Template:InfoboxClare Devine (Née Black; previously Cunningham) was a character on Hollyoaks who aired her scenes from 26 December 2005 to 16 October 2013. She was played in 2005-06 by Samantha Rowley and from 2006-13 by Gemma Bissix.
Characterisation
When Clare originally arrived in 2005 played by Samantha Rowley, she was rather likeable and friendly. However after the character's recast to Gemma Bissix the following year, the character revealed a dark side and this was quickly revealed around Hollyoaks. Clare became a con-woman, marrying Max Cunningham simply for his money. Clare made several attempts to kill Max, however was unsuccessful
Arrival
Clare is hired by Max Cunningham (Matt Littler) and O.B. (Darren Jeffries) as The Loft's events supervisor. The two men compete for Clare's attentions and she chooses to be with Max. They keep their romance hidden from O.B. but tell the truth when Clare moves into Max's home. Clare befriends Mandy Richardson (Sarah Jayne Dunn) and Louise Summers (Roxanne McKee) and they help in a time-share scam initiated by Sean Kennedy (Matthew Jay Lewis). He tries to seduce Clare who rebuffs his advances.
Relationship with Max Cunningham
When Clare later discovers that Sean is wealthy she seduces him. Mel Burton (Cassie Powney) discovers their affair and Clare discredits Mel as an alcoholic. When O.B. becomes concerned she decides to plot against him and ruin his friendship with Max. Tom Cunningham (Ellis Hollins) also overhears Clare's deceit and she attempts to alienate Max. Clare is delighted when she becomes engaged to Max but is annoyed to learn he has asked O.B. to be his best man. O.B. discovers that Clare is planning to steal Max's money so she plants drugs on him which results in his arrest. But he manages to invade the wedding resulting in Max attacking him. Clare prevents Max from wanting children by claiming she was abused as a child and infertile. He gives her fifty-thousand pounds and she decides to run away with it. She sleeps with Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) but O.B., Mel, Sophie Burton (Connie Powney) obtain a DVD of the affair and threaten to show Max. When she learns that Mel and Sophie have been killed in an explosion she decides to remain in the village and steals the DVD from a hospitalised O.B.
Max has a heart attack after taking cocaine and she discovers that he has a life insurance policy worth £500, 000. When he is released from hospital she begins isolating him from his friends. She tampers with his medication to prevent his recovery. He becomes really ill when holidaying with Clare in a secluded location and discovers the truth. Clare locks Tom in her car and tells Max he is drowning in a nearby lake. He attempts to save Tom but cannot find the strength to stay above water. But O.B. arrives to save Max and punches Clare in the face. Clare manages to convince the police of no wrongdoing and Max ends their relationship.
Attempted murder
Max later tries to strangle Clare when she abducts Tom from his school. While away, Clare tries to sell Max's flat and The Loft. She begins hitting herself in an attempt to frame Max for assault. The police arrive just as Max is forcing Clare out of his home and he is arrested. Max signs his share of The Loft over to Clare so that she will leave him alone. Clare then becomes annoyed with her business partner, Warren and tries to trick Justin into being her accomplice to rid of Warren. She frames Warren for Sean's murder to remove him from the club. Clare convinces Louise to have an abortion and tell fiancé Calvin it was a miscarriage. Clare tells Calvin the truth and Louise attacks Clare. Clare convinces Tom he is responsible for deaths in his family. She then convinces the social services that Max is abusing Tom. She later taunts O.B. over Mel and Sophie's death and he attacks her. Clare is then pushed off a balcony and is hospitalised.
Attempt to murder Warren Fox
Clare returns to the village to gain revenge on Warren. She takes him hostage and starts a fire at The Loft. Calvin interrupts the situation but Clare convinces him to leave and let Warren die. Hannah Ashworth (Emma Rigby) enters The Loft to stop Clare and a fight ensues. The scuffles results in a banister breaking and them falling to the next floor. Warren is presumed dead in the fire and Clare is arrested.
2013 Return
Clare meets Mercedes (Jennifer Metcalfe) in Las Vegas and she claims that her husband, Doctor Browning (Joseph Thompson), has tried to seduce her. They concoct a plan to extort money from Doctor Browning. Clare helps Mercedes fake her disappearance and blackmail him for ransom money. When Mercedes realises that Clare has been lying she decides to stop the scheme. But Clare knocks Mercedes unconscious taking her hostage for real. Jacqui McQueen (Claire Cooper), manages to get her hands on enough money to pay the ransom, but the bag containing the money is accidentally taken by Leanne Holiday (Jessica Forest). Claire then lures Doctor Browning to the scrapyard where she is holding Mercedes hostage, knocks him unconscious and places him in the cage next to Mercedes. Browning then makes Claire believe that Tom has the money and attacks Tom but the Police are called and she is taken away.
Death
Clare wants revenge and decides to plant a bomb in The Loft. She invites Mercedes to have her birthday party inside, but when Clare detonates the bomb, a block of council flats blow up instead, killing Ash Kane (Holly Weston), Doug Carter (PJ Brennan) and Leanne Holiday (Jessica Forrest). Clare is then killed when Mercedes pushes her in front of Doctor Browning's car following a fight.
Gallery
