Roo Stewart
Ruth "'Roo" Stewart' is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Justine Clarke from 1988 to 1989. The character made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 January 1988. Clarke quit the role in 1989 and the character was written out. In August 2010, it was announced that Roo would return to Home and Away with Georgie Parker in the role. The character returned on 29 October 2010.
Casting
In 1987, Clarke auditioned for the roles of Carly Morris, Lynn Davenport and Bobby Simpson; but was unsuccessful each time. After the series had finished filming their pilot episode, producers changed their minds and invited Clarke to audition for the role of Roo, which she won. Clarke told a reporter from TV Life that she was "really pleased" because she thought Roo was a "great character". Filming on the serial began in Sydney in December 1987, and Clarke's casting was publicised on 2 January 1988. She joined the cast as a series regular. Her character was confirmed to be a love interest for Frank Morgan. Clarke and Papps met for the first time on the first day of filming. David Brown of TV Week reported that the Frank/Roo romance would develop into a major storyline.Development
Characterisation
Before her debut, Clarke said her character was "boy crazy". She explained that Roo is used to getting her own way and usually does, adding "she's heavily into boys." Roo's personality gained an unwelcome reception amongst viewers. Clarke said that "everyone" hated Roo and revealed that people would "boo" at her while attending promotional appearances. On one occasion Clarke had to leave a shopping centre because females were shouting "slut" at her. Clarke said that Roo is "a cow" but defended her because Roo ultimately ends up suffering.Teenage pregnancy
In the serial's first season, Alan Bateman wanted Home and Away to tackle serious social issues and a few months later Roo became the first character to have a teenage pregnancy. The production team felt that Roo's pregnancy was "risqué" because Home and Away was aired in an early evening time-slot. Clarke said she did not know what it was like to be pregnant and had to carry out research. While filming the storyline, Clarke was required to wear a bag filled with lentils beneath her clothing. This was to give the impression that Roo was pregnant, and as her pregnancy progressed more lentils were added to the bag to maintain continuity. Clarke remained unaware of how to portray a convincing birth scene. The wife of the episode's director had previously given birth during a complicated labour. She helped Clarke with her research, which also included watching child birth videos. Clarke said that while she had learned most aspects of labour, not experiencing the actual pain of birth resulted in her feeling unprepared for the scenes. The birth scenes were filmed over the period of one day, consisting of more than fifteen shoots. Clarke said the dramatic breathing left her "dizzy" and even caused her to hyperventilate.Following the birth, Roo decides to have her daughter adopted out. This marked a temporary two-week departure for the character, as she goes to the city to make arrangements off-screen. For Roo's return, producers created "a new, glamorous and confident" look for her. Of this, Clarke said "Roo's grown up a lot while she's been away because of the trauma of it all. She's out to live down her bad name." Roo's return coincides with Frank's proposal to Bobby Simpson, but instead of what everyone is expecting, she actually gives the couple her blessing. Clarke said Roo is trying to be nice, but no one believes or trusts her, which Clarke thought was understandable given Roo's history. Clarke also revealed that the reason Roo is so accepting of Frank and Bobby's engagement is that she has a new love interest, whose identity was initially kept a secret. Clarke told David Brown of TV Week that everyone thinks she is making it up when she declares that she is in love, until her boyfriend arrives in the Bay. Clarke added "It's a very good storyline. I'll be able to tackle another teenage problem."
Departure and return
Clarke played the role of Roo from 1988, until the character was written out a year later after Clarke quit the show. Clarke has been asked to return to the show and reprise her role as Roo many times, but she has never agreed.In August 2010, it was announced that Roo would be returning to Home and Away. Producers decided to recast the role after Clarke became busy with other television shows and her career as a children's singer. Former All Saints actress, Georgie Parker was given the role and she began filming her first scenes in the same month. Of her casting, Parker said "I'm thrilled to be back at Channel Seven and to be part of Home and Away. Working with Ray is a joy. We are having a fantastic time together. The whole cast and crew have been wonderful". Of the decision to bring the character back, series producer Cameron Welsh said "We had such a positive reaction to Emily Symons's return as Marilyn; we trust the fans will love having an original character such as Roo back in the Bay. Securing Georgie Parker to bring her back to our screens is a real coup for the show".
Parker called her "a colourful character who has a strong history with the origin of the show". Parker has said the grown up Roo is very different from the teenager. She said "She was a colourful character when she left. She lost her mother when she was very young, and I think that when girls lose their mothers, they can go off the rails - and that's exactly what Roo did". Parker added that she gets to play the adult who may have learned from past mistakes. During an interview, Meagher said the adult Roo is "still full of energy, bluff and bravado. She's had a few financial problems and is possibly running away from a bloke." He added that Alf has trouble getting her to tell him the truth, but he is "pleased to see her back in the Bay."
Meningitis
In July 2014, the character was diagnosed with meningitis. After returning from an extended trip to Las Vegas to look after her injured aunt Colleen Smart, Roo was very secretive about her times away. Within a day, Roo started showing symptoms of an illness. Parker explained "This illness hits her fast and hard. She's lethargic, but thinks it's just jetlag. She also has a splitting headache that affects her eyes, and she's low on energy. It's all very out of character." Roo's decision to keep quiet about her trip meant that nobody had any idea what was wrong with her. Roo fell unconscious at home and the situation became very serious. Roo was eventually diagnosed with meningitis. Her condition later took a turn for the worse and she suffered a seizure. In order to treat her, the doctors needed to know about her trip and her foster-daughter Maddy Osborne found her passport, which revealed that she had been to Peru. With the information, the doctors were able to treat Roo and save her life.Storylines
1988–1989
Roo begins to resent her father's relationship with Ailsa Hogan out of loyalty to her late mother, Martha. Roo begins dating Frank Morgan and they start a band with Lance Smart and Martin Dibble. Roo's continued obsession with Ailsa drives a rift between her and Frank, despite nearly sleeping with him as an act of rebellion over Ailsa staying over. Roo contacts her aunt, Morag Bellingham, who is a judge and asks her to do a background check on Ailsa. At Alf and Ailsa's engagement party, Roo reveals Ailsa went to prison for killing her abusive father. However, Ailsa's friends and Frank, side with her. Roo begins a feud with Bobby Simpson, Ailsa's friend. Tired of her behaviour, Alf sends Roo to boarding school in Sydney.Roo begins dating Brett Macklin and she gets pregnant. Brett's reaction to this to book an abortion for her. Roo returns to Summer Bay and tries convincing Frank that he is the baby's father. She pretends to accept Alf and Ailsa's relationship so she will be allowed to stay. Roo sleeps with Frank and arranges for Alf to catch them together. She tells her aunt, Celia Stewart, that she is pregnant with Frank's baby. Frank agrees to marry her and Roo tries to accept Alf and Ailsa's marriage. Brett turns up and tells Roo the mumps has left him infertile and that he now wants the baby. She refuses to let him back into her life, so Brett goes to Morag, who tries to talk Roo into changing her mind. In the middle of her wedding, she reveals that Frank is not the father of her baby. Frank drives off in anger and swerves off the road to avoid Bobby and the car falls into a ditch, almost killing him.
The incident leaves Roo an outcast within the town. Morag tries to persuade her to move to the city with her, but Celia talks her out of it. Brett applies for custody, but Roo suggests they sort it out between themselves. She begins helping Brett's family as they set up a business in the Bay. She is pleased when Alf and Ailsa's differences over the development causes them to split up. With Ailsa returning to town to be Christopher Fletcher's godmother, Roo fakes stomach pains to stop Alf attending the christening. However, by hyperventilating she sends herself into premature labour and gives birth to a baby girl, who she names, Martha. She is pleased when Frank seems to take an interest, until she learns that he is dating Bobby. Brett tries to force Roo into giving him custody of Martha. He kidnaps the baby and Roo considered suicide, before she is informed that Brett had returned Martha. Roo refuses to press charges and the couple realise that they cannot raise Martha, so they give her up for adoption. Roo then begins to accept Ailsa, when she and Alf reconcile.
Roo decides to take a break from the Bay and when she returns, she reveals that she has a new boyfriend, David Lee. Alf and Celia are slightly shocked as David is Chinese and they are uncomfortable with Roo being in a mixed race relationship. Alf eventually gives the pair his blessing, but David later leaves town. Frank and Bobby marry and Roo is stunned to learn Bobby is Morag's daughter and thus her cousin. Roo takes a job at the Macklin Corporation. Her manager, Nicholas Walsh, sends nasty letters to Ailsa and frames Roo, with help from Morag. With Alf and Ailsa believing the letters are from her, Roo moves in with Celia and then with Morag. When Alf discovers the truth, he apologises and Roo moves back in. She then starts dating Simon Yates.
Ailsa becomes pregnant, which pleases Roo. Alf and Tom Fletcher go missing on a fishing trip and Ailsa goes into premature labour. Roo stays as her half-brother Duncan is born, shortly before Alf is found. Roo finds herself working closely with Frank and when he is offered a promotion in the city, he celebrates by kissing Roo. She feels guilty about the kiss and when Frank goes to the city without Bobby, everyone assumes he and Roo had an affair. Roo is upset when Sally Fletcher blames her for the break-up. Bobby tells her that she and Frank would have broken up anyway and gives them her blessing. Roo then goes to the city to meet Frank and tells him she wants to give their relationship another go. Frank and Roo marry, but they split by the time Frank returns to town. Roo later moves to New York, where she is joined for a time by both Martha and Duncan. In 2005, Roo has a near fatal car-accident and Alf and Morag fly to New York to be with her while she recovers.