Rachel Armstrong

Dr. Rachel Armstrong Holden (previously Hyde) is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portrayed by Amy Mathews. She is currently engaged to Tony Holden and they are waiting on the arrival of their baby.

Arrival
She first appeared in the first episode of 2006, 4101 after taking up a post at the Northern District hospital. She was an old friend of Leah Patterson-Baker who she had known since High School.

Relationship with Kim Hyde
She started a relationship with her patient Kim Hyde who she had saved a few episodes before, this resulted in her being banned from practicing as a psychiatrist.

Kidnapped
Since being in the show, Rachel has been kidnapped five times: by debt collector Jimmy Knox (along with Leah) who was owed money by Dan Baker after his gambling addiction got out of control; by a cult known as the Believers, who tried to force her to deliver Tasha Hunter's baby; by Charlie, a boy who had become obsessed with Kim; by Reverend Hall, who had developed a brain tumour and was behind a series of attacks on women; and by Aden Jefferies.

Marriage to Kim
She and Kim married in 2006 but their marriage hit problems straight away; Kim had recently learned he couldn't have children after having the mumps, their attempt to adopt Joe Morton failed and Kim's ex-girlfriend Kit Hunter was pregnant with his child. Rachel tried to make the situation work but when she slept with her best friend Hugh Sullivan (who had been in love with her) it gave Kim the excuse he needed to leave her and reunite with Kit and their son Archie.

Brief Flings
Rachel briefly dated Lewis Rigg, a colleague, and became pregnant but suffered a miscarriage and they soon broke up. She was later interested in Roman Harris and they had a brief chemistry between them but she chose the older Tony Holden instead after she realised she kept going for the same type of men who were not right for her (i.e. young, fit athletic etc).

Tony Holden
Shortly after she began to date Tony, the pair fell in love and became engaged three weeks after getting together, but Rachel disappeared on their wedding day, Tony assumed she had left him for Hugh when he discovered emails from him on her computer asking for a second chance. In fact, she had been kidnapped by Aden after discovering him trying to kill his father and was eventually rescued and reunited with Tony.

The baby and the wedding
Rachel is pregnant with her first child. She is due in the summer of 2009. Since of the age difference contributing to the pregnancy,the leading weeks to the birth will be complicated. Rachel is about to get married to her fiance Tony. They get married in April, but tradegy strikes on their wedding day.

Jack's death
Recently her (soon to be) stepson and friend Jack Holden was shot dead. She feels horrible because she really needed to talk to him with something relating to Bridget but he said he was busy.

Girlfriend Kaitlin
Lucas' girlfriend Kaitlin Dason is coming to Summer Bay in April-May 2009. She will cause distance between Rachel and Tony's relationship. Kaitin is also keeping a dark secret from them.