Cody Willis

Cody was one of the first members of the Willis family to arrive in Ramsay Street. She soon became Todd Landers' (Kristian Schmid) girlfriend.[2] Frid told Dawn Bebe from BIG! that Cody is "flirty and does her best to chase boys – especially Todd".[3] Frid was embarrassed by her character's actions because she was completely unlike Cody.[3] Cody was initially described as being "studious" and a "high achiever." Her parents were very proud of her.[4] Cody earned a scholarship to study in America and she "jumped at the chance" to leave Erinsborough.[2][4] Upon her return, Cody was a "determined young woman" and she once wore a fake moustache, so she could play on the men's cricket team.[4] Brady said believed that people liked her characters "down-to-earth qualities".[5] She also said that viewers had told her that they were happy to see "someone who isn't scarily beautiful" on the show.[5] A Sunday World columnist observed that "as well as sporting a more glamorous image, Cody is also a much more fun-loving young one."[6]

Frid's departure occurred during a revamp of Neighbours following a decline in ratings. Network Ten's executive John Holmes planned to introduce new characters, including Rachel Blakely and Scott Michaelson as Cody's siblings Gaby Willis and Brad Willis.[7] Ian Williams, who played Cody's eldest brother Adam Willis, was also due to depart.[7] Frid said that there was a lot of interest in renewing her contract, yet she chose to leave to study for her VCE.[1] Her Principal told her that the school could not support her if she wanted to continue with Neighbours and take her VCE. Frid made her on-screen departure on 30 July 1991,[1] as Cody leaves for America on a student exchange trip.[8]

The character was reintroduced in 1993. Frid was not asked to return and producers decided to recast the role.[1][9] Peta Brady was a full-time student at Sydney University when she won the role of Cody.[5] Brady said she was "delighted" to play Cody when Frid was not available. She understood that some viewers might find the changes to the character "odd", but she hoped that they would not take too long to accept her.[6] Brady also commented "Cody's an interesting character and has a few surprises in store."[6] Critics and viewers immediately noted the physical differences between Brady and Frid.[8] Sue Malins of the Daily Mirror also observed that it was not just the character's looks that the producers had taken liberties with, as she calculated that Cody's age when she left meant that she should have been past school age, but Cody enrols in Erinsborough High upon her return.[8] A spokesperson told Malin: "A certain amount of dramatic licence has been taken to bring her back into year 12 at the school."[8] Cody's first day at the school causes "havoc" among the male students, who organise a competition to see who will date her first. However Cody swears off men, after revealing that her American boyfriend broke up with her to date her best friend.[8] Malins said that a "heartbroken" Cody came home for a fresh start.[8]

When Cody returns from America she is a "changed person" and "clearly broken-hearted."[2] The BBC said that Cody had gained a "broader outlook on life" due to her time away.[4] Cody tries hard to establish her relationship with her family, but her "bizarre" mood swings alarm her parents.[9] Doug (Terence Donovan) and Pam (Sue Jones) also find it hard to understand why Cody is steering clear of her "male admirers", Rick Alessi (Dan Falzon) and Michael Martin (Troy Beckwith).[9] Michael falls for Cody as he believes that they are two of a kind.[9] Inside Soap said "Both feel lonely and isolated after returning to their families after a long time away and initially they vow to stay just good friends."[9] However, Michael's sister, Debbie (Marnie Reece-Wilmore), decides to play cupid to get them together. This does not sit well with Michael's stepmother Julie (Julie Mullins).[9] When Rick first meets Cody, he thinks she is gorgeous and the girl for him.[9] He tries to flirt with her at every opportunity, but Cody is determined to stay away from boys.[9] She tells Debbie that she had her heart broken in America and that she is scared of getting hurt again.[9] In her book, Neighbours: the first 10 years, Josephine Monroe said that Cody and Rick were "made for each other" because they shared the same sense of humour and they were ambitious.[2]

It is later revealed that Cody had secretly married Drew Grover (Christopher Kirby) while she was in America.[10] Kirby told Caron James from TV Week that he believed the marriage story was credible, despite accusations that it was far-fetched.[11] Drew turns up in Ramsay Street and Cody is forced to explain that she returned home because Drew cheated on her.[10] Of why Cody and Drew married, Kirby explained to Victoria Ross of Inside Soap "Drew married Cody so that he could transfer a family inheritance into her name and so avoid paying tax on it. She knew what she was getting into, but unfortunately she fell head over heels in love with him and was devastated when she found out that he was having an affair with her best friend."[10] Cody's family are concerned when she does not send Drew back to America straight away and it looks like she wants to settle back into married life with him.[10] However, Drew asks Cody for a divorce because he wants to be a politician and a mixed race marriage might ruin his political aspirations.[10] Their marriage ends and Cody realises that she loves Rick.[4] Brady said that she was not like Cody at all when it came to men, saying "Cody always seemed to need to have a man in tow."[5]

After four years in the role, Brady decided to quit Neighbours. She said that Cody had been "great fun to play", but it was time to move on.[5] Upon learning that the character was to be killed-off, Brady admitted that she was relieved, as she could not sit and watch someone else in the role.[12] She continued, "I was pleased when I heard she was going to die because I like to finish things clearly – and that was obviously going to be an end to everything."[12] Brady found the filming of her last scenes "hard" and said was "just numb". She also said that it felt "kind of spooky" saying goodbye to her character, as she could sense "the feelings of everyone who'd known her in Ramsay Street."[12] Cody is shot after a drugs bust in Ramsay Street goes wrong. She is hit by a stray bullet as police try to apprehend the drug dealers.[5] The situation was described as being perhaps one of the most disturbing events to have ever occurred in Ramsay Street.[4] Cody was left in a critical condition and she was taken to the hospital, where she underwent surgery. Cody's mother flew down from Darwin to be by her daughter's bedside, but Cody later died.[5] Months before the storyline was due to air in the United Kingdom, the Dunblane massacre occurred and the BBC were urged not to show the scenes, which had been labelled "inappropriate and insensitive."[13]