Marie Jackson is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Anna Keaveney. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 8 February 1983 played by Antonia Mallen for a single appearance. Keaveney took over the role from 2 March 1983. Marie is introduced as the sister of Petra Taylor (Alexandra Pigg) and Michelle Jones (Tracey Jay). She eventually moves onto Brookside Close with her husband George Jackson (Cliff Howells) and their twin children Gary (Steven Patterson) and Little George (Allan Patterson), alongside Michelle, forming the show's Jackson family. Keaveney was originally only intended to appear as Marie in a few episodes but the role was expanded and she joined the show's regular cast. Marie is characterised as strong "battling" character with a "hard as nails" persona. Keaveney believed Marie's personality gave her the ability to take over the scenes she featured in, though she felt all Marie did was moan and complain. In her backstory, Marie endured a tough upbringing and was left to look after her younger sisters after her mother died and her alcoholic father, Davey Jones (Ian Hendry) was absent. Marie's initial storylines revolve around the disappearance of Petra and Marie's search to bring her home. Writers killed-off Petra in a suicide storyline and Marie inherits her house on Brookside Close.
Writers created feuds for Marie with the characters of Barry Grant (Paul Usher) and Sheila Grant (Sue Johnston). Writers created a "famous" fight scene between Marie and Sheila, who brawl on Brookside Close. Another story showcased Marie's tenacity as she fights for her children's rights to be enrolled in a private school. Show creator, Phil Redmond recalled the story seemed boring but resonated with viewers who were fighting to better the lives of their family. One of Marie's most prominent storylines occurs when George is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. Marie begins a campaign to secure his release from prison, which gained traction as the "Free George Jackson" campaign. The plot generated additional interest with viewers and helped bolster Brookside's audience share. Channel 4 supported the storyline with a real life publicity campaign to free George. Posters were put up around the UK, complete with a telephone number that viewers could call to receive fictional updates about the progress of Marie's campaign. The storyline continued with its uptrend in popularity but was ended when both Keaveney and Howells decided to leave the series. In her final storylines, she moves to Leeds to be closer to George and sells her house. She returned for two episodes to accommodate Jay's departure as Michelle. Keaveney made her final appearance as Marie during the episode broadcast on 18 June 1985.
For her performance as Marie, Keaveney was considered for a BAFTA in their shortlists. The character became popular with television critics who favoured her strong characterisation. She has been branded a soap opera "battleaxe" character by numerous critics and many profiled her tough persona. Keaveney's departure surprised journalists because she had been developed into a pivotal character within Brookside. However, one critic "hated" the character for being an unbearable neighbour and "hideous nag".
Development Introduction and characterisation She was first played by Antonia Mallen in a brief non-speaking role, which occurred during episode twenty-nine. Marie was seen supporting her grieving sister Petra Taylor (Alexandra Pigg) following the death of her husband, Gavin Taylor (Daniel Webb). Anna Keaveney played the role following Marie's full introduction from 2 March 1983. Marie is introduced as the sister of Petra and Michelle Jones (Tracey Jay). She eventually moves onto Brookside Close with her husband George Jackson (Cliff Howells) and their twin children Gary Jackson (Steven Patterson) and Little George Jackson (Allan Patterson), alongside Michelle, forming the show's Jackson family.Redmond 1987, p.70. Keaveney was originally only supposed to appear as Marie in a couple of episodes. The role was expanded and Keaveney joined the show's regular cast for eighteen months. Keaveney did not sign long-term fixed contracts with Brookside because she did not want to be restricted by a single role. Keaveney lived in London while she appeared in the series and commuted to Liverpool twice a week. She was born in Runcorn and developed the local Cheshire accent, but she was schooled in Liverpool which helped Keaveney put on a Scouse accent for the role.
Marie's appearance is a woman of short height with short legs but characterised by her short-temper.Redmond 1987, p.69. She is a "battling" character with a "fighting spirit" and "hard as nails" persona, who has endured a "tough life" and "learned to cope with tragedy".Redmond 1987, p.94. In the book, "Phil Redmond's Brookside - Life in the Close", author Geoff Tibballs describes Marie as "Petra's pit-bull terrier of a sister."Tibballs 1994, p.82. In the later book, "Total Brookside: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Soap", Tibballs described Marie as "short in temper and stature" and "nothing if not a fighter". He added she is "a graduate from the school of hard knocks" and a character who enjoys arguing with others.Tibballs 1998, p.263. In her backstory, Marie had been left to care for her two younger sisters since they were children. Their father is an alcoholic and their mother died when Marie was twelve forcing her to become a substitute mother. Marie is also portrayed as superstitious and in one storyline asks a clairvoyant, Mrs O'Rourke for life advice. Writers also added in the quirk of Marie believing she has physic powers and believed in reading tea leaves. Keaveney knew that when she took on the role, she did not want Marie to be portrayed as an "easy-going neighbour" to the other Brookside characters. Keaveney believed that writers used Marie to disrupt the peaceful dynamic that they had created amongst the established characters. She told Eleanor Levy from Record Mirror that "I think Marie Jackson brought in conflict because everyone was being very nice to each other." Keaveney told Brian Hancill from Daily Post that "Marie was such a strong character, taking over every scene she appeared in." She added that Marie is able to get "her own way" by "shooting her mouth off" at other characters. She also believed that Marie was often portrayed as moaning and complaining during scenes. She told Roy West from Liverpool Echo that "with poor Marie it was moan, moan, moan all the time!"
Family and feuds Marie's first prominent storyline was searching for her missing sister, Petra. The Jacksons move into Petra's house while their own home was being refurbished and Petra never returned. Marie spent months trying to locate Petra and put advertisements for her return in the local newspaper. In the show's Christmas episodes on 1983, Marie is depicted setting up an extra place for Petra at the dinner table, convinced she could return home. Marie's optimism appears to be successful when she receives a Christmas card from Petra and she discovers Petra has been cashing cheques in Southport.Tibballs 1994, p.84. In January 1984 episodes, Marie is informed that Petra is dead having committed suicide. Marie asks her clairvoyant, Mrs O'Rourke if she should remain at number 10 Brookside Close because she feels a coldness to the premises. She advises Marie to remain and moves back into the house. Roger Huntington (Rob Spendlove) later informs Marie that Petra has left Marie the house in her will plus £2500 every year. This prompts their absent father, Davey Jones (Ian Hendry) to arrive and ask about the will. Hendry was cast by Brookside producer Chris Clough who thought he was ideal for the role of Marie's father.Hershman 2013, p.283. Marie is portrayed as estranged from Davey, makes him feel unwelcome and vows to rid of him. Davey later steals Michelle's catalogue money. In his final scene he is ordered to leave Marie's house and he leaves Brookside Close.Hershman 2013, p.285. Writers created a feud between Marie and Barry Grant (Paul Usher), who she blamed for causing Petra to have a miscarriage and her later disappearance. Writers included Barry's mother, Sheila Grant (Sue Johnston) in the feud which results in a "slanging match" between the two on Brookside Close. Writers portrayed Sheila as needing to protect Barry from "Marie's vitriol". Keaveney addressed the scenes during an interview with Alan Hulme from Manchester Evening News, stating "Marie caused quite a stir", adding that Marie and Sheila's fight became "famous". Keaveney revealed that she and Johnston had fun working together on the story. Other stories in her early tenure include meddling in Michelle's relationship with Terry Sullivan (Brian Regan). She disapproves of their romance because Terry is best friends with Barry. In another story, Marie believes that her children will be better of attending a private school. The plot explores Marie trying to convince a headmaster to allow her sons to attend the school. Despite her newfound wealth, Marie's lower-class background is at odds with the school's cliental and she struggles to convince him. The storyline resonated well with viewers who had similar aspirations to Marie's and the show received letters praising the story. Show creator, Phil Redmond told Roy West from Liverpool Echo that the response surprised him. He added "I had thought it was a bit boring, but the letters showed people were intrigued by the conflict facing working class people who have aspirations."
"Free George Jackson" campaign In her most prominent storyline, Marie supports her husband when local gangster, Tommy McArdle (Malcolm Tierney) frames George for a robbery. George had innocently drawn a plan of a warehouse he attended a fire at on a napkin. Tommy commits a robbery at the warehouse and steals cigarettes and alcohol. George is arrested for the crime and the map he drew is used as evidence against him. Writers added optimism to the story when Marie and George have a day out together at the park. George saves a boy from drowning and George is hailed as a hero in the local newspaper.Tibballs 1994, p.85. Keaveney told Levy that Marie and George's relationship worked well because the two are "very much in love" and Marie is "a nag" which George needed. She added that "although George was very kind and straight and good, there was a kind of emotional weakness in him that needed someone as strong as Marie to keep him going." George is sent to trial, found guilty and sentenced to eighteen months in prison. Marie begins a campaign to prove her husband's innocence called "Free George Jackson". She enlists the help of a local journalist, Rick Sexton (Jeffrey Longmore) and her friend, Betty Hughes (Paula Tilbrook).Redmond 1987, p.72.Tibballs 1998, p.86. Keaveney described "a lonely Christmas" for Marie as she continues family life without George.