Susan Kinski

Infobox soap character
name = Susan Kinski
series = Neighbours
portrayer = Jackie Woodburne
first = October 10,1994
Episode 2251
last =
cause =
creator =



caption1 = Jackie Woodburne as Susan at present
nickname = Mrs K
Suze
Suzie Q (by Janelle Timmins)
alias =
gender = Female
born = October 30, 1956
death =
age = age|1956|10|30
occupation = Journalist| title =
residence = 28 Ramsay Street
parents = Grace Smith (deceased)
siblings = Liz Conway (sister)
Carmel Tyler (sister)
spouse = Karl Kennedy
(first time 1974-2004, divorced)
Alex Kinski
(2005, deceased)
Karl Kennedy
(second time, 2007-"present")
romances = Tom Scully
(2004, 2007)
Bobby Hoyland
(2005)
children = Malcolm Kennedy (son)
Libby Kennedy (daughter)
Billy Kennedy (son)
Holly Hoyland (step-daughter)
Katya Kinski (stepdaughter)
Rachel Kinski (stepdaughter)
Zeke Kinski (stepson)
grandchildren = Jackson Kennedy (grandson)
Ben Kirk (grandson)
grandparents =
aunts/uncles =
cousins =
nieces/nephews = Darcy Tyler
(nephew)
Elly Conway
(niece)
color = Television colour|Neighbours
color text =
species =

Susan Wendy Kinski (née Smith, previously Kennedy), born October 30 1956 (see episode 5359) is a character in the Australian soap opera "Neighbours", played by Jackie Woodburne. The character has been voted the best "Neighbours" character in the history of the show on the [http://www.perfectblend.net/interactive/1001.htm Perfect Blend] website.

Brief History

She first appeared in 1994 as wife of Karl Kennedy, and has remained a prominent character in the show ever since. During her 14 year stint on Ramsay Street she has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, been in a plane crash, divorced, remarried, been widowed, become a stepmother to three children, a grandmother, suspended from work numerous times, had retrograde amnesia and had frequent splits from her first husband Karl (Alan Fletcher). In recent years, she has become a leading character and is the matriarch of the series. Having been with the show for over 3000 episodes, Susan has surpassed Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy) as the show's longest serving female character of all time.

Upon moving to Erinsborough in 1994 with husband Karl and children, Susan began teaching at Erinsborough High where, over the years, she taught English and was sometime Principal. In 1995 she revealed to Brett Stark (Brett Blewitt), on a visit to Africa, that she had helped her terminally ill mother to die years before. This fact was mentioned again in 2005, to the horror of Susan's devoutly Catholic friend Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha). Susan's life was turned upside down when she discovered in 1998 that Karl had been unfaithful to her, the subsequent marital trouble causing a brief separation.

2002: Retrograde Amnesia

In 2002 Susan Kennedy was part of one of "Neighbours"' more high-profile storylines of recent years. While home alone she slipped on some spilt milk, and was knocked unconscious by the fall. When she came to she was confused. She was found in this state by neighbours who alerted her husband, and Susan was taken to Erinsborough Hospital. There it was discovered that she had retrograde amnesia, and had forgotten the last 30 years, leading Susan to believe that she was a young Susan Smith living in 1972 at the age of 16.

After readjusting to Karl's ways, the couple eventually renewed their wedding vows at the end of 2002. At the altar, Susan's memory spontaneously returned and she was able to recite her vows from her first wedding; Karl was able to do the same. However, their reunion was not to last long as Susan's suspicions and Karl's infidelity, this time with Izzy Hoyland, would force them to separate once again and eventually divorce.

Alex Kinski

In 2005 Susan Kennedy married Alex Kinski , a widowed university lecturer. Alex had terminal cancer and died only moments after they married, leaving Susan as guardian of his two young children, Rachel Kinski and Zeke Kinski. She also had formed a close bond with Alex's oldest daughter Katya Kinski, who had earlier been an unsettled and violent teenager. After her mother Francesca Kinski's death, Katya hit Rachel and was expelled from the home by Alex. She developed a drug habit which she funded by posing for nude photos, but reformed and became a nurse. She returned for the wedding, and after some soul searching she came to look up to Susan not just as a step-mother but a friend.

ince reuniting with Karl

Susan Kinski and ex-husband Karl Kennedy have since reunited, but their relationship was threatened when Susan's step-daughter Rachel moved in with her older boyfriend Stingray Timmins and Susan's step-son Zeke got extremely angry. Both children thought that Susan was betraying their late father Alex. Susan and Karl decided to not date for a while but soon changed their minds.

In late 2006, Karl quit medicine and became a home farmer. This storyline was a catalyst to showcase a rarely-seen humorous side to Susan, who was constantly concocting new ideas to try to rid their lives of Karl's noisy pet rooster. Susan was also furious at Karl for refusing to do any housework, but he soon saw the debt he owed her and quit farming.

In March 2007, while Susan and Karl were on holiday in London, Karl proposed to her for a third time. Susan immediately accepted. Days later, the two re-married, although the ceremony was interrupted when Izzy Hoyland, Karl's ex-girlfriend, went into labour. Karl was forced to deliver Izzy's daughter, Holly, who Susan later revealed was Karl's daughter having earlier overheard Izzy talking to her fiancee about Karl being the father.

Multiple Sclerosis

During a period of ill-health, on the way a school appointment for step-daughter Rachel, Susan Kennedy hit Bridget Parker with Declan's car. Susan was unaware that she had struck down Bridget and unwittingly committed a hit and run offence. Steve Parker, Bridget's father, vowed that he would have her prosecuted to the full extent of the law. For a time there was a bitter feud between the two families. However, this was soon resolved during the trial when Bridget remembered she had fallen into the path of Susan's car and the collision would have been unavoidable.

After the trial her daughter Libby Kennedy and her grandson Ben Kirk after Suan was told that she was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after a series of incorrect conclusions, including menopause. This caused her to take sick leave from Erinsborough High and is currently waiting to see if her licence for teaching will be continued.After collapsing at Toadie and Steph's wedding rehearsal, she went to a Multiple Sclerosis retreat to get professional help. She came back from the retreat feeling more at ease with her illness.

Lyn's Return

When her best friend Lyn Scully returned in May 2008, Susan began to feel jealous that Lyn was holding herself together. Lyn later told Susan about Paul cheating on Rebecca Napier and Susan told her, as she couldn't let her friend marry such a man.

Bushfire

In late June 2008, while attending Marco Silvani's bush birthday, Susan and Karl decided to go for a walk. While walking, they got lost and therefore ended up stranded in the middle of the bush, surrounded by the fire. While lying in a ditch, Paul come across them in the 4WD and picked them up. Susan and Karl got to the hospital and they were cleared of any injuries.

References