User:Eshlare/Karen
Karen McDonald | |||||||||||||||
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Former; regular | |||||||||||||||
Introduced by | Jane Macnaught | ||||||||||||||
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Karen McDonald (née Phillips) was a
Development
Casting
Suranne Jones was cast as machinist Karen by then producer Jane Macnaught in early 2000, having previously appeared briefly in April 1997 as Mandy Phillips, the girlfriend of Chris Collins (Matthew Marsden).[2] In May 2004, just days after winning the award for 'Best Actress' at The British Soap Awards Jones announced that she was leaving the serial to pursue other projects with Granada TV.[3]
Characterisation
Relationship with Steve
Rick Fulton of the Daily Record noted that Karen vows to be more "wily" with her romantic interests after seeing her friend Bobbi "wrapping boyfriend Vikram around her little finger". Her friend and colleague Janice makes a series of bets with Karen regarding how new boyfriend Steve treats her: this culminates in Janice betting Karen that she can get Steve to propose to her. Of the storyline, Suranne Jones stated that: "Karen can't believe she's on the verge of getting married for a bet". She characterises Karen as "not the type of girl to back out of a tricky situation" and states that she and Steve find themselves "in a game of bluff" with each "waiting for the other to pull out."[4] Karen was the 53rd female character to get married in Coronation Street. Simon Gregson, who plays Steve, felt the marriage was "quite fitting" and that his character "thinks it's a bit of a laugh". The wedding scenes were filmed on 6 May 2001 and screened on 30 May 2001.[5] Billy Sloan of the Sunday Mail stated that the scenes were "guaranteed to provide a bit of light relief" after serious storylines such as the rape of Toyah Battersby and Alma Halliwell's cancer diagnosis. Suranne Jones felt that Steve was "definitely the man for Karen" as the two characers had "similar personalities". She stated that Karen had dumped her previous boyfriend, Vikram, because he "wasn't racy enough and doesn't have the edge Steve has".[6]
In September 2001 Suranne Jones stated that she "[feels] sorry for Steve sometimes" in regards to Karen's negative characteristics. She indicated that she'd "love to see Steve and Karen having the same impact on viewers as Dirty Den and Angie did".[7] In November 2001 the two characters fall out because Karen insults Steve's mother Liz, though they later end up back together.[8] Discussing the success of the pairing, Simon Gregson compared Steve and Karen to "a mini Jack and Vera". He felt that "the shouting and the arguments" and "the feistiness of the characters". He added that Steve and Karen "can't live with each other and can't live without each other". Gregson also remarked that the relationship was "going back to what Coronation Street set out to be" which he felt to be "hen-pecked husbands and very strong women".[9]
Development. Jack and Vera. Rows. First Break-up as Liz Insulted. Joe love triangle. Reconcile.
Rivalry with Tracy
Character History
Backstory
Storylines
Karen Phillips comes to
) states that none of Karen’s boyfriends ever take her seriously. Janice bets a days wages that Karen will not be able to get engaged: Karen subsequently persuades Steve to propose in front of all the Rovers regulars. Janice then ups the stakes to 2 days' wages, on the condition that Steve and Karen walk down the aisle within the week. Neither Karen nor Steve back out - each thinking that the other will, leading them both to be surprised when they both turn up at the Register Office - and even more when they both say "I do". Six weeks later, they arrange their honeymoon and soon realise that they really do love one another.On returning from honeymoon, Karen sets about styling herself and Steve the "Posh and Becks" of
By late 2002 Karen has returned to Underworld, and in 2003, she is promoted to supervisor. However, Joe reveals a sexual interest in her. Karen resists his advances, but Steve grows very suspicious. Later, Karen returns from a business trip with Joe to be with Steve, only to find Steve having a one-night stand. She falls into Joe's arms and is seduced by his promises of a new flat. Karen agrees to help Joe steal ownership of the factory from Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs), by forging checks for a fake company. Karen, however, is unhappy about being dishonest and confesses to Mike in June 2003. Furious, he sacks her and Joe and drives them out of Weatherfield, insisting that they stay away unless they can repay the stolen money. Karen also realises that Joe was using her and leaves him to stay with her Aunt Eva. Weeks later, Steve tracks her down and pays Mike, leading Steve and Karen to reconcile.
Karen decides that she and Steve should divorce so she can have the wedding of her dreams. Worried they'd get into trouble with the law if it doesn't seem real, she throws Steve out, and stages arguments in the local pub. Steve finally has enough and tells her that he will divorce her but refuses to marry her again. Karen tries desperately to stop the divorce but it has already gone through. She is then surprised when Steve proposes to her on a romantic night on a canal boat. Absolutely ecstatic, Karen throws herself into preparations for the wedding: she books a country house for the reception, a horse-drawn carriage, swans and a harpist. Unbeknownst to Karen, Steve finds out over Christmas 2003 that he fathered a baby with
In August 2004, Karen’s dad, Malcolm Phillips (Richard Bremmer), informs Karen that her mother is dying. Karen informs Steve about her abusive childhood; her parents were very religious, making Karen knock on doors trying to convert people until she was 14. Linda offered Karen an escape by letting her come round and smoke and watch television until Karen's father found out, called her a "whore" and beat her. She moved in with Linda the next day, got herself a Saturday job was disowned. Karen’s mother dies a week later, sending Karen on an emotional roller coaster. She begins thinking that God is punishing her for her “sinful” ways. She gives up drinking and smoking, gets rid of all her material belongings and starts being more pleasant to Liz and Tracy. Steve persuades Karen to visit her mother’s grave and she realises that whilst she may not have been a good daughter, she could be a good wife to Steve. Karen decides to cement their relationship by having a baby. Tracy taunts Karen, as she already has a child with Steve, and brands her “Barren Karen” when it takes time for her to get pregnant, leading to another fight.
In November 2004, Karen goes to Dublin to visit Linda. Steve is tricked by Tracy and Liz into driving down to London, only to find out that the “McDonald-Barlows” are to appear on a new quiz show called “Top of the Tree”. Steve agrees to appear and the family win a car – thanks to Karen being Steve’s “Phone a Friend” and providing the winning answer. When Karen finds out about the gameshow, she is fuming. The next day, she marches straight to the Barlows' and drags Tracy out on the streets, and slams her against the prize car. Later in the month Karen finally discovers that she is pregnant and delights in jeering at Tracy. Unfortunately, her happiness is short-lived, as Karen experiences cramps at the Underworld Christmas party and later discovers that she has miscarried. This sends Karen over the edge, and when she discovers that Liz has told Tracy about her miscarriage, she is livid.
On
Reception
The character of Karen was generally received by the public and the British Media. In February 2002
For her portrayal of Karen, Jones has won and been nominated for a number of awards. In 2002 she was nominated in the "Sexiest Female" and "Villain of the Year" awards at the
References
- ^ "Karen McDonald's Corrie.Net Profile". Corrie.Net. 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
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(help) [dead link] - ^ "Celebrities> Coronation Street". Nigel Round Management. 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
- ^ "Street Star Suranne to Quit Soap". BBC News. 13 May 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2010. [dead link]
- ^ Fulton, Rick (7 May 2001). "Marriage? It's just a big yawn for Steve". Daily Record. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
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(help) - ^ Mulchrone, Patrick (7 May 2001). "Odds couple; CORRIE LOVE GAMBLE". Daily Mirror.
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(help) - ^ Sloan, Billy (13 May 2011). "We're odds-on favourites; Karen weds to win bet from Corrie girls". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
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(help) - ^ "Soap's Dirty Dozen; Exclusive: TV'S Best Baddies and What Makes Them so Good". Sunday Mirror. 30 September 2001. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
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(help) - ^ Brown, Merle (28 November 2001). "Christmas Soaps; This Christmas is going to be a real cracker". Daily Record. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
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(help) - )
- The Free Library. 17 February 2002. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- The Free Library. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ^ Day, Julia (18 March 2003). "Bruce Struggles Against The Street". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
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(help) - ^ Connolly, Lucy (2010-12-11). "Heat on Nick for Corrie's inferno". The Sun. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
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- The Free Library. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
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- ^ Taylor, Frances (30 December 2004). "Plot is truly lost in soap world; Coronation Street (ITV1, Christmas Day)/EastEnders (BBC1, Christmas Day)". Daily Record. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
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(help) - ^ Greenstreet, Rosanna (24 September 2005). "Q&A: Suranne Jones, actor". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
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(help) - ^ Wilkes, Neil (1 April 2006). "Marsh wants to be "next Karen McDonald"". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ^ Gilbert, Gerard (31 January 2010). "No more tears: Why Suranne Jones has plenty to smile about". The Independent. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
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(help) - ^ Cashin, Declan (16 May 2012). "Is there life after Corrie?". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
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(help) - ^ Billen, Andrew (17 February 2010). "What Suranne Jones did next". The Times. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
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(help)(subscription required) - ^ Welsh, James (16 May 2002). "British Soap Awards 2002: Nominations". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- )
- ^ "EastEnders takes narrow soap win". BBC News. 28 September 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ^ "EastEnders wins battle of soaps". BBC News. 8 May 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
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- ^ Shelley, Darren (8 May 2005). "British Soap Awards 2005 - The winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 June 2012.