Alex McKenna (character)
Encyclopedia
Alexandra "Alex" McKenna (née Wilson) is a fictional character on the New Zealand
soap opera
Shortland Street
and was portrayed by Liddy Holloway
from 1993 until 1995 and again for a guest role in 2002.
, who had previously been a writer for the show, was cast as the matriarch of the new family unit, the McKennas. Paul Gittins
who portrayed Alex's husband, Michael
, would jokingly accuse Holloway of giving her character the best lines of the two.
(Paul Gittins
) taking up with a younger women. She started sleeping with teenager Stuart Neilson
(Martin Henderson
) but fell back in love with Michael and they renewed their vowels. The arrival of their son Jonathon (Kieren Hutchison
) proved a problem when he came out as gay, infuriating Michael. In November Alex purchased "Kennedys" bar from Carrie
(Lisa Crittenden
) and started to manage it. In 1994 Alex enjoyed a brief affair with drug addict Greg Feeney
(Tim Balme
) but desperate for attention from Michael, underwent plastic surgery which put her into a coma. Michael was suspected of attempting to murder Alex but Rachel
(Angela Bloomfield
) discovered it was Alex's own fault, saving Michael. Upon Alex's recovery, she and Michael went on a cruise where Alex suffered a nervous break down. The two broke up and Alex took up with a young man, but their age gap was too large and Alex returned to Michael. In 1995 Michael and Alex decided to give their marriage another go. They moved away from Ferndale to operate a lifestyle block.
In 1998 Lionel
(John Leigh) contacted Alex and bought Kennedy's from her. When Michael returned in late 1998, he revealed that while on a trip overseas, Alex contracted an illness and died.
In 2002 Rachel got the shock of her life when she discovered that her mother Alex was still alive. Alex had faked her death as a plot to spend time away from her family. Alex returned home to a reunion with Rachel and her niece Waverley (Claire Chitham
), but Chris
(Michael Galvin
) was soon suspicious of her behaviour in that he thought she was after Chris' money. In the end Chris's suspicions were correct and Rachel sent her mother packing.
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...
and was portrayed by Liddy Holloway
Liddy Holloway
Elizabeth Brenda "Liddy" Holloway was a New Zealand actress.Born in Wellington, New Zealand, the daughter of a politician, Phil Holloway, Liddy Holloway originally worked as a journalist. She switched to acting and had a long career in the theater...
from 1993 until 1995 and again for a guest role in 2002.
Creation and casting
Liddy HollowayLiddy Holloway
Elizabeth Brenda "Liddy" Holloway was a New Zealand actress.Born in Wellington, New Zealand, the daughter of a politician, Phil Holloway, Liddy Holloway originally worked as a journalist. She switched to acting and had a long career in the theater...
, who had previously been a writer for the show, was cast as the matriarch of the new family unit, the McKennas. Paul Gittins
Paul Gittins
Paul Gittins is a New Zealand actor who is best known for playing Doctor Michael McKenna in Shortland Street from 1992 to 1995 and 1998 to 1999, and he has also appeared in The End of the Golden Weather, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, City Life, The Whole of the Moon and...
who portrayed Alex's husband, Michael
Michael McKenna
Dr. Michael McKenna is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera, Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Paul Gittins and was part of the original cast.-Creation and Casting:...
, would jokingly accuse Holloway of giving her character the best lines of the two.
1992-2002
Alex arrived in town and was quick to show disapproval at estranged husband MichaelMichael McKenna
Dr. Michael McKenna is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera, Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Paul Gittins and was part of the original cast.-Creation and Casting:...
(Paul Gittins
Paul Gittins
Paul Gittins is a New Zealand actor who is best known for playing Doctor Michael McKenna in Shortland Street from 1992 to 1995 and 1998 to 1999, and he has also appeared in The End of the Golden Weather, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, City Life, The Whole of the Moon and...
) taking up with a younger women. She started sleeping with teenager Stuart Neilson
Stuart 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....
(Martin Henderson
Martin Henderson
Martin Henderson is a New Zealand actor, well known to American audiences for his starring role in the ABC TV series Off the Map, while remaining known in his home country for his teenage role as Stuart Neilson in the soap opera Shortland Street.-Life and career:Henderson was born in Auckland, New...
) but fell back in love with Michael and they renewed their vowels. The arrival of their son Jonathon (Kieren Hutchison
Kieren Hutchison
Kieren Robert Hutchison is a New Zealand actor. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand.-Career:Hutchison is best known for playing the roles of Jonathon McKenna in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, Andy Hargrove on One Tree Hill, Kerry Connelly on Wildfire and Jake Preston on Monarch Cove...
) proved a problem when he came out as gay, infuriating Michael. In November Alex purchased "Kennedys" bar from Carrie
Carrie Burton
Carrie Kennedy was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Lisa Crittenden and was part of the original cast.-1992:...
(Lisa Crittenden
Lisa Crittenden
Lisa Crittenden is an Australian actress, noted for her roles in various television series, such as The Restless Years , The Sullivans , Prisoner , Sons and Daughters and the New Zealand produced Shortland Street .She also played a lead role in mini-series Whose Baby? and...
) and started to manage it. In 1994 Alex enjoyed a brief affair with drug addict Greg Feeney
Greg Feeney
Greg Feeney is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, who was portrayed by Tim Balme for numerous recurring stints throughout the mid to late nineties....
(Tim Balme
Tim Balme
Timothy Guy Balme is an actor and screenwriter from New Zealand. He's most famous for his roles on the long-running soap opera Shortland Street and Mercy Peak, as well as lead roles in the cult favorites Braindead and Jack Brown Genius...
) but desperate for attention from Michael, underwent plastic surgery which put her into a coma. Michael was suspected of attempting to murder Alex but 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....
) discovered it was Alex's own fault, saving Michael. Upon Alex's recovery, she and Michael went on a cruise where Alex suffered a nervous break down. The two broke up and Alex took up with a young man, but their age gap was too large and Alex returned to Michael. In 1995 Michael and Alex decided to give their marriage another go. They moved away from Ferndale to operate a lifestyle block.
In 1998 Lionel
Lionel Skeggins
Lionel Skeggins was a fictional character on the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by John Leigh and after making his debut as a guest character in 1993, he returned from 1994 to the character's disappearance in 1999 as a core cast member....
(John Leigh) contacted Alex and bought Kennedy's from her. When Michael returned in late 1998, he revealed that while on a trip overseas, Alex contracted an illness and died.
In 2002 Rachel got the shock of her life when she discovered that her mother Alex was still alive. Alex had faked her death as a plot to spend time away from her family. Alex returned home to a reunion with Rachel and her niece Waverley (Claire Chitham
Claire Chitham
Claire Margaret Chitham is a New Zealand television actress. She is best known for having played Waverley Harrison in the New Zealand TV show Shortland Street, from 1994–5 and 1997–2005 and Aurora Bay in Outrageous Fortune from 2006-2007.She was already acting by the age of nine, when she...
), but Chris
Chris 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....
(Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin is a New Zealand actor, singer and playwright, well known for his role as Dr. Chris Warner on the soap opera Shortland Street, a character he has played almost continuously since the shows debut in 1992.-Early life:...
) was soon suspicious of her behaviour in that he thought she was after Chris' money. In the end Chris's suspicions were correct and Rachel sent her mother packing.