Steven Matheson - Character Development

Character Development

In the 1989 edition of the "Home and Away Annual", Steven is described in his years as being "quiet and studious, but with an inventive mind. When he came to the Flectchers, he was disturbed, and was having terrible nightmares about his parents' death." They also add "Steven is liable to become a wonderfully caring and informed person, or a pompous brat." In the "Home and Away Annual" he is described as having the life of any average teenager. Willits described Steven stating: "A nice guy, not very trendy though". Willits has also stated it's a challenge to play Steven because he is so different to him, so much so he did not relate to him, he also branded Steven as "not very outgoing". After two years of playing the role, Willits said that Steven "started off as a bit of a bookworm but as he has grown up he has found distractions more engaging than academia!" Willits added that Steven is not "not the trendiest guy in the world, but thankfully as time passes he gets a bit more wayward." In another interview he states: "I love to get out of his character when shooting is finished, and to ruffle up my hair which is all brushed like Steven's." While interviewed by Clive Hopwood for the book Home and Away Special, Willits said that Steven's development was slow because he remained "a bit of a dork". He added that Steven was destined for "exciting things".

Steven's first kiss is with fellow character Narelle Smart (Amanda Newman-Phillips), who is three years older than he is (being seventeen at the time). Of this Willits states: "I'd go for an older woman, if Steven can, I certainly can." Discussing the scenes and Steven's reasons, Willits states: "In the script he had this plan to get Narelle to kiss me, because he has done a survey and he's a pretty hot kisser. It wasn't as though they were in love though." He also named it as one of Steven's greatest moments during the early years. Newman-Phillips describes the filming of the storyline stating: "Narelle seduces Steven and when it came to the kissing scene we were both very nervous. It was the first for both of us and we just couldn't get the scene right, so we did some extra rehearsing. The kiss only lasted a minute, but in the end it took us a couple of hours to get it perfect for the cameras." Whilst interviewed by TV Week, Willits stated: "When you consider rehearsals and retakes, we kissed a hell of a lot. It was great. She gave me all the pointers". The serial later cast Kate Raison to play artist Jennifer Atkinson, a new love interest for Steven. In the Home and Away Annual Authorised Edition, Kesta Desmond said that their romance would develop into a "torrid affair" and that it could "all end in tears".

In another storyline school secretary Joanne Brennan (Kimberley Joseph) starts up an obsessive campaign to seduce Steven. Steven does not show any interest in return. Joseph said "She goes out of her way to wreck any other romance he has - and ends up stalking him." Joanne continues her "bitchy" campaign until she departs. Steven had a drawn out relationship with his student Selina Roberts (Tempany Deckert), their relationship takes many "twists" along the way. Selina leaves Steven on their wedding day. Deckert said it was a "typical soap wedding" with many mishappenings. The conclusion to their storyline before Steven's final departure of the nineties, was filmed in Ironbridge, Shropshire. It was the first ever episode to be filmed abroad for the serial.