journey during her time on the show.
April's storylines initially focused on her relationship with Xavier Austin (David Jones-Roberts) and her views on environmental issues. April tried to get bottled water banned in Summer Bay with Xavier's help and she stole chemicals from the high school as a form of protest. When April doubts her abilities and begins to write her assignments over and over, she is diagnosed with OCD. Fish revealed this was one of her favourite storylines. April breaks up with Xavier and enters into a relationship with his best friend, Dexter Walker (Charles Cottier). A notable storyline for April saw her self-medicate in order to deal with the stress caused by her HSC exams. Following her break up with Dexter, April decides to lose her virginity and ends up having a one-night stand with Heath Braxton (Daniel Ewing).
Casting On 23 May 2010, a reporter for The Daily Telegraph announced Fish had joined the cast of Home and Away as April Scott. Of the audition process, Fish told the official Home and Away website, "It all happened so quickly. Monday was my first audition, I got a call back on Friday and by the next Monday I was sitting in the Home and Away make-up chair." Fish was in an airport at the time she learned she had won the part of April. The actress admitted that she started "crying hysterically" upon hearing the news. Fish commented that she had watched Home and Away her whole life and was nervous about meeting the cast. She made her screen debut as April during the episode broadcast on 15 June 2010.
Development
Characterisation
Shortly before she arrived on screen, April was described as being "worldly, intelligent and quick witted." The Metro said April was "fun-loving" and Fish branded her character passionate and unique. The actress told the official Home and Away website that April does not care that she is different from other people. Fish added "She has strong opinions on everything from the environment to fashion and is not afraid to express those and be herself." April is fluent in several languages and has travelled the world, living in many foreign cities and cultures. Through her travels April became "independent and worldly wise beyond her years", she has a wealth of experiences that set her apart from those around her. With her open mindedness and outgoing nature, April makes friends easily. She is intelligent, thoughtful and caring. Channel 5 said April stands up for what she believes in and is committed to causes like saving the environment. Holy Soap said April "has a unique and quirky sense of style." April likes to wear clothes that have the "occasional nod to fashion", but she often reinvents an outfit to suit her style and does not care what others think of it.
April and her sister, Bianca (Lisa Gormley), share a mother, Joanna (Tara Morice), but they have different fathers. April's father is French, while Bianca's is Italian. April and her sister have a fiery, but supportive relationship. In February 2011, Susan Hill of Daily Star reported April would have a breakdown over her schoolwork. April doubts her abilities and she begins rewriting her assignments over and over again. Dexter Walker (Charles Cottier) notices April's behaviour and he asks her to take a break from her studies, but April refuses and Dex realises she needs some help. April becomes stressed and she cannot cope with the amount of pressure she puts on herself. April is diagnosed with OCD and Fish said the storyline has been her favourite to portray. The actress told Katharine Rivett of teen magazine S-press that as she is interested in psychology and similar areas, she did a lot of research into the disorder, so she could understand it.
Relationships with Xavier and Dexter
Shortly after her arrival in Summer Bay, April meets and takes a shine to Xavier Austin (David Jones-Roberts). April comes across Xavier on the pier and watches him throw photos of himself and his ex-girlfriend, Ruby Buckton (Rebecca Breeds), into the sea. April is not impressed and she orders him to retrieve the photos. Xavier then jumps into the sea to gather them all up. Of April and Xavier's first meeting, Fish said "She notices very quickly that he's kind of special and a little bit different from the other boys she's been with in the past. As soon as she points out he's doing something bad to the environment he leaps off the pier and gets the pictures out. She likes what she sees." When asked if the character's connection would develop into something more, Fish said April would like there to be a romance between herself and Xavier. However, April would encounter a few obstacles along the way and Fish added it is a question of whether Xavier would man up and take April.
Xavier and April eventually begin a relationship. When April wants to see water bottles banned in the Bay, Xavier blackmails his step-father, John Palmer (Shane Withington) into presenting her idea to the council. April is angry with Xavier when she learns about the blackmail and warns him to stop. Xavier agrees to help April with her next scheme, but is shocked when he learns she has stolen some chemicals from the school. Xavier begs April to get rid of the chemicals, so they do not get into trouble with his mother, Gina (Sonia Todd). Inside Soap said April "reluctantly" agrees and they pour the liquids down the sink, but they do not realise the chemicals are lethal. Both April and Xavier pass out after inhaling the fumes, but April recovers and goes for help. Colleen Smart (Lyn Collingwood) finds April on the beach and she taken to the hospital. Bianca finds Xavier and he is also taken to the hospital.
In 2011, April breaks up with Xavier to be with his best friend, Dexter Walker. However, she does not inform Xavier of the real reason she is breaking up with him, leaving him confused. Xavier decides to go in search of April to find out the reason behind their break-up. At the same time, she is discussing how to tell him the truth with Dex and Susan Hill of the Daily Star said "the pair can't keep their hands off each other." Xavier sees April kissing Dex and he is devastated. He then tells his friends to stay away from him. April and Dex continue their relationship, but when April witnesses Dex kissing another girl, she is devastated and breaks up with him. Before the incident, April decides that she is ready to lose her virginity to Dex on the night of a schoolies party. Of this, Fish said "I guess she just realises how much she loves him and makes the decision that she's ready to take their relationship to the next level."
However, April is forced to stay home and care for Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger), who is sick from her chemotherapy treatment. She insists Dex goes to the party with his friends as she trusts him completely. At the party, Dex catches the eye of Dallas Phillips (Emma Griffin). Dalles comes onto Dex, who tries to resist her advances. Cottier told Erin Miller of TV Week that Dex has never had a girl come onto him the way Dallas does and before he knows it he is kissing her. Dex is unaware April has decided to go to the party after all and has spotted him kissing Dallas. He tries to apologise to her the next day, but April informs him their relationship is over as she no longer trusts him. Fish said her character is a strong girl and the second Dex breaks her heart, she realises they are done as she does not want to get hurt again.
Self-medication In October 2011, Fish revealed April would begin "dabbling in drugs" due to the stress caused by her HSC exams. April struggles with her studies and when she notices Dex appears to be breezing through his with ease, she becomes frustrated and begins to investigate ways to improve her results. Fish told Erin Miller of TV Week that April is the type of person who puts a lot of pressure on herself. While she is accompanying Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger) to her chemotherapy session, April meets a student who tells her about a drug that could help her stay awake and study. April approaches Heath Braxton (Daniel Ewing) and asks him if he can supply her with the drug. Heath turns April down and he becomes concerned about her. Fish said "Heath has a lot of flaws, but when it comes down to it, he can be a good guy." April then comes up with a plan to steal Sid Walker's (Robert Mammone) prescription pad. She takes advantage of a moment alone at the Walker house and takes the pad. Fish explained "The fact it's illegal doesn't cross her mind; she just needs something to help her make it through the exams." April then offers to collect Irene's medication from the chemist and she gets the study drug for herself. The drug works and April is able to stay up all night and study. She later invites herself over to Dex's house for dinner, so she can return the prescription pad.
TV Soap said it starts to become obvious that April "is becoming more and more on edge." Bianca and Irene notice April's odd behaviour and they think it has something to do with her OCD. April becomes paranoid when she learns Sid has told the police about his missing prescription pad and that he has accused his daughter, Sasha (Demi Harman), of stealing it. April's stress and anxiety levels rise when she discovers she has been awarded Dux of the school. The drug and the pressure of writing a speech get to April and she realises she can no longer cope. She confesses everything to Ruby Buckton (Rebecca Breeds), who gets rid of the drugs for her. During her speech, April passes out in front of the whole school. At the same time Heath tells Bianca that April has been self-medicating and Liam Murphy (Axle Whitehead) wrongly believes Heath was supplying the drugs to April. However, Bianca realises he has done the right thing in telling her. Gormley said "Initially [Bianca] doesn't believe it, because April isn't that kind of girl. But then she realises that she's missed something big and her sister's in trouble." Sid realises April stole his pad and has been self-medicating. He orders her to get as much rest as possible before her exams begin. Fish said the situation would have lasting consequences for April, saying "It's something that will affect her for the rest of her life, taking these drugs."
Heath Braxton