Charlie Buckton

Charlie Buckton
Home and Away character
Portrayed by	Esther Anderson
Duration	2008–2013
First appearance	6 June 2008
Last appearance	20 June 2013
Classification	Former, regular
Introduced by	Cameron Welsh
In-universe information Occupation Police Sergeant Father Ross Buckton Mother Elsie Buckton Stepmother Morag Bellingham Daughters Ruby Buckton Aunts Michelle

Charlie Buckton is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Esther Anderson. Anderson was added to the cast in a bid to add more "sex appeal" to the show. She said it was her dream job and relocated to Sydney immediately to accommodate filming. The character made her on-screen debut during the episode airing on 6 June 2008. Charlie was billed as having a "warm heart" and being "family oriented"; however, her actions are often misunderstood and her persona has been perceived as "brash". She is described as being "passionate about her work" and often neglects her daughter, Ruby's (Rebecca Breeds) needs.

Charlie's first notable storyline was a lesbian relationship with Joey Collins (Kate Bell). The storyline was implemented by producers to boost ratings and Anderson said it helped portray Charlie's vulnerable side. The storyline angered Christian and conservative oriented family groups. They complained that Home and Away had featured sexualised plotlines unsuitable for children. As a result, producers cut scenes to attune to viewers' wishes, which outraged the LGBT community. Charlie's sexuality was never named within the series, and is cited as contributing to a growing trend of 'unnamed bisexuality' for women characters who explore temporary same-sex romances in Australian drama.^[1] The storyline came to a natural end and Anderson and executive producer Cameron Welsh praised the plot because it portrayed a real-life situation and denounced the conservative views as outdated. Anderson stated that the storyline was a great one to portray in terms of acting.

Charlie's sexuality was sidelined and she began a relationship with Angelo Rosetta (Luke Jacobz). Throughout their romance Charlie played out various family oriented plots and was described as having strong feelings for him. Their romance was portrayed to be wayward and unstable. In 2011, their relationship ended after producers felt there were no more storylines to give to the pair. Charlie later develops feelings for Darryl Braxton (Steve Peacocke). Another notable storyline for Charlie saw her reveal that her supposed sister, Ruby, was in fact her daughter. Anderson said the filming process was challenging as they felt the need to get the story right. Viewers sympathised with Charlie and saw a "beautiful element" in the portrayal. The revelation ruined the on-screen relationship between Charlie and Ruby, and was never repaired.

Charlie has received critical analysis through her storylines and persona and opinion has been mixed. Ruth Deller of Lowculture said Charlie had endured "scandalous-headline-grabbing-faux-lesbianity", whilst Holy Soap stated that she has a "questionable taste in men." The Daily Star liked Charlie's image, which they branded "sexy", and the Daily Record praised her for the drama she creates. Anderson's portrayal of Charlie has seen her earn various award nominations, including the "Most Popular Personality on Australian Television" and "Most Popular Actress" Logie Awards. Charlie departed on 24 January 2012, following Anderson's decision to quit Home and Away. However, in November 2012, it was announced that Anderson had reprised her role and Charlie returned on 17 June 2013.