page_title: Amy Barnes
section_title: Characterisation
hierarchical_section_title: Amy Barnes / Character development / Characterisation
caption_attribution_description: British actress Ashley Slanina-Davies at the National Television Awards, photographed by Ian Smith.
context_page_description: Amy Barnes is a fictional character from the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Ashley Slanina-Davies. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 14 November 2005. Amy was created by executive producer David Hanson and Slanina-Davies was offered the role whilst looking for work as an extra. In 2009, Slanina-Davies stated that she would be lost without the role and confirmed her loyalty to the serial. In July 2010, it was announced that Slanina-Davies would be leaving the show. However, it was later revealed that she was back filming and staying in the serial in 2011. Amy's storylines have included underage pregnancy which resulted in the birth of daughter Leah Barnes and the subject of domestic abuse in her relationship with Ste Hay, portrayed by Kieron Richardson. Whilst filming the storyline, Slanina-Davies cut her long hair off for charity and this was scripted into the storyline.
  Amy has also been part of a storyline which saw her pretending her daughter was suffering from leukaemia to scam money out of the community; off-screen, this prompted Slanina-Davies to campaign for leukaemia and cancer charity CLIC Sargent and Women's Aid.
context_section_description: Ah, the much-maligned, long-suffering Amy Barnes! When will she get a break?! [...] She's seen some dramas - and then some! Mum to Leah and Lucas, she gave birth to both of them on the kitchen floor and suffered in an abusive relationship with Lucas' dad Ste. Her mum went mad and her sister Sarah was killed in a tragic skydiving incident (yes, you did read that right) - and let's not forget how she and the kids almost died in the Il Gnosh fire...
  — A writer from E4.com describes Amy's tenure. (2012).
  BBC America have branded Amy as the "Bad Seed" of the Barnes sisters. They also add: "She's not mean-spirited, but she's known for trouble-making." In her later years she transformed into a single and more confident woman. She is described on the show's official website as not "afraid to stick up for herself".
caption: Ashley Slanina-Davies (pictured) cut her hair short for Amy's domestic abuse storyline.
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