Jenny Harrison (Shortland Street)

Jenny Harrison
Shortland Street character
Portrayed byMaggie Harper
Duration1992–1998, 2002
First appearance26 May 1992
Last appearance14 September 2002
ClassificationFormer; regular
Introduced byCaterina De Nave (1992)
Harriet Crampton (2002)
Book appearancesShortland Street books – Nick's story (1996)
In-universe information
OccupationPolitical administrator
business manager
personal assistant
FatherWilson
HusbandBarry Harrison (1975–1983)
Ian Seymour (1997–)
SonsNick Harrison
GrandsonsLucas Harrison
Camry Harrison
GranddaughtersTina-Anne Harrison
Celica Harrison
Ranger Harrison
Silvia Harrison

Jenny Harrison is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Maggie Harper as part of the show's original cast, making her first appearance in the second episode. Harper quit the role in 1998 but reprised the character briefly 4 years later.

Jenny was created as the single mother of teenage rebel, Nick Harrison (Karl Burnett) after surviving an abusive marriage with Nick's father. The personal assistant to the Shortland Street clinic's chief executive officer, Michael McKenna (Paul Gittins), Jenny was the embodiment of the strong and wise matriarch the shows producers wished to portray. Jenny headlined numerous storylines including a secret love affair with Guy Warner (Craig Parker), a secret revealing Nick may not be her biological son, numerous romances, a pregnancy and later abortion, breast cancer, a brief marriage to the villainous Ian Seymour (David Press) and departing the show to work in politics alongside best friend, Marj Brasch (Elizabeth McRae). By the time Jenny departed in 1998, she was the show's longest running character and only one of the two remaining original cast, beside her son Nick.

Jenny was a popular character. Many of Jenny's storyline were notable, including a never-finished story where she developed a cyst and a hugely controversial storyline where she had an abortion.