Denny Miller (Home and Away)

On 28 January 2014, Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy announced that New Zealand actress Jessica Grace Smith had been cast as Denny. Smith had been a fan of Home and Away during her teenage years and wanted to appear on the show when she relocated to Australia. Smith originally auditioned for the role of Phoebe Nicholson, but Isabella Giovinazzo was cast instead. ==Development==

Characterisation and family Ahead of her first appearance, Smith described Denny as an honest and "pretty straight up" character, who was "not your typical girl". Smith was pleased that Denny was also a tomboy like herself, saying "It's really nice sharing that with her. It means I don't have to wear too many of the high heels that I'm terrible at walking in." Denny arrived in Summer Bay on the day of Ethan MacGuire's (Matt Minto) funeral, attracting scepticism and worry from Ethan's sister-in-law Hannah Wilson (Cassie Howarth), who wondered if she was a member of the cult that Ethan had been involved in. Smith explained that Denny saw Alf as a father figure, making it the first time she had had that type of relationship in her life. Denny liked that she could talk to Alf about life's issues and get a straight answer. Smith commented that her character thought Chris was "really cute". When Denny tried to flirt with him, he was oblivious to her advances. Denny was not impressed and told him to come and find her when he had thought things through. While Denny was waiting for Chris, she developed a connection with Casey Braxton (Lincoln Younes). Smith was aware that Denny would eventually have a love interest, and thought it was "cool" knowing that she had two men fighting over her, instead of having Denny and another female character fighting over one man. Casey had also fallen for Denny, despite her previously rejecting him. Smith said it was out of character for Denny and she felt guilty, as she did not want to hurt Chris, but the kiss made her realise how she really felt about Casey. Chris then broke up with her and punched Casey. Denny asked Chris to take her back, but he refused as he knew that she only wanted to be with him out of guilt. Relationship with Casey Denny and Casey's relationship progressed and Smith commented, "Casey and Denny are really loved-up. It's nice. They kind of have had their ups and downs. And they still butt heads a lot and they still have these little fights. But now they are like, 'Oh, no, actually you're awesome.'" Smith branded the couple "cute" and thought they were a good match for each other. Casey kept getting in the middle of Andy's dramas, which annoyed Denny as she did not like Andy. When Denny questioned Casey about his involvement with Andy, it became a big issue between them. Chris invited Denny to spend some time with him when he noticed that she seemed down. Smith explained that Denny was scared and finally realised how badly Andy had messed up. Denny managed to text Casey's brother Darryl Braxton (Stephen Peacocke), but the men left before he arrived. When Casey learned that Josh had been taken by Jake and his men, he put his plans with Denny on hold to go after them. When she admitted to Alf that she could not face going to Angelo's or the beach, he offered her support and told her that she was stronger than she thought. When Denny then saw Ash working at Angelo's, they started flirting. Brax then warned Ash off Denny, explaining that she had been Casey's girlfriend. Smith told an Inside Soap columnist, "It's the first time she's been attracted to someone since Casey died, so I think she's just trusting her instinct. But it's definitely not all smooth sailing." Denny was "a little nervous", but decided that she was ready to consummate their relationship. However, she felt odd about it afterwards. Stephen Downie (TV Week) reported that one of the characters would be "brutally killed off". Denny had been due to leave the Bay to go backpacking around Europe, but shortly before she left, she discovered Charlotte with a stolen safe from The Diner. Smith thought it was fitting that Denny's death mirrored that of Casey's, and she added that as both characters were dead they could be together at last. ==Storylines==

Denny attends the funeral of Ethan MacGuire. At the end of the service, his sister-in-law Hannah Wilson approaches Denny to ask who she is, but Denny is defensive and she leaves. Hannah later apologises and Denny tells her she is Ethan's daughter. Denny stays at the local caravan park and asks Hannah and Ethan's brother Zac (Charlie Clausen) if she can meet her half siblings Evelyn and Oscar. Zac finds a picture of Denny among Ethan's possessions, and she realises that Ethan knew she existed. The twins initially refuse to meet Denny, but Oscar changes his mind. Evelyn accuses Denny of lying, but when Denny plans to leave the Bay, she comes to talk to Denny and they bond. Denny eventually moves into The Farmhouse with her family, and she begins working at Alf Stewart's bait shop. Chris Harrington flirts with Denny and she agrees to go on a date with him. After a rocky start, Denny and Chris begin dating. However, Chris is shocked at the extent of Denny's feelings for him and they break up. Denny becomes attracted to Casey Braxton, but she reconciles with Chris when he admits he is ready to commit to her. Casey and Denny kiss and Chris breaks up with her. Denny then begins a relationship with Casey. Denny develops a bitterness towards Andy Barrett when Hannah believes his drugs were Zac's, causing him to move out. Casey supports Andy through his troubles putting strain on their relationship. Chris asks Denny to spend time with him as friends, but he misreads the situation and kisses her. Andy is threatened by drug dealers, putting Denny and her family at risk. Cody Dalton (Aaron Glenane) and his men later threaten Casey and Denny at the gym. She manages to text Casey's brother Brax, but Cody catches her and attempts to hurt her. Cody and his men leave, but they later kidnap Evelyn and Josh Barrett. Denny and Evelyn try to help Casey and Josh bond after they learn they are half-brothers. When Denny tells Casey about missing her school formal, he organises a romantic dinner at Angelo's. Just as Denny and Casey are set to leave for a romantic getaway, Casey goes to help Andy rescue a kidnapped Josh. Kyle Braxton (Nic Westaway) later informs Denny that Casey is dead, after being shot. Denny attends his funeral alone and later collapses from dehydration. She continues to struggle with her grief and tries to avoid going to Angelo's and beach. Brax gives Denny an engagement ring that he found in Casey's bag. Denny supports her siblings and friends through their problems, and accompanies Sasha Bezmel (Demi Harman) on a university open day. When Andy asks her about Hannah, Denny tells him that she is not interested in him anymore. Hannah berates her for lying to Andy and Denny reminds her of everything Andy had done to their family. Denny meets Martin "Ash" Ashford and is attracted to him. Despite warning Ash off, Brax tells Denny to move on when she is ready. Denny decides to join a coach party going to Phoebe Nicholson's (Isabella Giovinazzo) record launch in the city. The coach crashes, but Denny is not injured. Denny feels ready to move on with Ash and kisses him. They begin dating, but Denny breaks up with Ash when she learns that he lied to her about going after Kyle, who was carrying out a drugs deal. After speaking with Ash's sister Billie (Tessa De Josselin), Denny gives her relationship with Ash a second chance. A few weeks later, Ash breaks up with Denny in order to protect her, after agreeing to help Brax escape jail. Denny ask Ash to consider a casual relationship, but is hurt when she sees him and Phoebe kissing. The girls put their differences aside when Phoebe moves into the Farmhouse, along with Katarina Chapman (Pia Miller). Denny discovers a note meant for Ricky and learns that Brax is still alive, following his apparent death during a failed prison escape. Denny confronts Ash and is determined to tell Ricky, but she later changes her mind. Denny is introduced to James Edmunds and believes she has met him before. She later realises that she saw him at the university open day with his daughter. James tells her she is mistaken and the girl was a friend's daughter. Shortly after the first anniversary of Casey's death, Denny decides to travel around Europe like they had planned. Kat initially agrees to go with her, but later changes her mind. On her last day in the Bay, Denny says goodbye to her family and friends. She stops by Charlotte King's flat to ask her cousin Hunter (Scott Lee) if he was interested in taking over her job at the bait shop. Denny notices the stolen safe from the Diner and she and Charlotte fight over it. Charlotte pushes Denny, causing her to fall back and hit her head against the corner of an armchair, killing her instantly. Charlotte later buries Denny's body in the bush and her guilt causes her to see visions of Denny. A couple of months later, backpackers find Denny's body and her funeral is held in the city weeks later. ==Reception==

Following Denny's arrival, a TV Week writer commented "This fresh face is set to get tongues wagging". Following Casey's death, Stephen Downie of TV Week stated that Denny had "wrestled the kind of demons that would make Hulk Hogan cower in a corner." When Brax gave Casey's engagement ring to Denny, a reporter for the Coventry Evening Telegraph noted that "the poor girl is left heartbroken". When Denny and Ash met, a Birmingham Mail television critic branded them a "lovestruck pair". A contributor to Sunday Life noted that "sparks fly" between Denny and Ash. While debating whether Denny should move on with Ash, ''TV Week's'' Bianca La Cioppa stated that Denny had "better be ready for the backlash" from Casey fans. Of Denny's exit, a fellow TV Week reporter wrote that her "inquisitive nature inadvertently cost Denny her life". ==References==