Gemma Ramsay

Gemma arrives in Erinsborough to live with Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston) following the death of her mother.[3] Gemma had already spent time living with other relatives around Brisbane before making the move to Erinsborough to concentrate on her studies.[4] Madge has a spare room and does not mind taking her in but Gemma feels like she is getting in the way. After one month on-screen the actress believed her character lacked direction. Buchanan told Caron James from TV Week that "the role of Gemma is pretty much up in the air at the moment, I don't think the writers have decided where they want to go with her yet. In a way, that's good because it gives me a chance to develop the role."[3]

Gemma is characterised as "care free and independent" but is more interested in having a good time rather than studying. But she is intelligent and capable of achieving more than she does. She enjoys playing netball and listening to classical and acid house music.[4] Anthony Hayward wrote in his book "The who's who of soap operas" that Gemma soon settled into the Bishop household and became popular with other residents because of her willingness to stand up for her friends. She was also unafraid to challenge her teachers. Gemma remained unsure about her career aspirations during her time in the series. She thought about nursing, but had an invested interest in environmental science.[4] Gemma's style was bland when she first arrived on-screen. Buchanan told Caroline Westbrook from TV Hits that she was "totally different to Gemma" because she was going to high school and dependent on her aunt and uncle.[5] Buchanan also disliked Gemma's dress sense and style. She explained that she hated "probably just about everything in the beginning. For the first six months it was horrendous, and then for the second they tried to vamp up the show a bit. I think the grey school uniform was probably the ugliest thing."[5]

Producers also changed Gemma's appearance beyond her attire by cutting Buchanan's hair short and dying it blonde. Buchanan revealed to Chrissie Camp and David Brown from TV Week that she was "happy" with Gemma's makeover. She talked to producers about Gemma's transformation and wanted to get a new hair cut regardless. Buchanan added "Gemma is dressing in much more modern and mature stuff. There's much more care going into her appearance than before."[1] She also believed that producers were investing more money into the show and Gemma benefited from this.[1] Producers later entrusted the character with adult stories. They achieved this by Gemma finishing school and getting a job. Buchanan was happy that writers had further developed Gemma. She explained to Camp and Brown that when Gemma was at school she would just gossip in the corridors whereas it was more interesting to perform adult themed stories. She added "there's just more for the character to do."[1] Buchanan wanted Gemma to be involved in more storylines that copied current issues of the early 1990s. She branded Gemma as "excitable and quite determined" and Buchanan believed that these personality traits would have been ideal for stories dealing with environmental and social problems.[1]

Following her introduction Gemma briefly dated Ryan McLachlan (Richard Norton).[6] Writers soon devised another relationship storyline between her and Matt Robinson (Ashley Paske).[3][6] The pair were involved in a motorbike crash story in which Gemma nearly had to have her leg amputated.[6] The incident created a rift between Matt and Gemma's father Tom Ramsay (Gary Files), who disapproved of their relationship. In her book The Neighbours Programme Guide, author Josephine Monroe wrote that Tom "took every opportunity to attack Matt for being irresponsible and unsuitable for his beloved daughter. He couldn't help wishing that Gemma had never split up with her previous boyfriend."[7] Writers created a dilemma for Gemma and introduced her ex-boyfriend Aidan Devlin (Blake Collins) into the show. Their relationship is marred because Gemma is "confused" by his arrival and Matt is unhappy with the situation.[5] Aidan tries to convince Gemma to give their relationship another chance and Gemma realises she still has feelings for him. Matt becomes so jealous that he accuses her of betraying him. Gemma manages to convince Matt that nothing happened between her and Aidan.[7] Writers used the breakdown of their relationship as part of Matt's exit story. He decides that he cannot trust Gemma and decides to move to Adelaide.[7] When Paske decided to leave his role as Matt he claimed that scriptwriters had run out of ideas for his character. He noted that this only occurred once Matt left school and moved in with Gemma and their relationship became more serious.[8] After this, Gemma attempts to move on by having a brief "fling" with Glen Donnelly (Richard Huggett).[6]

Writers created a new relationship storyline alongside medical student Adam Willis (Ian Williams). Di Stanley from TV Extra reported that the character would experience problems with Adam when she discovers he condoned her ex-boyfriend Ryan's drug taking. Stanley revealed that Gemma would pay Adam a "stormy visit" to confront him over the matter.[9] In March 1991, TV Week reported that Buchanan would be leaving the role and would not renew her contract. A Neighbours publicist downplayed Buchanan's departure but the publication claimed that Buchanan was already pursuing other projects.[1] Buchanan's departure occurred as part of a revamp of Neighbours following a decline in ratings. Network Ten's executive John Holmes decided to write out eight characters and introduce new actors.[10] In the lead up to her exit from the series Gemma graduates from high school and becomes a vet. She later receives a job offer in Newcastle and leaves.[6] Adam decides to go to Newcastle to be with Gemma one month later and off-screen they marry and have children.[6] Monroe, who also wrote Neighbours: The First 10 Years stated "like many other Ramsay Street teenagers, Adam and Gemma confounded the odds by making a go of things."[11] After Buchanan left the series and went to secure work in the United Kingdom. Of her departure from Neighbours, Buchanan told TV Hits' Westbrook that she did not miss being on the show.[5]

Buchanan reprised her role in 2019 to facilitate the introduction of Gemma's daughter, Roxy Willis (Zima Anderson).[12] Gemma returns to ask her sister-in-law, Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou), to care for "wild child" Roxy and end her disorderly behaviour.[12] Gemma draws on Terese's troubled backstory to persuade her into letting Roxy stay.[12] Buchanan reprised the role a few months later, as Gemma returns to help and advise Roxy, who has been having a difficult time.[13]

In December 2021, Neighbours released a promotional trailer for Roxy's upcoming storylines that revealed Buchanan had reprised the role once again for her on-screen daughter's wedding to Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan), which she initially disapproves of.[14] Gemma's return scenes aired on 7 January 2022 in the UK and 10 January 2022 in Australia.[15] Buchanan was happy to return once again and believed that Neighbours' tradition of character returns was a success, though she worried viewers may not remember Gemma anymore.[16] When Gemma returns, she has concerns about Roxy and Kyle's decision to marry. Gemma's attitude causes issues with Roxy who retaliates by banning her mother from helping her choose a wedding dress.[16] Buchanan told Alice Penwill from Inside Soap that "I think Gemma's worried that Roxy and Kyle are too young to get married - it's all very sudden."[16] She explained that Gemma does "like" Kyle and is accepting of their relationship, Gemma's issue is that Roxy is too young for commitment. Buchanan assessed that Roxy "has a history of being spontaneous and making rash decisions" and Gemma's failed marriage to Adam adds to her worries.[16] Roxy banning her mother from bridal shopping made things "very awkward" but Gemma "tries to stand her ground". Buchanan noted that Gemma does not want to ruin her relationship with Roxy but they are too alike. Describing their likeness, the actress added "it's tough because they're similar in way - very headstrong! Gemma and Roxy both know what they want... and what they don't!"[16] Buchanan enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with her old cast mates and working with Anderson. She concluded that "many of my scenes have been with Zima and I just love her. She's just great, and it's honestly been so great to get back into it. The storylines been fun aswell – I've loved it all"[16] Buchanan returned once more in April 2022, where Gemma helps Roxy move to Darwin and discovers that Roxy is pregnant.[17]