Wendy Cooper (character)
Encyclopedia
Wendy Maria Cooper is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera
Shortland Street
and has been portrayed by Jacqueline Nairn since her debut in mid 2010. The character arrived as the matriarch of the new family unit, the Coopers.
' (Amanda Billing
) new clinic. She gets the job but clashes with Dr. Ruben Fitzpatrick (David Aston
) who accuses her of being a drug addict. When the clinic starts to die down, Wendy gets a job at Shortland Street Hospital
where she clashes with Tania Jeffries
(Faye Smythe
). Wendy gets on well with Brooke Freeman
(Beth Allen
) when she helps Brooke through a cancer scare.
In late 2010, Wendy and husband Murray
(Matthew Chamberlain
) spend their holiday money on purchasing The I.V bar. Wendy's son Evan
(Tyler Read) reacts badly and runs away. Murray later finds his unconscious body in a building fire, narrowly saving him from death. In early 2011 the marriage hits a rocky patch when Murray kisses Vasa Levi
(Teuila Blakely) however Wendy soon forgives Murray. In September Wendy learns she is a Long QT
sufferer, a condition she passed on to daughters Bella
(Amelia Reid) and Jasmine
(Pearl McGlashan).
" and a representation of the common man. Her feisty attitude often see's Wendy fight for what she see's as mistreatment, mostly landing her in trouble. Nairn enjoyed the role stating; "Wendy likes to stand up for what she believes in, and supports those who don't have help elsewhere, and she's a total lioness when it comes to protecting and defending her children. Which means that she is more often than not, fighting some kind of battle on someone's behalf and forgetting to worry about herself."
saw praise by families with the disease.
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...
and has been portrayed by Jacqueline Nairn since her debut in mid 2010. The character arrived as the matriarch of the new family unit, the Coopers.
Creation and casting
It was announced in May 2010 that a new character named Wendy Cooper was to arrive in June as part of Sarah's new clinic. It was later announced that Wendy's family would be introduced throughout the year as part of a new family unit.2010-
Wendy arrives to Shortland Street in June 2010 when she goes for a job at Sarah PottsSarah Potts (character)
Dr. Sarah Marjorie Potts is a fictional character on the soap opera Shortland Street. She is played by Amanda Billing. First arriving in September 2004, the character has reached the record of one of the longest ever stint's in the soap's history, with only short term breaks every few years.Sarah...
' (Amanda Billing
Amanda Billing
Amanda Billing is best known for her role as Doctor Sarah Potts on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Biography:...
) new clinic. She gets the job but clashes with Dr. Ruben Fitzpatrick (David Aston
David Aston
David Aston is an actor from Auckland, New Zealand who played the character Rhineheart in the 1999 Hollywood movie The Matrix. He also works as presenter for non-broadcast in-house videos, televisions commercials, voiceover artist and singer.-Early life:...
) who accuses her of being a drug addict. When the clinic starts to die down, Wendy gets a job at Shortland Street Hospital
Shortland Street Hospital
Shortland Street Hospital is a fictional hospital which is the main setting for the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street...
where she clashes with Tania Jeffries
Tania Jeffries
Tania Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Tania Jeffries is the younger sister to nurse Maia Jeffries, PA Libby Jeffries and daughter of hospital receptionist, Yvonne Jefferies...
(Faye Smythe
Faye Smythe
Faye Smythe is a New Zealand television actor, best known for her role in Shortland Street as Nurse Tania Jeffries.-Early life:...
). Wendy gets on well with Brooke Freeman
Brooke Freeman
Brooke Freeman is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Beth Allen. Brooke debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 24 July 2008. The role was written with Allen in mind to play her. Brooke arrived as a locum GP but later advanced in her career...
(Beth Allen
Beth Allen
Elizabeth "Beth" Allen has been acting since an early age and has appeared in several small productions and commercials since 1993. Her first major role was in Cloud 9's The Legend of William Tell in 1998, in which she played Princess Vara...
) when she helps Brooke through a cancer scare.
In late 2010, Wendy and husband Murray
Murray Cooper
Murray Cooper is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He arrived in October 2010 as the patriarch to the new family unit; the Coopers and the replacement owner of the IV following Kieran's death.-Creation and Introduction:...
(Matthew Chamberlain
Matthew Chamberlain
Matthew Chamberlain is a New Zealand actor, who starred in the New Zealand film Black Sheep as Oliver Oldfield. Chamberlain previously co-starred in children's TV program Johnson and Friends as Diesel. Chamberlain is currently starring in the high profile role of Murray Cooper in the TVNZ Soap...
) spend their holiday money on purchasing The I.V bar. Wendy's son Evan
Evan Cooper
Evan Cooper is a former professional American football safety for six seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons. He graduated from Miami Killian Senior High School...
(Tyler Read) reacts badly and runs away. Murray later finds his unconscious body in a building fire, narrowly saving him from death. In early 2011 the marriage hits a rocky patch when Murray kisses Vasa Levi
Vasa Levi
Vasa Levi is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She is portrayed by Teuila Blakely since her first appearance in July 2010...
(Teuila Blakely) however Wendy soon forgives Murray. In September Wendy learns she is a Long QT
Long QT syndrome
The long QT syndrome is a rare inborn heart condition in which delayed repolarization of the heart following a heartbeat increases the risk of episodes of torsade de pointes . These episodes may lead to palpitations, fainting and sudden death due to ventricular fibrillation...
sufferer, a condition she passed on to daughters Bella
Bella Cooper
Isabella "Bella" Cooper is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She has been portrayed by Amelia Reid since her arrival in September 2010 as the oldest sibling in the Cooper family unit.-Introduction:...
(Amelia Reid) and Jasmine
Jasmine Cooper
Jasmine Cooper is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She has been portrayed by actress Pearl McGlashan since August 2010 and is the youngest member of the Cooper family unit....
(Pearl McGlashan).
Characterisation
The character has been described as an "underdogUnderdog
Underdog is an American animated television series that debuted October 3, 1964, on the NBC network under the primary sponsorship of General Mills, and continued in syndication until 1973, for a run of 124 episodes....
" and a representation of the common man. Her feisty attitude often see's Wendy fight for what she see's as mistreatment, mostly landing her in trouble. Nairn enjoyed the role stating; "Wendy likes to stand up for what she believes in, and supports those who don't have help elsewhere, and she's a total lioness when it comes to protecting and defending her children. Which means that she is more often than not, fighting some kind of battle on someone's behalf and forgetting to worry about herself."
The Coopers
In August 2010 it was announced that the rest of the Cooper family would be arriving on screen beside Wendy. Nairn was pleased with the family unit, saying; "Wendy's storylines have mainly been based around what goes on at work, so I'm really looking forward to exploring another aspect of her life. I'm also intrigued about how the Coopers will weave themselves into Ferndale and Shortland Street hospital." Nairn also enjoyed working with the actors, stating; "The actors who are playing my children are awesome. We are having a lot of fun connecting and I think viewers are really going to enjoy learning about the Coopers over the next little while." On descrbing the dynamics of the family, she thought they were a close knit family unit, stating; "My kids are just fantastic. They are wonderful young actors and we are having the best time creating the Cooper family. The Coopers are an incredibly close family. Wendy wants to have an open, honest relationship with her children, so they feel they can tell her everything, but as anyone with teenagers will know, parents can never know everything!"Reception
The character alongside her family, received a frosty reception upon arrival, winning "Most Boring Storyline" in the Throng Shortland Street Fan Awards 2010. However, the characters diagnosis with Long QT SyndromeLong QT syndrome
The long QT syndrome is a rare inborn heart condition in which delayed repolarization of the heart following a heartbeat increases the risk of episodes of torsade de pointes . These episodes may lead to palpitations, fainting and sudden death due to ventricular fibrillation...
saw praise by families with the disease.