Rachel McKenna
Encyclopedia
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. This makes her the second longest running character currently on the show.
Over her course on the show, Rachel has; nearly drowned, been held hostage twice, been caught in three fires, been framed for murder, saved a baby from an explosion, suffered from bulimia twice and been hit by lightning.
and Nick Harrison
instantly found her attractive and hit it off, but while Rachel fell for Stuart, Nick's crush would go unrequited and the two simply became close friends instead. Rachel soon started to date Stuart, but developed bulimia after learning he had an affair with her mother. Rachel's brother Jonathon McKenna soon arrived. He constantly annoyed Rachel so after Alex read Jonathon's diary, Rachel spitefully revealed to Michael that her brother was gay.
In 1994, Rachel developed a feud with new girl Charlotte Olsen. Rachel started to date head boy, Tim. But a jealous Charlotte purposely broke Rachel's foot. Rachel soon became friends with Ramona Derby who was pregnant, Ramona was denied dux of the school because of her pregnancy and Rachel campaigned for her to get it. Charlotte, seeing a chance to break up Tim and Rachel told Rachel that the baby's father was Tim. Rachel broke up with him but remained friends with Ramona. That year Rachel's cousin Waverley came to Ferndale.
In 1995, Rachel started dating Manny Ahutahi. Rachel convinced Nick to take part in a wedding scheme designed to alert people to the unfairness of the student-allowance system. Nick and Rachel married, and while it was a marriage of convenience, Waverley was incensed and humiliated and decided to leave for Australia. Rachel soon dumped Manny and began to date Rangi, starting an intense rivalry between the two men.
Rachel and Rangi Heremaia's romance began to deteriorate in 1996 and Rachel turned to drinking. After a car accident, Rangi used a wheelchair and Rachel nearly killed him with toxic fumes while she fell unconscious from drinking.
In 1998, the two broke up. Rachel briefly had an affair with Dr. Gus van de Berg. After a series of accidents that saw her nearly drown in a pool, and crash her car drunk driving, Nick, instead of bailing Rachel out of jail, called her father, Michael McKenna, a former alcoholic himself, and forced Rachel to deal with her problems. In 1998, Rachel had a relationship with Frank Malone but dumped him for Daniel, who she married. Rachel was hit by lightning while out with Nick and she developed a strange attraction towards him. They ended up having sex, however Rachel soon came to her senses. She began a relationship with Frank once again.
In 1999, Rachel's father died and Rachel announced she was leaving Shortland Street, Nick and Frank didn't want her to go but she insisted it was in her best interests and Rachel left for America.
and helped expose his fiance as a fraud. She started to date Jack Hewitt.
Jack grew jealous of Chris and Rachel's friendship and tried to make Chris look bad by exposing his prior drug addiction. Rachel eventually learned that it was Jack who was badmouthing Chris and dumped him, but by this time Jack had gone off his medication and was growing increasingly unstable. He kidnapped Rachel and tried to marry her, but Chris saved her and Jack committed suicide. Rachel soon started a relationship with Chris.
Rachel got the shock of her life when she discovered that her mother Alex was still alive. Alex returned home to a reunion with Rachel and her niece Waverley, but Chris was soon suspicious of her behaviour. He thought that all that Alex wanted was money. In the end Chris's suspicions were correct and Rachel sent her mother packing. After a huge fight over whose father Harry
was, Rachel decided to secretly get her tubes tied. Chris soon dumped Rachel to be with Donna.
In 2003, Rachel decided to leave Shortland Street once again. She used her connections with Marj Neilson to secure a job in the health sector of the government.
In 2007, Rachel returned to Shortland Street briefly in her capacity as a Ministry of Health auditor for 4 episodes to celebrate Shortland Streets 15th birthday. She was engaged but still tried her best to sleep with Chris. She soon succeeded but the two were caught in the act by Chris' wife Toni
and Chris sent Rachel packing.
On 22 October 2009, Rachel returned to the hospital as a supervisor to Callum McKay
as Kieran Mitchell
was attempting to sue over the cafeteria contract. It is soon revealed the real reason Rachel returned was to get back together with Chris but as he is in a steady relationship with Gabrielle Jacobs
, Rachel is left sad and alone and returns to drinking. She gets very drunk and passes out at the Christmas party, allowing Kieran to frame her for the accidental hit and run of Morgan
.
to attack her. Rachel stayed at Callum's and after she was proven innocent of Morgan's death, she started a relationship with him and got a job as the Private wards Project Manager at the hospital.
Rachel realizes Chris still loves her and shortly before she leaves to visit Jonathon McKenna after he gets in a serious car accident, she confesses her love to him as well. Upon her return, Rachel breaks it off with Callum, but the two get caught in a fire with Chris and Evan as 2010 ends.
In 2011 it is discovered Rachel survived the fire and though she moves in with Chris, she shows guilt towards Callum's intensive injuries and even misses a dinner date with Chris to be with him. Rachel does not get on with Chris' son Harry
and after a week of arguing and misbehaving, Rachel hits him on the bottom. After the word spreads, Rachel is shocked when charges are laid. Though Harry soon drops the charges and Rachel is frustrated when new CEO Shane Tucker, fires her. In May Rachel's brother, Jonathon returns and quickly asserts himself back into the family.
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...
, played by 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....
. 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. This makes her the second longest running character currently on the show.
Over her course on the show, Rachel has; nearly drowned, been held hostage twice, been caught in three fires, been framed for murder, saved a baby from an explosion, suffered from bulimia twice and been hit by lightning.
Character development
In 2007, the show celebrated its 15th anniversary and the website ran a competition for viewers to vote for whom they wished to return in order to commemorate it. Rachel won the poll and returned for four episodes in June 2007. In October 2009, it was announced that Rachel would be returning to the show as a full-time cast member, making the total number of cast members from the nineties, two.1993-1999
Rachel first arrived to the street in early 1993 as CEO Michael McKenna's spoilt child. Stuart NeilsonStuart Neilson
Stuart Neilson was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Martin Henderson and was part of the original cast, with a lot of the first episode focusing around him....
and Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Karl Burnett and was the longest running original cast member on the show first appearing in 1992 and running for 13 years until 2005....
instantly found her attractive and hit it off, but while Rachel fell for Stuart, Nick's crush would go unrequited and the two simply became close friends instead. Rachel soon started to date Stuart, but developed bulimia after learning he had an affair with her mother. Rachel's brother Jonathon McKenna soon arrived. He constantly annoyed Rachel so after Alex read Jonathon's diary, Rachel spitefully revealed to Michael that her brother was gay.
In 1994, Rachel developed a feud with new girl Charlotte Olsen. Rachel started to date head boy, Tim. But a jealous Charlotte purposely broke Rachel's foot. Rachel soon became friends with Ramona Derby who was pregnant, Ramona was denied dux of the school because of her pregnancy and Rachel campaigned for her to get it. Charlotte, seeing a chance to break up Tim and Rachel told Rachel that the baby's father was Tim. Rachel broke up with him but remained friends with Ramona. That year Rachel's cousin Waverley came to Ferndale.
In 1995, Rachel started dating Manny Ahutahi. Rachel convinced Nick to take part in a wedding scheme designed to alert people to the unfairness of the student-allowance system. Nick and Rachel married, and while it was a marriage of convenience, Waverley was incensed and humiliated and decided to leave for Australia. Rachel soon dumped Manny and began to date Rangi, starting an intense rivalry between the two men.
Rachel and Rangi Heremaia's romance began to deteriorate in 1996 and Rachel turned to drinking. After a car accident, Rangi used a wheelchair and Rachel nearly killed him with toxic fumes while she fell unconscious from drinking.
In 1998, the two broke up. Rachel briefly had an affair with Dr. Gus van de Berg. After a series of accidents that saw her nearly drown in a pool, and crash her car drunk driving, Nick, instead of bailing Rachel out of jail, called her father, Michael McKenna, a former alcoholic himself, and forced Rachel to deal with her problems. In 1998, Rachel had a relationship with Frank Malone but dumped him for Daniel, who she married. Rachel was hit by lightning while out with Nick and she developed a strange attraction towards him. They ended up having sex, however Rachel soon came to her senses. She began a relationship with Frank once again.
In 1999, Rachel's father died and Rachel announced she was leaving Shortland Street, Nick and Frank didn't want her to go but she insisted it was in her best interests and Rachel left for America.
2001-2009
Rachel returned to the hospital in 2001 for her cousin Waverley's wedding to Fergus. Rachel decided to stay in Ferndale and got involved with Frank again. Frank broke up with Cassie to be with Rachel. However when Daniel returned, Rachel quickly dumped Frank and took up with her estranged husband again. Frank was furious and decided to leave Ferndale. After Frank had left, Rachel decided that she had made a mistake and told Daniel that she wanted a divorce. She developed a crush on 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....
and helped expose his fiance as a fraud. She started to date Jack Hewitt.
Jack grew jealous of Chris and Rachel's friendship and tried to make Chris look bad by exposing his prior drug addiction. Rachel eventually learned that it was Jack who was badmouthing Chris and dumped him, but by this time Jack had gone off his medication and was growing increasingly unstable. He kidnapped Rachel and tried to marry her, but Chris saved her and Jack committed suicide. Rachel soon started a relationship with Chris.
Rachel got the shock of her life when she discovered that her mother Alex was still alive. Alex returned home to a reunion with Rachel and her niece Waverley, but Chris was soon suspicious of her behaviour. He thought that all that Alex wanted was money. In the end Chris's suspicions were correct and Rachel sent her mother packing. After a huge fight over whose father Harry
Harry Warner (character)
Harold "Harry" Warner is a fictional recurring character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is currently played by Reid Walker but has been portrayed by Joshua Thompson, Callum Campbell Ross and Henry Williams.Harry is the son of the longest serving character on the show Chris...
was, Rachel decided to secretly get her tubes tied. Chris soon dumped Rachel to be with Donna.
In 2003, Rachel decided to leave Shortland Street once again. She used her connections with Marj Neilson to secure a job in the health sector of the government.
In 2007, Rachel returned to Shortland Street briefly in her capacity as a Ministry of Health auditor for 4 episodes to celebrate Shortland Streets 15th birthday. She was engaged but still tried her best to sleep with Chris. She soon succeeded but the two were caught in the act by Chris' wife Toni
Toni Warner
Antoinette "Toni" Warner was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street...
and Chris sent Rachel packing.
On 22 October 2009, Rachel returned to the hospital as a supervisor to 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:...
as 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....
was attempting to sue over the cafeteria contract. It is soon revealed the real reason Rachel returned was to get back together with Chris but as he is in a steady relationship with Gabrielle Jacobs
Gabrielle Jacobs
Dr. Gabrielle Jacobs is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and has been portrayed by Virginie Le Brun throughout two stints, the first from 2009 to 2010 and the second from 2011 to present...
, Rachel is left sad and alone and returns to drinking. She gets very drunk and passes out at the Christmas party, allowing Kieran to frame her for the accidental hit and run of 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...
.
2010—
In 2010, Rachel discovers what she did and confesses to police, causing Morgan's sister Nicole MillerNicole 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...
to attack her. Rachel stayed at Callum's and after she was proven innocent of Morgan's death, she started a relationship with him and got a job as the Private wards Project Manager at the hospital.
Rachel realizes Chris still loves her and shortly before she leaves to visit Jonathon McKenna after he gets in a serious car accident, she confesses her love to him as well. Upon her return, Rachel breaks it off with Callum, but the two get caught in a fire with Chris and Evan as 2010 ends.
In 2011 it is discovered Rachel survived the fire and though she moves in with Chris, she shows guilt towards Callum's intensive injuries and even misses a dinner date with Chris to be with him. Rachel does not get on with Chris' son Harry
Harry Warner (character)
Harold "Harry" Warner is a fictional recurring character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is currently played by Reid Walker but has been portrayed by Joshua Thompson, Callum Campbell Ross and Henry Williams.Harry is the son of the longest serving character on the show Chris...
and after a week of arguing and misbehaving, Rachel hits him on the bottom. After the word spreads, Rachel is shocked when charges are laid. Though Harry soon drops the charges and Rachel is frustrated when new CEO Shane Tucker, fires her. In May Rachel's brother, Jonathon returns and quickly asserts himself back into the family.
External links
- Character profile at TVNZ