Maia Jeffries
Encyclopedia
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.
Arriving in mid 2004 as the travel partner of Victor's (Calvin Tuteao
) daughter Jay Copeland
(Jaime Passier-Armstrong), it was soon revealed the two were really lesbian
lovers. Quickly getting a job at Shortland Street Hospital
as a nurse, Maia's family soon started to arrive to Ferndale and get jobs for themselves there. Yvonne
(Alison Quigan) arrived with husband Ian (Jeffrey Thomas
), followed by youngest sister Tania
(Faye Smythe
) and finally middle sister Libby
(Fleur Saville
) in 2006. Maia's relationship with Jay was rocky and the two had numerous break ups with Maia eventually getting married, separated and widowed from Jay. The Jeffries family was blown apart in 2007 when Maia had a baby with Tania's husband Mark
(Tim Foley) and again in 2009 when Maia confessed to murdering Ethan Pierce
(Owen Black). Maia eventually found love with Nicole Miller (Sally Martin
), only to cheat on her and leave the show in early 2011.
Maia had a mixed reception, while her storylines were praised by fans. Anna Jullienne was also praised for her portrayol of Maia and won the Air New Zealand Screen Award for "Best Supporting Actress" in 2007.
(Jaime Passier-Armstrong) and she gets a job at Shortland Street Hospital
. It soon became clear the two were more than friends and were really lesbian
lovers. The two moved into El Rancho with Li Mei Chen (Li Ming Hu
), Jesse George (Hannah Tolich), Nelson Copeland (Quinton Hita) and Vinnie Kruse
(Pua Magasiva
). Maia struggled to deal with the realization her father Ian Jeffries (Jeffrey Thomas
) was deathly ill and he, alongside Maia's mother Yvonne
(Alison Quigan) moved to Ferndale to be closer to Maia.
In 2005 Maia's youngest sister Tania Jeffries
(Faye Smythe
) arrived as a nurse to the hospital and Maia was shocked to learn she had a brother, Hamish Flynn (Phil Brown) who arrived to work for the hospital. However he later turned out to be a conman. Maia and Jay broke up, with Maia starting to date a women named Fee. When Jay returned to Shortland Street, Maia announced her love and the two got engaged. The marriage occurred in February 2006, with sister Libby
(Fleur Saville
) boycotting the ceremony and Yvonne considering avoiding it. Ian commits suicide a few days later and Jay later cheats on her. The two reconcile but Maia's desperation to have a child drove a wedge between the two and they separated.
In 2007 Maia's desperation to be a mother, led her to plead with Tania's husband Mark Weston
(Tim Foley) to donate sperm, Tania at first allowed him but after the attempt failed, refused a second attempt. However Mark went behind Tania's back and impregnated Maia. The secret was so overwhelming, Mark was driven to cheat on Tania. Maia and Jay reconciled but after Jay told Yvonne about Mark, Maia decided she could never trust her and the two parted forever, only for Jay to be murdered by the Ferndale Strangler. Tania's marriage broke up following the reveal of the truth and she found herself despising Maia, only forgiving her when she gave birth to Maia's baby Jay "JJ" Jeffries (Jack and Tom Boyle) in the back of her car. Maia moves to Thames for a break.
In 2008 Maia shows hesitance to return to Ferndale after having the perfect life in Thames but after her friend kidnaps her baby JJ, Maia decides to move back. The Jeffries start to notice Maia showing no affection towards JJ and Maia eventually reveals JJ has been diagnosed with the same illness Ian has, with some help Maia comes to love her son. Maia develops a crush on both Brooke Freeman
(Beth Allen
) and good friend, Alice Piper
(Toni Potter
). When Alice's boyfriend Ethan
(Owen Black) discovers Maia's secret, he publicly humiliates her and gets her suspended from work. Maia later finds out he is responsible for Yvonne getting bone cancer. In December Ethan is shot three times by an unseen gunman and dies.
On 29 January 2009, Maia confesses to Alice that she went to Ethan's house and took the gun from Alice while she slept and shot Ethan three times. Refusing to admit to the police, Maia becomes very paranoid and accuses a patient's father of being a police informant. Maia goes to Opononi
for a break and returns cheerful, with no knowledge of the murder but eventually has a breakdown once again which results in her being sectioned, under the Mental Health Act, by her sister Tania. While being treated as an in-patient, Maia began hallucinating and seeing and conversing with Ethan Pierce's ghost. Maia soon confesses to the murder but is acquitted due to a mental breakdown. Maia later made friends with bisexual Nicole Miller (Sally Martin
).
In 2010 Maia and Nicole start to date following Nicole's hesitation after learning Maia is a killer. However their contrasting personalities cause Nicole to flee Ferndale. Maia and Gerald Tippett
(Harry McNaughton) go to Tauranga
to see Nicole and she admits her love, returning to Ferndale. The two start to socialize with new doctor Jennifer Mason (Sara Wiseman
) and Maia's finds herself smitten.
In 2011 Jennifer and Maia start an affair and Maia breaks up with Nicole in hope of dating Jennifer, only for Jennifer to leave the country. Attempting to reconcille, Maia realizes it is over and decides to take JJ to Sydney to live with Yvonne. She, Yvonne and JJ leave in February 2011.
, was a popular storyline, winning runner up for "Favourite Storyline" in the 2007 awards. In the 2008 awards, fans notably wished for Maia and Alice to get together.
Anna Julliene won the "Air New Zealand Screen Award" for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Maia Jeffries throughout 2007. Over half a million viewers watched Maia and Jay's civil union.
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...
on the New Zealand
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 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 Anna Jullienne
Anna Jullienne
Anna Jullienne Kermode is a New Zealand actress, best known for her role as Nurse Maia Jefferies in the television series Shortland Street. Maia is a beautiful and talented young nurse who happens to be a lesbian...
from mid 2004 to early 2011, with the character starring in numerous high profile storylines alongside her on screen family.
Arriving in mid 2004 as the travel partner of Victor's (Calvin Tuteao
Calvin Tuteao
Calvin Tuteao is a New Zealand actor who has appeared in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Once Were Warriors, Shortland Street and Xena: Warrior Princess....
) daughter Jay Copeland
Jay Copeland
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.-Creation:...
(Jaime Passier-Armstrong), it was soon revealed the two were really lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
lovers. Quickly getting 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...
as a nurse, Maia's family soon started to arrive to Ferndale and get jobs for themselves there. Yvonne
Yvonne Jeffries
Yvonne Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She is the mother of Maia, Libby, Hamish and Tania Jeffries...
(Alison Quigan) arrived with husband Ian (Jeffrey Thomas
Jeffrey Thomas
Jeffrey or Jeff Thomas is the name of:* Jeffrey Thomas , British Labour Member of Parliament* Jeffrey C. Thomas, seven-time candidate for U.S...
), followed by youngest sister Tania
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:...
) and finally middle sister Libby
Libby Jeffries
Olivia "Libby" Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Fleur Saville from 2006 to 2010....
(Fleur Saville
Fleur Saville
Fleur Saville in Auckland is a New Zealand television actress best known for her roles in the television sitcoms Being Eve and The Tribe in which she became known to international audiences for her portrayal of Ruby...
) in 2006. Maia's relationship with Jay was rocky and the two had numerous break ups with Maia eventually getting married, separated and widowed from Jay. The Jeffries family was blown apart in 2007 when Maia had a baby with Tania's husband Mark
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:...
(Tim Foley) and again in 2009 when Maia confessed to 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...
(Owen Black). Maia eventually found love with Nicole Miller (Sally Martin
Sally Martin
Sally Erana Martin is an actress from New Zealand.She has appeared in a range of television series, including The Strip, Shortland Street and in Power Rangers: Ninja Storm as Tori Hanson/the Blue Wind Ninja Ranger....
), only to cheat on her and leave the show in early 2011.
Maia had a mixed reception, while her storylines were praised by fans. Anna Jullienne was also praised for her portrayol of Maia and won the Air New Zealand Screen Award for "Best Supporting Actress" in 2007.
2004-2011
Maia arrived to Ferndale in June 2004 with travel companion Jay CopelandJay Copeland
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.-Creation:...
(Jaime Passier-Armstrong) and she 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...
. It soon became clear the two were more than friends and were really lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
lovers. The two moved into El Rancho with Li Mei Chen (Li Ming Hu
Li Ming Hu
Li Ming Hu is a New Zealand born actress who is of Chinese descent.-Biography:Since 2003, She has become known for her role as Li Mei Chen in New Zealand's popular TV show, Shortland Street, in which she portrays a young, beautiful and intelligent doctor who strives to be the best there is in...
), Jesse George (Hannah Tolich), Nelson Copeland (Quinton Hita) and Vinnie Kruse
Vinnie Kruse
Vinnie Kruse is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Pua Magasiva. Vinnie is a nurse who is shown to have a love of partying and socializing. Vinnie first arrived on 25 November 2003, leaving the show on 23 February 2006...
(Pua Magasiva
Pua Magasiva
Pua Magasiva is a Samoan New Zealand actor, who is perhaps known for his roles as Shane Clarke, the Red Ranger from Power Rangers: Ninja Storm, and Nurse Vinnie Kruse in New Zealand soap Shortland Street.-Biography:...
). Maia struggled to deal with the realization her father Ian Jeffries (Jeffrey Thomas
Jeffrey Thomas
Jeffrey or Jeff Thomas is the name of:* Jeffrey Thomas , British Labour Member of Parliament* Jeffrey C. Thomas, seven-time candidate for U.S...
) was deathly ill and he, alongside Maia's mother Yvonne
Yvonne Jeffries
Yvonne Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She is the mother of Maia, Libby, Hamish and Tania Jeffries...
(Alison Quigan) moved to Ferndale to be closer to Maia.
In 2005 Maia's youngest sister 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:...
) arrived as a nurse to the hospital and Maia was shocked to learn she had a brother, Hamish Flynn (Phil Brown) who arrived to work for the hospital. However he later turned out to be a conman. Maia and Jay broke up, with Maia starting to date a women named Fee. When Jay returned to Shortland Street, Maia announced her love and the two got engaged. The marriage occurred in February 2006, with sister Libby
Libby Jeffries
Olivia "Libby" Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Fleur Saville from 2006 to 2010....
(Fleur Saville
Fleur Saville
Fleur Saville in Auckland is a New Zealand television actress best known for her roles in the television sitcoms Being Eve and The Tribe in which she became known to international audiences for her portrayal of Ruby...
) boycotting the ceremony and Yvonne considering avoiding it. Ian commits suicide a few days later and Jay later cheats on her. The two reconcile but Maia's desperation to have a child drove a wedge between the two and they separated.
In 2007 Maia's desperation to be a mother, led her to plead with Tania's husband 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:...
(Tim Foley) to donate sperm, Tania at first allowed him but after the attempt failed, refused a second attempt. However Mark went behind Tania's back and impregnated Maia. The secret was so overwhelming, Mark was driven to cheat on Tania. Maia and Jay reconciled but after Jay told Yvonne about Mark, Maia decided she could never trust her and the two parted forever, only for Jay to be murdered by the Ferndale Strangler. Tania's marriage broke up following the reveal of the truth and she found herself despising Maia, only forgiving her when she gave birth to Maia's baby Jay "JJ" Jeffries (Jack and Tom Boyle) in the back of her car. Maia moves to Thames for a break.
In 2008 Maia shows hesitance to return to Ferndale after having the perfect life in Thames but after her friend kidnaps her baby JJ, Maia decides to move back. The Jeffries start to notice Maia showing no affection towards JJ and Maia eventually reveals JJ has been diagnosed with the same illness Ian has, with some help Maia comes to love her son. Maia develops a crush on both 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...
) and 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...
(Toni Potter
Toni Potter
Toni Potter is a New Zealand actress, best known for her role on New Zealand medical drama Shortland Street.-Early life:Toni grew up with her sister, mother and father who was in the army in Papakura, Waiouru and Upper Hutt...
). When Alice's boyfriend Ethan
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...
(Owen Black) discovers Maia's secret, he publicly humiliates her and gets her suspended from work. Maia later finds out he is responsible for Yvonne getting bone cancer. In December Ethan is shot three times by an unseen gunman and dies.
On 29 January 2009, Maia confesses to Alice that she went to Ethan's house and took the gun from Alice while she slept and shot Ethan three times. Refusing to admit to the police, Maia becomes very paranoid and accuses a patient's father of being a police informant. Maia goes to Opononi
Opononi
Opononi is a settlement on the south shore of the Hokianga harbour in Northland Region, New Zealand. State Highway 12 runs through Opononi. Omapere lies to the south and Whirinaki lies to the north east....
for a break and returns cheerful, with no knowledge of the murder but eventually has a breakdown once again which results in her being sectioned, under the Mental Health Act, by her sister Tania. While being treated as an in-patient, Maia began hallucinating and seeing and conversing with Ethan Pierce's ghost. Maia soon confesses to the murder but is acquitted due to a mental breakdown. Maia later made friends with bisexual Nicole Miller (Sally Martin
Sally Martin
Sally Erana Martin is an actress from New Zealand.She has appeared in a range of television series, including The Strip, Shortland Street and in Power Rangers: Ninja Storm as Tori Hanson/the Blue Wind Ninja Ranger....
).
In 2010 Maia and Nicole start to date following Nicole's hesitation after learning Maia is a killer. However their contrasting personalities cause Nicole to flee Ferndale. Maia and Gerald Tippett
Gerald Tippett
Gerald Heathcliff Tippett is a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, who was played by Harry McNaughton from his first appearance in September 2007 up until his final appearance in September 2010.-2007-2008:...
(Harry McNaughton) go to Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
to see Nicole and she admits her love, returning to Ferndale. The two start to socialize with new doctor Jennifer Mason (Sara Wiseman
Sara Wiseman
Sara Wiseman is a New Zealand actor living and working in New Zealand.-Film:* Matariki .... Megan* The Insatiable Moon .... Margaret* Jinx Sister .... Laura* This Is Her .... Sandra...
) and Maia's finds herself smitten.
In 2011 Jennifer and Maia start an affair and Maia breaks up with Nicole in hope of dating Jennifer, only for Jennifer to leave the country. Attempting to reconcille, Maia realizes it is over and decides to take JJ to Sydney to live with Yvonne. She, Yvonne and JJ leave in February 2011.
Reception
Maia received an overall mixed reception, with her and Jay winning runner up for "Most Boring Couple" in the Throng Shortland Street Fan Awards 2006. However their civil union won runner up for "Most Romantic Moment" and the couple also won runner up for "Funniest Moment", following scenes where they suspected Eti was on drugs. Maia's major storyline throughout 2007, her baby with MarkMark 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:...
, was a popular storyline, winning runner up for "Favourite Storyline" in the 2007 awards. In the 2008 awards, fans notably wished for Maia and Alice to get together.
Anna Julliene won the "Air New Zealand Screen Award" for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Maia Jeffries throughout 2007. Over half a million viewers watched Maia and Jay's civil union.