Ellen Crozier
Encyclopedia
Ellen Crozier is a fictional character on the New Zealand
soap opera
Shortland Street
. She was portrayed by Robyn Malcolm
from 1994 to 1999. Since then Ellen has become an iconic character on the soap in part due to the success of Malcolm.
, she brings along her 13 year old daughter Minnie and husband Johnny. Ellen learns Johnny has been having an affair and the two separate. Ellen accidentally burns down her house with a lit cigarette, risking her life in the process.
In 1995, Ellen starts to date Bernie but grows sick of him and they brake up. Ellen's estranged sister Carla arrived at the hospital and while Ellen was away, tried to blackmail Tiffany
. However Ellen returned and resolved the situation. In spite, Carla drugged Ellens food in an attempt to get her fired. Ellen and Johnny started a short lived affair which Ellen decided to end.
In 1996 it was revealed that Minnie was the product of rape, with her father Ryan Birch having raped Ellen. Ellen convinced Minnie to forgive him as it was in the past. Ellen eventually had sister, Carla sectioned, which resulted in Carla attempting to murder Ellen. Ellen soon met and fell in love with new doctor David Kearney. The two started to date, but when David's ex wife showed up, Ellen misinterpreted the situation and fled to Fiji. David reunited with Ellen in Fiji and she broke the news she was pregnant.
Ellen was shocked to learn in 1997 that her unborn daughter required heart surgery, nonetheless throughout the drama, Ellen and David married on Shortland Street's fifth anniversary. Ellen gave birth to baby Rose the next month. However in 1998 the baby died of Sudden infant death syndrome
. The shock forced Ellen and David apart, both having affairs. At the end of the year they realized they still loved each other but David was expected to stay with his mistress who had cancer. Ellen was disgusted to learn her daughter Minnie had been raped, similarly to her several years before.
In 1999, the couple finally got back together. But a further blow hit the family when David was diagnosed with a serious disease that would leave him blind. He decided to retire and Ellen left with him. In 2001 Ellen phoned Waverley (Claire Chitham
) to say that David had a relapse and they would not be attending her and Fergus' wedding.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
. She was portrayed by Robyn Malcolm
Robyn Malcolm
Robyn Malcolm is a New Zealand television and theatre actress. She has appeared in numerous New Zealand TV shows and has toured New Zealand with a number of theatre productions.-Early life:...
from 1994 to 1999. Since then Ellen has become an iconic character on the soap in part due to the success of Malcolm.
1994-1999
Ellen arrives in early 1994 as the replacement for Jaki ManuJaki Manu
Jaki Manu was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Nancy Brunning and was part of the original cast.-1992-1994:...
, she brings along her 13 year old daughter Minnie and husband Johnny. Ellen learns Johnny has been having an affair and the two separate. Ellen accidentally burns down her house with a lit cigarette, risking her life in the process.
In 1995, Ellen starts to date Bernie but grows sick of him and they brake up. Ellen's estranged sister Carla arrived at the hospital and while Ellen was away, tried to blackmail Tiffany
Tiffany Pratt
Tiffany Marinovich is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who was portrayed by Alison James between 1995 and 1998.-Creation and casting:...
. However Ellen returned and resolved the situation. In spite, Carla drugged Ellens food in an attempt to get her fired. Ellen and Johnny started a short lived affair which Ellen decided to end.
In 1996 it was revealed that Minnie was the product of rape, with her father Ryan Birch having raped Ellen. Ellen convinced Minnie to forgive him as it was in the past. Ellen eventually had sister, Carla sectioned, which resulted in Carla attempting to murder Ellen. Ellen soon met and fell in love with new doctor David Kearney. The two started to date, but when David's ex wife showed up, Ellen misinterpreted the situation and fled to Fiji. David reunited with Ellen in Fiji and she broke the news she was pregnant.
Ellen was shocked to learn in 1997 that her unborn daughter required heart surgery, nonetheless throughout the drama, Ellen and David married on Shortland Street's fifth anniversary. Ellen gave birth to baby Rose the next month. However in 1998 the baby died of Sudden infant death syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome is marked by the sudden death of an infant that is unexpected by medical history, and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and a detailed death scene investigation. An infant is at the highest risk for SIDS during sleep, which is why it is sometimes...
. The shock forced Ellen and David apart, both having affairs. At the end of the year they realized they still loved each other but David was expected to stay with his mistress who had cancer. Ellen was disgusted to learn her daughter Minnie had been raped, similarly to her several years before.
In 1999, the couple finally got back together. But a further blow hit the family when David was diagnosed with a serious disease that would leave him blind. He decided to retire and Ellen left with him. In 2001 Ellen phoned Waverley (Claire Chitham
Claire Chitham
Claire Margaret Chitham is a New Zealand television actress. She is best known for having played Waverley Harrison in the New Zealand TV show Shortland Street, from 1994–5 and 1997–2005 and Aurora Bay in Outrageous Fortune from 2006-2007.She was already acting by the age of nine, when she...
) to say that David had a relapse and they would not be attending her and Fergus' wedding.