Rosemary Daniels is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Joy Chambers. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 February 1986 and appeared intermittently. Rosemary is the adoptive daughter of Helen Daniels and the sister of Anne Robinson. Rosemary was the first character to discover Jim Robinson's body, following his death. Rosemary has been portrayed as a tough businesswoman who runs the Daniels Corporation. Chambers reprised the role in 2005 and returned for several episodes to help celebrate the show's 20th anniversary. Rosemary returned in 2010 for four episodes to celebrate the 25th anniversary. She made the first of her appearances on 6 July 2010 and the last on 20 August 2010.
Creation and casting
Rosemary was introduced as the adopted daughter of Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy). She was conceived by executive producer Reg Watson, as an alternative female character to the married and teenage females within the serial at the time. Actress Joy Chambers auditioned for Watson and she said she was "delighted to land the role". Chambers made her first appearance in early 1986, as "high-powered businesswoman" Rosemary returns to Erinsborough from New York to find her birth mother. At the conclusion of the storyline, Chambers returned to her home in Bermuda. In November of that year, she filmed a further guest appearance, which aired in 1987.
Commenting on her character's recurring status, Chambers told Jacqueline Lee Lewis of The Sydney Morning Herald: "The thing about Rosemary is she can come and go. She brings a bit of glamour to Ramsay Street in a way." Chambers also said that she always looked forward to playing Rosemary, as she liked performing and enjoyed working with the show's cast members, including Haddy. She thought that for Rosemary to keep returning, there needed to be a "good viable storyline", as she did not want her character to be written in just because she wanted to come back.
Development
Characterisation
Rosemary's persona has been portrayed through her no nonsense business minded ways. Chambers has described Rosemary as having a business woman's "take-no-prisoners" attitude. Chambers also stated during an interview in 2003, the reasons why she believed Rosemary was popular with viewers, stating: "I think some of her popularity is due to the fact that she could be relied upon to stir things up; that she was not wishy washy and that she stood her ground with men the same way she did with women." Also adding that Rosemary worked better as a recurring character because of her personality. Chambers has also claimed Rosemary's hidden softer side was shown whilst adopting Tracey Dawson (Emily Mortimore), helping her mother Anne and to the rest of her family. Of why her character was portrayed in this way, Chambers has said: "Reg Watson came up with the Rosemary Daniels character as an alternative to many women in the street who were mothers or young women growing up and feeling their way. So yes she symbolised the strength of the female in the Neighbours' saga. Perhaps you could say that Rosemary was there as a point of reference for the emancipated female. Yet mums and married women in the viewing audience related to her too because Rosemary did fall in love a few times. She would have married but the relationships always ended sadly and so she never did. I think Rosemary realised she was in truth, 'married' to her work: it gave her great joy."
Network Ten describe Rosemary as being "ruthless" and Channel Five's Holy Soap website describe Rosemary as a "tough businesswoman". Rosemary has also been described as being "nice" and "cute, but cunning". Of her relationships with family, Rosemary has always been devoted to her mother Helen. When Rosemary adopts Tracey Dawson, she is terrified that it would ruin her career, as she had always put business before family planning. They eventually find out they share a lot in common and get on with each other.
Relationship with Gerard Singer
Rosemary begins a relationship with Gerard Singer (Bryan Marshall) and they become engaged. Gerard was older than Rosemary and she hoped he would hit it off with Helen. When Rosemary introduced them, they became attracted to one another. While Rosemary was away in New York, Gerard followed Helen to Erinsborough and declared his love for her. Gerard then told Rosemary that he was leaving her because he was in love with another woman, but wouldn't say who. Rosemary later discovered love letters written by him to Helen. Rosemary was devastated and cut off contact with Helen. However, shortly before she returned to New York, Rosemary decided to forgive her mother after Jim (Alan Dale) stepped into help.