Xanthe Canning

Mann thought viewers would like Xanthe, commenting, "There is a toughness to her, but she has a fun side, too."[9] While Van der Meer said Xanthe's arrival would "shake things up a bit".[7] The character's profile on the official website describes her as "naturally confident", but adds that she had to hone her "survival skills" as she grew up with her "flighty" mother Brooke Butler (Fifi Box).[10] Van der Meer enjoys portraying Xanthe's "bubbly personality", commenting "she's so bouncy and in your face the whole time, it's great."[11] Van der Merr said she and Xanthe did not have much in common, which she found "exciting" as an actress, as she did not want to play a copy of herself. She explained, "I'm making completely different character choices for Xanthe. She does everything with a good heart but gets mixed up in the wrong things and goes about it the wrong way."[7] Van der Meer described Xanthe's style as "very girly".[12] She said Xanthe often wore tight tops, and favoured purples and pinks, whereas Van der Meer preferred loose tops and monochrome colours. The actress also said that Xanthe had some "insanely cool" dresses, which she thought she would wear in real life,[12] and that high heels made the character.[11]

Shortly after arriving in Erinsborough, Xanthe attempts to scam a free burger from The Waterhole pub. However, the manager, Sheila Canning, realises what she is up to straight away, causing Xanthe to run off.[9] Xanthe next shows up at Sheila's house on Ramsay Street, where Sheila gives her "short shrift" when she sees her. Xanthe then reveals that she is Sheila's granddaughter.[9] An Inside Soap writer observed that the revelation was "a huge development" for Sheila, who was unaware that her son, Gary Canning (Damien Richardson), had fathered another child. His son, and Xanthe's half-brother, Kyle, was also surprised to learn that he had a sister.[9] Mann commented that Sheila is hurt that Gary kept Xanthe a secret from her, as he is her favourite child. Mann also said that Sheila "doesn't believe it at first, but soon realises it's true. She actually feels sorry for Xanthe, because Gary has kept a lot from her as well."[9] Sheila initially struggles to get along with Xanthe, but Mann was pleased by the new addition to the Canning family, calling her "a great character".[9] Van der Meer said Xanthe would eventually make "a good friend" on Ramsay Street and that she would also get into "trouble, excitement, and mischief."[11]

Xanthe runs away and stays in a show home. She throws a party at the house and charges an entrance fee, so she can afford to buy a ticket back to Gold Coast.[13] After she is caught by the police, Xanthe is given the choice of staying with Sheila or moving to a foster home. Xanthe opts to stay with Sheila, but she is "devastated" to overhear Kyle complaining about her poor attitude.[13] Kyle later tells Xanthe that she is not wanted, but he realises that he is damaging their relationship and they have their first proper conversation.[13] Sheila enrols Xanthe at Erinsborough High, but she worries that she will come across as stupid. Xanthe is told off for wearing too much make-up and she struggles with a reading exercise, leading to fellow student Alison Gore (Madeleine Andreopoulos) teasing her.[13] Xanthe befriends Piper Willis (Mavournee Hazel) after she stands up for her. Piper does not condone Xanthe's stealing and selling of an exam paper to raise money.[14]

Xanthe was unaware her father was in prison when she arrived, so when Kyle rejects a visiting order, Xanthe asks Sheila to take her to visit Gary instead.[15] Xanthe is "over the moon" to see her father even though things between them are initially awkward. Gary tells Sheila and Xanthe that he could be getting out of prison in the near future, so Sheila invites him to stay with her.[15] A concerned Kyle visits Gary to tell him that Xanthe needs people who are going to stay around and look after her. Sheila later learns that Gary has been in a fight and his parole has been revoked.[15] Xanthe is prepared to fight for her father's release, but Piper's sister informs her that only a prisoner can appeal the decision.[13] Gary refuses to see Xanthe and when she learns what Kyle said to him, she prepares to run away again.[13] A confrontation with Sheila, leads to her suffering a heart attack. Xanthe is briefly taken into care.[14]

Xanthe is the victim of cyber-bullying and suffers from low self esteem. After she is trolled online, Xanthe starts copying the comments and trolls herself. Van der Meer explained that Xanthe feels that if she cannot beat them, she should join them.[16] The actress found the scenes "confronting" and she researched the topic beforehand, as she wanted to know what it was like for children in a similar situation.[16] Of how the bullying affects Xanthe, Van der Meer continued, "When someone calls her stupid or dumb she starts to believe it and the only way to fix that is to become the most beautiful person that she can and she thinks plastic surgery is the only way to do that."[16] Xanthe arranges an appointment with a plastic surgeon to get breast implants, but pulls out at the last minute when her friends tell Sheila.[17] Xanthe later explains that she felt ugly growing up and blames her mother for her body issues.[17]

When Xanthe notices Ben Kirk (Felix Mallard) she is immediately attracted to him. She sets about trying to win his affection, and starts by supplying him with an alcoholic drink.[18] Ben's grandparents Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) worry that Xanthe will disrupt Ben's attempts to settle down and get his life "on a positive course."[18] After Karl and Susan order Ben to stay away from Xanthe, she tells him that she has come up with several ideas to get around the ban. But Ben is reluctant to go against his grandparents' wishes.[18]

Angus Beaumont-Hannay, played by singer Jai Waetford (pictured), briefly comes between Ben and Xanthe, after he develops an interest in her.

In April 2016, it was announced that Xanthe and Ben would star in an online spin-off titled Xanthe ♥ Ben.[19] The 20-part series was available via the show's Instagram account, and focused on the characters before and after the Lassiters' Hotel explosion.[19] Xanthe and Ben take a bag of money belonging to Tom Quill (Kane Felsinger) from the hotel.[20] Van der Meer pointed out that Ben and Xanthe were slowly forming "a connection". Although Ben appears uninterested, Xanthe is "infatuated" and Van der Meer commented that she is "very forward" in her approach. The actress hoped the characters would eventually get together.[16]

Angus Beaumont-Hannay (Jai Waetford) later takes an interest in Xanthe.[21] Angus also steals Ben's share of Tom Quill's money, leading Ben to try and break into Angus's school locker to get it back. The boys fight and Angus tells Susan that they were fighting over Xanthe, which pleases her.[22] Xanthe spends time with Ben after he is suspended and feels that they are getting on well. However, she is "left humiliated" when Ben tells her the real reason why he and Angus were fighting. Xanthe is also annoyed with Angus, but he wins her over with his "charms".[22] Waetford said Angus is "super flirty" with Xanthe. He buys her things and realises that he may have a reason to stay in Erinsborough after all.[21] Angus later helps Xanthe get out of an English exam, by pulling the fire alarm and his actions win her "approval".[23]

Ben and Xanthe attend the school formal together and finally start dating.[24] Xanthe purchases an expensive dress for the dance and keeps the tags on, so she can return it. However, Piper later throws a drink at teacher Elly Conway (Jodi Anasta) and Xanthe is accidentally drenched. As Xanthe worries about how she can pay for the dress, Ben distracts her with a kiss.[24] However, the following day Xanthe learns that Gary paid Ben to take her to the formal and she is "heartbroken" by the revelation, leading her to end their relationship.[25] A few weeks later, Xanthe and Ben arrange a date, but Xanthe is late when she becomes trapped in a shed with a snake. Xanthe calls out for help, but this agitates the snake and Xanthe worries that it will bite her. Piper eventually comes to her rescue.[26] Unaware of the reason why Xanthe was late, Ben kisses Alison, which Xanthe sees.[27]

Xanthe and Ben later reconcile. When Ben travels to Gold Coast with Madison Robinson (Sarah Ellen) for a singing audition, Xanthe decides to follow him and consummate their relationship.[28] Van der Meer explained that Xanthe and Ben are "loved-up" and are at a stage in their relationship where all they want to do is be together. When Ben and Madison leave Erinsborough, Xanthe feels left out and just decides to join them. She also wants to show Ben where she grew up.[28] While Ben and Xanthe are at the beach, they are interrupted by the arrival of Angus, who is in Queensland with his father. After catching up with Angus, Ben and Xanthe go to his hotel room to have sex. However, they are stopped by Susan, which embarrasses them both.[28] Van der Meer commented, "I think it's probably for the best – this was a spur-of-the-moment thing for Xanthe, and she hadn't considered the consequences."[28]

Ben and Xanthe break up due to her mother's interference, and their families begin feuding. They get back together during the feud and keep their reconciliation a secret.[29] Ben and Xanthe arrange to meet outside her house, but when Sheila comes out, Ben is forced to hide behind her car. Sheila gets in the car to drive off, forcing Ben to move. But when Sheila changes her mind, she strikes Ben with the car door.[29] Karl sees the incident and accuses Sheila of attacking Ben, which worsens the feud.[29]

Xanthe was assaulted by her classmate Cooper Knights (Charlie Hannaford) in August 2016.[30] After breaking up with Ben, Xanthe begins spending time with Cooper to make Ben jealous. After a "run-in" with Ben, Xanthe goes to Lassiter's Hotel to work on a school film project with Cooper.[30] Cooper "says all the right things", as he tells Xanthe that getting good grades will be a way of getting back at Ben.[27] While they are together, Cooper tries to kiss Xanthe, but she pushes him away. Cooper insists that the kiss is part of the film and refuses to let Xanthe leave the hotel room until they get it right. Xanthe tries to fend off his advances.[30] Xanthe is left "rattled" by the assault and she cannot complete the assignment, which does not go unnoticed by her teacher Elly.[31]

Xanthe eventually opens up to Elly about what happened, but soon learns the accusation will be hard to prove.[31] Shortly after he is accused of sexually assaulting Xanthe, Cooper is attacked. Xanthe's father Gary becomes the prime suspect. Richardson commented that Gary was capable of committing the attack, as he is frustrated with the way the school is handling the situation.[32] Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou) later learns someone planted cameras in the hotel rooms and she gains footage of Xanthe's assault, which she anonymously posts to her.[31] Ben also learns that Cooper's mother, Maureen Knights (Judith Chaplin), was the one who attacked him and urges him to tell the police. Xanthe is grateful to Ben for saving her father from going back to prison.[31]

Fifi Box (pictured) was cast as Xanthe's mother Brooke.

Ten months after abandoning her daughter, Brooke Butler visits Xanthe in Erinsborough. Xanthe is both delighted and angry upon seeing her mother, and Brooke struggles to get her to listen to the reasons why she left.[33] It soon becomes clear that Xanthe will not forgive her mother easily, so Brooke tries to convince Gary to help her.[33] Xanthe later catches Sheila going through Brooke's things to find out the real reason she is visiting. Xanthe also voices her concerns about Brooke, although she hopes her mother is in town for her.[34] Brooke's appearance comes just days after the Cannings win $10,000 on Family Feud. Brooke is in debt, but she manages to convince Sheila that she does not need money, as she runs a successful jewellery sales business.[35] Xanthe is initially uncomfortable when Brooke tries to be maternal with her, but she soon helps her organise a jewellery party for their neighbours and Brooke makes several sales.[35]

Brooke plans on taking Xanthe away from Erinsborough. She also grows jealous of Gary's relationship with Terese Willis.[35] Brooke makes it clear to Gary that she is interested in him romantically, which raises Xanthe's suspicions. She believes Brooke is planning on scamming her father and after talking to Elly, Xanthe warns Gary about Brooke's past.[36] Xanthe finds her parents kissing, but still tells Gary about Brooke's previous scams with men. A "vengeful" Brooke later has Elly sacked as Xanthe's tutor.[36] Van der Meer told the official Neighbours website that Xanthe was uncertain about Brooke's reasons for visiting her in Erinsborough, and just as she starts to trust her mother, she suddenly becomes "very skeptical of her".[37] Xanthe learns Brooke has given Gary a fake Rolex watch. She decides to contact the last man Brooke scammed, Trey Johnson (Jason Buckley), and asks him to come to Erinsborough. Meanwhile, Brooke cons Gary out of his Family Feud winnings. She claims the jewellery she sold is being held at customs and she needs to pay a release fee.[38]

Brooke also causes problems in Ben and Xanthe's relationship. She hopes that if Xanthe breaks up with Ben, she will have few reasons to stay in Erinsborough.[38] Xanthe is torn between her mother and her boyfriend. Van der Meer thought Xanthe would "always have that conflict in her mind" if she reconciled with Ben.[37] Brooke leaves town after it emerges that the jewellery she sold was fake.[39] Van der Meer enjoyed working with Box, and she revealed that their strong off-screen bond helped them create a realistic "mother-daughter relationship".[37] Van der Meer hoped Brooke would return, so her relationship with Xanthe would have a chance to grow stronger.[37] Producers brought back Brooke in April 2017. She tries to make amends for her actions.[39]

Rob Mills (pictured) was cast as teacher Finn Kelly.

In March 2017, science teacher Finn Kelly (played by Rob Mills) was introduced. Finn takes over tutoring Xanthe from his former girlfriend Elly Conway and he also shows an interest in Ben's career plans. During a confrontation, Elly accidentally pushes Finn down some steps, which Xanthe witnesses.[40] Finn plots to steal the principal job from Elly's aunt Susan Kennedy, while trying to win her back. He confides in Xanthe, but Susan and Elly notice that she is too involved in his personal life, and find her another tutor.[41] Xanthe develops a respect for Finn. She soon learns that he has a brain aneurysm after accidentally reading his hospital patient file. She also agrees to be his spy at the school.[42] Xanthe grows closer to Finn when he joins her for a picnic by the lake, as she waits for her mother.[43] Finn uses the opportunity to manipulate Xanthe further by telling her that he finds Mother's Day difficult since his mother died.[43] Xanthe tells Finn that he needs to stop pushing people away and she encourages him to reconcile with Elly.[43]

Finn gifts Xanthe a necklace for her birthday, and she attends a hospital appointment with him.[42] As Xanthe continues to revel in Finn's attention, she is blind to his manipulative behaviour. He manages to convince her that everyone is out to get him.[44] However, Ben starts to realise that Finn is not a good man and tries to find evidence. After Xanthe visits Finn at his motel room, she realises that she does not love Ben anymore and breaks up with him.[44] Finn switches Susan's vitamins for Piper's pain medication, resulting in her hospitalisation. Finn is appointed acting principal in her place. When Xanthe realises what he has done, he manages to convince her to keep it to herself using "inappropriate flattery".[45] Johnathon Hughes of Radio Times pointed out that Finn is "borderline grooming" Xanthe with his behaviour.[45] Mills was worried about how far Finn was willing to go with Xanthe, saying "I spoke to the writers early on and they explained it wasn't going to be that kind of relationship. Xanthe has fallen for Finn, but it's not reciprocated romantically by him at all. She lacks a positive male role model in her life and Finn is the first person in her life who has really nurtured her."[45]

Finn is eventually investigated by the police for the medication swap, leading him to flee town for Hong Kong. Xanthe decides to go with him, but they are soon found and escorted from the plane.[46] When Xanthe chooses to run away with Finn, she focuses on the fact that she needs to keep him safe. Van der Meer explained that Xanthe will go to "any length" to make sure Finn is care for, as she is the only one who knows the full extent of his condition.[47] Finn tells the police that Xanthe was responsible for poisoning Susan, but she refuses to believe that he is framing her and keeps quiet about what she knows.[48] But when Xanthe visits Finn at his new hiding place, she realises that he has been manipulating her. Finn threatens Xanthe, but she records his confession and he collapses.[48] Van der Meer stated that Finn's actions would have "a massive impact" on Xanthe's life in the future.[47] She continued, "The people in her life despise Finn but she has had an overwhelming love for him that no one else understood. She has eliminated a lot of people from her life during the Finn saga."[47]

The storyline was revisited in May 2018 when Mills reprised his role. Finn returns to Erinsborough with the intention of getting revenge on those who he feels wronged him. Mills admitted that Finn would not have much to do with Xanthe, but he added "when he does, it has a big impact..."[49] It was later confirmed that Finn would strike Xanthe with Elly's car, leaving her with serious injuries.[50] Xanthe is taking part in a scavenger hunt with Chloe Brennan (April Rose Pengilly) when a car comes speeding towards them. Xanthe is "terrified" when she sees Finn is driving it, but she manages to push Chloe out of the way, before the car hits her.[50] Van der Meer commented that Xanthe "just blanks out" afterwards. Finn manages to cause confusion about who is driving the car, which belongs to Elly and she is later arrested.[50] Xanthe's condition is critical and Van der Meer explained that things do not look good for her, saying "She's pretty badly injured – there's a scene where her family is not sure whether she will make it through the night. It's a difficult time for the Cannings, but it was really exciting for me to film, to have my character in such a critical condition. It's a very intense storyline."[50] The actress was glad to have Finn back, as the viewers' reaction to their first storyline had been really positive. She also hoped that Xanthe would get a scene in which she finally confronts Finn for what he has done to her, adding "I want her to finally have the power to beat him!"[50]

On 11 December 2018, Digital Spy's Daniel Kilkelly observed that Van Der Meer appeared to have left the serial, and relocated to Los Angeles.[51] He later confirmed that she had filmed her final scenes in September.[52] Xanthe departed during the episode on 8 January 2019, as she moves to Toowoomba to study medicine.[52] In the lead up to her exit, Xanthe does not get the exam results she needs to attend a university in Melbourne, but she is later offered a place in Queensland. Her former boyfriend Ben also contacts her with information about a potential job nearby, which will help her pay for a place to live.[51] After learning that Gary has returned to crime to help pay her fees, Xanthe briefly considers staying in Erinsborough and studying nursing at Eden Hills university, until Gary convinces her to go. She is also tempted to visit Finn, who is in the local hospital, but ultimately decides that "she doesn't need closure with Finn after all, as he's nothing to her and she's finally free of him."[52] After her final scenes aired, Van Der Meer posted a farewell message on her Instagram account thanking the cast, crew and viewers. She said she would "cherish this amazing adventure forever" and added that "I'm so grateful, my heart is so full and I Love You. Thank you."[53]