Jay Copeland
Encyclopedia
Jessica "Jay" Copeland was a fictional character on the New Zealand
soap opera
Shortland Street
. She was portrayed by Jaime Passier-Armstrong and was first introduced in mid 2004 and appearing until her murder in mid 2007.
. But it was not long before people realized they were a lot more than traveling partners and soon Jay revealed she was a lesbian. She planned to follow a new career path as a music therapist. But things did not go well. Between Victor's arrest for murder and Tama and Shannon's break-up, Jay's time in Ferndale was unhappy. Leaving Maia behind, she returned to Sydney but soon realised what she had lost.
When Jay returned to New Zealand at Christmas 2005 for the wedding of her cousin Tama Hudson, Maia was very much on her mind. But she was horrified to discover that the love of her life had moved on and was living with another woman, Fee. Despite that, Jay knew there was still something between her and Maia. She prepared to stay in Ferndale, and was relieved when Maia chose her over Fee.
Maia and Jay's relationship was tested once more when Jay slept with Norman in hopes of conceiving a child. Norman's death put paid to their plans of parenting his child and the popular twosome put their differences aside to be wed at Shorty's first Civil Union on February 14th 2006.
Jay went into business with Dylan Preston, the mentor she hoped would take her and her foodie business, Kahu Kai, to the top. Instead, the committed lesbian found herself inexplicably drawn to the man himself, and she embarked on a torrid and illicit affair. When partner Maia found out, their relationship crumbled. Dylan was shocked to discover Jay's double life (living with a woman) and he too pulled the rug out from under her by ruining her business.
Jay and Maia reconciled, but the issue of trust loomed large in their marriage. Maia's attempt to become pregnant drove a further wedge between them and the popular pair separated. Jay helped Maia through her pregnancy and even paid off Mark Weston
and it seemed like the two were heading for reconciliation but when Jay told Yvonne the truth about Maia's child, another barrier built between the two. Jay and Maia decided to go to Australia to live but a day before hand, Maia reveals to Jay she can not forgive her for telling Yvonne and she will always love her, but she will not be going to Australia with Jay. Jay accepts this and the two break up forever.
However shortly before she was to leave, the Ferndale Strangler kidnapped and murdered Jay, dumping her body in the hospital grounds. She was discovered by good friend Alice Piper
and Kip Denton
.
was named after Jay to remember her.
After murdering Ethan Pierce
, Maia went crazy and after being sent to a psychiatric ward by Tania Jeffries
, Maia started to ask for her wife Jay who had been dead for nearly 2 years. Maia refused to believe Jay had died.
Jay's cheating was shown to have a huge effect on Maia as Maia refused to get into a committed relationship until early 2010 when she started dating Nicole Miller
, however Maia became paranoid that Nicole was cheating on her and Nicole ran away as she thought she was competing with what seemed Jay's ghost.
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 Jaime Passier-Armstrong and was first introduced in mid 2004 and appearing until her murder in mid 2007.
Creation
Jay's appearance was originally intended to be for only three months, but the character proved popular with viewers. After the character's first few weeks on screen, Shortland Street's producer Harriet Crampton said fans asked for Jay to stay, and remain lesbian.2004-2007
Jay arrived to Ferndale in mid 2004 to her estranged father Victor. She brought with her travelling partner, Maia JeffriesMaia Jeffries
Maia Anne Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Anna Jullienne from mid 2004 to early 2011, with the character starring in numerous high profile storylines alongside her on screen family....
. But it was not long before people realized they were a lot more than traveling partners and soon Jay revealed she was a lesbian. She planned to follow a new career path as a music therapist. But things did not go well. Between Victor's arrest for murder and Tama and Shannon's break-up, Jay's time in Ferndale was unhappy. Leaving Maia behind, she returned to Sydney but soon realised what she had lost.
When Jay returned to New Zealand at Christmas 2005 for the wedding of her cousin Tama Hudson, Maia was very much on her mind. But she was horrified to discover that the love of her life had moved on and was living with another woman, Fee. Despite that, Jay knew there was still something between her and Maia. She prepared to stay in Ferndale, and was relieved when Maia chose her over Fee.
Maia and Jay's relationship was tested once more when Jay slept with Norman in hopes of conceiving a child. Norman's death put paid to their plans of parenting his child and the popular twosome put their differences aside to be wed at Shorty's first Civil Union on February 14th 2006.
Jay went into business with Dylan Preston, the mentor she hoped would take her and her foodie business, Kahu Kai, to the top. Instead, the committed lesbian found herself inexplicably drawn to the man himself, and she embarked on a torrid and illicit affair. When partner Maia found out, their relationship crumbled. Dylan was shocked to discover Jay's double life (living with a woman) and he too pulled the rug out from under her by ruining her business.
Jay and Maia reconciled, but the issue of trust loomed large in their marriage. Maia's attempt to become pregnant drove a further wedge between them and the popular pair separated. Jay helped Maia through her pregnancy and even paid off Mark Weston
Mark Weston
Mark Weston was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Tim Foley from September 2004 to August 2007.-2004-2007:...
and it seemed like the two were heading for reconciliation but when Jay told Yvonne the truth about Maia's child, another barrier built between the two. Jay and Maia decided to go to Australia to live but a day before hand, Maia reveals to Jay she can not forgive her for telling Yvonne and she will always love her, but she will not be going to Australia with Jay. Jay accepts this and the two break up forever.
However shortly before she was to leave, the Ferndale Strangler kidnapped and murdered Jay, dumping her body in the hospital grounds. She was discovered by good friend Alice Piper
Alice Piper
Alison "Alice" Piper was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was played by actress Toni Potter.Alice worked as a nurse at Shortland Street Hospital in the Emergency Department...
and Kip Denton
Kip Denton
Kip Denton was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-2007-2009:He is a doctor at Shortland Street Hospital, who had filled in for Dr. Craig Valentine while he was in Australia...
.
After Death
Maia's child Jay JeffriesJay Jeffries
Jay "JJ" Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Liam Farmer. Jay is the son of lesbian nurse Maia Jeffries and sperm donor Mark Weston. Jay is named after his mother's deceased wife, Jessica "Jay" Copeland.-2007-2011:Maia, desperate for...
was named after Jay to remember her.
After murdering Ethan Pierce
Ethan Pierce
Dr. Ethan Pierce is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and was portrayed by Owen Black from August 2008 to January 2009 and again from May to June 2009...
, Maia went crazy and after being sent to a psychiatric ward by 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...
, Maia started to ask for her wife Jay who had been dead for nearly 2 years. Maia refused to believe Jay had died.
Jay's cheating was shown to have a huge effect on Maia as Maia refused to get into a committed relationship until early 2010 when she started dating Nicole Miller
Nicole Miller (character)
Nicole Miller is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She has been portrayed by Sally Martin since September 2009, arriving as a potential love interest for Maia Jeffries and unknown sister to Morgan Braithwaite .Arriving as a nurse at Shortland Street Hospital, it...
, however Maia became paranoid that Nicole was cheating on her and Nicole ran away as she thought she was competing with what seemed Jay's ghost.