Faye Morton
Encyclopedia
Faye Lindsey Byrne is a fictional character
from the BBC
medical drama
Holby City
, portrayed by actress Patsy Kensit
. The character first appeared on-screen on 30 January 2007 in the episode "Into the Dark" - series nine, episode 17 of the program. Kensit had made a former unrelated guest appearance on Holby City sister show Casualty
in 2001.
Faye is a Ward Sister at Holby General, with a mysterious past including two dead husbands and a disabled son. Her storylines have seen her marry registrar Joseph Byrne
(Luke Roberts
), and develop feelings for consultant Linden Cullen
(Duncan Pow
) following the death of her son. Her introductory storyline, shot on location in Dubai
, in which she kills her third husband and leaves for Holby
, proved so popular that Kensit was shortlisted "Best Actress" in the 2007 TV Quick
and TV Choice Awards for her portrayal of the character within three months of arriving on the show. However, the dramaticism of the character's storylines and the manner in which they reflect upon real NHS
nurses has attracted criticism. Kensit left the show on 28 December 2010 in the episode "Snow Queens"- series thirteen, episode 11
had been cast in the role was made on 14 December 2005. Holby City executive producer
Richard Stokes and series producer Emma Turner spoke of their delight at Kensit's casting, describing her as "a talented and popular actress who lights up the screen." Kensit took the role in Holby City after two years of working on the ITV
soap opera
Emmerdale
, commenting that she was "thrilled" to be offered the part, and was looking forward to working in London. Having formerly worked in Yorkshire
to film Emmerdale, working in London reduced the actress' daily commute to 45 minutes. Television critic Jim Shelley
noted that Kensit's casting in the role followed a trend of Holby City producers for hiring established actors, including comedian
Adrian Edmondson
and Jesus of Nazareth star Robert Powell
.
In preparation for the role, Kensit spent three days shadowing a real nurse, and observed open heart surgery
being performed as research. She commented on the experience: "I wanted to throw up. First of all I stood in the corner but in the end I couldn't get close enough ... nurses are incredible women. They're doing this job for next to nothing and do it with such love and care... I couldn't do it, I'd get too emotionally involved, I don't think I could cope." In 2001, Kensit had made a guest appearance in series 16 of Holby City sister show Casualty
, appearing as a domestic abuse victim and giving what TV critic Ian Hyland
deemed "a convincing performance". Prior to her move into television roles, Kensit had predominantly worked in films, but explained upon joining the cast of Holby City: "Making films isn't for me any more because I'm an old girl in that world ... I've been very lucky, this is something I grew up doing, in television there's so much satisfaction ... I'll stay as long as they want me, I feel like I've come back home."
have described her as "Gregarious...likes a gossip, but she's emotionally vulnerable", while Holby City actress Tina Hobley
has compared Faye to her own character, Chrissie Williams
, explaining that "Faye is a quieter character all round who will do anything for an easy life, whereas Chrissie likes to stir up a bit of drama. I think she sees Faye as a goody two shoes."
In the flashback episode "What Lies Beneath", exploring Faye's decision to move to Holby, she is seen to fight with her husband James, then later step over his dead body on the stairs. Kensit explained: "there's a scuffle and he pins her against the wall and practically tries to rape her. He ends up dead. It's the way she deals with it — she coolly steps over his body and leaves. It turns out similar things have happened before." Shortly after arriving in Holby, the character began a relationship with cardiothoracic
registrar
Sam Strachan
(Tom Chambers
). The situation soon escalated into a love triangle
, with Sam reigniting his former relationship with Faye's colleague, Matron Chrissie Williams. Kensit said of the relationship in August 2007, as the storyline was ongoing: "For Faye, Sam is not Mr Right, simply Mr Right Now. But Faye is not as sweet as she looks - there's a streak of toughness there... It's all going to get very messy!" Upon discovering Sam's infidelity, the character terminated their relationship, and became involved with his colleague Joseph Byrne.
In terms of friendships, Faye is close to Ward Sister Kyla Tyson
(Rakie Ayola
). Though the BBC describe Faye and Chrissie as rivals, Hobley has commented: "I'd like there to be more development with Chrissie and Faye's relationship as they've only really had Sam as a common interest up until now. I just hope its friendship that develops, because I can't bear all that bitchy cat-fighting stuff."
Joseph Byrne
and Jac Naylor
(Rosie Marcel
) help her gain employment as a Bank Nurse. During her first few months at the hospital, Faye remains close to Joseph, but does not get on well with Jac, who she speaks to sternly about her close relationship with Joseph's father, Lord Byrne (Ronald Pickup
). In the episode "What Lies Beneath", flashbacks show the trio's first meeting in Dubai
. Faye's husband James reveals to her that he has lost her life savings. The pair fight, and James ends up dead at the bottom of their stairs. Faye leaves him, and returns to England with Joseph and Jac. Faye is questioned by the police about James' death but is not charged.
Faye begins a friendship with Ward Sister Kyla Tyson
, and supports her through her domestic abuse ordeal at the hands of her husband, his subsequent death, and the loss of her son to foster care
. She resists the advances of hospital lothario Sam Strachan
, and impresses general surgical
consultant
Dan Clifford (Peter Wingfield
) with her approach to patient care - leading to an on the spot promotion after a clash with Thandie Abebe (Ginny Holder
) in the episode "Leap of Faith".
Faye begins dating Sam, unaware that he is cheating on her with Ward Sister Chrissie Williams
. She ends their relationship when she discovers his infidelity and turns her attention to Joseph, who had tried to warn her about Sam's indiscretion. She supports Joseph when he is tormented by Jac about the relationship she had had with his father prior to his death. When STI clinician Tim attacks staff members with a crossbow, Faye is shot in the back, but makes a full recovery. She reveals to Joseph that she was formerly married to a much older man named Donald, who left her a substantial amount of money after his death from cancer. She is investigated by the police, who find it suspicious that she has been twice widowed. Her stepson, Carl Hewson, blackmails her for money, but is later attacked by loan sharks and dies in theatre.
Following a fight with Joseph, Faye disappears to South Africa
. Joseph and consultant Linden Cullen
travel there to find her, and discover that Faye has a young son, Archie, who has Lowe syndrome
. He has been kidnapped by his father, Faye's first husband Lucas, and Joseph is forced to operate on him to save his life. Faye and Joseph go on to become engaged, and marry at his family home. When Archie's nurse Lauren accidentally administers him the wrong drug, he dies. Faye is arrested for his murder when post-mortem results prove inconclusive, and is suspended from work. She is acquitted when Lauren confesses, and fights with the nurse, who attempts suicide. Faye is able to make her peace with Lauren, but is unable to fully forgive her. In the aftermath of Archie's death, Faye and Joseph grow apart, and she develops romantic feelings for Linden.
Faye and Joseph separate, and she and Linden begin a relationship. Faye discovers that she is pregnant with Joseph's baby, but Linden promises to support her and they become briefly engaged. Increasingly concerned that Faye may be a pathological liar, Linden terminates their engagement. Faye is later attacked by a heroin-addicted patient, and when Linden attempts to defend her, he is hit in the head with a glass bottle and dies. Faye suffers a breakdown in the aftermath of Linden's death, and is admitted to a psychiatric unit. She self-harms, and refuses to leave the unit when she goes into labour, until Jac assures her that Joseph does not intend to take their child away from her. Faye delivers a boy by Caesarean. She initially fails to bond with him, but when Joseph puts their divorce proceedings on hold, she makes an effort and names him Harry, after Joseph's deceased younger brother. Despite Joseph's opposition, she insists on returning to the psychiatric unit.
Faye left her job on 28 December 2010.
and TV Choice Awards for her portrayal of Faye. The character's introductory episode, "Into the Dark" drew a high of 7 million viewers, while "What Lies Beneath", the flashback episode in which the character was seen to kill her husband in Dubai
drew ratings of 6.32 million. The character's introduction to the series was highly publicised in the media, including a front cover and inside spread featuring Kensit discussing her new role in the week's edition of the Radio Times
. The Liverpool Echo
selected the character's introductory episode as a televisual 'Pick of the Day', The Mirror TV critic Jim Shelley
selected her arrival as a highlight of the week, and Kevin O'Sullivan of the Sunday Mirror
described her debut as "sensational".
Faye has continued to generate high publicity for the series, with the 11 August 2007 edition of Total TV Guide featuring Kensit, Hobley and Chambers on its front cover, appearing in character to promote their love triangle
storyline, and the 1 September 2007 Daily Express
television supplement again featuring Kensit and Hobley on its cover, with an inside feature on the same storyline. It was reported on 19 August 2007 that Kensit's casting had "boosted the series' appeal" to such an extent that for the first time, a Holby City calendar had been commissioned. The report quoted a series insider as stating: "Patsy has really set the show off this year, and what better way to thank the dedicated fans?".
The character was heavily criticised in the July 2007 edition of the Nursing and Midwifery Council
magazine. The publication discussed the topic of nurses in popular culture, and the negative impression of the nursing profession conveyed by fictional nurses. With a promotional image of Kensit as Faye adorning the front cover, the magazine asserted:
This criticism was echoed by Shelley, who, commenting on an interview Kensit had given to publicise the show and her role with Jonathan Ross
, suggested that "reality" was not a term that could be applied to Holby City portrayal of nursing.
In July 2009, Conservative Party
strategists identified "Holby City woman
" as a key voter demographic who may help the party win the 2010 General Election. The "Holby City woman" archetype is modelled on Faye, a female voter in her 30s or 40s, employed in a clinical or clerical position or some other public sector job. She is a swing voter in General Elections, who has voted for the Labour Party
in previous elections, though her identification with the Labour Party is not strong. Jonathan Oliver for The Times
noted that "Faye Morton, the Holby City staff nurse played by Patsy Kensit is just the sort of person that Cameron
might now hope to recruit".
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
medical drama
Medical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
Holby City
Holby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
, portrayed by actress Patsy Kensit
Patsy Kensit
Patricia Jude Francis "Patsy" Kensit is an English actress, singer, model and former child star, known for her television and film appearances. Her films include Lethal Weapon 2 and she has been married to rock stars Jim Kerr and Liam Gallagher, as well as herself fronting the band Eighth Wonder...
. The character first appeared on-screen on 30 January 2007 in the episode "Into the Dark" - series nine, episode 17 of the program. Kensit had made a former unrelated guest appearance on Holby City sister show Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
in 2001.
Faye is a Ward Sister at Holby General, with a mysterious past including two dead husbands and a disabled son. Her storylines have seen her marry registrar Joseph Byrne
Joseph Byrne
Joseph Charles Mortimer Byrne is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by Luke Roberts. Joseph first appeared in the 3 January 2006 episode "Mother Love", series eight, episode twelve of the programme...
(Luke Roberts
Luke Roberts
Luke Roberts is an Australian racing cyclist specialising in both track cycling and road bicycle racing, on for road racing....
), and develop feelings for consultant Linden Cullen
Linden Cullen
Linden Cullen is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actor Duncan Pow. Linden appeared from series ten to twelve - January 2008 to October 2010, as the head of Holby City Hospital's surgical admissions ward.-Creation:...
(Duncan Pow
Duncan Pow
Duncan Pow is a Scottish actor best known in his role in Sky One's Dream Team, as Liam Mackay the captain of Harchester United F.C. and as Linden Cullen in the BBC1 medical drama, Holby City.-Early life:...
) following the death of her son. Her introductory storyline, shot on location in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, in which she kills her third husband and leaves for Holby
Holby
Holby is a fictional city in the United Kingdom, in which BBC medical dramas Casualty and Holby City, and police drama HolbyBlue are set. It is based upon the city of Bristol, and is located in the fictional county of Wyvern in the South-West of England, not far from the Welsh border...
, proved so popular that Kensit was shortlisted "Best Actress" in the 2007 TV Quick
TV Quick
TV Choice, is a British weekly TV listings magazine published by H. Bauer Publishing, the UK subsidiary of family-run German company Bauer Media Group...
and TV Choice Awards for her portrayal of the character within three months of arriving on the show. However, the dramaticism of the character's storylines and the manner in which they reflect upon real NHS
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
nurses has attracted criticism. Kensit left the show on 28 December 2010 in the episode "Snow Queens"- series thirteen, episode 11
Holby City (series 13)
The thirteenth series of the British medical drama television series Holby City began airing in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 October 2010, and ran for 52 episodes, concluding on 11 October 2011.-Episodes:...
Creation
Early publicity for the character gave her name as Eliza Clark. This was ultimately changed to Faye Morton, and although Faye did not first appear on-screen until January 2007, the announcement that Patsy KensitPatsy Kensit
Patricia Jude Francis "Patsy" Kensit is an English actress, singer, model and former child star, known for her television and film appearances. Her films include Lethal Weapon 2 and she has been married to rock stars Jim Kerr and Liam Gallagher, as well as herself fronting the band Eighth Wonder...
had been cast in the role was made on 14 December 2005. Holby City executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
Richard Stokes and series producer Emma Turner spoke of their delight at Kensit's casting, describing her as "a talented and popular actress who lights up the screen." Kensit took the role in Holby City after two years of working on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
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,...
Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
, commenting that she was "thrilled" to be offered the part, and was looking forward to working in London. Having formerly worked in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
to film Emmerdale, working in London reduced the actress' daily commute to 45 minutes. Television critic Jim Shelley
Jim Shelley (TV critic)
Jim Shelley is a British television critic who writes a column for the Daily Mirror each Monday titled Shelleyvision. Prior to writing for the Daily Mirror he wrote for The Guardian and his collection of reviews "Interference: Tapehead vs. Television" was published by Atlantic Books...
noted that Kensit's casting in the role followed a trend of Holby City producers for hiring established actors, including comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Adrian Edmondson
Adrian Edmondson
Adrian Charles "Ade" Edmondson is an English comedian. He is probably best known for his comedic roles in the television series The Young Ones and Bottom , for which he also wrote together with his long-time collaboration partner Rik Mayall.-Early life:Edmondson, the second of four children, was...
and Jesus of Nazareth star Robert Powell
Robert Powell
Robert Powell is an English television and film actor, probably most famous for his title role in Jesus of Nazareth and as the fictional secret agent Richard Hannay...
.
In preparation for the role, Kensit spent three days shadowing a real nurse, and observed open heart surgery
Open Heart Surgery
Open Heart Surgery was released on August 8, 2000 by rock band Virginwool. The band signed to Breaking/Atlantic Records after initially beginning signed to Universal Records. The album was produced and mixed by Brad Wood....
being performed as research. She commented on the experience: "I wanted to throw up. First of all I stood in the corner but in the end I couldn't get close enough ... nurses are incredible women. They're doing this job for next to nothing and do it with such love and care... I couldn't do it, I'd get too emotionally involved, I don't think I could cope." In 2001, Kensit had made a guest appearance in series 16 of Holby City sister show Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
, appearing as a domestic abuse victim and giving what TV critic Ian Hyland
Ian Hyland
Ian Hyland is an English television critic.-Journalism career:Hyland wrote a column for the Sunday Mirror from 2000 to 2005. Until 2011 closure of the newspaper, he wrote for the News of the World. He currently writes for the Daily Mail...
deemed "a convincing performance". Prior to her move into television roles, Kensit had predominantly worked in films, but explained upon joining the cast of Holby City: "Making films isn't for me any more because I'm an old girl in that world ... I've been very lucky, this is something I grew up doing, in television there's so much satisfaction ... I'll stay as long as they want me, I feel like I've come back home."
Personality and relationships
Initial publicity for the character billed her as "a nurse who has more than a few secrets to hide and an attitude that cannot fail to ruffle the feathers of her colleagues." The Daily ExpressDaily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
have described her as "Gregarious...likes a gossip, but she's emotionally vulnerable", while Holby City actress Tina Hobley
Tina Hobley
Tina Hobley is an English actress.-Early life:Very shy as a child, Hobley was sent to speech and drama classes in an attempt to counter her introversion...
has compared Faye to her own character, Chrissie Williams
Chrissie Williams
Christine "Chrissie" Williams a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Tina Hobley. The character first appeared on-screen on 5 June 2001 in episode "The Road Less Traveled" - series three, episode 30 of the programme. Chrissie briefly left the show in April...
, explaining that "Faye is a quieter character all round who will do anything for an easy life, whereas Chrissie likes to stir up a bit of drama. I think she sees Faye as a goody two shoes."
In the flashback episode "What Lies Beneath", exploring Faye's decision to move to Holby, she is seen to fight with her husband James, then later step over his dead body on the stairs. Kensit explained: "there's a scuffle and he pins her against the wall and practically tries to rape her. He ends up dead. It's the way she deals with it — she coolly steps over his body and leaves. It turns out similar things have happened before." Shortly after arriving in Holby, the character began a relationship with cardiothoracic
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax —generally treatment of conditions of the heart and lungs .-Cardiac / Thoracic:...
registrar
Specialist registrar
A Specialist Registrar or SpR is a doctor in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland who is receiving advanced training in a specialist field of medicine in order eventually to become a consultant...
Sam Strachan
Sam Strachan
Samuel Noel "Sam" Strachan is a fictional character in the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actor Tom Chambers. The character first appeared on-screen on 3 January 2006, in episode "Mother Love" - series 8, episode 12 of the programme...
(Tom Chambers
Tom Chambers (actor)
Tom Chambers is a British actor, known for his role as Sam Strachan in the BBC medical drama Holby City. He also won the sixth season of Strictly Come Dancing with his partner Camilla Dallerup.-Personal life:...
). The situation soon escalated into a love triangle
Love triangle
A love triangle is usually a romantic relationship involving three people. While it can refer to two people independently romantically linked with a third, it usually implies that each of the three people has some kind of relationship to the other two...
, with Sam reigniting his former relationship with Faye's colleague, Matron Chrissie Williams. Kensit said of the relationship in August 2007, as the storyline was ongoing: "For Faye, Sam is not Mr Right, simply Mr Right Now. But Faye is not as sweet as she looks - there's a streak of toughness there... It's all going to get very messy!" Upon discovering Sam's infidelity, the character terminated their relationship, and became involved with his colleague Joseph Byrne.
In terms of friendships, Faye is close to Ward Sister Kyla Tyson
Kyla Tyson
Kyla Tyson is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Rakie Ayola. She appeared from 7 February 2006 to 9 December 2008, from the series eight episode "I'll Be Back" to the series eleven episode "Sweet Bitter Love"...
(Rakie Ayola
Rakie Ayola
Rakie Ayola is a Welsh actress, best known for her role as Kyla Tyson in the BBC medical drama Holby City. She first rose to prominence in the lead role of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation...
). Though the BBC describe Faye and Chrissie as rivals, Hobley has commented: "I'd like there to be more development with Chrissie and Faye's relationship as they've only really had Sam as a common interest up until now. I just hope its friendship that develops, because I can't bear all that bitchy cat-fighting stuff."
Storylines
Faye arrives at Holby General in the episode "Into the Dark", requesting that registrarsSpecialist registrar
A Specialist Registrar or SpR is a doctor in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland who is receiving advanced training in a specialist field of medicine in order eventually to become a consultant...
Joseph Byrne
Joseph Byrne
Joseph Charles Mortimer Byrne is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by Luke Roberts. Joseph first appeared in the 3 January 2006 episode "Mother Love", series eight, episode twelve of the programme...
and Jac Naylor
Jac Naylor
Jacqueline "Jac" Naylor MBBS MS FRCS FRCSTh is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Rosie Marcel. She first appeared in the series eight episode "Bird on a Wire", originally broadcast on 22 November 2005....
(Rosie Marcel
Rosie Marcel
Rosie Marcel is an English actress best known for her role as Jac Naylor, consultant in Holby City.She is the daughter of television director Terry Marcel and sister of writer and actress Kelly Marcel.-Career:...
) help her gain employment as a Bank Nurse. During her first few months at the hospital, Faye remains close to Joseph, but does not get on well with Jac, who she speaks to sternly about her close relationship with Joseph's father, Lord Byrne (Ronald Pickup
Ronald Pickup
-Life and career:Pickup was born in Chester, England, the son of Daisy and Eric Pickup, who was a lecturer. Pickup was educated at The King's School, Chester, trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and became an Associate Member of RADA.His television work began with an episode...
). In the episode "What Lies Beneath", flashbacks show the trio's first meeting in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
. Faye's husband James reveals to her that he has lost her life savings. The pair fight, and James ends up dead at the bottom of their stairs. Faye leaves him, and returns to England with Joseph and Jac. Faye is questioned by the police about James' death but is not charged.
Faye begins a friendship with Ward Sister Kyla Tyson
Kyla Tyson
Kyla Tyson is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Rakie Ayola. She appeared from 7 February 2006 to 9 December 2008, from the series eight episode "I'll Be Back" to the series eleven episode "Sweet Bitter Love"...
, and supports her through her domestic abuse ordeal at the hands of her husband, his subsequent death, and the loss of her son to foster care
Foster care
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
. She resists the advances of hospital lothario Sam Strachan
Sam Strachan
Samuel Noel "Sam" Strachan is a fictional character in the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actor Tom Chambers. The character first appeared on-screen on 3 January 2006, in episode "Mother Love" - series 8, episode 12 of the programme...
, and impresses general surgical
General surgery
General surgery, despite its name, is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal organs, e.g., intestines including esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland . They also deal with diseases involving the skin, breast, soft...
consultant
Consultant (medicine)
In the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and parts of the Commonwealth, consultant is the title of a senior doctor who has completed all of his or her specialist training and been placed on the specialist register in their chosen specialty...
Dan Clifford (Peter Wingfield
Peter Wingfield
Peter Wingfield is a Welsh born television actor, well known for his television roles as Dan Clifford in Holby City, Dr. Robert Helm in Queen of Swords and Inspector Simon Ross in Cold Squad...
) with her approach to patient care - leading to an on the spot promotion after a clash with Thandie Abebe (Ginny Holder
Ginny Holder
Ginny Holder is an actress best known for playing Thandie Abebe-Griffin on the BBC medical drama series Holby City.-References:...
) in the episode "Leap of Faith".
Faye begins dating Sam, unaware that he is cheating on her with Ward Sister Chrissie Williams
Chrissie Williams
Christine "Chrissie" Williams a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Tina Hobley. The character first appeared on-screen on 5 June 2001 in episode "The Road Less Traveled" - series three, episode 30 of the programme. Chrissie briefly left the show in April...
. She ends their relationship when she discovers his infidelity and turns her attention to Joseph, who had tried to warn her about Sam's indiscretion. She supports Joseph when he is tormented by Jac about the relationship she had had with his father prior to his death. When STI clinician Tim attacks staff members with a crossbow, Faye is shot in the back, but makes a full recovery. She reveals to Joseph that she was formerly married to a much older man named Donald, who left her a substantial amount of money after his death from cancer. She is investigated by the police, who find it suspicious that she has been twice widowed. Her stepson, Carl Hewson, blackmails her for money, but is later attacked by loan sharks and dies in theatre.
Following a fight with Joseph, Faye disappears to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Joseph and consultant Linden Cullen
Linden Cullen
Linden Cullen is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actor Duncan Pow. Linden appeared from series ten to twelve - January 2008 to October 2010, as the head of Holby City Hospital's surgical admissions ward.-Creation:...
travel there to find her, and discover that Faye has a young son, Archie, who has Lowe syndrome
Oculocerebrorenal syndrome
Oculocerebrorenal syndrome is a X-linked recessive disorder characterized by hydrophthalmia, cataracts, intellectual disabilities, aminoaciduria, reduced renal ammonia production and vitamin D-resistant rickets....
. He has been kidnapped by his father, Faye's first husband Lucas, and Joseph is forced to operate on him to save his life. Faye and Joseph go on to become engaged, and marry at his family home. When Archie's nurse Lauren accidentally administers him the wrong drug, he dies. Faye is arrested for his murder when post-mortem results prove inconclusive, and is suspended from work. She is acquitted when Lauren confesses, and fights with the nurse, who attempts suicide. Faye is able to make her peace with Lauren, but is unable to fully forgive her. In the aftermath of Archie's death, Faye and Joseph grow apart, and she develops romantic feelings for Linden.
Faye and Joseph separate, and she and Linden begin a relationship. Faye discovers that she is pregnant with Joseph's baby, but Linden promises to support her and they become briefly engaged. Increasingly concerned that Faye may be a pathological liar, Linden terminates their engagement. Faye is later attacked by a heroin-addicted patient, and when Linden attempts to defend her, he is hit in the head with a glass bottle and dies. Faye suffers a breakdown in the aftermath of Linden's death, and is admitted to a psychiatric unit. She self-harms, and refuses to leave the unit when she goes into labour, until Jac assures her that Joseph does not intend to take their child away from her. Faye delivers a boy by Caesarean. She initially fails to bond with him, but when Joseph puts their divorce proceedings on hold, she makes an effort and names him Harry, after Joseph's deceased younger brother. Despite Joseph's opposition, she insists on returning to the psychiatric unit.
Faye left her job on 28 December 2010.
Reception
Within four months of first appearing in Holby City, Kensit was nominated for the "Best Actress" award at the 2007 TV QuickTV Quick
TV Choice, is a British weekly TV listings magazine published by H. Bauer Publishing, the UK subsidiary of family-run German company Bauer Media Group...
and TV Choice Awards for her portrayal of Faye. The character's introductory episode, "Into the Dark" drew a high of 7 million viewers, while "What Lies Beneath", the flashback episode in which the character was seen to kill her husband in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
drew ratings of 6.32 million. The character's introduction to the series was highly publicised in the media, including a front cover and inside spread featuring Kensit discussing her new role in the week's edition of the Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
. The Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
The Liverpool Echo is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Saturday, and is Liverpool's evening newspaper while its sister paper, the Liverpool Daily Post, is the morning paper...
selected the character's introductory episode as a televisual 'Pick of the Day', The Mirror TV critic Jim Shelley
Jim Shelley (TV critic)
Jim Shelley is a British television critic who writes a column for the Daily Mirror each Monday titled Shelleyvision. Prior to writing for the Daily Mirror he wrote for The Guardian and his collection of reviews "Interference: Tapehead vs. Television" was published by Atlantic Books...
selected her arrival as a highlight of the week, and Kevin O'Sullivan of the Sunday Mirror
Sunday Mirror
The Sunday Mirror is the Sunday sister paper of the Daily Mirror. It began life in 1915 as the Sunday Pictorial and was renamed the Sunday Mirror in 1963. Trinity Mirror also owns The People...
described her debut as "sensational".
Faye has continued to generate high publicity for the series, with the 11 August 2007 edition of Total TV Guide featuring Kensit, Hobley and Chambers on its front cover, appearing in character to promote their love triangle
Love triangle
A love triangle is usually a romantic relationship involving three people. While it can refer to two people independently romantically linked with a third, it usually implies that each of the three people has some kind of relationship to the other two...
storyline, and the 1 September 2007 Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
television supplement again featuring Kensit and Hobley on its cover, with an inside feature on the same storyline. It was reported on 19 August 2007 that Kensit's casting had "boosted the series' appeal" to such an extent that for the first time, a Holby City calendar had been commissioned. The report quoted a series insider as stating: "Patsy has really set the show off this year, and what better way to thank the dedicated fans?".
The character was heavily criticised in the July 2007 edition of the Nursing and Midwifery Council
Nursing and Midwifery Council
Established in 2002, the Nursing and Midwifery Council is a statutory body set up by the Parliament of the United Kingdom through the . The NMC is the UK regulator for nursing and midwifery professions with a stated aim to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the public...
magazine. The publication discussed the topic of nurses in popular culture, and the negative impression of the nursing profession conveyed by fictional nurses. With a promotional image of Kensit as Faye adorning the front cover, the magazine asserted:
This criticism was echoed by Shelley, who, commenting on an interview Kensit had given to publicise the show and her role with Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
, suggested that "reality" was not a term that could be applied to Holby City portrayal of nursing.
In July 2009, Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
strategists identified "Holby City woman
Holby City woman
Holby City woman was a voter demographic which was identified by Conservative Party strategists in the United Kingdom as a key group of voters of the Conservative Party in the 2010 General Election. The term is taken from the fictional BBC hospital drama Holby City, which is set in South West...
" as a key voter demographic who may help the party win the 2010 General Election. The "Holby City woman" archetype is modelled on Faye, a female voter in her 30s or 40s, employed in a clinical or clerical position or some other public sector job. She is a swing voter in General Elections, who has voted for the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in previous elections, though her identification with the Labour Party is not strong. Jonathan Oliver for The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
noted that "Faye Morton, the Holby City staff nurse played by Patsy Kensit is just the sort of person that Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
might now hope to recruit".
External links
- Faye Morton at BBC Online