Donna Freedman (also Brown) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Margot Robbie.
Donna was initially introduced as a guest character, but Robbie was promoted to the regular cast shortly after she made her debut.
Donna was originally portrayed as an obsessive fan of musician Ty Harper (Dean Geyer) and someone who had a desire for friends and acceptance.
After befriending the teens of Ramsay Street, Donna changes her ways and matures into a warm, loveable girl.
When Robbie was 17, she moved to Melbourne and repeatedly contacted the serial's casting director Jan Russ to ask for a meeting.
[3] Donna was originally supposed to have a guest character role, but Robbie was promoted to the main cast shortly after her debut.
[4] In April 2010, it was revealed that producers were "battling" to keep Robbie with the show after she told them that she would like to leave when her contract expired at the end of the year.
Producers love the character of Donna Freedman and there's plenty in store for her in the coming months, particularly in terms of her on-off romance with Ringo.
Donna arrives as an obsessed groupie of Ty Harper (Dean Geyer), who manages to force her way into the Ramsay Street teen group.
"[6] TV Week described Donna as "beautiful and a free spirit who is also a little loud and obnoxious", while the Metro called her "kooky.
[13][14] At the end of 2008, Donna's younger brother and sister, Simon (Mauricio Merino, Jr.) and Tegan (Chelsea Jones) were introduced to the show.
[18] Cassandra moves into the street in a bid to win over wealthy resident, Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis).
[23] Nicholas' arrival makes Donna more afraid to find out the results of the DNA test she asked Nick to take.
[26] The storyline received attention from the Australian Family Association, with spokesman John Morrissey saying that he was concerned about TV "normalising" same-sex relationships.
During a moment of time together at home, Donna leaves Ringo to retrieve the cat and the house is set alight.
[30] After Zeke Kinski (Matthew Werkmeister) returns to Ramsay Street, Ringo believes that Donna had cheated on him with his friend and breaks up with her.
[37] On the wedding day, Donna's car breaks down and she is forced to ride in the back of Lucas Fitzgerald's (Scott Major) truck.
[38] Donna walks down the aisle to Ringo's version of "Suddenly", the original song played at Scott and Charlene's wedding.
[44][45] Robbie later revealed her character's exit was positive and that Donna departs Ramsay Street for a fashion design school in New York.
Donna helps to clear an area of the bush and when a fire breaks out, she is suspected of starting it because of her strange behaviour.
Daniel Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker), a school counsellor, talks with Donna, who then decides to transfer to Erinsborough High.
However, Donna is initially unaware that she hit Nicola and she and Ringo ask Lucas Fitzgerald to fix the car.
Donna's younger siblings, Simon and Tegan, arrive in Ramsay Street and their mother, Cassandra, follows not long after.
While going through her mother's diary, Donna discovers that there are two men, Nick Nixon and Nicholas McKay, who could be her biological father.
Ringo helps Donna to breathe and she is rushed to hospital, where she undergoes surgery to repair a ruptured spleen.
Donna receives a letter from a New York design school and Zeke tells her that Ringo applied for a place on her behalf.
After initially deciding to stay in Ramsay Street, Donna's friends manage to convince her to leave by staging a fashion show showcasing her designs.
Eleven years later, Donna sends Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) a video message congratulating him on his wedding to Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden).
[48] FremantleMedia Enterprises vice-president of licensing Ben Liebmann said, "We thought it was a really great way to continue or allow the audience to engage with the Neighbours world off-screen".
[58] Holy Soap named Donna's most memorable moments as "Stepping out with Zeke after Ringo had dumped her" and "Locking lips with Korean exchange student Sunny".