Sienna Blake

Sienna Blake
Hollyoaks character
File:Sienna Blake.JPG
Portrayed by	Anna Passey
Duration	2012–
First appearance	21 November 2012
Classification	Present; regular
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information Other names Sienna Bradley Occupation Barmaid Nanny Receptionist Shop assistant Father Patrick Blake Mother Anna Blake Brothers Dodger Savage Half-brothers Will Savage Half-sisters Liberty Savage Minnie Minniver Husband Ben Bradley (2016–2017) Sons Sebastian Fox Daughters Nico Blake Katy Fox Nieces Myra-Pocahontas Savage-McQueen

Sienna Blake (also Bradley) is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Anna Passey. The character made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 21 November 2012. Emily Lawrance was originally selected for the role, but Passey replaced her. The recast occurred within weeks and only Passey has appeared on-screen as Sienna.

The character has featured in many high-profile storylines, including discovering her twin brother Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) is alive, a relationship with Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) and stealing his wife Nancy's (Jessica Fox) life, faking a pregnancy, kidnapping Tom Cunningham (Ellis Hollins) and holding him hostage in a basement for months, being kidnapped by her half-brother Will Savage (James Atherton), suffering from a mental illness, searching for her long-lost daughter Nico Blake (Persephone Swales-Dawson), being locked up by her father Patrick Blake (Jeremy Sheffield), a relationship with Ben Bradley (Ben Richards), hiding the fact that Nico murdered Ben's daughter Carly Bradley (Sophie Wise), being abused by her daughter, embarking on an affair with Trevor Royle (Greg Wood), being stabbed by Nico, her feud with Grace Black (Tamara Wall), a relationship with Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas), coping when Nico is killed in a structure fire during the show's "Halloween Spooktacular" week, causing an explosion at the garage when she attempts to get revenge on Warren and his son Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed), falling pregnant with Warren's twins, helping Warren cover up the murder of Bart McQueen (Jonny Clarke), and being diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Casting

The character of Sienna was announced on 7 October 2012, with Emily Lawrance cast in the role. However, the role was recast with Passey before the character made her on-screen debut. Sienna is the twin sister of Dodger Savage (Danny Mac), the twin sibling Dodger never knew he had. Passey made her first on-screen appearance as Sienna in the episode broadcast on 21 November 2012.

Development

Sienna Blake is beautiful, clever and calculating, often keeping secrets from those around her. A troubled girl with serious insecurities, Sienna conceals her cold, cynical and manipulative behaviour beneath a charming, warm exterior. This conflicting personality has allowed Sienna to lure many into her web of lies and deceit...

— Channel4.com on Sienna.

In an interview with Digital Spy Passey described Sienna as a "bit of a villain" with a more "complicated" narrative. When she joined the show, Passey was disclosed the background of Sienna's character by the producers, "I knew all about her upbringing and the problems she'd had with her family." On the characters background Passey said, "She's had quite an unusual upbringing, because she's never really had any friends. Normally, most people learn how to socialise and form relationships with people as they grow up, but Sienna has missed out on all of that. She's only ever really had her father."

Passey opined that Sienna is not "evil". Speaking to Inside Soap, Passey said: "With her upbringing, she isn't an out-and-out evil person. She really believes she's got her reasons to do what she does."

Storylines

Backstory

Sienna was raised by her controlling, and physically abusive father Patrick Blake (Jeremy Sheffield), after her mentally unstable mother Anna Blake (Saskia Wickham) left with twin brother Mark, known as Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) after trying to kill Sienna and Mark in a murder/suicide attempt. Believing her brother to be dead, she was raised as an only child in a wealthy home. Sienna attended private school but at the age of thirteen she had a brief encounter with a teenage boy at a school where her father was working at over the summer. Sienna fell pregnant at this time, not knowing that her brief encounter with a teenage boy was her estranged twin brother Dodger, and was shut in a basement whilst she had the baby. She named the baby Sophia, who later turns to be Nico Blake (Persephone Swales-Dawson) however Patrick took it away and told her she'd died.

Sienna was not allowed to grieve for the baby she lost and went on to live a supposed normal life. She was head girl at her school and went on to university. After she'd finished she continued to live with her father until she was tracked down by her long lost twin brother Mark/Dodger and decided to move to Hollyoaks to be closer to him.

2012–

Dodger tracks his father Patrick down but is adamant that his son died. After Dodger proves his real identity, Patrick reveals Sienna is his twin sister. Sienna begins spending time with Dodger and takes a dislike to half brother Will Savage (James Atherton). She later discover Will and Texas slept together, angry at him for hurting Dodger's and will do anything to bring Texas back to her brother, which anger Will. Sienna secures a job at the local pub and befriends Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) and Nancy (Jessica Fox). Sienna soon starts to interfere in their relationship. When she realises that Nancy is developing an addiction to painkillers, Sienna manipulates the situation to get closer to Darren. When Nancy tries to overcome her addiction Sienna begins spiking her drinks and food with painkillers. Sienna finds Nancy sleeping and starts a fire with an iron to make Nancy appear unable to look after Oscar. She then pushes Oscars empty pram into traffic causing Nancy to get hit by a car. The series events causes the breakdown of Nancy and Darren's marriage.

Sienna sleeps with Darren but ensures that Nancy catches them. No one believes Nancy's accusations that Sienna is trying to steal her life and family. Sienna then convinces Nancy to run away with Oscar and Charlie Dean (Charlie Behan). But when Nancy leaves Sienna harms herself and fills her flat with gas to make it appear that Nancy has tried to kill her. The police believe that Nancy has abducted her own children and a police chase results in Nancy's car hanging off the edge of a multi-storey carpark. Sienna is delighted when her plan sees Nancy sectioned. When Sienna realises that Darren still loves Nancy she pretends to be pregnant. She fakes scans and appointments while trying to get pregnant. But she becomes more unstable as the lie esculates. Problems in the Osborne household arise from Esther Bloom (Jazmine Franks) and Tom Cunningham (Ellis Hollins) who still support Nancy. She attempts to manipulate the situation but Tom begins to suspect that Sienna is lying about her pregnancy and catches her breast-feeding Oscar. Tom decides to plant a hidden camera and discovers that Sienna has been wearing a prosthetic baby bump.

When an explosion occurs in the local council flats, Sienna kidnaps Tom. She tells him that he caused the explosion and Darren has died. She locks him in the cellar of her childhood home and holds him captive bringing him food daily. Sienna then discover her half-brother Will had kidnapped her family including his own, and discover that he murder their mother and never forgive him for what he has done and even to Dodger's love life Texas. Tom is declared missing and a police investigation is launched. Sienna convinces Chloe Chance (Susan Loughnane) to sell her unborn baby to her. Tom manages to escape and Nancy is released from the secure unit. Nancy confronts Sienna and rips her dress revealing that she is not pregnant. An upset Sienna then tries to convince her brother, Dodger, to run away. But she attempts to kiss him. Sienna then abducts Tom, Charlie and Oscar and locks them in the Roscoes garage. She tries to kill them with exhaust fumes. But they are saved and Sienna is sectioned. It is then revealed that Sienna had a child when she was a teenager. Patrick told her the baby died but he had actually put it up for adoption. Dodger vows to help Sienna find her daughter.

Gangster Fraser Black (Jesse Birdsall) sways a corrupt judge to let Sienna walk free. But other residents are unforgiving and start a hate campaign against her, but later forgives her for what happen to her past, and blames of her father for ruining her life. When she learns that Peri Lomax (Ruby O'Donnell) was born on the same day as her daughter and is adopted, she assumes Peri is her daughter. Sienna manipulates Leela Lomax (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) into letting her move in. Sienna then exposes Danny Lomax's (Stephen Billington) affair with John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) to ruin his marriage to Sam Lomax (Lizzie Roper). The friction causes Peri to rely on Sienna more. Sienna ensures Sam discovers that Danny has slept with George Smith (Steven Roberts). She then tries to abduct Peri but the police believe it is a misunderstanding. When Leela confronts Sienna, she claims that Peri is her daughter. But Leela then reveals that Peri is her own daughter and not her sister. Leela forgives Sienna and tries to help her find Sophie. But Patrick pays the adoptive parent to tell Sienna that Sophie, now named Caroline, has run away.

Sienna finds her daughter Nico and she comes to live with her. Patrick plots to send Nico away, but Sienna eventually stands up to Patrick. He later reveals that Nico's father is Dodger. He explains that the pair met while in their teenage years, and slept together, but have failed to recognize each other as adults. Patrick realised that Dodger was her brother and adopting Nico and locked Sienna away for her own good. Sienna becomes obsessed with Dodger and take him and Nico hostage to create the perfect family. Sienna later pretends to help her half-brother Will, but never forgive him for killing their mother. She and Will later told Theresa McQueen (Jorgie Porter) to kill Dodger, since they knew that she murdered Calvin Valentine (Ricky Whittle) five years ago, but she refused. With Will was in coma, later killed by Glove hand killer, and Dodger left the village forever, Sienna later selected to mental illness place. She is later discharged by Dr. Charles S'avage (Andrew Greenough) and the pair form a friendship. When she is released she tries to make amends with Nico but her behaviour becomes increasingly odd. Following a series of rows, Sienna is stung by a bee and goes into anaphylactic shock. Nico purposely withholds her medication and she is rushed to hospital. Sienna later meets Ben Bradley (Ben Richards) and they begin a relationship. She starts to suspect that Ben is being unfaithful following his visits with a mystery woman named Carly (Sophie Wise). Sienna tracks her down and confronts her then a fight ensues. Nico strikes Carly over the head with a paperweight, killing her. Sienna asks Dr. S'avage to help dispose of her body at the hospital, but Ben finds her body and reveals that Carly is his daughter. Sienna feels guilty that her daughter has killed his daughter, but agrees to protect Nico. She lets Trevor Royle (Greg Wood) take the blame but he is later released. Problems with Nico continue and she slaps Sienna. She then has to deal with Patrick's deteriorating health due to motor-neuron disease and his subsequent suspicious death.

Sienna later becomes increasingly annoyed with Ben's feud with Trevor and Ben agrees to stop. But he attacks Trevor leaving him in hospital. Sienna discovers that Ben was responsible and she starts to help Trevor who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. She sees a different side to Trevor and develops feelings for him and they begin an affair. Nico stops taking her kidney transplant anti-rejection medication and needs another transplant. She tries to kill Thersea and Sienna helps to save her life. She agrees to keep the incident a secret but Nico over hears Sienna telling Trevor. Feeling betrayed, Nico stabs Sienna with a glass bottle. Sienna tells police that she cannot remember who attacked her. She and Trevor then plan to make Nico confess to some of her crimes as Sienna fears for her safety. Subsequently, Nico murders Trevor on his wedding day to Grace Black (Tamara Wall); fearing that Sienna would run away with him. Upon learning that Nico killed Trevor, Ben falsely confesses and is convicted.

Sienna begins a relationship with Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) and they plan to have Maxine arrested for Patrick's murder; but upon discovering Nico was responsible, Sienna tries to protect her by falsely confessing. After Warren and Maxine discover Nico's crimes, they force Sienna to tell the truth, and she is released from prison. Police chase Nico and she is caught in the blaze at the Halloween Spooktacular; Sienna pleads with Warren to save Nico, but he instead chooses to save Sienna's life and let Nico die. Sienna blames Warren for Nico's death and vows revenge. Upon learning that Warren's son Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed) is working in Hollyoaks as a Catholic priest, Sienna begins attending his church and tries to get close to him; truthfully giving details of her situation with Warren and Nico, but using false names. However, she struggles to keep her visits to Joel a secret from Warren. After Joel rejects Sienna when she tries to kiss him, she conspires to make Warren believe that a man from the church is stalking her. Sienna plans to get revenge on Warren for Nico's death by killing Joel however it goes wrong after Joel realizes Sienna's plans and she accidentally knocks a lamp into some petrol in the garage which causes a fire in which Joel is trapped inside. Warren attempts to help Joel however the garage explodes sending the three of them to the ground.

Sienna discovers she is pregnant by Warren. At a hospital appointment, they learn they are expecting twins. Warren murders Bart McQueen (Jonny Clarke) after suspecting him to be involved in his sister Katy (Hannah Tointon) death. Sienna helps him hide the corpse in the attic of an empty flat, which Sally St. Claire (Annie Wallace) soon moves into. Warren later begins an affair with Grace after revealing that he has put plans in place to take the twins away from Sienna as soon as they are born. However, Sienna collapses and experiences spotting, and she is taken to hospital, where they run some tests. The results show that Sienna has cervical cancer, and will need a hysterectomy to remove the tumour, however this will put the twins at a high risk.

Reception

At the 2014 National Television Awards, Passey garnered a nomination for "Most Popular Newcomer". She was nominated in the "Best Bitch" category during the 2013 Inside Soap Awards. In addition "Sienna plots to steal Nancy's life" received a nomination for "Best Storyline". The latter was also nominated for an identical accolade at the British Soap Awards 2014. But it was the "Villain of the Year" award that Passey secured at the ceremony. In August 2017, Passey was longlisted for Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards. The nomination made the viewer-voted shortlist, although she lost out to Lucy Fallon, who portrays Bethany Platt in Coronation Street.

Tina Campbell of the Metro praised Passey's portrayal and described Sienna as having various layers to her personality. She noted that a backstory consisting of a woman beating father, unhinged mother and long-lost brother left her normality doomed. She added that "despite her (many) flaws, you can’t help but love Sienna" and deemed her Hollyoaks' best character. Katie Archer of BT described Sienna as appearing "sweet and innocent", but "on the inside, things are far uglier." MSN.com labeled the character a "barmaid [turned] psychopath". Viewers' perception of Sienna changed during her tenure. A startled Passey told an Inside Soap reporter that Sienna gained sympathy following revelations about her long-lost daughter.

External links

• Sienna Blake at Channel4.com