Gaby Willis is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Rachel Blakely.
The show's casting director spotted Blakely on the cover of a magazine and asked her to audition for the role of Gaby.
Gaby was introduced as the eldest daughter of Doug (Terence Donovan) and Pam Willis (Sue Jones).
Gaby opens her own fashion boutique, with the help and support from her boyfriend, and later fiancé, Glen Donnelly (Richard Huggett).
Blakely's decision to quit Neighbours in 1993, led to Gaby taking a less stressful job in Darwin after struggling to balance her career and motherhood.
[2] Blakely was a successful model when she was spotted by the Neighbours casting director on the front cover of a magazine and invited to audition for the part of Gaby Willis.
[7] James Cockington of The Sydney Morning Herald commented on their introduction: "Despite some roller-coaster ratings of late, Ten still believes there is life in Ramsay Street and is introducing some new, young residents this week.
Rachel Blakely, 23, and Scott Michaelson, 20, conform to the teen hunk/spunk category that has made E Street such a fun place to visit.
[10] Josephine Monroe, author of Neighbours: The First 10 Years said Gaby's "cascading dark hair" and model looks meant there was never a shortage of men after her.
[14] Gaby befriends "outrageous punk" musician Zed (Gavan McLaren) as she believes he is the perfect man to party with.
Blakely told Mark McGowan from TV Week that "Gaby threatens that if they don't let her lead her own life, she will move out.
"[15] "Gaby Willis is Neighbours' independent woman of the Nineties, but when it comes to love she's about as sophisticated as a sheep in a mud bath!
[17] A writer for Inside Soap said both siblings are convinced they are the right person for the job and try to prove this to Philip Martin (Ian Rawlings).
[16] Blakely cited Gaby's fiery nature and her tendency to take gossip too seriously as the aspects she did not like, while calling for her character to grow up.
"[16] Gaby begins taking flying lessons and she gets her pilots license, but not before she falls for her instructor, Jack Flynn (Mark Pennell).
[18] An Inside Soap columnist said "When she lets slip that the father is no-good flying instructor Jack Flynn, Doug goes berserk and hunts down the man that did his daughter wrong.
[19] Gaby finds it difficult to balance her career and motherhood and she later takes a less stressful job running a branch of Lassiter's in Darwin.
[8] In the 23 October 1993 edition of TV Week, David Brown reported Blakely would be leaving Neighbours, along with Michaelson and Natalie Imbruglia (Beth Brennan).
[20] Blakely admitted that her decision to quit the show was not easy, as she "adored" her time there and had made some good friends.
"[21] On-screen, Gaby decides to leave Erinsborough, after struggling to care for Zac and deal with her stressful job at Lassiters Hotel.
"[21] In April 2005, Kris Green of Digital Spy confirmed Blakely had reprised her role for the show's 20th anniversary episode, which was broadcast on 27 July 2005.
She learns her parents are on the verge of bankruptcy and she poses as a lawyer to get Wilf Turner (Terry Trimble), one of her father's debtors to pay an outstanding debt.
Gaby begins making dresses for her friends and neighbours and she decides to open her own boutique in the Lassiter's Complex, with Caroline Alessi (Gillian Blakeney) as her silent partner.
The business is successful and profits increase after Glen Donnelly discovers one of Gaby's customers is called Elizabeth Taylor and tells the Erinsborough News.
Gaby competes with her brother, Brad, for the manager's position at the pub, but after confronting their boss, Philip Martin, she is fired.
Lassiter's owner, Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis), tires of their bickering and sends senior associate Jack Parker (Philip Parslow) to Erinsborough to sort them out and choose which one is most suitable for the manager job.
Gaby meets Stefano (Dino Marnika), a fashion designer who offers her a job as his personal assistant in Milan.
[3] Another writer stated Gaby and Glen had Ramsay Street's biggest on-off romance since Scott (Jason Donovan) and Charlene (Kylie Minogue).
[24] In September 2014, Mark James Lowe from All About Soap called for Gaby's return to Neighbours following the reappearances of Brad, Doug and Pam.
"[25] In 2015, Lowe colleague Kerry Barrett placed Gaby at number 26 on the magazine's list of 30 favourite Neighbours characters.