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| Harlow Robinson | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Neighbours character | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Jemma Donovan | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2019–2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 15 July 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 6 July 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Jason Herbison | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spin-off appearances | Neighbours: Erinsborough High (2019) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Harlow Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jemma Donovan. Harlow is introduced as an extension of the Robinson family, the secret daughter of Robert Robinson (Adam Hunter) and the granddaughter of Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis). Donovan is also the real life daughter of Jason Donovan, who played Harlow's great uncle, Scott. Donovan auditioned for the role after a four-year break from acting and successfully got the role of Harlow, which producers then slightly tweaked to suit her. Donovan's casting announcement was made in March when she began filming, and she debuted on screens on 15 July 2019. Harlow is described as head strong, sensible and clever, and Donovan revealed that she liked her character. Donovan's co-star, Dennis, also explained that the character had some reservations about her new secret family initially. Harlow's early storylines involve a feud with Roxy Willis (Zima Anderson) and a reunion with her mother, Prudence Wallace (Denise van Outen). Harlow's introduction was described as similar to Donovan's story of moving from London to Melbourne.
Producers soon established a romantic relationship between Harlow and her neighbour, Hendrix Greyson (Ben Turland), a storyline that originally began to explore consent, before the characters develop feelings for each other. Harlow and Hendrix date for a number of months and writers explored romantic scenes between the couple in March 2020. However, Harlow soon becomes annoyed with Hendrix's immaturity and breaks up with him. Both Donovan and Turland explained that they were upset with their characters' relationship coming to an end. Harlow and Brent Colefax (Texas Watterson) begin dating when Harlow's strong friendship with him reaches new levels and she leans in for the first kiss. Donovan explained that their relationship was a surprise to her and that Harlow was originally worried to pursue a relationship with Brent, but later realised her true feelings for him. Producers use this to explore a long-distance relationship, which Harlow and Brent keep secret. When Brent returns to find that Harlow's behaviour is changing for the worse, he breaks up with her. Watterson explained that Brent is now seeing Harlow as a mini Paul.
A mental health storyline was written that saw Harlow's behaviour change for the worse and one journalist said that Harlow would be showing her uncharacteristically ruthless side. Harlow sabotages Chloe Brennan's (April Rose Pengilly) job and has a lack of compassion towards her neighbours and friends. Donovan said that Harlow was smug with her actions and was excited to see others being vandalised. Some of her friends worry that Harlow may be becoming psychopathic, but Harlow is ultimately diagnosed with compassion fatigue and mends her attitude. Producers used the plot to lead into a new storyline, as Harlow confides in Ned Willis (Ben Hall) and develops romantic feelings for him in a lengthy build-up. The two kiss, before Ned's affair with Harlow against his girlfriend is exposed. On 17 May 2022, it was announced Donovan had finished filming and her final scenes aired on 6 July.