Mona McKay
Encyclopedia
Mona McKay is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera
Shortland Street
. She is portrayed by Judy Rankin and first arrived in mid 2008 as the mother of established character Callum McKay
(Peter Mochrie
).
Mona, sometimes referred to as "Mona the moaner", is shown to be opinionated and have a fiery temper. Despite this she shows a great love to her family, son Callum and grandson Hunter McKay
(Lee Donoghue). However she has also exhibited feelings of spite towards granddaughter Sophie
(Kimberley Crossman
). Her protectiveness over her family has led to her clashing with their partners including Justine Jones
(Lucy Wigmore
), Rachel McKenna
(Angela Bloomfield
), Kieran Mitchell
(Adam Rickitt
) and Jill Kingsbury
(Natalie Medlock).
's mother, Mona would be arriving to the soap and was described as; "a mind as sharp as a tack - and a tongue to match." Actress Judy Rankin who had previously played Suzannah Bechamp in 1995, Samatha Hindmarsh in 2001 and Rhonda Stone in 2003 wore a wig to the audition which Rankin believed helped her score the role. She appeared in the storyline that she arrived to attend funeral of daughter-in-law Justine Jones
. She appeared for 4 weeks before leaving.
It was announced in February 2010 that Mona would be returning to the soap to attend granddaughter Sophie McKay
's wedding to Kieran Mitchell
. She appeared for 2 more weeks before leaving again. It was announced in August 2011 that Mona would be again returning to cause strife between son Callum and new, much younger girlfriend Jill
.
(Lucy Wigmore
) had been murdered. She shows great affection for grand son Hunter
(Lee Donoghue) but a sharp coldness to Sophie
(Kimberley Crossman
). She also takes a liking to Hunter's potential girlfriend Morgan
(Bonnie Soper
) and encourages their relationship. When she learns of Justine's fake death she is disgusted and deeply upsets Sophie. Sophie later finds Mona's hair is a wig and Mona is suffering from an illness.
Mona arrives again unexpectedly in February 2010 to attend Sophie's marriage to Kieran Mitchell
(Adam Rickitt
). When she learns of Kieran's age, she opposes to the marriage. She also opposes to Callum
's (Peter Mochrie
) flatmate Rachel
(Angela Bloomfield
), as she is an alcoholic and apparent killer of Morgan. However Rachel finds a collapsed Mona and takes her to hospital, making Mona admire her. It is revealed Mona has cancer and is on serious medication. Despite protesting, Mona attends Sophie's wedding but is appalled to learn Kieran may have killed Morgan. She later decides to stay permanently in New Zealand but after sensing Callum is in love with Rachel, moves back to Australia so he can move on with his life.
Mona arrives unexpectedly yet again in August 2011 and is disgusted to learn Callum has taken up with much younger women, Jill Kingsbury
(Natalie Medlock). She reveals she lost all her money to a conman she fell in love with and announces she is moving to New Zealand long term, starting to socialize with the potential con artist Derek Hurlihy (David Weatherley
) much to the concern of Callum. When Callum continues to refuse to pay for a expensive retirement village for Mona, she returns to Australia to live with Callum's brother Gordon.
. Her battle-axe nature causes her to become disliked by several other characters such as Libby Jeffries
, Brooke Freeman
and Vasa Levi
.
Mona remains a family-oriented character throughout the course of the show. A "fiercely loyal, but overbearing mother"; sheltering and taking on the major responsibilities of her children and frequently commenting the importance of family. She is portrayed as a traditionalist, with beliefs—the first to criticise, but also the first to defend her children, often interfering in their issues and causing rifts in their relationships. Early storylines between Mona and her two teenage grandchildren, Hunter and Sophie, show her to be a more favorable and supportive towards Hunter, exhibiting feelings of spite towards Sophie fearing similarities between her and her unwanted daughter-in-law, Justine.
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 is portrayed by Judy Rankin and first arrived in mid 2008 as the mother of established character Callum McKay
Callum McKay
Callum McKay is a fictional character portrayed by actor Peter Mochrie in the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He is a doctor and the Chief Executive Officer of Shortland Street Hospital.-Introduction:...
(Peter Mochrie
Peter Mochrie
Peter Mochrie is an actor who has appeared in various Australian television programs during his 25-year career. Since 2006 Mochrie has starred in the New Zealand soap Shortland Street as Dr Callum McKay....
).
Mona, sometimes referred to as "Mona the moaner", is shown to be opinionated and have a fiery temper. Despite this she shows a great love to her family, son Callum and grandson Hunter McKay
Hunter McKay
Hunter McKay is a fictional character in the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He has been portrayed by Lee Donoghue since he first appeared in December 2006 as part of a new family unit consisting of parents Callum McKay and Justine Jones and younger sister Sophie McKay .The character is gifted...
(Lee Donoghue). However she has also exhibited feelings of spite towards granddaughter Sophie
Sophie McKay
Sophie Juliette McKay is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was introduced in late 2006 as the daughter of surgeon Justine Jones and GP Callum McKay. She was briefly married to Kieran Mitchell in early 2010 before they separated.-2006-2008:Sophie McKay...
(Kimberley Crossman
Kimberley Crossman
Kimberley Frances Crossman is a New Zealand actress, dancer and cheerleader who is best known for her role as Sophie McKay on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Early life:...
). Her protectiveness over her family has led to her clashing with their partners including Justine Jones
Justine Jones
Justine Jones was a fictional character on the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. Justine was originally played by Laurie Foell in 2005 and 2006, but was replaced by Lucy Wigmore in 2007 who portrayed her until September 2008 and as a guest character in July 2009.-Casting:Controversy struck in 2007...
(Lucy Wigmore
Lucy Wigmore
Lucy Wigmore is a stage and screen actress from New Zealand. She played core cast member Dr Justine Jones in the long-running soap opera Shortland Street, and more recently starred as Lillian May Armfield in Underbelly: Razor, a 13 part Drama set in the 1920's - 1930's on the rough and ready...
), Rachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Angela Bloomfield. Rachel first appeared on the show from 1993 to 1999. Then from 2001 to 2003. Rachel then made a very brief appearance in 2007 before returning as a core cast member in October 2009...
(Angela Bloomfield
Angela Bloomfield
-Career:She starred in Shortland Street for nine years, transforming Rachel McKenna from the school girl daughter of clinic boss into a university student, bar manager and later, a Shortland Street clinic employee....
), Kieran Mitchell
Kieran Mitchell
Kieran Mitchell is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who was portrayed by British actor Adam Rickitt through numerous high profile storylines from early 2007 to mid 2010....
(Adam Rickitt
Adam Rickitt
Adam Peter Rickitt is an English actor, singer-songwriter and model.-Biography:Rickitt was born in Crewe, Cheshire, the youngest of four brothers. His father is co-owner of an estate agency...
) and Jill Kingsbury
Jill Kingsbury
Jill Kingsbury is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She is portrayed by Natalie Medlock and arrived to the show in February 2011 as a potential love interest of Daniel Potts ....
(Natalie Medlock).
Creation and Casting
It was announced in September 2008 that Callum McKayCallum McKay
Callum McKay is a fictional character portrayed by actor Peter Mochrie in the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He is a doctor and the Chief Executive Officer of Shortland Street Hospital.-Introduction:...
's mother, Mona would be arriving to the soap and was described as; "a mind as sharp as a tack - and a tongue to match." Actress Judy Rankin who had previously played Suzannah Bechamp in 1995, Samatha Hindmarsh in 2001 and Rhonda Stone in 2003 wore a wig to the audition which Rankin believed helped her score the role. She appeared in the storyline that she arrived to attend funeral of daughter-in-law Justine Jones
Justine Jones
Justine Jones was a fictional character on the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. Justine was originally played by Laurie Foell in 2005 and 2006, but was replaced by Lucy Wigmore in 2007 who portrayed her until September 2008 and as a guest character in July 2009.-Casting:Controversy struck in 2007...
. She appeared for 4 weeks before leaving.
It was announced in February 2010 that Mona would be returning to the soap to attend granddaughter Sophie McKay
Sophie McKay
Sophie Juliette McKay is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was introduced in late 2006 as the daughter of surgeon Justine Jones and GP Callum McKay. She was briefly married to Kieran Mitchell in early 2010 before they separated.-2006-2008:Sophie McKay...
's wedding to Kieran Mitchell
Kieran Mitchell
Kieran Mitchell is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who was portrayed by British actor Adam Rickitt through numerous high profile storylines from early 2007 to mid 2010....
. She appeared for 2 more weeks before leaving again. It was announced in August 2011 that Mona would be again returning to cause strife between son Callum and new, much younger girlfriend Jill
Jill Kingsbury
Jill Kingsbury is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She is portrayed by Natalie Medlock and arrived to the show in February 2011 as a potential love interest of Daniel Potts ....
.
2008-2011
Mona arrives unexpectedly in September 2008 having learnt her daughter in law JustineJustine Jones
Justine Jones was a fictional character on the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. Justine was originally played by Laurie Foell in 2005 and 2006, but was replaced by Lucy Wigmore in 2007 who portrayed her until September 2008 and as a guest character in July 2009.-Casting:Controversy struck in 2007...
(Lucy Wigmore
Lucy Wigmore
Lucy Wigmore is a stage and screen actress from New Zealand. She played core cast member Dr Justine Jones in the long-running soap opera Shortland Street, and more recently starred as Lillian May Armfield in Underbelly: Razor, a 13 part Drama set in the 1920's - 1930's on the rough and ready...
) had been murdered. She shows great affection for grand son Hunter
Hunter McKay
Hunter McKay is a fictional character in the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He has been portrayed by Lee Donoghue since he first appeared in December 2006 as part of a new family unit consisting of parents Callum McKay and Justine Jones and younger sister Sophie McKay .The character is gifted...
(Lee Donoghue) but a sharp coldness to Sophie
Sophie McKay
Sophie Juliette McKay is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was introduced in late 2006 as the daughter of surgeon Justine Jones and GP Callum McKay. She was briefly married to Kieran Mitchell in early 2010 before they separated.-2006-2008:Sophie McKay...
(Kimberley Crossman
Kimberley Crossman
Kimberley Frances Crossman is a New Zealand actress, dancer and cheerleader who is best known for her role as Sophie McKay on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Early life:...
). She also takes a liking to Hunter's potential girlfriend Morgan
Morgan Braithwaite
Morgan Braithwaite was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Bonnie Soper since February 5, 2008. Morgan died on December 18 2009 after Kieran Mitchell accidentally ran her over with Rachel's car.-Character:Morgan Braithwaite was quiet, polite...
(Bonnie Soper
Bonnie Soper
Bonnie Soper is a New Zealand film and television actress.-Early career:A graduate of the Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts, her theatre credits include, Auckland Theatre Company's 2007 play The Pillowman which she co-starred in with former and current Shortland Street actors Oliver...
) and encourages their relationship. When she learns of Justine's fake death she is disgusted and deeply upsets Sophie. Sophie later finds Mona's hair is a wig and Mona is suffering from an illness.
Mona arrives again unexpectedly in February 2010 to attend Sophie's marriage to Kieran Mitchell
Kieran Mitchell
Kieran Mitchell is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who was portrayed by British actor Adam Rickitt through numerous high profile storylines from early 2007 to mid 2010....
(Adam Rickitt
Adam Rickitt
Adam Peter Rickitt is an English actor, singer-songwriter and model.-Biography:Rickitt was born in Crewe, Cheshire, the youngest of four brothers. His father is co-owner of an estate agency...
). When she learns of Kieran's age, she opposes to the marriage. She also opposes to Callum
Callum McKay
Callum McKay is a fictional character portrayed by actor Peter Mochrie in the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He is a doctor and the Chief Executive Officer of Shortland Street Hospital.-Introduction:...
's (Peter Mochrie
Peter Mochrie
Peter Mochrie is an actor who has appeared in various Australian television programs during his 25-year career. Since 2006 Mochrie has starred in the New Zealand soap Shortland Street as Dr Callum McKay....
) flatmate Rachel
Rachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Angela Bloomfield. Rachel first appeared on the show from 1993 to 1999. Then from 2001 to 2003. Rachel then made a very brief appearance in 2007 before returning as a core cast member in October 2009...
(Angela Bloomfield
Angela Bloomfield
-Career:She starred in Shortland Street for nine years, transforming Rachel McKenna from the school girl daughter of clinic boss into a university student, bar manager and later, a Shortland Street clinic employee....
), as she is an alcoholic and apparent killer of Morgan. However Rachel finds a collapsed Mona and takes her to hospital, making Mona admire her. It is revealed Mona has cancer and is on serious medication. Despite protesting, Mona attends Sophie's wedding but is appalled to learn Kieran may have killed Morgan. She later decides to stay permanently in New Zealand but after sensing Callum is in love with Rachel, moves back to Australia so he can move on with his life.
Mona arrives unexpectedly yet again in August 2011 and is disgusted to learn Callum has taken up with much younger women, Jill Kingsbury
Jill Kingsbury
Jill Kingsbury is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She is portrayed by Natalie Medlock and arrived to the show in February 2011 as a potential love interest of Daniel Potts ....
(Natalie Medlock). She reveals she lost all her money to a conman she fell in love with and announces she is moving to New Zealand long term, starting to socialize with the potential con artist Derek Hurlihy (David Weatherley
David Weatherley
David John Weatherley is a New Zealand actor known for his roles as Spencer the butler and the voice of Benglo the Fearcat in Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive, and Barliman Butterbur in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.Weatherley was born in London and moved to Canada for a...
) much to the concern of Callum. When Callum continues to refuse to pay for a expensive retirement village for Mona, she returns to Australia to live with Callum's brother Gordon.
Characterisation
Mona is shown to be particularly hostile to the various female characters that feature in Callum's life, and she epitomises the archetypal "mother-in-law from hell". One of Mona's most notable feuds is with her Callum's girlfriend, Jill. Animosity between the characters begins in 2011, when Mona is disgraced to learn that Jill has moved on from grandson Hunter to his father instead. Mona states her opinion as "Pretending that she's anything more than a midlife crisis is just that - pretending". However the pair became friends in September, but Jill still shows her annoyance towards Mona. She also interfered with Callum's relationship with Rachel McKenna, however, her return in 2011 establishes that they are still friends, despite the fact Rachel cheated on Callum with Chris WarnerChris Warner
Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show....
. Her battle-axe nature causes her to become disliked by several other characters such as Libby Jeffries
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....
, 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...
and 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...
.
Mona remains a family-oriented character throughout the course of the show. A "fiercely loyal, but overbearing mother"; sheltering and taking on the major responsibilities of her children and frequently commenting the importance of family. She is portrayed as a traditionalist, with beliefs—the first to criticise, but also the first to defend her children, often interfering in their issues and causing rifts in their relationships. Early storylines between Mona and her two teenage grandchildren, Hunter and Sophie, show her to be a more favorable and supportive towards Hunter, exhibiting feelings of spite towards Sophie fearing similarities between her and her unwanted daughter-in-law, Justine.