User:Eshlare/Karen

Karen McDonald (née Phillips) was a fictional character in the long-running British soap opera, Coronation Street from June 2000 to December 2004. The feisty and volatile second wife of Steve McDonald, Karen was played by actress Suranne Jones.

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). 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.

Characterisation
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/It's+lovely+being+called+Corrie's+new+Elsie+Tanner..+she's+an+icon%3b...-a090234307

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." 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. 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".

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". In November 2001 the two characters fall out because Karen insults Steve's mother Liz, though they later end up back together. 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".

Development. Jack and Vera. Rows. First Break-up as Liz Insulted. Joe love triangle. Reconcile.

     

Backstory
useful

Storylines
Karen Phillips comes to Coronation Street in summer 2000 as a friend of Linda Sykes (Jacqueline Pirie). She is taken on as a new machinist at Underworld. She quickly finds herself popular with the men of the Street and has a brief relationship with Vikram Desai (Chris Bisson). During Christmas 2000, she is drinking alone in the local pub, The Rovers Return and ends up spending the night with Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne). By 2001, Karen is dating Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson). Her colleague and friend, Janice Battersby (Vicky Entwistle) 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 Weatherfield. In May 2002, former jailbird Joe Carter (Jonathan Wrather) becomes Underworld's new manager. He and Karen have a volatile relationship, which initially results in his firing her. Karen decides that the McDonalds' future is in one of Richard Hillman's (Brian Capron) new flats on The Ridings development. After many arguments, Steve finally makes an offer, but on one condition: new flat - new job. Steve and Karen take a trip to 'Elevations', an upmarket furniture shop. Later, Karen unveils her new Victoria Beckham style haircut in the Rovers, and also the news that she has landed a job at 'Elevations'. On top of this, she also announces that the first piece of furniture for the new flat has been purchased - a sofa at £2,500. While reassured by the fact that staff get 10% discount, Steve reminds his wife that 90% of £2,500 is still a lot. Steve and Karen withdraw their offer for the flat when discovering that a bail hostel is to be built close to The Ridings. However, Karen's sofa arrives but is too big for their flat; she refuses to send it back, as her colleagues would laugh at her. Soon after, Karen is sacked from 'Elevations' for being too common.

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 Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) during a one-night-stand when he and Karen were separated. On the wedding day, 18 February, Tracy Barlow reveals that Roy Cropper (David Neilson) isn't her baby's father and that Steve is. Karen is heartbroken that her dream wedding was ruined by Steve's lies. However, they eventually marry when Steve makes Karen realise that Tracy meant nothing to him. In revenge for Tracy ruining her wedding, Karen ruins Amy Barlow's christening by starting a brawl with Tracy in the aisle of the church. Tracy, baby Amy and Steve's mother, Liz MacDonald's (Beverly Callard)continued presence on Coronation Street annoys Karen, particularly as Liz and Tracy get on well. Karen cannot stand the fact that Liz pays so much attention to baby Amy.

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 Christmas Eve 2004 Karen sees Tracy loading the car up ready to go and visit her adoptive brother, Peter Barlow. While Tracy is distracted, Karen steals the car, not realising that Amy is in the back. Steve and Tracy hurry to the Red Rec, only to find the car on fire. Tarcy does not realise that Karen has taken Amy from the car, and assumes Karen has killed her baby. She returns to Coronation Street, vying for blood, leading to a car chase and the two women fighting on the roof of Underworld. Tracy, in a fit of rage, attempts to murder Karen and it isn’t until Steve and Hayley intervene that Tracy stops attacking Karen. It is revealed that Karen left Amy with Roy Cropper. Following a final argument, Steve tells Karen that he has had enough and cannot believe she would let him think that she had killed his daughter. Karen pleads with Steve to give her another chance but he says that she has had too many chances already. Karen McDonald leaves the Street on Boxing Day 2004. In February 2009, whilst preparing for his marriage to Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly) Steve mentions that he divorced Karen in January 2006.

Reception
The character of Karen was generally received by the public and the British Media. In February 2002 The Sunday Mirror stated that Suranne Jones had "proved an instant hit with viewers" after joining the serial in June 2000. In December 2002 the Coventry Evening Telegraph ran a headline describing the character as "Britain's Favourite TV Bitch". In 2003, the 'will they, won't they?' storyline between Karen and Joe Carter was a ratings winner with over 15 million viewers tuning in, maintaining the high ratings of the highly successful Richard Hillman murder storyline. Karen and Steve's (second) wedding in February 2004, ruined by Tracy Barlow's revelation that her daughter Amy Barlow was Steve's love child, received 16.3 million viewers. After the announcement of her departure, Selina Scott of the Sunday Mail stated that Suranne Jones had "done as much as any of the [Coronation Street] cast to see off the challenge of EastEnders". She felt that Suranne Jones had made the "recklessly upwardly-mobile Karen into a genuine character" and was "the only thing that stops Steve 'Mogadon' McDonald becoming a cure for insomnia."

The Mirror's Nicola Methven and Polly Hudson predicted that the start of Karen's exit from the show would find "soapville on its knees in front of the TV, sobbing uncontrollably". They felt that the introduction of Karen's "fanatically religious parents" meant that "everything about the woman she is today started to make sense". The authors gave particular praise to the relationship between Karen and Steve, opining that Gregson and Jones "lit up the screen once again" and provided "pure [television] gold". Danielle Lawler, writing for The Sunday Mirror in November 2004 referred to a scene where Karen attacked Tracy as "another classic clobbering". However, Frances Taylor of the Daily Record was critical of the character's exit plot. She stated that both "Karen McDonald - and the writers - lost the plot in spectacular fashion". She felt the character's exit was "pants" and expressed disappoinment that the character of Tracy was left "to rule the Street". The character is remembered for her distinct personality and style: The Guardian's Rosanna Greenstreet described her as "a bulldog in hoop earrings" in September 2005. Actress Kym Marsh, upon joining the serial stated that she wanted her character, Michelle Connor, to be like Karen: "a likeable lady, but with a serious attitude". In 2010 Gerard Gilbert of The Independent, reminiscing on the character, stated that Suranne Jones brought a "vital spark to Britain's best-loved soap, as a Victoria Beckham wannabe from the wrong side of the tracks." In a discussion of whether there is "life after Corrie" Ben Frow, head of TV3 broadcasting, compared Jones' portrayal of Karen to Katherine Kelly's portrayal of Becky McDonald. He states: "the successful ones [to have a career after Coronation Street] -- like Suranne and Katherine -- tend to play the few real, gritty, true characters in the soap." Andrew Billen of The Times described Jones as one of "those brave, talented few who earn their wings on a soap and then fly gloriously beyond it"

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 British Soap Awards. At the 2003 Inside Soap Awards she won two awards; for Best Dressed Star and Best Couple (shared with Simon Gregson). In 2004 Jones won "Sexiest Female" at the Inside Soap Awards in addition to "Best Actress" at the British Soap Awards and "Most Popular Actress" at the National Television Awards. She also won Best Actress at the 2005 British Soap Awards.