Vanessa Villante is a character in Neighbours who first appeared in Episode 6358 - 14 March 2012. She left in Episode 6737 - 24 September 2013. She returned in 2015 and briefly in 2019. Played by Alin Sumarwata. She is a feisty professional baker who had a one-night stand with Lucas and comes to tell him she's pregnant but soon found herself in a love triangle with him and Rhys before settling down and expanding her family with Lucas.
Backstory[]
Vanessa Villante was born in about 1980 in Italy. She was one of 5 siblings born to Tony Villante and Francesca Villante.
2012-2013[]
Vanessa meets Lucas Fitzgerald in Charlie's and they have a one-night stand. The following day, Vanessa assures Lucas that she is not looking for a serious relationship. A month later, Vanessa returns and tells Lucas that she is pregnant. Lucas offends Vanessa when he asks if the baby is his and she quickly leaves. She tells Sonya Mitchell that she is glad she is on her own. Vanessa is interviewed by Paul Robinson for a job at Lassiter's Hotel. When Paul learns of her pregnancy from Lucas, he offers the job to someone else. Lucas's housemate Kate Ramsay (Ashleigh Brewer) invites Vanessa to move in when she discovers Vanessa is sleeping in her car. Vanessa finds employment at Harold's Store. She is briefly hospitalised with severe morning sickness. Vanessa impresses Rhys Lawson with her cooking and they being spending time together. Lucas attends Vanessa's first scan and their relationship improves. Rhys and Vanessa begin dating, and Rhys introduces Vanessa to his mother, Elaine.
When Number 24 is put up for sale, Lucas buys Number 32 for Vanessa and the baby. Vanessa agrees to accompany Rhys on a three-month work placement in Japan. However, their trip is cancelled when Rhys badly injures his hand, which affects his career as a surgical intern. Vanessa stands by Rhys when he becomes depressed. Rhys later admits that he has altered his test results, so he can assist in surgeries. Vanessa tells his superior and Rhys blames her for ending his surgical career. They break-up. Vanessa's mother, Francesca, visits and Vanessa tries to hide her pregnancy. When Francesca finds out, she insists that Vanessa and Lucas get married. During the ceremony, Vanessa struggles with her vows and flees the church. Francesca disowns Vanessa when she says she does not love Lucas. Rhys tries to win her back, but Vanessa rejects him. She then realises that Lucas loves her. Rhys takes Vanessa to the hospital when she goes into labour. He stays with her while she gives birth and when he proposes, Vanessa accepts.
Vanessa reconciles with her mother and she and Lucas name their son, Patrick. Patrick is diagnosed with Ebstein's anomaly and has to undergo surgery. Vanessa ends her engagement to Rhys and tells Lucas she loves him. Rhys dies and Vanessa spends time with his mother. Patrick undergoes a second surgery, before Vanessa and Lucas bring him home. Lucas's ex-partner, Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner), returns to town and Vanessa befriends her. But she is hurt when Lucas tells Steph that he has testicular cancer first. Lucas proposes and Vanessa accepts. Steph uses manipulation to cause tension between Lucas and Vanessa. When Lucas learns Vanessa was previously married, he calls off the wedding and Vanessa goes to stay with her parents. On her return, she asks Lucas to cut Steph out of his life, so they can repair their relationship. Steph kidnaps Patrick and Vanessa blames Lucas. He manages to find Steph and rescue Patrick.
2015[]
Vanessa returned for the Erinsborough Festival in March 2015 then again in September 2015.
2019[]
Vanessa attended the funeral of Sonya Rebecchi.
Memorable info[]
When they left Erinsborough for a new life in Daylesford, Lucas and Vanessa were expecting their second child. They returned to Erinsborough in 2015, having left their son Patrick to be looked after by Vanessa's mother, and introduced their old friends to their daughter Sebastiana, also revealing that Vanessa was now heavily pregnant with their third child.
Family[]
Father Tony Villante
Mother Francesca Villante
Grandmothers Antonella Villante
Spouse Alek Pocoli (??-2013) , Lucas Fitzgerald
Children Patrick Villante Fitzgerald , Sebastiana Fitzgerald
First cousins Carla