# Donna Freedman
**Donna Freedman** (also Donna Brown) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera *Neighbours*, played by [Margot Robbie](https://www.edgepedia.org/margot-robbie) from 2008 to 2011 with later returns in 2022 and 2023. She first appeared in episode 5466, broadcast on 2 June 2008, and was introduced by the series producer Susan Bower.[1](https://neighbours-soap-opera.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman_%28Brown%29) The role was Robbie's acting break: written as a short-term guest part, Donna became a fan favorite and was promoted to the regular cast, and Robbie stayed for roughly three years before leaving to pursue a film career that later brought Academy Award nominations.[2](https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/item/margot-robbie-neighbours-donnas-fashion-internship) • [3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-25/margot-robbie-delta-goodrem-to-return-for-neighbours-finale/101265828)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Episode 5466, 2 June 2008, introduced by Susan Bower[1](https://neighbours-soap-opera.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman_%28Brown%29) |
| Main run | Regular character 2008 to 2011; 355 episodes in total across 2008 to 2011 and her returns in 2022 and 2023[1](https://neighbours-soap-opera.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman_%28Brown%29) • [4](https://neighbours-soap-opera.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman_%28Brown%29_-_List_of_appearances) |
| Later returns | Episode 8903, 28 July 2022 (the show's first finale), and episode 8904, 18 September 2023, both via video[1](https://neighbours-soap-opera.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman_%28Brown%29) • [5](https://soap-opera-two.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman) |
| Family | Biological parents Leigh "Nick" Nixon and Cassandra Freedman; adoptive father Matt Freedman; half-siblings Simon Freedman and Tegan Freedman[1](https://neighbours-soap-opera.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman_%28Brown%29) |
| Marriage | Married Ringo Brown in 2010; he died about a month later[6](https://lezwatchtv.com/character/donna-freedman/) |
| Exit storyline | Left Erinsborough for New York to attend fashion school[6](https://lezwatchtv.com/character/donna-freedman/) • [7](https://www.vogue.com/article/margot-robbie-neighbours-finale-11-years-later) |
## Casting and origin
Robbie obtained the part at 17 by cold-calling the *Neighbours* casting office until they put her on the show as Donna.[8](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-27/neighbours-40-years-cancelled-cheat-sheet/105099960) The character was originally intended to be a guest spot, but Robbie quickly became a fan favorite and the part became a three-year regular engagement.[2](https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/item/margot-robbie-neighbours-donnas-fashion-internship) When her contract ended in 2011, Robbie was offered the chance to stay on; she declined and instead joined the American drama series *[Pan Am](https://www.edgepedia.org/pan-am-tv-series)* before launching her Hollywood career.[3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-25/margot-robbie-delta-goodrem-to-return-for-neighbours-finale/101265828)
## Characterization and storylines
Donna arrives in Erinsborough as an obsessive fan of the musician Ty Harper, whom she had stalked for over a year, sending gifts and messages and following him to his gigs.[9](https://perfectblend.net/neighbourhood/bio/freedman-donna.htm)
Major storylines spanned her whole run. Donna's family was introduced to the show: her biological father is Leigh "Nick" Nixon, her mother is Cassandra Freedman, her adoptive father is Matt Freedman, and she has two half-siblings, Simon and Tegan.[1](https://neighbours-soap-opera.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman_%28Brown%29) A long-running romance with Ringo Brown (Sam Clark) culminated in marriage in 2010, but Ringo died about a month after the wedding.[6](https://lezwatchtv.com/character/donna-freedman/) A 2009 storyline placed her in a coveted entry-level internship in the fashion world; the [National Film and Sound Archive of Australia](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-film-and-sound-archive-of-australia) notes the plot's debt to *The Devil Wears Prada*, with Donna ordered around by a snooty assistant and the temperamental designer Saffron before she confronts Saffron and leaves the internship.[2](https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/item/margot-robbie-neighbours-donnas-fashion-internship)
Donna's exit took her to New York to attend fashion school.[6](https://lezwatchtv.com/character/donna-freedman/) • [7](https://www.vogue.com/article/margot-robbie-neighbours-finale-11-years-later)
## Returns and legacy
Robbie reprised the role in the 28 July 2022 finale episode, announced alongside other returning stars including [Delta Goodrem](https://www.edgepedia.org/delta-goodrem) and [Jesse Spencer](https://www.edgepedia.org/jesse-spencer).[3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-25/margot-robbie-delta-goodrem-to-return-for-neighbours-finale/101265828) She appeared again on 18 September 2023 via video.[5](https://soap-opera-two.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman) In the 2022 finale, Donna tells former neighbors, "My years living on Ramsay Street were some of the best of my life", a line reviewers read as Robbie speaking about her own formative years before her film career.[10](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/neighbours-finale-review-guy-pearce-b2133299.html)
The role is now a standard reference point in Robbie's biography. ABC News lists Donna among the characters through which *Neighbours* launched international careers, and Robbie has credited the soap's fast production as training for her later work as a producer, saying she learned more on that set than anywhere else.[3](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-25/margot-robbie-delta-goodrem-to-return-for-neighbours-finale/101265828) • [8](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-27/neighbours-40-years-cancelled-cheat-sheet/105099960)
## References
1. [Donna Freedman (Brown), Neighbours Soap Opera Wiki (Fandom)](https://neighbours-soap-opera.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman_%28Brown%29)
2. [Margot Robbie in Neighbours: Donna's fashion internship, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia](https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/item/margot-robbie-neighbours-donnas-fashion-internship)
3. [Margot Robbie and Delta Goodrem among international stars to return for Neighbours finale, ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-25/margot-robbie-delta-goodrem-to-return-for-neighbours-finale/101265828)
4. [Donna Freedman (Brown) - List of appearances, Neighbours Soap Opera Wiki (Fandom)](https://neighbours-soap-opera.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman_%28Brown%29_-_List_of_appearances)
5. [Donna Freedman, Soap Opera Wiki (Fandom)](https://soap-opera-two.fandom.com/wiki/Donna_Freedman)
6. [Donna Freedman, LezWatch.TV](https://lezwatchtv.com/character/donna-freedman/)
7. [Margot Robbie Is Returning to Her TV Roots, 11 Years Later, Vogue](https://www.vogue.com/article/margot-robbie-neighbours-finale-11-years-later)
8. [Weddings, deaths and cancellations: Neighbours at 40, ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-27/neighbours-40-years-cancelled-cheat-sheet/105099960)
9. [Donna Freedman, Neighbours: The Perfect Blend](https://perfectblend.net/neighbourhood/bio/freedman-donna.htm)
10. [Neighbours: The Finale review, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/neighbours-finale-review-guy-pearce-b2133299.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Soap operas and continuing serials › British and Australasian soaps and characters › Neighbors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license