List of Neighbours characters (2007)

Holly Hoyland made her first screen appearance on 29 March 2007. She was originally played by Chaya Broadmore and then Lucinda Armstrong Hall when the character was recast and reintroduced in 2013. Holly is Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) and Izzy Hoyland's (Natalie Bassingthwaighte) daughter, who was born on a boat on the River Thames. Karl did not know he was Holly's father, until his wife, Susan (Jackie Woodburne), told him. Izzy initially did not want Karl to have a part in Holly's life and Susan agreed with her. Woodburne commented "A child is such a strong connection, and Susan's thinking Karl might decide to try and win Izzy back and make a family with this new child. Susan's quite relieved when Izzy doesn't want Karl involved. She thinks, 'I've told him about the situation and Izzy will look after the child in a happy, loving relationship with her boyfriend, Pete (Daniel Schutzmann), so everyone comes out a winner."

In May 2013, Fletcher revealed that someone from Karl's past would be coming back into his life in the coming months. Fletcher also explained that the new storyline would enable him to make more trips to London, after Karl vows to visit the city at least twice a year. Sophie Dainty from Digital Spy said that this supported the theory that Holly would be returning to the show, following the release of a picture showing a new addition to the portrait at the Kennedy family's house. In June, it was confirmed that Holly would be returning with Lucinda Armstrong Hall in the role. When Holly arrives in Erinsborough, she is now "a precocious eight-year-old", who can do no wrong by Karl. However, Susan's resolve is tested by Holly's behaviour towards her. Claire Crick from ''All About Soap'' branded the character "Horrid Holly" and commented "Blimey – we've only seen about five minutes of Holly in Ramsay Street and we hate her already! Could she be any more annoying? We don't think so!" Crick went on to call Holly a "mini-diva", adding that "Horrid Holly better do something to make us like her – and fast!" On 11 March 2014, it was announced that Holly would be returning to ''Neighbours'' and she returned on 30 May. Holly made a brief appearance in 2017, and returned alongside Izzy in early 2018. In May 2023, it was announced that the character would return again when ''Neighbours'' resumed. The character demonstrates soap opera rapid aging syndrome: six years after her on-screen birth, Hall's casting saw Holly's age increased to eight, and nine years after this her age had advanced again to nineteen.

Izzy Hoyland becomes pregnant after she has a one-night stand with her ex-partner, Karl Kennedy. When she discovers her pregnancy, Izzy leaves Erinsborough. Eight months later in London, Izzy runs into Karl and his wife, Susan. Susan helps Izzy reunite with her boyfriend, Pete, and he urges her to tell Karl the truth about the baby. The following day, Izzy watches as Karl and Susan are remarried on a boat on the Thames and she goes into labour. Karl delivers their daughter and Izzy names her Holly. Deciding not to ruin Karl and Susan's day, Izzy keeps quiet about Holly's paternity. However, Susan overhears Izzy and Pete talking and she tells Karl once they return home. Izzy initially asks Karl to stay out of Holly's life, but he flies back to London to spend time with her. Susan later agrees to become Holly's godmother and Karl tries to visit her as often as he can.

When Izzy goes on a cruise with her new partner, she puts Holly on a plane to send her to stay with Karl and Susan. Holly is happy to see her father again and spend time with him. However, she makes her dislike of Susan clear by glaring at her and calling her old. Holly later admits to Karl that she is missing Izzy. Susan rebukes Holly when she spills nail polish on the couch. Holly believes Susan hates her because of who her mother is, but Karl tells her that is not true and asks her to make an effort with Susan. Holly draws a picture of her mother and crosses her out, causing Karl to realise that she is angry at Izzy. When Holly tries to add a picture of herself to the Kennedy portrait, she falls from the stool she is standing on, hurting her knee. Karl tends to the injury and learns that Holly wants to be part of the family. Holly later tells Karl that she is worried that Susan does not like her, but Karl assures her that is not the case. Susan sits her down and explains to her that despite their rocky start, she does care about her. They both admit to being scared of each other at first and decide to give each other a chance. Holly then admits that she wants to stay with Karl and Susan. When Karl tells Holly that Izzy is letting her stay for longer, Holly believes that she does not want her. Holly tells Karl and Susan that she wants to go back home and Karl flies to London with her.

Holly returns the following year, after Susan organises a surprise visit for Karl. After Holly sings with Karl, he realises she has a good singing voice and he enters her into a junior talent competition. After she witnesses the judges criticising another contestant, Holly becomes nervous and runs off stage. Karl assures her that she does not have to sing in public if she does not want to. Holly recognises a man from a CCTV still as Victor Cleary (Richard Sutherland), a friend of her mother's, who becomes the prime suspect in Kate Ramsay's (Ashleigh Brewer) murder. Holly is delighted when she gets to spend some time with her half sister, Libby (Kym Valentine), and nephew, Ben (Felix Mallard), before she leaves. When Karl comes to London three years later, he brings Holly to visit Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) in the hospital, before taking her to see her friend. Later that year, Karl flies out to London on Christmas Day to be with Holly after Izzy absconds with a new partner.

Izzy returns to Erinsborough with Holly for Toadie's belated 21st birthday party. Holly visits her mother in the hospital, after Susan accidentally strikes Izzy with her car. Izzy tells Holly that their £41 million inheritance has come through. Karl and Susan are pleased to see Holly, but Izzy's presence causes a rift in their relationship. Izzy asks Karl to father another child with her, so Holly will have a full sibling. Holly becomes concerned when Karl and Susan's marriage is strained by Izzy's request. She later learns that Izzy has told Karl that she will take back her donation to the new hospital wing if he refuses her request. Holly learns Karl has taken part in a fertility trial as part of a research project and tells Izzy, who then steals his sperm sample to impregnate herself. Holly gets drunk with some male school friends, and Karl and Susan bring her back to Izzy's hotel room, where Holly blackmails Izzy into donating the money to the hospital. Izzy congratulates Holly for setting her up.

Holly gets drunk again and passes out. After losing her money, Izzy returns to London, leaving Holly with Karl and Susan. Holly starts work experience at the hospital, but after learning that Karl has lost his job, she steals research papers to help him out and is fired. Holly is selected to go on a six-month exchange trip to China after applying in secret. But Karl refuses to let her go until Susan tells him that Holly has never felt validated and will resent him if he makes her stay. Karl changes his mind and makes Holly promise to visit Izzy first and to stay in regular contact with him while she is in China. When Izzy returns to Erinsborough four years later, she tells Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) that Holly is now studying medicine. Karl later calls Holly to confirm that she will move to Erinsborough if Izzy and Malcolm Kennedy (Benjamin McNair), who are now a couple, also do.

Holly returns to Erinsborough five years later and moves into number 28 Ramsay Street, where her father Karl and stepmother Susan reside. She spent time catching up with people that she already knew from previously living there, and also met all the newer residents of the street. She quickly befriended Sadie Rodwell (Emerald Chan) and Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone) and the three began to spend a lot of time together. Later on, Mackenzie meets Eden Shaw (Costa D'Angelo) at The Waterhole, whom Holly realizes is her ex boyfriend. Holly, Mackenzie, Sadie and Mackenzie's housemate Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar) go out for some drinks to the bar where Eden works, and he spots her with Mackenzie and waits until she is gone before going up to say hello. When Holly returns to see Eden with Mackenzie, Eden runs away and Holly reveals that Eden, who was calling himself Ed, was her ex boyfriend. The four friends all go to the bar to get some more drinks and come back to find that their bags, wallets and Mackenzie's rings were missing. Holly and Haz go to an address they believe Eden is staying at and they find all the stolen belongings except the rings, before Eden locks Holly in the shed, punches Haz in the eye and escapes before the police arrive.

Later, Holly and Haz go to help Toadie Rebecchi and his wife Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou) to find Toadie's daughter Nell Rebecchi (Ayisha Salem-Towner), who left school going to the house where she believed her former stepmother Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden) is living. Holly and Haz find Nell who had been knocked out by Eden, and help her to a nearby park bench. Nell describes to Holly what the man that knocked her out looked like, and Holly realized instantly that she was referring to Eden. When Melanie arrives to find Nell with Holly and Haz, Holly quickly asks her how she knows Eden Shaw, and Melanie responds with the same question. The four head back to Ramsay Street and Melanie explains through flashback scenes that she knew Eden's apparent girlfriend Krista Sinclair (Majella Davis), who was friends with Holly and Eden when they were together, however she was calling herself Kelly Miller, never revealing her real name to Holly. Eden then had and affair with Krista which led to Holly leaving Eden and ending the three's friendship. Later, Krista is believed to have died after being pushed into a pool by Melanie on top of Lassiters roof. Melanie's friend Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) goes up to the scene to find Eden, who appears to have removed the body.

A year later, Holly meets new American Erinsborough resident Reece Sinclair (Mischa Barton), who had discovered that Holly knew Krista after seeing them in a photo together. Reece approaches Holly asking where her sister was, and Holly tells her that Krista is dead. Later, Holly and Haz go to an abandoned house that Eden has been hiding in. They find him and trap him in his van when trying to escape. Several minutes later, police officer Andrew Rodwell (Lloyd Will) comes and arrests Eden. Holly then sees Krista's cardigan in Eden's van, and goes into the house looking for her, hoping that she could still be alive. Then Holly discovers Krista in on a mattress in the basement. Krista is taken to the hospital and then stays in a room in Lassiters Hotel. Soon after, Holly accidentally tells Krista that her father has died after Reece telling everyone to keep it from her.

During all of this, Holly and Haz hook up and they start hanging out on a more than friends level. Holly then finds out from Haz's housemate and her friend Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux) that Mackenzie is also romantically attracted to Haz and Holly becomes jealous. Holly and Mackenzie get into a massive argument after Holly rips up the scarf that Mackenzie knitted and gave to Haz for Christmas, and blames it on Haz's dog Trevor. When fighting with Mackenzie after the street Christmas party, Holly trips backwards into the swimming pool and a piece of her clothing becomes caught under the Christmas tree that had previously fallen into the water, which left her stuck under the water, unable to reach the surface. Provided by Wikipedia