Naomi Canning

Creation and casting

In October 2013, Colette Mann, who plays Sheila Canning, said her character’s daughter would be arriving. Producers wanted to expand Sheila’s backstory and introduce a troublemaker like Izzy Hoyland. New Zealand actress Morgana O’Reilly got the role on 30 December 2013 after two auditions. She taped her first tryout in her Sydney garden with her husband, then flew to Melbourne to read with Mann and Stefan Dennis.

Five other actresses were up for the part, but O’Reilly felt it was hers because Naomi is her middle name and her grandmother’s name. Her agent called a week after the second audition to say she had the job. O’Reilly and her husband moved from Sydney to Melbourne, and she started filming in November 2013. She first appeared on screen as Naomi on 25 March 2014.

Development

Before her arrival, O'Reilly said Naomi was a lot of fun but would be hiding secrets, and it would be interesting to see the lengths she would go to keep them hidden from her mother. O'Reilly described Naomi as having a good heart but questionable actions when getting what she wants, and likened her to a cat who enjoys the finer things in life. She added that Naomi is her mother's daughter, with the Canning strength and vulgarity, and is quirky but sophisticated, at times petulant and silly.

O'Reilly did not think Naomi is bad, but rather spoilt and always trying to get her own way, while underneath she is kind and caring. O'Reilly worked with producers, costume and make-up departments to find the right look for Naomi, describing her style as sassy and quite sexual, with six-inch heels and small tops. O'Reilly admitted she did not have much in common with Naomi, but they could both be goofy and funny. Executive producer Jason Herbison thought Naomi's type of character—a classic, troublemaking vixen who is deeply insecure underneath—had been missing from Neighbours for a few years.

Reception

Naomi and her storylines received mostly positive attention from critics. Ahead of her introduction, Rebecca Lake of TV Week said it was about time the show got a new vixen. Ben Pobjie from The Sydney Morning Herald commented that Naomi acted like an idiot during the painting storyline, while a reporter for What's on TV branded her Naughty Naomi and thought she got the slap she deserved from Sonya after kissing Toadie. O'Reilly's co-star Eve Morey observed that Naomi is a femme fatale, opportunistic and manipulative.

Bridget Jones from New Idea stated Naomi was sweet-at-heart. In August 2014, Inside Soap's Michael Cregan expressed love for the character and her flirty ways, and thought the storyline involving Josh was saucy stuff. Claire Crick from All About Soap praised the couple despite them being complete opposites, and loved their hilarious secret hook-ups. Guest writer Ethan Sills from The Spin Off called Naomi one of the best characters the show had produced in recent years and said O'Reilly played her to perfection.

In 2015, Kerry Barrett from All About Soap placed Naomi at number 29 on the magazine's list of 30 favourite Neighbours characters, calling her spoilt, bratty, kooky and sexy. A reporter for The New Zealand Herald stated Naomi was business savvy, attention commanding and bossy. Laura Denby said Naomi's feature in the serial's finale was a delight due to her popularity.