Yvonne Jeffries
Encyclopedia
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
. After appearing on the soap for little under 7 years, Yvonne departed with her daughter and grandson to Sydney to work alongside her best friend Shobna Kumari.
nurse Maia Jeffries
and seriously worried for husband Ian's health. She returned early the following year as the new receptionist.
She made her first appearance on 18 November 2004 with her first line being; "Hello! Anyone Home?"
and Libby
, she stated; "The family had come to a finish. It was time for the show to move onto another family and me onto other projects."
In January 2011 it was announced Yvonne was leaving the show. The storyline saw Yvonne accept a job offer from best friend Shobna Kumari and move to Australia.
She made her last appearance on 9 February 2011 with her last line being: "But you can't have an adventure without taking chances."
) visit their eldest daughter Maia Jeffries
(Anna Jullienne
) for a lunch with her flat mates. Yvonne tells Maia that she knows there is something wrong with Ian and the two force him to go to a doctor. He diagnoses Ian with Motor Neurone Disease
. Yvonne and Ian then leave.
Yvonne and Ian return to Ferndale with the realisation that Ian actually has Kennedy's Disease
. Yvonne gets a job at Shortland Street Hospital
. Yvonne's life took an unexpected turn when the son she adopted out at birth, Hamish Flynn (Phil Brown), made contact with her. Hamish worked briefly at the hospital for Huia Samuels
(Nicola Kawana
) only to get close to Yvonne. Maia opposed to Maia's marriage to Jay Copeland
(Jaime Passier-Armstrong) but ended up saving the day from protestors. In February 2006 Yvonne was devastated when Ian committed suicide so as he would not live a life with his illness. In mid 2006 it then turned out that her long-lost "son" was really a con-man who had stolen Hamish's identity while working for CYPS and set out to scam her and Ian for money. Yvonne later met her son and his children.
Yvonne embarked on a short lived relationship with a man named Sammy Diamond (Andy Anderson
) while on a cruise ship. Yvonne strikes up a friendship with transsexual nurse Sam (Ryland Wood). They help each other overcome their phobias. The reign of the Ferndale Strangler, Joey Henderson
(Johnny Barker) affected Yvonne when three people close to her were murdered - fellow receptionist Claire Solomon (Emily Robins
) and Nurse Brenda Holloway (Katherine McRae), were two of her closest friends, and daughter in law Jay. Yvonne grew irritated at Claire's replacement Gerald Tippett
(Harry McNaughton) and his apparent back stabbing but she forgave him and became very good friends.
In 2008 Yvonne starts to date Fraser McKenzie (Peter Daube) but learned he had a wife with Alzheimers, Deborah (Susan Curnow) who pushed Yvonne down a set of stairs. Following surgery by Ethan Pierce
(Owen Black) Yvonne discovers a faulty skin graph infected her with cancer. The cancer was removed but Yvonne couldn't get over the fact Fraser had plotted to murder his wife and they split. In 2009 Yvonne learns Maia murdered Ethan and struggles to cope with the guilt, eventually driving Maia to insanity. She meets Ben Goodall
(Shaun Edwards=Brown) in a bank robbery and sets him up with daughter Tania
(Faye Smythe
) only to learn he is in love with her. Yvonne tries to hide her feelings but in December the two get together.
In 2010 Tania finally forgives Yvonne for stealing Ben after Yvonne nearly dies of meningitis
. Ben proposes to Yvonne, to which she declines favouring the two remain partners. They throw a party but while at the shops, Ben gets punched and dies of a brain hemorrhage. An upset Yvonne takes her anger out on Maia's partner Nicole (Sally Martin
) and eventually goes on holiday to Peru. Upon return she accidentally smuggles drugs into the country but luckily escapes harm from drug dealers. In 2011, Yvonne's best friend Shobna Kumari (Leela Patel) offers Yvonne a job in Australia. Yvonne declines but gets talked round by Maia and the two alongside Maia's son Jay "JJ" Jeffries (Liam Farmer) leave for Australia in February 2011.
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 is the mother of Maia
Maia 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....
, 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....
, Hamish and 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...
. After appearing on the soap for little under 7 years, Yvonne departed with her daughter and grandson to Sydney to work alongside her best friend Shobna Kumari.
Introduction
Yvonne arrived in 2004 as a guest role, she was the interferring mother of lesbianLesbian
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...
nurse Maia Jeffries
Maia 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....
and seriously worried for husband Ian's health. She returned early the following year as the new receptionist.
She made her first appearance on 18 November 2004 with her first line being; "Hello! Anyone Home?"
Departure
Alison Quigan decided to quit the show and found it easy considering the recent departures of two of the three Jeffries girls, TaniaTania 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...
and 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....
, she stated; "The family had come to a finish. It was time for the show to move onto another family and me onto other projects."
In January 2011 it was announced Yvonne was leaving the show. The storyline saw Yvonne accept a job offer from best friend Shobna Kumari and move to Australia.
She made her last appearance on 9 February 2011 with her last line being: "But you can't have an adventure without taking chances."
2004-2011
Yvonne and her husband Ian (Jeffrey ThomasJeffrey 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...
) visit their eldest daughter Maia Jeffries
Maia 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....
(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...
) for a lunch with her flat mates. Yvonne tells Maia that she knows there is something wrong with Ian and the two force him to go to a doctor. He diagnoses Ian with Motor Neurone Disease
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
. Yvonne and Ian then leave.
Yvonne and Ian return to Ferndale with the realisation that Ian actually has Kennedy's Disease
Kennedy disease
Kennedy's disease or X-linked Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy or Spinobulbar Muscular Atrophy or X-Linked Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy is an X-linked recessive, slow progressing, neurodegenerative disease associated with mutation of the androgen receptor...
. Yvonne 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...
. Yvonne's life took an unexpected turn when the son she adopted out at birth, Hamish Flynn (Phil Brown), made contact with her. Hamish worked briefly at the hospital for Huia Samuels
Huia Samuels
Huia Samuels is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Nicola Kawana and appeared for 18 months from early 2005 to late 2006....
(Nicola Kawana
Nicola Kawana
Nicola Kawana, is best known for playing Huia Samuels on the longest running New Zealand television series Shortland Street. Other roles include Mercy Peak, Jackson's Wharf and Lollie in The Man Who Lost His Head....
) only to get close to Yvonne. Maia opposed to Maia's marriage to 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) but ended up saving the day from protestors. In February 2006 Yvonne was devastated when Ian committed suicide so as he would not live a life with his illness. In mid 2006 it then turned out that her long-lost "son" was really a con-man who had stolen Hamish's identity while working for CYPS and set out to scam her and Ian for money. Yvonne later met her son and his children.
Yvonne embarked on a short lived relationship with a man named Sammy Diamond (Andy Anderson
Andy Anderson (actor)
Andy Anderson is an actor best known for his roles on both Australian and New Zealand television.-Career:...
) while on a cruise ship. Yvonne strikes up a friendship with transsexual nurse Sam (Ryland Wood). They help each other overcome their phobias. The reign of the Ferndale Strangler, Joey Henderson
Joey Henderson
Joseph James "Joey" Henderson was a fictional character that appeared on New Zealand's longest running soap opera Shortland Street, and was the soap's first serial killer. Although always a suspect, the audience did not learn Joey was the killer until December 2007...
(Johnny Barker) affected Yvonne when three people close to her were murdered - fellow receptionist Claire Solomon (Emily Robins
Emily Robins
Emily Iris Robins is a New Zealand actress and singer. She was born to Danny Robins and Jade Robins. She is known for her role in the popular TV2 soap opera Shortland Street as Claire Simone Solomon , and for her role in the popular FOX 8 teen drama, SLiDE, where she portrayed Scarlett Carlyle....
) and Nurse Brenda Holloway (Katherine McRae), were two of her closest friends, and daughter in law Jay. Yvonne grew irritated at Claire's replacement 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) and his apparent back stabbing but she forgave him and became very good friends.
In 2008 Yvonne starts to date Fraser McKenzie (Peter Daube) but learned he had a wife with Alzheimers, Deborah (Susan Curnow) who pushed Yvonne down a set of stairs. Following surgery by 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) Yvonne discovers a faulty skin graph infected her with cancer. The cancer was removed but Yvonne couldn't get over the fact Fraser had plotted to murder his wife and they split. In 2009 Yvonne learns Maia murdered Ethan and struggles to cope with the guilt, eventually driving Maia to insanity. She meets Ben Goodall
Ben Goodall
Benjamin "Ben" Goodall was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by actor Shaun Edwards-Brown. Ben debuted in the soap in July 2009, and began dating long time character Tania Jeffries. Ben then started dating Tania's mother Yvonne Jeffries...
(Shaun Edwards=Brown) in a bank robbery and sets him up with daughter 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:...
) only to learn he is in love with her. Yvonne tries to hide her feelings but in December the two get together.
In 2010 Tania finally forgives Yvonne for stealing Ben after Yvonne nearly dies of meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
. Ben proposes to Yvonne, to which she declines favouring the two remain partners. They throw a party but while at the shops, Ben gets punched and dies of a brain hemorrhage. An upset Yvonne takes her anger out on Maia's partner Nicole (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....
) and eventually goes on holiday to Peru. Upon return she accidentally smuggles drugs into the country but luckily escapes harm from drug dealers. In 2011, Yvonne's best friend Shobna Kumari (Leela Patel) offers Yvonne a job in Australia. Yvonne declines but gets talked round by Maia and the two alongside Maia's son Jay "JJ" Jeffries (Liam Farmer) leave for Australia in February 2011.