Julie Matthews (Hollyoaks)

Buckfield's agent informed her that auditions were being held for Hollyoaks and she decided to try out for a role. Buckfield was unaware about which character she was auditioning for. Only vague information was provided but her agent compared the show to the US television series Baywatch. Buckfield arrived at the audition wearing "a Wonder-Bra, a little top and Capri pants." When she arrived, she learned the part would be a school girl, so she changed into a T-shirt and jeans. She later recalled "I was just told that she was a school girl, very young and very girly. And that was it!" She believed she was "lucky" to be a part of the Hollyoaks cast, adding it was "what I've been working towards my whole life." Buckfield made her first appearance as Julie in the Hollyoaks debut episode, which was broadcast on 23 October 1995. Julie only briefly appeared in the episode. Buckfield told Neil Mattocks on his podcast that her family watched the episode and joked "oh is that it, oh is that all you done." ==Development==

Relationship with Tony Hutchinson Writers paired Julie in a relationship storyline with Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard), which was developed during the first month of Hollyoaks episodes. In the book, ''Phil Redmond's Hollyoaks: The Official Companion, it is described as a "love at first sight" story. Buckfield stated that the process of developing their romance was "bizarre" because she was friends with Pickard before joining Hollyoaks''. Writers made the relationship between Julie and Tony problematic after they become engaged. In one scene, the pair argue and Julie throws her engagement ring at Tony. Buckfield told Adams that the pair could reunite following their break-up. She likened Julie's experience to her own, adding "she is just like I was at 16 falling head over heels with a first love." Writers continued their on/off relationship with Tony breaking-up with Julie after witnessing her kiss her motorcycle instructor, Bruce. Tony then moves on by dating Marilyn (Vanessa Robinson). Wedding and departure Buckfield left the series in 1997. The wedding episode was broadcast on 11 August 1997. Pickard told Steven Murphy from Inside Soap that "Tony has a lot of nerves about the whole thing". He reasoned that Julie's parents has taken over the wedding plans which make him "feel a bit threatened". He also described the wedding plans as transforming Julie into "a complete superbitch" and it was "understandable" he was unsure about marrying her. In the story, Tony's friend Kurt Benson (Jeremy Edwards) tries to convince Tony to not marry Julie and Jambo Bolton (Will Mellor) bets that the wedding will not happen. Tony decides he wants to marry Julie after all. When Julie makes it half-way down the aisle, she announces that she does not want to marry Tony and flees the church. The wedding took two days to film and received a "big budget". Pickard likened the experience as being on a movie set. Filming took place during warm weather, which he believed was great for the episode but not for the cast dressed in wedding attire. In October 2020, the episode featuring Julie and Tony's wedding was rebroadcast on E4 as part of Hollyoaks Favourites classic episodes. Producers asked Buckfield to return and she accepted because she loved Liverpool and had "such a good time" during her first stint. Buckfield revealed that the filming schedule was busier than that of her original stint, since the show broadcast more episodes per week. She described returning to filming as a "shock" that she had to adjust to. Another of Julie main aims is to ruin Tony's relationship with his girlfriend, Izzy Cornwell (Elize du Toit). Julie and Tony begin spending more time together and they become business partners. Izzy tries to be accepting and du Toit told David Hollingsworth from Soaplife that Tony reassures Izzy that she does not need to worry about his friendship. She noted that Izzy is worried about their relationship because Tony previously loved Julie enough to want to marry her. Izzy is also self-conscious about being perceived as "jealous and possessive" and does not want to be "a total psychopath" so remains calm. Izzy begins to monitor the situation more closely and worries she will lose Tony to Julie. du Toit told an Inside Soap reporter that "Izzy definitely feels a bit threatened because Julie and Tony used to be engaged." She added that Tony just carries on "pretending that there's absolutely nothing wrong with the situation" and fails to understand Izzy's worries. Izzy confides her worries about Julie with Ellie Hunter (Sarah Baxendale), who encourages Izzy to challenge Julie. du Toit explained that Izzy realises Julie is "devious and deceitful" and Ellie convinces Izzy that "it's war, and she shouldn't let Julie win." They noted that there was much spite between the two, and Tony is "helplessly trying to referee the spats." Izzy is not happy with Debbie's inclusion but "Julie is taken in" by her. Pickard told an Inside Soap reporter that Tony does not realise what he is doing to hurt Izzy. He added that "Tony still has feelings for Julie" because "she was his first love." Julie remained on-screen until November 2002. Following her departure, Buckfield was unsure if she would return again. She wanted to but admitted that Julie's new bitch persona could hinder that. She explained "when you go as a bitch your character's life span can be over because you have to get your comeuppance." Julie returns to celebrate Tony's thirtieth birthday, during the episode broadcast on 30 October 2007. In the storyline, Tony's girlfriend, Jacqui McQueen (Claire Cooper) and her sister, Tina Reilly (Leah Hackett) compete to throw Tony the best birthday party. Tina decides to invite Tony's ex-girlfriends including Julie, Izzy and Tessie Thompson (Sian Gibson). Cooper told Katy Moon from Inside Soap that Jacqui is "furious" by the arrival of Tony's former love interests. ==Reception==

A writer from Hull Daily Mail branded Julie a "hopelessly smitten teenager" and another opined Julie learned "the path of true love never runs smoothly." A writer from Kent Evening Post assessed that life was "bleak" for Tony after finding out Julie was unfaithful. They defended Julie adding, "it is not as if he has been exactly blameless over the past few months." Geoffrey Phillips from Evening Standard wrote that "Julie doubts Tony's powers of self-restraint as their wedding day looms. It is impossible for a woman to underestimate men in this department." Of Julie's 1997's departure, a Huddersfield Daily Examiner reporter stated Buckfield "made a spectacular exit as Julie" leaving Tony at the altar. Inside Soap chose Julie and Tony's wedding episode as their soap "choice" pick of the day. A critic from Reading Evening Post chose Julie and Sarah Andersen's (Anna Martland) pancake race scenes as the newspaper's "pick of the day" feature. A Soaplife critic assessed Julie and Izzy's rivalry, stating "Izzy has a battle of her hands" dealing with Julie. They added that she needed to be and be to play "dirty" because "it's clear that first love Julie doesn't play by the rules." Chris Edwards from Digital Spy wrote that "fans got quite the shock" watching Julie's 2018 return. He added she was a "blast from the past" and Hollyoaks writers "treated fans" with her return. ''The Hunts Post's'' Mansfield assessed that upon her return Julie "was in the thick of things again" with Tony and "viewers were delighted to see her back." ==References==