Xanthe Canning

Xanthe Canning
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Lilly Van der Meer
Duration	2016–2019
First appearance	22 January 2016 (2016-01-22)
Last appearance	8 January 2019 (2019-01-08)
Classification	Former; regular
Introduced by	Jason Herbison
Spin-off appearances	Xanthe ♥ Ben (2016) Pipe Up (2016) Summer Stories (2016)
In-universe information Occupation Student Waitress Day spa worker Hotel housekeeper Father Gary Canning Mother Brooke Butler Half-brothers Kyle Canning Half-sisters Jesse[1][2] Grandmothers Sheila Canning First cousins Kylie Canning[3]

Xanthe Canning is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Lilly Van der Meer. The character's introduction was teased by actress Colette Mann, who plays Sheila Canning, during an interview in October 2015. Van der Meer's casting was announced the following month. She taped her first audition for the part at her home. Van der Meer learned she had won the role during her school lunch break, and she relocated from Queensland to Melbourne for filming. Xanthe is the granddaughter of Sheila Canning and the half-sister of Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan). She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 22 January 2016. In December 2018, it was confirmed that Van der Meer had relocated to Los Angeles, leading to her exit from the show. Xanthe made her final appearance on 8 January 2019.

Xanthe is portrayed as bubbly and confident. She comes to Erinsborough to live with her father, Gary Canning (Damien Richardson), after being abandoned by her mother. Early storylines for the character saw her clash with Sheila and Kyle, reconcile with her father, and suffer from low self esteem after being bullied. Xanthe developed a romantic relationship with Ben Kirk (Felix Mallard) and the characters starred in their own online spin-off. Following a break-up, Xanthe was assaulted by one of her classmates. Towards the end of 2016, Xanthe's mother, Brooke Butler (Fifi Box), was introduced, causing several problems between Xanthe's family and friends when she scams them out of their money.

During the following year, Xanthe found herself being manipulated by Finn Kelly (Rob Mills), who plots to become Principal of Erinsborough High. Finn uses Xanthe as his spy and he confides in her, after she learns he has a brain aneurysm. Finn later frames Xanthe for poisoning Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) and she realises that he has been using her all along. Van der Meer said Finn's actions would continue to impact Xanthe's life in the future. The storyline was revisited in 2018 when Finn deliberately strikes Xanthe with a car, leaving her with serious injuries. The character and Van der Meer's performance have received a positive response from critics, with one calling her the "find of the year". Van der Meer was also nominated for a Best Newcomer accolade.