Jen Handley is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Alyce Platt.
Jen was introduced at a time when Network Ten was working to relaunch the serial with the addition of new characters and sexier storylines to improve ratings.
Platt believed a storyline in which Jen is asked to donate a kidney to her cousin was a turning point for the character, as it gave her her own identity beyond a supporting role.
[1] In December 1994, Rachel Browne of The Sun-Herald reported Platt had joined the cast of Neighbours as Jen Handley, a mature age medical student.
[4] The actress revealed she found getting back into the "swing of acting" a tough challenge and she was dissatisfied with her early performance.
[5] Jen's university friend, Cody Willis (Peta Brady) introduces her to widower Philip Martin (Ian Rawlings).
[4] Platt told a writer for Inside Soap that she found her kissing scenes with Rawlings easy as they were co-stars in Sons and Daughters together.
"[4] Platt also added that she was concerned for her character's future, saying Jen was not a trailblazer in terms of storylines and it felt like she was just there for the benefit of Philip, with no identity of her own.
[4] Jen manages to befriend Philip's daughter, Hannah (Rebecca Ritters), by acting as her confidant, rather than a replacement for her late mother.
"[5] Platt left Neighbours in 1996 and she told Sue Malins of the Daily Mirror "In the end, I don't think the scriptwriters knew what to do with me.
Jen reveals the reason she is studying medicine is to research Aplastic anemia, which killed her younger sister, Morgan.
After a brief relationship with James Grimmer (Matthew Parkinson), Jen decides to leave Ramsay Street to pursue an art scholarship.