Joanna Hartman - Creation and Casting

Creation and Casting

When Harrison auditioned for a role on Neighbours, she was unaware the character she was reading for was Annalise Hartman's (Kimberley Davies) long lost sister, Joanna. Harrison told the Daily Mirror "I was thrilled - and doubly excited when I read the script that had me stealing her TV boyfriend. That was a real bonus." The character of Joanna was Harrison's first major television role, following a successful modelling career. Joanna was introduced as a replacement for Davies and her character, but Harrison said she was determined "not to become a Kimberley clone." The actress revealed it took ten months for her to feel comfortable in her new role and she said "When you start in a show like this, where everyone is very busy, you have to make your mark quickly. It's a case of sink or swim." Following Davies' departure from the show, rumours began that Harrison would be axed and her character written out of the show. However, the actress signed a new long-term contract with Neighbours.

In February 1997, producers told Harrison they were writing her out of Neighbours. Chris Hughes of the Daily Mirror reported Harrison was axed due to rows with the producers who claimed her acting was not good enough. A show inside told Hughes "She was called in to see the bosses and told that her acting was bad. They've always been harsh on models, but she had little ability and the role went to her head. When she started it was suggested she take acting lessons but after a while she stopped. She had decided she didn't need them any more. A lot of us felt she had become a prima donna." In 2005, Harrison was invited back to Neighbours for the 20th anniversary episode, but she did not appear.