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Angie Rebecchi

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Angie Rebecchi

Angie Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Lesley Baker. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 17 January 1995. Angie departed in 1996, but she returned for several weeks in 2002 and then in 2003 for her youngest son Toadie's wedding to Dee Bliss. The following year, Angie made another brief visit and she made a cameo in the 20th anniversary episode, which was broadcast in July 2005. The character returned again in 2006 and 2008. Baker reprised the role in February 2013, and again in August 2015. After a brief appearance in the Summer Stories webisodes in January 2017, Angie made guest returns in April and December 2017, on 12 February 2018, 11 March 2019 and in July 2022 for the show's finale. Angie came back for the first few episodes of the show’s return in 2023.

Baker was initially brought into Neighbours for a couple of episodes, but when her character proved popular with viewers, she was taken on full-time. Of her time in the Neighbours, Baker told Jason Herbison of Inside Soap "Angie lived in Ramsay Street for two and half years and I had the time of my life. Even now, a lot of people say we were the most realistic family ever to be on the show." In 2002, Baker agreed to return to Neighbours for brief stint as part of "emergency storylines", which were written to cover Madeleine West's (Dee Bliss) sudden absence. Baker reprised her role for the soap's 20th anniversary episode, which was broadcast in July 2005.

"A more caring and hospitable person you could not hope to meet – although if you didn't know her you wouldn't have believed it. Angie and Big Kev would have the most outrageous arguments – usually, for the whole street to hear."

— A BBC writer on Angie

A writer for the BBC's Neighbours website described Angie as being "salt of the earth" and a "rough diamond." They explained that she is "a devoted mother and tireless worker", though she could often be brash. Inside Soap's Jason Herbison said Angie was the source of much comic relief in Neighbours and he commented "Whether pulling sons, Toadie and Stonefish, into line or gossiping with the neighbours, she was always the centre of attention. Baker believed that above all, Angie was a good mother and always had her boys' best interests at heart. She later quipped "I just love Angie – she's feisty. But, the whole point about her is that she's also absolutely, deadset genuine. She just doesn't have a lot of subtlety in the way she goes about things." A writer for the official Neighbours website called Angie a "no nonsense character" and the "unconventional matriarch of the Rebecchi clan." In 2015, Baker admitted that Angie was "over the top but also very down to earth." She uses her common sense and is "warm-hearted."

Despite being married to Kevin Rebecchi (Don Bridges), Angie had an affair with Mick Andrews (Mike Bishop), a possum catcher. Baker revealed that this was her favourite storyline and she recalled that it gave her the chance to play her first love scene. The actress explained "Me and Mike Bishop, who played Mick, both pretended we knew what to do - when neither of us did! When you're teenagers it's fine, but at our age - what do you do?" Angie and Mick's affair was short-lived and she eventually returned to Kevin. The BBC writer said Angie's heart always belonged to him and they called the couple "soul mates."

On 12 January 2013, it was announced that Baker would be returning to Neighbours in February for a guest appearance. Baker was pleased to be asked back and commented that Angie was a popular character, who viewers had always identified with. The actress added that she was a little nervous for her first day back and had to watch some footage of her previous performances to get back into character. Of the character's return, executive producer, Richard Jasek, stated "Angie is one of those wonderful characters without even being conscious of it, causes strife from the moment she steps through the door and it's always lovely to have Lesley come visit us again." Angie comes to Ramsay Street to visit her new granddaughter, Nell (Scarlett Anderson), causing Toadie to find "himself negotiating his way through a minefield of personality clashes." Angie immediately makes her presence felt. She gets off on the wrong foot Toadie's partner, Sonya (Eve Morey), and they clash over their different parenting styles. Baker explained "Straight away, Angie starts telling Sonya how to do things with the baby, with the best intentions she always means well. Angie thinks she's more than with it, actually. Of course, she's also so excited to meet her grand-daughter."

Angie returned from 17 August 2015 to help nurse Toadie, following an accident that left him paralysed. Baker told Digital Spy's Daniel Kilkelly that she loved bringing Angie back to Neighbours and had no problem getting back into character. Baker explained that Angie would initially be in denial about the severity of Toadie's condition, and that her way of coping was to "fix it and not dwell on worst case scenarios." Angie and Sonya clashed over Toadie's care. Baker said Angie did not dislike Sonya, but thought they had very different personalities. She said Sonya "overthinks things", while Angie is the opposite and often acts immediately without consulting anyone. Baker could see that Angie's actions were frustrating to Sonya, but she just wanted to help out and look after everyone. Baker was also joined by Anthony Engelmen, who plays Stonefish, and she commented that it was good to catch up with him and be around her two on-screen sons again. As well as caring for Toadie, Angie also realised that her niece's husband Kyle (Chris Milligan) had developed feelings for Sonya's lodger Amy Williams (Zoe Cramond). Angie then clashed with Kyle's grandmother Sheila Canning (Colette Mann) and Baker told Kilkelly that both women wanted to be "top dog of the older generation." The character returned on 19 April 2017, following the breakdown of Toadie's marriage and elder son Shane's (Nicholas Coghlan) return to Erinsborough. Angie confronts Sonya over her break up with Toadie. She returned again on 11 March 2019 to attend Sonya's funeral.

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