Steph Cunningham

Infobox soap character
series = Hollyoaks
name = Steph Cunningham


occupation = Actress
first = 1 June 2000
portrayer = Carley Stenson
born = 15 May 1984 (age age|1984|5|15)
parents = Johnno Dean (father)
Frankie Osborne (mother)
Jack Osborne (step father)
siblings = Jake Dean (brother)
Craig Dean (brother)
Presley Dean (half-brother)
Debbie Dean (sister)
Darren Osborne (step brother)
Ruth Osborne (step sister)
Beth Osbourne (step-sister)

Barry Newton (foster brother)
spouse = Max Cunningham (2008;wid.)

Stephanie "Steph" Cunningham (born 15 May 1984) (née Dean) is a fictional character in the long-running British Channel 4 television soap opera "Hollyoaks". Her stage name is Stephanie De La Dean. She is the longest running consecutive female character.

She is played by actress Carley Stenson.

torylines

chool days

Steph entered the series as Zara Morgan's bitchy school friend, with a penchant for humiliating and bullying others, notably Lisa Hunter, a self-harming friend of her peers. Her cruelty towards Lisa peaked when she obtained photographic evidence of Lisa's boyfriend, Brian Drake, cheating on her with Zara, and projected of them kissing onto a wall for all to see. Heartbroken, Lisa harmed herself so badly she was hospitalised. Steph delighted in telling everyone Lisa had attempted suicide. Steph ended up having to grovel before her friends, who felt she had finally gone too far. Steph started to leave Lisa alone, until she discovered that Lisa's brother-in-law, Toby Mills, was the serial killer who had attacked Steph and left her with epilepsy. However, Steph and Lisa reconciled when they started university, and Steph apologized for her behaviour.

Always aware of her good looks, during her school days Steph enjoyed a reputation as the school 'good-time girl'. She slept with Brian Drake while he was going out with Zara, and later with footballer Scott Anderson.

Epilepsy

After being diagnosed with epilepsy, Steph worried men would no longer want her, and dated Darren Osborne to boost her self-esteem. Darren later dumped Steph after she had an epileptic seizure. Through people's reactions to her epilepsy, Steph largely reformed as a character, and become more sensitive to other people's needs. Epilepsy continued to plague her periodically over the years, despite the attempts of her father Johnno Dean to try to help and support her through her ordeal following the diagnosis. In 2005 she had a seizure shortly before her one-woman show. Although she went on to perform, during "" she was possessed by the spirit of one of Toby Mills' victims. The spirit led Steph to the watery grave her body had been put in, and Steph almost drowned.

New father

Although she complained about her family, for many years she tried to maintain a close relationship with them. Generally, her mother Frankie never had much time for Steph or her life, usually preferring to involve herself in the lives of Steph's brothers or to boast about her daughter Debbie's professional singing prowess; however Steph had a very close relationship with her father Johnno, and was devestated when he left the family following an affair in which he impregnated a 19-year-old student. With Johnno's departure, the Deans' already perilous financial situation rapidly declined and they were repeatedly evicted until they went to live with Jack Osborne. Steph, Craig, and Darren worked to bring Frankie and Jack together, and they were married a few months later. Johnno returned briefly to try and reconcile with his family, but this was unsuccessful. Steph chose to sever all ties with Johnno thereafter, and became very close to Jack as he essentially became her father figure. In June 2008, when Jack suggested that he and Frankie should contact Johnno to help pay for her wedding, Steph refuted this suggestion and told Jack that she considered him a better father than Johnno had ever been.

Cameron

Steph had a relationship with schoolfriend Cameron Clark. Their relationship was far from easy, due to Cameron's suffering from OCD. Steph stuck by Cameron and helped him through his problems. She arranged an audition for Cameron with a local band, even though she knew it would mean her losing him. Putting on a brave face, Steph waved Cameron off as he departed on a European tour.

Career in showbiz

Steph, meanwhile, stayed in Hollyoaks. She took up an intense hatred of her sister-in-law Becca Dean after her affair with Justin, a schoolboy. She failed her exams in college and had to retake them, before appearing in a fictional television show, 'Bid Crazy TV', where she brawled with the presenter.

Steph then tried her hand at singing. With stepbrother Darren as her agent, she first auditioned for a girl band, (X-Pose). She obtained £500 from her mother for a film reel, an audition requirement. To raise the next £500, she had to lap-dance. A sly Darren, however, pocketed £150 of the money. Along with other girls similarly duped, Steph discovered she had been conned. Steph's next escapade saw her doing a 'kiss and tell story' on fictional celebrity Joe Jones, whom she met after an audition to become one of his backing singers. Steph failed the audition. Jealous of her sister's success in the West End, resolved to find fame by any means possible. She promptly slept with Joe, believing he would invite her on tour with him. Joe subsequently ignored and humiliated Steph. Outraged, Steph sold her story to a tabloid and a TV show, angering her family and causing Debbie to lose her job. By late 2006, Steph's fame had fizzled out. Darren then arranged for her to sleep with a footballer, in the hopes of extending her celebrity status. Steph's brother Craig was furious, and tried to talk her out of prostituting herself. Steph went along with the plan. The next morning, Steph realized the man had lied to Darren and was actually just a mascot for a football team. A humiliated Steph told Darren she was done, and ended the episode looking over the scrapbook she had made of her time in the tabloid spotlight.

Getting her inheritance

Steph has since calmed down her dreams of showbiz, but continues to crave attention. She recently discovered her Great-Auntie Reenie had left an inheritance to her, but with one condition--Steph had to perform charitable act in order to claim it. The ever money-hungry Darren helped her, but was convinced she would fail. He reasoned simply that, like him, Steph just "isn't nice, doesn't do friends, and is only doing it for the money". He was proven right, despite Steph's best attempts to the contrary. However, at this time Steph formed an unlikely bond with science 'geek' Elliot, and decided to help him with his rocket project. Unfortunately, she and Darren accidentally ruined the launch by telling Elliot the exhaust had fallen off, before trying to fix it with chewing gum. Steph persevered, with Darren suggesting that she adopt a third world baby, in the style of Madonna or Angelina Jolie. Steph gradually warmed to the idea, planning to call the adopted child 'Buttercup'. She later changed her mind after babysitting her nephew Charlie, before claiming finally that "me and babies are just not compatible".

Steph finally succeeded in claiming her inheritance when Leo Valentine began choking on a pork scratching in The Dog In The Pond pub, and Steph performed the heimlich manoeuvre and CPR. This met the criteria laid out by her Great Auntie. Sadly, the inheritance turned out to be a donkey named Small Fortune. Unimpressed, Steph promptly sent the animal away to a donkey sanctuary.

As Elliot's "Girlfriend"

Steph was surprised when she learned that Elliot's mother had arranged for him to be married to Rhiannon, a friend from Wales. Elliot was uninterested in Rhiannon, but felt he needed to marry her to placate his domineering mother. Steph thus agreed to pose as Elliot’s girlfriend to convince his mother that he didn’t want to get married. Steph undertook Welsh lessons to help the plan, but when Elliot said that she "dressed like a prostitute", she called it all off. After he apologised, she again agreed to help. Things didn’t go according to plan, however. Elliot called it off at the last minute and introduced Steph as his friend, then Steph insulted Elliot’s mother with her put-on Welsh accent. When Elliot gave in and agreed to marry Rhiannon, Steph convinced him to stand up to his mother and he agreed that he should rebel and stay in Hollyoaks.

teph and Max

Steph recently took a job working at MOBS and acted as a babysitter for Tom Cunningham. When Steph picked up Tom from kids’ club, Tom tried to get Steph’s attention by performing starjumps. This did not work until he fell down and hurt his knee. Steph then went to help him and brought him back to O.B. From then on, Tom was smitten with Steph, and tried to impress her by looking smart with his shirt and new hair and placing a flower in her bag. O.B. set up a dinner for two for Max and Steph, but little Tom presumed it was for himself and Steph. Steph and Max discovered little Tom’s first crush, and Tom was put off when Steph talked about kissing.

Steph later left to visit her sister Debbie in London. While there, Steph fell down a flight of stairs and ended up spending three hours in hospital. She returned just as her brother Craig revealed he was in love with his best friend, John Paul McQueen. Steph was the only one of the Deans to support Craig, smiling when she saw Craig and John Paul run off together while the Deans and the McQueens brawled on the street. When Craig came out, she defended him to the rest of the family, particularly Jake. She thought his relationship with John Paul was "dead romantic", and found nothing wrong with her brother being gay. She jokingly showed disbelief that her straight brother could get a boyfriend and she couldn't.

However, recently Max Cunningham had showed a strong attraction to Steph, partially due to how well she gets along with Tom. But Max was too nervous to ask her out, only asking her to babysit Tom. Steph was shocked when Tom told her that he’d like her as his mother. When Max returned and offered to share a bottle of wine, Steph claimed she couldn’t, saying she didn’t want to be a mother. After Max’s estranged wife Clare kidnapped Katy and was presumed dead, Max plunged into grief and remorse for bringing Clare into the lives of the people he cared about. Steph felt sorry for him and invited him for a drink. Max tried to kiss her, but soon claimed he was done with women. Steph and Max began to misread each other and, even as they developed feelings for each other, assumed there was no chance at a relationship. When Max took Tom to the safari park to see an elephant named Romeo, that Steph had sponsored for him, Steph found him and they finally told each other that they liked each other and agreed to get into a relationship, despite their differences. They shared their first kiss in the barn of the safari park.

Steph and Max enjoyed each other’s company, but Tom began to resent her involvement in their lives. One day she overheard Tom tell Max that he hated her, which deeply hurt her. Steph felt that she could not deal with children. Frankie told her she was not suited to be a mother, and Jake teased her about the time she let Craig’s pet gerbil die. Steph’s confidence continued to shatter, and Max tried to help support her by buying Tom a pet gerbil named Steph. One day, Tom was off school and Max had to take care of an inspection at MOBS. Steph agreed to look after Tom. Frankie "guilted" her into taking care of baby Charlie, and also picking up new foster brother Newt from school. It was too much for Steph, especially when Tom threw a tantrum after his gerbil disappeared. He told her the only Steph she cared about was herself. When she found the gerbil, she told him the gerbil was the only Steph he’d ever love. By the end of the day, she told Max she couldn’t do it anymore.

The next day, at Tony Hutchison’s 30th birthday party, Steph overheard Max tell Jack that although she was his world, if she didn't care for Tom, then she shouldn't have to be in a relationship with him. Steph angrily told him she did like Tom. While she was alone, she helped Tom repair a broken toy and read him a story, which Max saw. After putting Tom to bed, she asked Max if she could still see Tom sometimes. Max told her he knew he had lots of baggage, but when he was with her, he didn't feel that way, and asked if they could try again. She kissed him and then pushed him down on the couch.

Feud with Summer

Steph continued her attempts to find a showbiz career, beating out new arrival Summer Shaw for the lead role in a health and safety video (and not exactly being a gracious winner). Due to OB's interest in Summer, she began working at MOBS. Steph was jealous and tried to undermine her throughout her first day. Matters boiled over when Steph began singing (badly) to try to attract customers. After some time, Summer decided to sing. Steph accused Summer of trying to take her idea, and threw juice on her. Summer then threw juice on Steph, and they had to be pulled apart by Max and OB.

This later leaded to Steph slipping laxatives into Summer's mince pie so that she couldn't play Janet in the college production of The Rocky Horror Show When, Summer was selected to play Maria in Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of The Sound of Music, Steph decided that she had to go to London, to make things happen for her as well, but she later changed her mind when she overheard Max and Tom saying how much they like her. When Summer and O.B. left Hollyoaks, Summer and Steph parted on good terms.

Split with family

For a number of years, Steph had taken a backseat in her family's eyes to the dramas involving her brothers Craig and Jake. Jake slowly spiraled into madness, and on Valentine's Day 2008, Steph walked in on him attempting to rape his wife Nancy. Nancy and Jake told Steph everything was fine, but soon afterwards, Nancy left Jake. A bitter custody battle ensued, and Nancy loudly announced to the family what Jake had done. Steph confided the truth to Jack, and he encouraged her to go to the police. After the truth was revealed, Jake kidnapped baby Charlie and attempted to kill himself and his son (who turns out to be Justin Burton's son) through carbon monoxide poisoning and finally Jake was sectioned. Frankie told Steph everything was her fault. Steph responded by calling Frankie pathetic and saying she never wanted to see her mother again.

Steph told Max that he and Tom were now her family, a family further bonded when he proposed marriage.

Niall and relationship problems

Steph became friendly with Niall Rafferty, who fell for her, although she saw him more as someone to confide her problems in. Max began to see Steph as selfish and only interested in her career and money, which led to several arguments between the pair. One day, he caught her alone with Niall, wearing only a shirt. She'd spilled something on her dress, but he assumed the worst and broke up. A few days later she went back to Niall's place and they kissed, but were interrupted by his roommate.

When Max split up with Steph, he was heartbroken. After a talk they decided they would both give it another go, and Steph asked him to meet her for lunch. Niall made sure Max thought that he and Steph had an affair. This resulted in Max and Steph splitting up once more. They reconciled, but the doubts continued. When Steph was at The Loft with Niall and Nancy Hayton, she saw Max with another girl and decided to make a move of her own - grabbing Niall and kissing him passionately.

Marriage to Max, and his death

On 20th June 2008, Tom is concerned that Max and Steph will never get back together when Holly winds him up about Max having a new girlfriend. With this in mind he sneaks away from Max to find Steph in Il Gnosh and asks her to help him build his model aeroplane. Steph can't say no and when Max finds Tom with Steph, he feels very awkward. Determined to get them talking, Tom decides to superglue the two of them together in the hope that they will be forced to resolve their differences. Unable to prise themselves apart, Max and Steph head to the hospital where their bickering continues. Forced to talk, Steph tells Max that it was Cindy who tried to sell Mobs behind his back, not her. Max reels of a list of other unsuitable qualities in Steph but finally becoming aware that he's made a huge mistake he begs Steph to marry him.

Happily reunited, Max and Steph go to tell Frankie that the wedding's back on. Frankie's elated but warns Steph that Max shouldn't let Cindy come between them. Max is reluctant to choose sides but when things come to the boil between the two, his loyalty is tested. Fed up, Max tells Cindy that unless she will accept his decision to marry Steph than she and Holly can no longer stay with them.

Max bumps into Niall in the village and tells him that his wedding with Steph is back on. Niall is devastated but tries to remain composed in front of Max. Steph has big plans for her wedding day and it looks as if it’s getting out of control as Jack worries about how much it's going to cost. With only 48 hours until their big day everything starts to go wrong and when Steph accidentally rips her wedding dress it's the final straw. A devastated Steph announces there's no way the wedding can go ahead on Thursday.

O.B. returns for the Stag do but finds Max wallowing in self pity as his wedding to Steph has once again been put on hold. O.B. can't believe that it's all fallen apart yet again and is furious at Steph for messing Max about. He demands that Max pull himself together and come and get drunk with him anyway. Sat outside The Dog, drowning Max's sorrows, O.B. tells him that not only are he and Summer planning on tying the knot themselves but they are planning on doing it in New York, as they will soon be moving there. Furthermore he wants Max and Tom to come with them. At first Max says no but as it dawns on him that no wedding will ever be good enough for Steph he decides to throw caution to the wind and do it! Just as their taxi is pulling away to the travel agent Steph darts out in front of them, after Mandy had just criticised her for putting her fantasies ahead of the practicality of a wedding and warns her that she may lose Max altogether if she doesn't do it now. Steph declares her utter desperation to marry him, regardless of the grandeur of the ceremony, and the wedding is back on.

On 27th June 2008, Max and Steph finally tie the knot in a ceremony initiated by Kieron. After the ceremony Max and O.B. leave everyone to enjoy the party while they slip away with Tom. When they are alone Max gives O.B. an engraved watch to say thanks for being his best man and his best mate.

Meanwhile, Niall sits alone in his car, feeling totally dejected and reminiscing about the kiss he shared with Steph. Desperate to get away from it all, an angry, jealous and upset Niall drives away at speed, but when Tom jumps out in front of him to grab his toy, he tries to brake but there isn't time. As Max pushes Tom to safety he's struck by the car. O.B. rushes to Max's side and holds him, praying that Max will be okay. Max dies in O.B.'s arms and Steph arrives too late to say goodbye to her husband. Steph is overwhelmed with grief, and refuses to leave the flat she shared with Max or take off her wedding dress for a day, until a visit from the priest helps her to face up to her responsibilities for Tom Cunningham, Max's younger brother.

On August 6 2008, at Max's will reading, Steph and Tom were left Max's entire estate (the flat, MOBS etc.) which is worth in excess of £500,000.

Truth about Jack

At the start of September Steph ran upstairs in the Dog to see Jack alive. Shocked by this she had a go at Frankie, Darren and Jack. Jack then suffered a heart attack and instead of helping him with her mum and step-brother she watched him in pain. She then left, crying, and went to Nial for comfort. The two then slept together but the day after Steph told him to stay away from her after Mandy and Cindy had given him their thoughts on the matter.

Cindy/Mandy/Steph

Hollyoaks producers recently announced that the characters Cindy Cunningham, Mandy Richardson and Steph Cunningham would be involved in the late night specials due to be screened later this year. Carley Stenson has promised viewers a "spectacular showdown in which as one storyline closes, another opens."

External links

* [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/H/hollyoaks/cast/girls/stephdean/ Steph Dean] on the [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/H/hollyoaks Hollyoaks website]