Rosetta "Rosie" Cammeniti is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Saleeba. The character was introduced into the serial as part of a group of four "20 somethings." Saleeba began filming in July and she made her first on-screen appearance on 12 October 2006. Rosetta's storylines included an arranged marriage, a same-sex kiss and pseudocyesis. She departed on 25 April 2008.
Character creation and casting
Rosetta was created in 2006 along with another three characters as part of a new group of "20 somethings". Nicky Whelan, Ben Lawson and Christian Clark were cast as Pepper Steiger, Frazer Yeats and Will Griggs respectively. Their introduction was part of the producers attempts to introduce more contemporary characters and to fill the void left by several cast departures. Executive producer Ric Pellizzeri said "We've got 15-to-18-year olds and the 35-plus brigade, we've always liked the shenanigans of Toadfish (Ryan Maloney) and friends at No. 30, so we thought, rather than introduce a new family, we'll bring in some new 20-somethings as housemates and fill the middle ground we've been missing." Despite not knowing each other, the characters all share the same house upon their arrivals, which was a first for the series.
Former All Saints actress Saleeba was cast as Rosetta and she began filming in July. Saleeba said that it was a "bonus" joining the show at the same time as the others, as it made the process easier and less intimidating joining an established cast. Rosetta was given immediate family connections within the show in the form of younger sister and already established character Carmella Cammeniti (Natalie Blair).
Character development
Characterisation
Before appearing on-screen Rosetta was described as Carmella's "strait-laced older sister", "a young lawyer and the object of Frazer's affections". Network Ten said Rosetta "appears to be just your average uptight lawyer. However, scratch the surface of the feisty Italian and you'll find that she can be every bit as passionate as her wayward younger sister Carmella." They commented on the burden of her being the eldest child, which automatically ensured she had to be responsible, they also state that she transformed as a person upon arriving in Ramsay Street, describing her as uptight, but eventually settling down. They add that she is eager to please her parents all the time, saying it was once her sole aim in life. Rosie is also career driven and business minded putting them before a family. Pellizzeri said that Saleeba plays the "perfect Neighbours character – a 27-year-old virgin." Audiences felt Rosetta and Carmella were cast well as they looked alike, Blair said they work well together as a unit and Rosetta's presence changes Carmella for the good.
Relationships
Rosetta's relationship with Frazer is a focal point of her storylining, it has provided the character different plots, including choosing her career over starting a family and her subsequent false pregnancy, of this during an interview with entertainment website Lastbroadcast Salebba stated: "Frazer's desperate to start a family, but Rosie feels that her career as a lawyer is more important at this time in her life, it creates a lot of tension between them. But then Rosetta really does fall pregnant, with complicated consequences..."
One of Rosetta's most notable storylines is a kiss shared with Pepper in the heat of the moment, the characters were portrayed agreeing to forget it ever happened. Australian press branded the kiss as a failed attempt to gain ratings for the serial, also stating it aired practically unnoticed along with a number of would be attention grabbing plots. Describing Rosetta and Frazer's exit storyline, Dan Bennet speaking for Network Ten states: "It will be a bittersweet departure for them. They will experience a big tragedy and, on the beck of that, find a sense of new hope."
Storylines
A lawyer and the older sister of Carmella, Rosetta moves into No. 30 Ramsay Street along with Pepper Steiger, Frazer Yeats and Will Griggs. She had previously lived with her mother Lucia (Maria Mercedes), until she decided to cut herself loose, break up with her fiancé she was not in love with, and move to Erinsborough. Rosetta develops feelings for housemate Will, but did not act upon them out of fear of being rejected; meanwhile, fellow housemate Frazer had hidden feelings for her. Upon finding out Will only had eyes for sister Carmella, Rosetta's feelings for him disappeared.