Jacqui McQueen
Jacqui McQueen | |
---|---|
Hollyoaks character | |
Sylver McQueen (adoptive) (adoptive)Cher Winters |
Jacqui McQueen (also Malota and Ashworth) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Claire Cooper. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 26 September 2006 and was introduced by series producer Bryan Kirkwood as part of the McQueen family. Cooper has stated that whilst Lucy Allan produced the serial she was not used and that Jacqui had "lost her identity". In 2010 when Paul Marquess took over the role, he recognised she was an under used character and split her apart from the McQueen family, subsequently increasing her role within the show. Jacqui has been portrayed as a "tough ex-con" and is extremely feisty, she often takes on the matriarch role within the McQueens.
Many of Jacqui's early storylines revolved around her life of crime, marrying
Casting
In May 2010, Cooper felt that she had been sidelined by former producer Lucy Allan and that Jacqui had lost her identity.[1] New executive producer Paul Marquess also felt that Cooper had been under used. He decided to split Jacqui away from the rest of the McQueens, his reason for which being that there was so much "talent" in terms of acting within the family, he felt Cooper or Jacqui didn't need that "support system".[2] He increased her role in storylines. This made Cooper delighted, of the changes she stated: "he seemed to like what I did and he's worked on it and developed it. Paul has really taken me under his wing, he's worked me so hard and he's given me opportunities that I could only have dreamt of."[3] Speaking of her approach to playing Jacqui, Cooper has said: "I try to tame Claire back because I'm a really emotional, sensitive person and very different from Jacqui, so I do work hard and I feel very privileged."[3]
Character development
Characterisation
Jacqui has been described as tough and hard. Holy Soap refer to her as a "tough ex-con".[4] Jacqui often takes on the matriarch role. Jacqui deals with the sisters in a different way and can get different responses from the sisters.[1] Cooper describes her as always being there to pick up the pieces for her family. She also states that Jacqui is very loyal and the most loyal character out of the McQueen family.[5] Speaking of Jacqui's time away from forefront plots Cooper has said: "I think that Jacqui's one of those characters who, if she isn't on screen for a while, it takes the audience time to warm to her again. But when they do, they find her funny, they find her interesting and I try to give them as much as I can."[3]
Jacqui has never had an affair in the serial, of her morality Cooper states: "It's all about family for Jacqui and she's never cheated on any of her sisters. She's got morals and this isn't good enough."[6] Cooper has also spoke of her confusion of the audiences perception that Jacqui is "a bitch" when she has strong morals.[6] Cooper has said she is proud of Jacqui's wardrobe because it is not glam.[7] She brands her as the complete opposite of the "honey image" the serial sometimes becomes associated with.[7] Describing how she plays Jacqui she states: "It's great playing Jacqui because I can just be completely grotesque and over the top, snarling and grunting."[7]
BBC America describe Jacqui as being the toughest of the McQueen sisters and comment on her thieving ways stating: "She began the McQueens' shoplifting tradition, teaching her younger siblings how to steal while their mother was at work and basically putting stolen goods in Michaela's hands from birth."[8]
Relationship with Tony Hutchinson
Jacqui's relationship with
In a later storyline Tony announces his intentions to marry
Relationship with Rhys Ashworth
In 2010, Jacqui embarked on a "surprise" relationship with
Jacqui and Rhys were given the biggest storyline in spring 2011 in the serial, of this Marquess stated: "They have got the biggest story for the first half of 2011. I think it may be one of the biggest stories in Hollyoaks history. It's very, very serious and I think it will really divide the audience. It will really test them and their relationship to the nth degree, and we'll see whether they can recover from it."[13]
King of Hearts
In September 2010, it was announced that actor
It was later revealed that a special late night episode had been commissioned which would feature Jacqui.[16] The storyline was described as "sinister" and would involve Danny and returnee Kathleen McQueen (Alison Burrows), as they rig a game of poker with dramatic consequences.[16] Of her involvement in the episode Cooper stated: "I was really chuffed and felt very flattered and privileged to be given the opportunity to do so much."[5]
On-screen the storyline involves Kathleen blackmailing the McQueens for money, threatening to reveal their roles in Calvin's murder. Kathleen is described as Jacqui's "worst enemy", of this Cooper stated: "She hates her with a passion - her worst enemy ever has been dragged back! It's funny and comedic at times, but then it can get deadly serious."[5] Although she knows the risks of crossing Danny, she tries to fix the poker game; of this Cooper comments that "It's pure desperation" on Jacqui's behalf. When Danny exposes her, he threatens her with Rhys' life, stating if she does not sleep with him, he will kill Rhys.[5] In a turn of events Jacqui turns him down. Cooper defends Jacqui's actions stating that she is a "bright girl" and adding "She doesn't want to sleep with him and also she knows he's not going to drop Rhys in front of so many people. So when he says it, she considers her options, weighs them up."[5]
Jacqui faces more horror from Danny when she is threatened at knifepoint to strip for him, scared for her life she complies.[5] Speaking of Jacqui's sudden change of heart, Cooper states: "He pulls out a knife. That changes the situation - the dynamic changes immediately. He could do something really horrible to her - it's not necessarily about killing someone, he could slash her face or anything. In a situation like that, your mind plays tricks as you wonder what someone could do to you."[5] Cooper has spoken of her feelings of responsibility to portray it correctly and stated "I wanted to show how horrendous it was for Jacqui. She wonders whether she could die like this - all to protect her family…"[5]
Sexual assault
In December 2010, Channel 4 released a press statement which revealed Jacqui and Gilly Roach (Anthony Quinlan) would drunkenly cheat on Rhys together, after she finds out Rhys has slept with Cheryl Brady (Bronagh Waugh) and that the night's events would "change their lives forever".[17] It was later announced that the storyline would see Jacqui accusing Gilly of raping her.[18] The storyline received much coverage in various tabloid newspapers who also branded it as a "shock plot" for the serial.[19] None of the cast members involved in the storyline knew if Jacqui had actually been raped,[20] of this Cooper states: 'They're telling the same story but are looking at it from different angles. Just who to believe is a very grey area. It will split the village and the viewers. We don't know what happened that night, We've just been told that our characters each think they're telling the truth. [Anthony] and I have talked about it a lot. I even read his scripts to try to work it out. The outcome will be a surprise for both of us.'[20]
The storyline began to play out on-screen in February 2011, describing how it starts to develop and the effects it has on Gilly a spokesperson for the serial told Inside Soap: "Jacqui loves Rhys, so she's really hurt when she finds out about his infidelity. Then she runs into Gilly who's also got relationship problems,. The drink starts to flow, and one thing leads to another... Gilly consumed with guilt over sleeping with his best friend's girlfriend, it doesn't help that Jacqui leaves Gilly's place while he's asleep - and runs into Rhys. But after Gilly wakes up, he knows he has to tell his mate what he's done. When Gilly confesses, Rhys is both furious and hurt, and lashes out violently. [...] Once he's confronted Gilly, he demands an explanation from Jacqui - and is stunned when she tells him she was actually raped, it's absolutely devastating."[21] The storyline later takes another turn when Gilly confronts Jacqui in the village with everyone watching, leading everyone to doubt if he did commit the act or not.[22]
It was later revealed that the details were left unclear because Lime Pictures had decided to leave the outcome of the rape trial into viewers.[23] Viewers have been given the chance to apply for the fictional jury, consisting of a cross section of society, including non-Hollyoaks viewers.[24] They will be shown evidence from the case and then decide whether Gilly is guilty or innocent.[24] Chief executive of Lime Pictures, Carolyn Reynolds stated: "We wanted to open up the thorny issue of how hard it is to be a juror and whether the court room the best place to resolve some of these questions about rape."[23] The storyline was developed with the "St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre" and other charities.[23] DCI Ben Snuggs, leader of Don't Cross the Line campaign, explaining: "This storyline represents an issue that we see all too often, involving whether consent is clear on the part of both parties involved in sexual activity, and particularly when alcohol and drugs are involved."[23] Gilly was found not guilty, leaving Jacqui devastated.
Gilly later confessed to the rape, as he recalled that Jacqui had not only not consented, but had removed any perceived consent. Gilly left the village and did not go to the police.
Departure
On 21 February 2013, it was revealed that Cooper had quit the show and her final scenes would air in April.
Brief return
On 27 November 2023, it was confirmed that Cooper would reprise her role as Jacqui for one episode.[27] Cooper made her return on 7 December 2023.[28]
Storylines
2006–2013
Jacqui arrives home on a tag after being released from prison and believes Russ Owen (Stuart Manning) is burgling the family home. She hoards money for gangster, Davey, but her half-sister
Jacqui meets divorcee
Jacqui accuses Myra of being a bad mother and suggests it would have been better if Myra had aborted her. Jacqui and Tony reconcile again. Jacqui plans to adopt because of her criminal record. Tony discovers he has a secret child called Harry. Jacqui forces Tony to make a choice: Harry or her. Tony chooses Harry and she ends their relationship and leaves. An intoxicated Tony and Mercedes betray Jacqui by sleeping together. Jacqui fails to resist Tony again and they restart their on-off relationship. She then changes her surname back to McQueen from Malota and Mercedes reveals that she is pregnant and Jacqui asks Mercedes to let her and Tony raise the baby, unaware it's Tony's baby but Mercedes has an abortion, infuriating Jacqui so Myra offers to be her surrogate but she refuses. Tina sees how desperate her sister is for a child and offers to be the surrogate, leaving Jacqui and Tony ecstatic about having a future child. At Tina's scan, Tina's pregnancy paternity results uncover
Russ becomes angry with Jacqui for trying to stop him from seeing Max. Russ later runs off with Max abroad. Carmel confesses to Jacqui that she let Russ walk away with Max. Jacqui is angry and goes to see Tony, who agrees to pay for a private investigator to help find Max. Jacqui leaves for France in order to find Max, but is unsuccessful. She starts a relationship with
Jacqui, along with
Jacqui and Mercedes' father,
Jacqui meets homeless teenager Phoebe Jackson (Mandip Gill) and invites her to move into her flat. At Tony and Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring)'s wedding, a bus crashes in to the venue. Rhys becomes trapped under the debris and apologises to Jacqui as he dies in her arms. Jacqui returns home to discover Rhys had planned to leave her and had left a note, detailing his plans to leave her and his affair with a mystery woman. Jacqui becomes suspicious that Cindy was having an affair with Rhys. Jacqui confronts Cindy who is with Bart's pregnant girlfriend Sinead O'Connor. She accuses Cindy only for Sinead to confess to having sex with Rhys. Jacqui confronts Sinead and realises Rhys is the father of her baby. She allows Sinead to keep the baby's paternity a secret when Bart proposes to her. On Christmas Day at the McQueens, which Tony and Cindy have both been invited to, Jacqui discovers items belonging to Rhys in the closet, including his mobile phone, which her family had been hiding from her. She recharges Rhys' phone and discovers that it was Cindy he was having an affair with. A disgusted Jacqui attacks Cindy with a Santa statue, Cindy recovers in hospital and is persuaded by Tony to keep quiet about attack and say she slipped on the ice. Jacqui drags Cindy from Hospital to Rhys' grave and warns her to stay away.
Jacqui and Tony get back together until Cindy tells Jacqui that Tony knew about her affair with Rhys leading to Jacqui breaking up with Tony again. Jacqui's former cellmate
When Mercedes gets held to ransom by
The following week, Mercedes goes to find Jacqui in Alicante where the two had visited when they were younger. Mercedes finds Jacqui working as a barmaid. At first Jacqui is not happy to see her but the two sit down and have a conversation. Mercedes admits that at first the kidnapping was a scam to get back at Paul Browning (Joe Thompson) for supposedly cheating on her and apologizes to Jacqui. At first Jacqui is furious at Mercedes for this and yells at her causing them both to start crying. After insulting Mercedes Jacqui forgives her and tells her that she love her. Jacqui is last seen relaxing by the pool on a sun lounger drinking a cocktail with Mercedes whilst they talk and say their final goodbyes.
2023
10 years later in December 2023, Jacqui returns when her sister Mercedes is in need of some support after cheating on her current fiancée,
). Now a nun, Jacqui gives Mercedes some tough love, earning herself a slap from Mercedes. However, Jacqui manages to talk Mercedes round and the two put aside their differences. After Mercedes leaves the church, Jacqui picks up a newspaper article about a murder in Alicante, Spain, hinting that she may have been involved.Reception
Cooper was nominated for Best Actress at the 2007
Roz Laws of the
References
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- ^ Green, Kris (18 May 2010). "Loads of 'Hollyoaks' gossip from Paul Marquess". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Kilkelly, Daniel (10 December 2010). "Claire Cooper on Rhys, Jacqui and much more". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Archived from the original on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
- ^ Five). 2010. Archived from the originalon 18 December 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kilkelly, Daniel (10 December 2010). "Claire Cooper (Jacqui McQueen, 'Hollyoaks')". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Archived from the original on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
- ^ a b Green, Kris (14 May 2010). "Claire Cooper (Jacqui McQueen, 'Hollyoaks')". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Archived from the original on 18 May 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
- ^ a b c Kilkelly, Daniel (15 February 2010). "Claire Cooper grateful for 'Oaks wardrobe". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
- ^ "BBC America - Hollyoaks - Jacqui McQueen". BBC America. (BBC). Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
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- Channel 5). 2 February 2011. Archived from the originalon 6 February 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
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- ^ Wrightman, Catriona (13 July 2010). "In Full: Inside Soap Awards 2010 Nominees". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Archived from the original on 17 October 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
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- ^ "Jacqui McQueen - Soaps on trial: crimes against fashion". Virginmedia.com. Virgin Media Inc. 2009. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (3 November 2010). "'Oaks star praises "amazing" Claire Cooper". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
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- ^ Richards, Olly (28 September 2010). "Hollyoaks girls turn out for Inside Soap Awards". FHM. (Bauer Media Group). Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
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- Hearst Magazines UK). Archived from the originalon 9 December 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
External links
- Character profile Archived 12 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine on the E4 website Archived 27 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- Character profile on Holy Soap
- Character profiles on the BBC America website