View source for Sienna Cammeniti

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox soap character
|series = Neighbours
|image = SiennaCammeniti.jpg
|imagesize = 200px
|name = Sienna Cammeniti
|portrayer = [[Erin McNaught]]
|introducer = Ric Pellizzeri
|classification = [[List of past Neighbours characters#C|Former; regular]]
|first = 2 May 2008
|last = 3 October 2008
|occupation = Nurse<br />Waitress
|cousins = [[Carmella Cammeniti]]
|relatives = [[Chloe Cammeniti]]
}}
'''Sienna Cammeniti''' is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''[[Neighbours]]'', played by model [[Erin McNaught]]. McNaught was cast in the role to help boost falling ratings in Australia. The character made her first screen appearance on 2 May 2008. Sienna was introduced as the cousin of the established [[Carmella Cammeniti]] ([[Natalie Blair]]). In July 2008, McNaught decided to cut her contract short and Sienna departed on 3 October 2008. During her time on ''Neighbours'', McNaught's casting and acting were negatively received by critics, acting agencies and viewers.
==Creation and casting==
In November 2007, it was announced that model and former Australian Miss Universe representative, Erin McNaught would be joining the cast of ''Neighbours'' to help boost falling ratings in Australia.<ref name="Excites">{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/erin-mcnaught-excites-neighbours/story-e6frfmyi-1111114845875|title=Erin McNaught excites Neighbours|date=11 November 2007|work=[[News.com]]|access-date=23 June 2010}}</ref> Producers also recruited fellow model [[Imogen Bailey]] ([[Nicola West]]) and former [[Australian Idol]] contestant [[Dean Geyer]] ([[Ty Harper]]) in a bid to "sex up" the cast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a107899/model-completes-work-on-neighbours.html|title=Model completes work on 'Neighbours'|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=6 July 2008|work=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=23 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/imogen-out-to-rescue-neighbours/story-e6frewz9-1111115412932|title=Imogen Bailey joins Neighbours cast|date=28 January 2008|work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=23 June 2010}}</ref> McNaught took acting classes in preparation for the role of Sienna and she began filming her first scenes on 17 December.<ref name="Excites"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a79613/model-joins-neighbours-cast.html|title=Model joins 'Neighbours' cast|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=11 November 2007|work=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=23 June 2010}}</ref> On joining the show, McNaught said "Everyone has grown up watching ''Neighbours'', of course I am nervous. It is a big change from what I have been used to doing".<ref name="Excites"/>
In March 2008, McNaught's contract was extended by three months after she impressed the ''Neighbours'' bosses.<ref name="Adelaide">{{Cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/erin-braithing-for-time-apart/story-e6fredq3-1111115868406|title=Erin Braithing for time apart|date=23 March 2008|work=The Advertiser|location=Adelaide|access-date=25 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="Snubs">{{Cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/confidential/erin-snubs-ramsay-st/story-e6freq7o-1111116124246|title=Erin snubs Ramsay St|date=22 April 2008|work=[[The Courier-Mail|Courier Mail]]|publisher=[[Queensland Newspapers]]|access-date=25 June 2010}}</ref> However, she was still described as a guest cast member and was not expected to be signed beyond the deal.<ref name="Adelaide"/> In July 2008, it was announced that McNaught had opted to relinquish her role as Sienna, for the benefit of her relationship with [[Braith Anasta]] and because she was homesick.<ref name="Snubs"/><ref name="Finishes">{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/sunday-heraldsun/role-ends-with-mcnaught-interest/story-e6frf92x-1111116832772|title=Model Erin McNaught finishes up on Neighbours|last=Byrne|first=Fiona|date=6 July 2008|work=Herald Sun |location=Australia|access-date=25 June 2010}}</ref> On her departure McNaught said "It was a great experience and I'm really happy with what I have been achieving in acting – so it was a tough decision to make.<ref name="Snubs"/>
==Development==
McNaught spoke to ''[[TV Week]]'' about Sienna and her past with her cousin [[Carmella Cammeniti|Carmella]] ([[Natalie Blair]]), saying "There was a bit of rivalry between Sienna and Carmella when they were growing up, so it'll be interesting to see what happens now. Sienna's been working in the country and has come to the city to try her hand at something new and discover more about who she is."<ref name="SiennaTVW">{{Cite journal|title=Ramsay Street Arrivals|journal=[[TV Week]]|date=5–11 January 2008|first=Jackie|last=Brygel|pages=14–15}}</ref> When asked if there was any romance coming up for her character, she said "I'm not sure. She might even set her sights on someone who's already taken! That could be well be in her nature."<ref name="SiennaTVW"/>
[[Network Ten]] describe Sienna as being "one of a seemingly endless array of Cammeniti cousins", she is attractive and passionate, but can occasionally be misguided.<ref name="NetworkTen">{{Cite web|url=http://neighbours.com.au/sienna-cammeniti-character.htm|title=Sienna Cammeniti|work=Neighbours.com|publisher=Network Ten |location=Australia|access-date=22 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601024625/http://neighbours.com.au/sienna-cammeniti-character.htm|archive-date=1 June 2008}}</ref> Sienna and Carmella did not get on when they were younger and they often fought each other for their family's attentions.<ref name="NetworkTen"/> Ten said they tried to be "more beautiful and charming than the other. While they're both old enough to know better now, it remains to be seen whether Carmella and Sienna can leave their competitiveness behind."<ref name="NetworkTen"/>
==Storylines==
Sienna leaves her job as a nurse in the countryside and moves to Erinsborough due to problems at home. She goes to Harold's Store to see her cousin Carmella, but discovers that she is in Italy. Sienna meets Carmella's partner [[Marco Silvani]] ([[Jesse Rosenfeld]]) and [[Lou Carpenter]] ([[Tom Oliver]]). Lou becomes besotted with Sienna and he offers her a job at the store after she bakes him some muffins. When Carmella returns she is shocked to find Sienna working at the Store. Sienna explains that it is time they got to know each other properly, as they did not get along when they were younger. Sienna makes friends with the locals.
Carmella steals money from the store's till and Sienna is wrongly accused and fired. Carmella later owns up and Sienna is rehired. Sienna helps Carmella admit that she has a shopping addiction. She also moves in with Carmella and Marco. Carmella throws a party in the bush for Marco's birthday and he proposes to Carmella. A bush fire breaks out, causing the group to scatter. Sienna is not hurt, but Marco is seriously injured. After he is told that he does not have long to live, Marco and Carmella marry, with Sienna acting as bridesmaid.
[[Ty Harper]]'s ([[Dean Geyer]]) band hold auditions for a female lead singer and Sienna is tempted to audition. As Ty wants [[Rachel Kinski]] ([[Caitlin Stasey]]) to be the lead singer, he organises a group of bad singers to audition first, in the hope that his bandmates will pick Rachel. Ty overhears Sienna singing along to some music and picks her to audition. Sienna sings reasonably well and Ty's bandmate, [[List of Neighbours characters (2008)#Logan Ellis|Logan Ellis]] (Nick Cain), falls for her and she is hired.
Sienna struggles with some of the band's songs and Carmella asks Rachel to help her. Rachel admits that she also struggles with the songs and helps Sienna to improve her sound. At her first performance, Sienna becomes nervous and asks Rachel to sing with her. Ty tries to persuade his bandmates that Rachel is better and he gets [[Zeke Kinski]] ([[Matthew Werkmeister]]) to turn Rachel's volume up on the sound system. The performance goes well, but when Logan tries to kiss Sienna, she quits the band, believing that she was hired for her looks.
Sienna's cousin, [[Rosetta Cammeniti|Rosetta]] ([[Natalie Saleeba]]) has a baby and sends Carmella tickets to fly out to Italy for a visit. But Carmella is too busy with the store and Sienna uses the tickets instead. Lou tries to get Sienna and Logan to reconcile, so Sienna will stay in Australia. But after Sienna and Logan make up, she announces that Logan is coming with her. Sienna promises Lou that she will return one day.
==Reception==
During her time with ''Neighbours'', McNaught's acting skills came in for criticism and the decision to add McNaught, Bailey and Geyer to the cast outraged the acting industry.<ref name="Uproar">{{Cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/uproar-over-incest-storyline/story-e6freq7x-1111116301473|title=Uproar over incest storyline|last=Davies|first=Hannah|date=11 May 2008|work=[[The Courier-Mail|Courier Mail]]|publisher=[[Queensland Newspapers]]|access-date=23 June 2010}}</ref> Agents accused the show of "sacrificing quality in favour of ratings".<ref name="Uproar"/> Chief of Brisbane acting agency Ego Management, Mark Eaton said that the shows producers were "simply hunting for eye-candy when they hired Erin and fellow lad mags' favourite Imogen Bailey".<ref name="NextKylie">{{Cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/will-erin-be-the-next-kylie/story-e6freq7x-1111116550665|title=Could Erin McNaught be the next Kylie?|last=Cartwright|first=Darren|date=6 June 2008|work=[[The Courier-Mail|Courier Mail]]|publisher=[[Queensland Newspapers]]|access-date=23 June 2010}}</ref> He added "This is all done to try to get viewing figures up the producers are not worried about the quality of the show at all".<ref name="NextKylie"/> Viewers said that McNaught's acting made them "cringe".<ref name="Uproar"/> Fiona Byrne of the ''[[Herald Sun]]'' said "Despite enormous press interest surrounding her joining the show, McNaught's character has made little impact on the series and she seemed to be counting down the days until her contract with the show finished".<ref name="Finishes"/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080601024625/http://neighbours.com.au/sienna-cammeniti-character.htm Sienna Cammeniti] at the Official AU ''Neighbours'' website
*[https://www.imdb.com/character/ch0081770/ Sienna Cammeniti] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
{{Neighbours}}
{{Neighbours characters|past}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cammeniti, Sienna}}
[[Category:Neighbours characters]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 2008]]
[[Category:Australian female characters in soap operas]]
[[Category:Fictional waiting staff in soap operas]]
[[Category:Fictional nurses in soap operas]]
[[Category:Television controversies in Australia]]