Martha MacKenzie
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| Martha Mackenzie | |||||||||||||||
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| File:Mmjg.jpg Jodi Gordon as Martha MacKenzie | |||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Jodi Gordon (2005-) Burcin Kapkin (1988-1989) | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | September 8, 1988 Episode 169- 3928 | ||||||||||||||
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Martha Jane MacKenzie (née Stewart, previously Holden) is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portrayed by Jodi Gordon since her return in March 2005 but was originally played by Burcin Kapkin . The character was one of Home & Away's first births, born in 1988, although Martha has been artificially aged up, returning in 2005 aged 18.
Storylines
Martha and Jack
From the moment they met, Martha had an "instant attraction" to police constable Jack Holden, but didn't want to show it, and persistently declined his proposals of dates. At one point, they played a game of pool, with the loser (Martha) having to do a naked run. Tony told Martha that Jack was afraid of spiders, so Martha decided to put a rubber one on his bed as a joke, not thinking that it could cost Jack his hearing. When Jack saw the spider, he jumped and hit his head on the cupboard, then fell unconscious. In hospital, Jack was told that he could be deaf in one ear. When Jack found out that it was Martha who put the spider there as a joke, he was furious and screamed at her to get out of his room. Martha was shattered and ran out crying. Tony told Jack that he saw Martha crying at the beach, and admitted that she likes him, reasoning that if she didn't, she wouldn't be crying. Jack went down to the beach to talk to Martha. He said it would be hard to forget, but she can make it up to him by facing her fears and jumping off a cliff (Martha is scared of heights). They went up to a cliff and Jack was shocked when he realised that Martha would jump off for him. Jack stopped her leap at the last moment, and told her that there is another way she can make it up to him. They began to kiss, and Jack and Martha became a couple.
The couple were "inseparable". Jack told everyone that he was starting to get his hearing back, but Martha found out he was lying. She told Tony, who then informed Jack's superiors at the police station; Jack was restricted to station duties until his hearing had fully recovered. Jack and Martha got into an argument, and he told Martha that it was her fault in the first place that he lost his hearing. Martha stormed out. Before leaving, she said that it was better if they broke up. Jack apologised, but it was too late for them to get back together because of what Jack said.
Martha & Corey
Martha then started dated Jack's working partner, Corey. On the night of Kim and Hayley's engagement party, Jack confessed to Martha how he really felt, stating "the way I fell for you, I have never felt for anyone before". Martha responded that it was too late, as she was with Corey now. Jack soon became suspicious of Corey as he kept his personal life shut and later found out he has a criminal record, he went to tell Martha but she told him Corey and her were going away together and he couldn't stop them, Corey then went physco and Martha found Jack was right and he came to the rescue.
After Corey was jailed for poisoning Irene Roberts, Martha and Jack became "good friends", until Baby Noah's christening when they started flirting again, and Matilda and Lucas came up and said, "You two are hopeless; it's obvious you're meant to be together, so why don't you get your acts together?" Martha shrugged it off in denial, secretly having "strong feelings" for Jack. She went into Hayley's room and was followed by Jack, who sat down on the bed opposite her and said, "Maybe it is time we got our acts together." She smiled and then Jack kissed her. They were a couple again.
Marriage & The Plane Crash
Jack and Martha got married, but their wedding was interrupted by Zoe McAllister, the Summer Bay stalker. She had opened gas canisters, and when the wedding cake, which was decorated with sparklers, was brought into the barn, it ignited the gas. Several people, including Jack, were injured. When taken to the hospital, it was discovered that Jack's liver was severely damaged. A transplant was quickly found; Peter Baker was thought to be the donor, but it was discovered that he wasn't the day he returned from witness protection. After the surgery, Dr. Rachel Armstrong arranged for a plastic surgeon in the city to have a look at Martha, Robbie, Kim, Kit and Belle's burns. The helicopter that would transfer them to the city got caught in a storm and dropped off the radar. Alf sent out a search party for them, but could not find them. The crash victims were eventually found alive, but during the time that they were lost, Jack and Tasha grew close, forming a co-dependency. They eventually discussed their feelings and agreed that they were nothing, Jack loves Martha.
Martha was later disappointed at the fact that she felt she was the only person contributing to the marriage - Jack was going about his life as though nothing had changed, and as if marriage meant nothing to him. After Jack discovered that Peter was still alive, he was severely beaten by somebody in his office. At the hospital, Rachel discovered that the liver Jack has is not Peter's because they both have different blood types. Jack's blood type is O-, and this is a rare blood type. Jack needed urgent surgery to repair the damage caused by the attacker, and it was discovered that Martha had a compatible blood type. She readily donated blood for Jack's surgery, but later was reluctant to visit him in recovery.
Martha & Ash
In the surf club, Martha met Ash Nader. Being vulnerable, she spent the night with him, and the following day discovered that he is a friend of Jack's. Before she made this discovery, Jack told her he wanted give her marriage yet another go. She and Ash later confessed the truth to Jack and although their marriage has since ended the two have "remained friends".
Martha began seeing Ash against the wishes of her great aunt Morag Bellingham who insists that Ash is keeping something from her. It was revealed that Ash has a wife and two children. When Martha discovered the truth she was disgusted. Ash begged her not to leave him so she gave him a choice, leave his wife or it was over with her for good. Ash eventually told her he had left his wife, but Jack discovered this was not the case. When he told Martha she confronted Ash, and discovered not only had he not left his wife, she was also pregnant with their third child. Devastated, Martha ended the affair, only to find out a week later that she too was pregnant. In the episode that aired on February 13, Martha tells Jack about her pregnancy and is seen arriving home and crying. It was eventually revealed that Martha had had an abortion which sent her into a downward spiral. Her behaviour became reckless and her drinking was out of control.
Martha & Cam
She also fell under the spell of the handsome and mysterious night club owner, Cameron "Cam" Reynolds, who took advantage of her vulnerability after her abortion. He encouraged her to quit her job and work in his bar, which actually turned out to be a pole dancing club. It became clear that Cam had big plans for Martha in his club, and she soon fell into his trap, becoming his star pole Peter's Buck's night.
Jack then tried to lure Martha away from the world she has become trapped in, and in particular Cam. However, the situation escalated to Cam setting fire to his own club, unaware that Martha is trapped inside. She is saved from the burning building by Jack. Since then Jack and Martha have gotten along as "just good friends", with the exception of when Jack left Martha out in the rain before having a picnic, and she got upset as Jack had put the job before her, which he had done in their marriage. Both Jack and Martha got over this and they resumed being "just friends".
Martha and Michael/Jonah
Martha met Jonah for the first time when he was part of Mumma Rose's cult, "The Believers". He was accused of raping Tasha and getting her pregnant and was sent to Jail. The next year he was released when it was revealed he was sterile, and therefore couldn't have raped her. He was a victim of the believers cult as well.When he got out of Jail he went back to Summer Bay to sell his mothers farm. When he ran into Martha he tried to explain that he was innocent, but she refused to listen. Martha, along with Alf and Colleen, tried to run him out of town, but their efforts were foiled when Bruce Campbell hired him to work for his farm. Still intent on getting rid of him, Martha went to the farm and decided to vandalise his van. He chased her into the bush,and they both fell into an abandoned mine which collapsed. While in there, Jonah explained everything to Martha, and their relationship thawed. That cold night, both were freezing so they hold onto each other as they go to sleep. After their rescue they both had dreams about each other in the mine, which Jonah revealed to Martha, as she did to him. Although she gives him mixed signals (she explained why, saying "I don't want to feel like this"), she helps him out, and they kissed at the farm, just before Bruce died. The town was against their relationship at first, but eventually softened when they realised Michael had changed. The pair shared a loving and meaningful relationship.
Martha's new feelings for Jack
Once again Martha's feelings for Jack came into play when Jack was shot. He was in a coma and woke up only when Martha was by his side. Jack realised he was still in love with Martha. When he confessed his feelings to her, she refused to leave Michael, convinced that Jack was just confused after his injury. Jack arranged to meet Martha on the beach before his wedding rehearsal one day. If Martha was there, he would leave Sam and get back together with her. However, as Martha was on the way to meet him Tony intervened and talked Martha out of seeing Jack.
Martha and Michael decided to leave town, and with the best efforts of Michael, Sam and Tony, she and Jack never got to say goodbye to each other and possibly work things out. After being on the road for a week Michael realised he was only second best in Martha's heart and he took her back to Summer Bay on the day of Jack's wedding to sort her feelings out. Martha realised she should go after what she wanted, so she ran to the church to win Jack back, but was too late, as he had already married Sam.
The aftermath of Jack and Sam's marriage
Although both Sam and Tony saw her, Jack had no idea that Martha was at the church. Sam has recently shown her true colours when she harbours the escapee, Johnny Cooper- who has something over Sam from she past that she does not want people to find out. Sam kills Johnny before he gets the changes to let her past out; however, in episode 4606, Sam verbally attacked Martha by saying "If you want to win Jack back, you'll have to kill me first".
Martha has recently started a relationship with Roman Harris, much to the chagrin of ex-husband Jack.
Sam's Death
Sam was found dead and washed up on the beach leaving Martha, Jack and Jazz Curtis the top suspects. Martha was shocked at Sam's death and wanted to know how Jack was doing. Jack, Martha and Jazz were later cleared of Sam's murder, after Morag learns the truth, bringing them closer together. Roman breaks up with Martha because he thinks that Martha should be with Jack.
Jack and Martha's reunion
Jack wasn't invited to Sam's funeral because Rory blames him for what happened to his mother. Martha finds him on the beach and tells him that it was not his fault at what happened to Sam. She tells him that Sam wanted him more than anything, she did some pretty bad things to keep him. The rest of the afternoon Martha comforted Jack. When they were at the new Pier Diner, Jack told Martha that he wanted to quit the force. She was completely thrown at Jack's decision. She felt responsible for the down turn of Jack's career since he has covered for her so many times. Jack told her that no-one forced him to do things he did. He chose to do them. As they were walking, Jack also told Martha that he was thinking of "them" again. He told Martha to meet him at his home at 7:00 pm so they could talk about it more. She arrived at Jack's house and he told her that he quit his job earlier that day. Martha was still surprised that he went through with it. Then they started talking about their future and Jack asks Martha if he is in hers. Jack talked about how this may not be the best timing since Sam just died but he said that she was always right and that Sam was always second best. He told her that marrying Sam was a mistake. And since Jack was being honest, Martha felt that he needed to know that she was there at the church on his wedding day to Sam. Jack was shocked to hear this. He then confessed to Martha that he still loved her, always had and always will. He told her that there is no other woman for him. Martha could not believe what she was hearing. She told him she felt the same way. Jack was filled with joy. He said no more stalling. He wanted them to be together. They hugged and kissed each other passionately and with joy.
Jazz Curtis walks in on their happy reunion and Jack asks her not to tell anyone about him and Martha because they are serious about each other and want to keep it low-key because some people may think that it is too soon. Jazz promises that she won't say anything. The next day Jack goes over to the Summer Bay House because he needed to see Martha. As they were kissing Alf walked in. Jack and Martha explain that they are in love and that this is both what they want. Jack says that Martha is the only thing that's making him happy throughout this whole difficult time. Martha said the same thing. They both wished that he could be happy for them. Alf then said if they are happy then he is. After Alf leaves the room, Jack tells Martha that he thinks they should start telling people. Martha then asks if he was sure. Jack then said yes. He said that Martha was the most important thing in his life and he wants to share it with the world. When Jack went back home he told Tony that he quit the force and i back with Martha. Tony was absolutely shocked when he heard this. He was worried about his relationship with Martha. He is afraid at what might happen when Martha doesn't feel the same way. Jack couldn't understand why his own father can't just be happy for him and Martha. Tony tried to explain to Jack that he just buried Sam the day before, and that maybe he wasn't thinking cleary. Tony said this is not what he would have done. Jack the blurted out how he slept with a random stranger when Beth just died. Tony then stormed out.
Jack and Martha then tell people about their relationship and everyone is shocked to hear of their relationship. They go on holiday for a week to escape unpleasant coments from the town's residents...when the come back, they realise there are a few too many unhappy faces. After the ultimatum Jack gave to Tony, Tony decided that even though the timing wasn't the best he wanted Jack to be happy.Soon after they get back together, Martha asks Jack to marry her- but is he ready for marriage? Keep watching!