Colleen Smart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Lyn Collingwood. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 7 March 1988. She was introduced as a recurring character by producer Alan Bateman, and the character served as comic relief and busybody. She returned briefly in 1997 before returning as a regular on 23 September 1999 until May 2012. Colleen has been portrayed as the serial's "local gossip", a role that been well received by certain critics. Many storylines have centered on her over protective nature towards her son Lance Smart. Collingwood revealed that she often pitched storylines for Colleen in the hope they would play out on-screen. Collingwood decided to leave the series in January 2012 and Colleen departed on 23 May 2012. She made a brief return from 27 November 2012 and officially departed on 24 January 2013.
Creation and casting Colleen was introduced into the serial as a recurring character in 1988 until 1989. Colleen mainly served as a source of comic relief and acted as the busybody type character. Colleen was reintroduced again in 1999 with Collingwood reprising the role. In 2006, Collingwood stated that she was willing to stay with the serial for as long as they want her.
In May 2012, a writer for TV Week revealed Collingwood had left Home and Away. The actress filmed her final scenes a few months previously and the writer said viewers should have "a tissue box handy" for when they are broadcast. Of Collingwood's exit, her co-star Luke Mitchell said "It was very sad. She's been around nearly as long as Ray. I really enjoyed working with her and she's one of my favourite characters to watch on screen." Collingwood later explained her departure, stating that there were other things she wanted to do. She said "You get to a certain age and you don't know how much longer you'll be around, quite frankly, and my memory is still quite good – I don't know how long that's going to last!" Collingwood added that she will miss her co-stars, in particular Ada Nicodemou and Lynne McGranger. Collingwood made a brief return to Home and Away on 27 November.
Development The serial's official website describe Colleen stating: "Colleen is the town gossip, a sticky beak and quick to judge, but she also has a heart of gold. Her main claim to fame was winning the 'Miss Groper Pageant' [...] Colleen is chronically bossy and is not above brow-beating those she cares about, especially her beloved son Lance Smart (Peter Vroom), whom she dotes on." They also add: "She can be the source of information on everything that happens in Summer Bay." Collingwood has said that she likes Colleen's high and mighty behaviour stating: "I like the way she gets all snooty and high-handed and above herself."
Soap opera reporting website Holy Soap describe Colleen stating: "Colleen is the local gossip who always seem to put her foot in it." Whilst interviewed by media reporting website Digital Spy, Collingwood agreed that she shared traits with Colleen which were: "The Irishness and the old-fashioned thing and I guess everybody's a gossip to a certain extent." Of Colleen's chances of finding love again she stated: "As far as the romance goes, there hasn't been anything happening and I don't know when that next one will happen."
Collingwood has stated that she often pitches "crazy plots" for Colleen to the writers in the hope they will implement some. In 2006, she suggested that Colleen should go on a health kick, of this she states: "I had a vision of her and all her mates from the bowling club doing tai chi on the beach, the storyline seems to have come and gone though. It was actually used as an excuse for someone else to kiss somebody else!" She has also suggested the ideas of Colleen starting internet dating and an awkward date with Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher).
Exploration of the character's fictional backstory led to the introduction of her daughter Maureen Evans (Sally Cahill) in 2003. When Maureen comes to the Diner, it is revealed that Colleen had her adopted out after becoming pregnant while she was a teenager. Collingwood said to have her daughter come back into her life is "obviously a huge shock to Colleen", adding "To have this woman suddenly turn up out of the blue really throws her. There's a very emotional scene where the two women meet." Collingwood admitted that she had thought about the storyline a lot, as she knew people in real life that had met their biological mother later in life. She knew that there can be an awkwardness and it was not an easy situation. Colleen is initially suspicious of Maureen's motives for finding her, but later "lets her guard down" with her.
In March 2008, a new storyline exploring the Stewart family leads to the discovery that Colleen is in fact related to Alf Stewart and Morag Bellingham (Cornelia Frances). The revelation is prompted by the discovery of a time capsule from 1940, which "eager" residents believe they should open. Collingwood explained: "It gets opened and inside is a diary kept by one of the Stewarts. Morag reads that Alf and Morag's father had a brief affair with Colleen's mother – resulting in Colleen." While Colleen delights in her new status as a Stewart, Alf and Morag are seen struggling with the discovery and make it clear that they are not keen on the newest addition to the family. Collingwood told Carolyn Stewart of TV Week that the pair react with "shock and horror", and Morag even demands a DNA test because she cannot believe it is true. Collingwood said she and Frances had fun with the scene as they always enjoy raising their eyebrows at one another. Stewart wrote that "a surprise sibling" should not faze Alf, as several long-lost family had been introduced over the years. Scriptwriters also addressed the brief romance Alf had with Colleen's daughter Maureen, adding a scene in which Colleen says "You didn't go that far, did you?". Collingwood confirmed the reference to Maureen, before saying that they "skate over that" and move on. She also pointed out that the storyline puts an end to any romance between Colleen and Alf, something fans had demanded over the years. She said: "they have a relationship now but it's not the type of relationship fans expected. But there's initial confusion in the Bay so they do get an engagement party of sorts!"
Storylines 1988–1989 Colleen was born in Summer Bay as the product of an affair between local businessman Gordon Stewart and Mavis Hickey. Merv Hickey, the man who Colleen believed was her father, was abusive to her and Mavis. Colleen grew up admiring and envying the Stewart family for the family structure she did not have. She is first seen in the general store where she is talking to Celia Stewart (Fiona Spence) and they become good friends and gossips. Colleen tells Pippa Fletcher (Vanessa Downing) that Carly Morris (Sharyn Hodgson) has been sexually assaulted before she gets a chance to, which annoys those around her. Colleen later reappears when her son, Lance wins $500,000 on the lottery and he gives some money to his father Les Smart (Kevin Golsby), who runs off with another woman, leaving Colleen devastated. Colleen, unable to remain living in the family home, moves with Lance into his new mobile home much to his chagrin.
Colleen starts feuding with Morag Bellingham (Frances) and enjoys insulting Roo Stewart (Justine Clarke). Floss McPhee (Sheila Kennelly) makes Colleen believe in horoscopes and she becomes convinced she should not be with Donald Fisher (Norman Coburn). Floss tries to help her to divorce Donald, and Lance becomes happy with this. He enlists Martin Dibble (Craig Thompson) to help him and they try to make it seem as if Donald is an alcoholic like Les so Colleen will be put off. Celia ruins the plan and gets drunk instead. Donald eventually gave in to Colleen and they become just good friends.
Colleen becomes friends with Lance's new girlfriend Marilyn Chambers (Emily Symons). Colleen causes more trouble for Roo when she spreads rumours that she is having an affair with Frank Morgan (Alex Papps) behind her cousin and Frank's wife Bobby's (Nicolle Dickson) back. Almost prophetically, Frank does ultimately leave Bobby for Roo sometime after. When, Lance later ends his relationship with Marilyn, she starts to dislike her and feuds with her. Marilyn tells Colleen that her constant meddling in Lance's life caused the break-up. When Lance confirms this, she leaves town to stay with her sister, Patricia in Cairns.
1997–2013 Colleen makes a brief one-episode return in 1997, babysitting Rachel McGregor (Kelly Glaister). She also encourages Selina Roberts (Tempany Deckert) to contact her mother, Dawn (Kim Deacon). Colleen is not seen for another two years but is referred to as still living in the caravan park in Lance's old mobile home. She helps Marilyn and Donald out whilst they are in America with their ill child Byron. Justine Welles (Bree Desborough) helps Colleen team up with the locals to stop the Caravan park from being redeveloped. Colleen gets a job at the Diner where she becomes good friends with Leah Poulos (Ada Nicodemou). She later helps Sally Fletcher (Kate Richie) as she exposes her fiancé Kieran Fletcher (Spencer McLaren) of his attempted affair with Gypsy Nash (Kimberley Cooper). Lance returns and Colleen is delighted, however she soon sets about making her dislike of his new wife Debbie (Kelly Butler) known. Les (now played by Rob Steele) returns and Colleen takes him in, they decide to renew their vows again after they grow close once more. However, when Colleen insists Les gets a job, he tries to avoid doing so. Les later steals Colleen's secret savings and leaves with caravan park guest Rhonda Davies (Lynda Stoner), breaking Colleen's heart once again. Colleen starts looking after granddaughter Maggie a lot, but when Debbie finds out, she tries to stop Colleen seeing her altogether. Leah eventually talks her around and they become friends.
Colleen causes a chip-pan fire at the Diner, she throws water over it and burns the Diner down. Leah takes the blame for Colleen. Eventually the guilt becomes too much and she tries to confess to Ailsa Stewart (Judy Nunn), but Leah prevents her. Ailsa later tells Colleen she knew it was her fault all along, before she dies. Colleen later reveals she had a daughter out of wedlock when she was 15 and gave her up for adoption. Max Sutherland (Sebastian Elmaloglou) later uses Colleen's bank account to store money in from his book proceeds. Colleen has legal action taken against her over the books copyright status, she covers for Max. Her daughter, Maureen Evans (Cahill) turns up and Colleen initially thinks she just wants to cash in on her newfound fame. She soon realises Maureen is genuine and they become close, but decides after some time it would be better to keep in touch from a distance and Maureen leaves. Josh West (Daniel Collopy) tries to get rid of her mobile home, so she leaves town but later returns.
Colleen meets Norman Shadbolt (David Whitford); they date and later get engaged. He later leaves her a note saying he couldn't go through with it. Colleen starts feuding with Madge Wilkins over a historian job for the paper. Colleen helps Sally after Flynn Saunders' (Joel McIlroy) death, actually managing to keep the news of his illness a secret. Colleen later finds out she is related to the Stewart family after her mother had an affair with their father. Morag hates the idea of being related to her. She later becomes annoyed at Colleen's interfering with their private affairs. Colleen refuses to accept Martha MacKenzie's (Jodi Gordon) relationship with Hugo Austin (Bernard Curry). This causes a series of arguments in the Stewart family over Colleen's meddling. She later sees that Martha is trying to find happiness again and they make up.