| Justine Jones | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortland Street character | |||||||||||||
 Lucy Wigmore as Justine Jones (2009) | |||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Laurie Foell (2005–2006) Lucy Wigmore (2007–2009) | ||||||||||||
| Duration | 2005–2009 | ||||||||||||
| First appearance | 28 September 2005 | ||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 27 July 2009 | ||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Harriet Crampton (2005) Jason Daniel (2006) Steven Zanoski (2009) | ||||||||||||
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Dr. Justine McKay (also Jones)1 is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who appeared in numerous stints from 2005 to 2009. She was portrayed by Laurie Foell in 2005 for a guest stint before returning in 2006 as a regular character. In 2007 the role was controversially recast, with Lucy Wigmore taking over. She played the role through to 2008 and again in a guest stint in 2009.
Originally a rival of high standing surgeon - Chris Warner (Michael Galvin), the character of Justine was soon expanded into the matriarch of a new family unit, the McKays. Her husband, Callum (Peter Mochrie) and children Hunter (Lee Donoghue) and Sophie (Kimberley Crossman) arrived in late-2006. Justine started an affair with her ex rival, Chris and ended up briefly separating from Callum she starred in a hugely high profile storyline in 2008, where Justine faked her death and entered witness protection to escape hired thugs. She returned in 2009 for a special appearance to start off the Winter season, where she testified against the thugs and separated from Callum. The character's feisty no nonsense personality saw her maintain several stable friendships with; Sarah Potts (Amanda Billing) and Luke Durville (Gerald Urquhart). She also developed notable feuds, mainly with Toni Warner (Laura Hill).
The character was largely popular, being asked to return after both her departures in 2008 and 2009. The decision to recast Justine proved largely controversial but following audiences eventual acceptance, Wigmore's performance proved hugely favourable.