Alex Bennett (Home and Away)

Alex Bennett is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Nick Freedman. The serial's producers thought of Freedman for the role of "easy-going hippy" Alex, having seen his previous work in other television dramas. Freedman was hesitant about accepting the role due to his career as a musician, so he only signed a year-long contract. He found the demands of filming the weekly serial intense, especially as he was used to late nights while performing with his band. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 16 October 1995.

In addition to his hippy ways, Alex was portrayed as "laid-back" and "a real romantic at heart". Freedman said he was "a good guy", who had endured a difficult childhood and had become "a bit of a drifter". Alex is a cartoonist and painter, who becomes a "have-a-go hero" when he saves Shannon Reed (Isla Fisher) and Selina Cook (Tempany Deckert) from a group of youths. He later saves Selina from his father's religious cult. Writers soon established a romantic relationship between Alex and Shannon, as they share the same interests and outlook on life. Fisher thought that viewers could resonate with the couple, as Shannon was vulnerable, while Alex was gentle and submissive. Fisher and Freedman's height difference caused difficulty while filming their romantic scenes. Freedman also disliked the writing for the couple and tried to make his character's position in the relationship more realistic. On-screen, the age gap between Alex and Shannon causes issues for them, and they briefly break-up after a big argument.

The character was used to explore the effects of temporary blindness and brain injury, after a grenade explodes in his face. The incident seriously challenges Alex's relationship with Shannon, as he experiences personality changes. He kisses another woman and almost causes Angel Parrish's (Melissa George) daughter to drown. His strange behaviour also sees him accused of raping Chloe Richards (Kristy Wright) and he is later seen with Chloe's bracelet, which convinces Shannon and the Bay's residents of his guilt. After the real culprit is caught, Alex reconsiders his future in the Bay and decides to move to Paris. Off-screen, Freedman rejected a new contract with the show in order to pursue his music career. His final scenes aired on 16 August 1996.