Morag Bellingham (née Stewart) was a recurring character in Home And Away who appeared from 1988-1993 and then 2001-2017. She is also one of the shows most iconic ever characters. Morag was Alf Stewart's villainous older sister and was the Summer Bay version of the Wicked Witch Of The West. In 1989 it was revealed that she was the mother of Bobby Simpson. Morag was played by the late Cornelia Frances.
Biography[]
Morag Bellingham | |
---|---|
Character Profile
| |
Birthday: | 1941 |
Birthplace: | Summer Bay |
Father: | Gordon Stewart |
Mother: | Sarah Jane Stewart |
Siblings: | Colleen Smart (half) Alf Stewart Barbara Stewart Celia Stewart Debra Stewart |
Spouse: | Richard Bellingham (1969-1989) Ross Buckton (2008-2011) |
Children: | Bobby Marshall (1970) |
Occupation: | Lawyer, Magistrate |
Played By: | Cornelia Frances |
Backstory[]
Morag Stewart was born in 1941 to Gordon and Sarah Jane Stewart. She was the sister of Alf Stewart, Celia Stewart, Barbara Stewart, Debra Stewart and Colleen Smart. Morag went to law school and became a lawyer. By the time she first appeared on Home and Away, she had become a magistrate. In 1969 she married Richard Bellingham but that didn't stop her having a brief affair with Donald Fisher who was married to her sister Barbara! She became pregnant from the affair and gave birth to a daughter, Bobby in 1970. Bobby was adopted by Al Simpson and his wife Doris.
1988-1993[]
Morag was first seen in 1988 when her niece Roo Stewart came to stay with her in The City. By now she was a wealthy magistrate living in a mansion but her marriage to Richard was largely non-existent. The two were living separate lives and they later divorced. Morag was close to Roo and was more than happy to help her try to break up Alf's relationship with Ailsa Hogan. Morag found out about Ailsa's time in prison but despite this bombshell, it failed to break Alf and Ailsa up. When Roo learned she was pregnant with Brett Macklin's child, Morag took her in. Although Morag was broadly supportive of her niece, she wasn't above skulduggery. She could see advantages to Roo being connected to a member of the wealthy Macklin family and for a time, conspired with Brett behind Roo's back.
In 1989 it was revealed that Morag was Bobby Simpson's biological mother. However, the two of them never formed any sort of relationship. The only thing they had in common was mutual antipathy. Morag moved to Summer Bay for a time but moved away again towards the end of 1989. When Morag was badly injured in a car accident in 1991, Bobby told Ailsa that if she died she wouldn't care. At some point after Morag's divorce from Richard, she had a relationship with police detective Ross Buckton. That ended when she realised she would always play second fiddle to Ross's job.
After Bobby died in 1993, Morag resurfaced. She sneakily tried to gain custody of Bobby's adopted son Sam Marshall. It was never clear if she did it as some sort of revenge or if she genuinely felt some sort of affection for the boy. Either way, she was stopped in her tracks when Ailsa did some investigation. Alf banished Morag from Summer Bay and cut contact with her.
2001-2017[]
Morag returned in June 2001, as the judge presiding over the Dani Sutherland vs. Kane Phillips trial. She and Alf reconciled, agreeing to let bygones be bygones.
In 2008 Morag unexpectedly encountered Ross Buckton again. They began seeing each other though they encountered some hitches along the way - Ross lying about when his wife had died was a big one. As was Ross's daughter Charlie bitterly opposing their relationship. They married later in the year and went on honeymoon to Europe. Alas their happiness was short-lived. When Morag and Ross returned home, it quickly became evident that there was something wrong with Ross. He was later diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Morag struggled to deal with her husband's condition and became stressed and snappy. For a time Ross returned to live with his daughter Charlie and granddaughter Ruby but eventually was moved on to a care home. Morag brought him to the care home in the city and moved there to be near him. She returned to the Bay in 2011 for Ross's funeral.
Morag returned in November 2012 for the wedding of Roo to Harvey Ryan.
In 2016 Morag returned to Summer Bay in Episode 6371 when Alf asked her to represent Zac MacGuire in the Charlotte King murder case. According to an interview with Cornelia Frances on "The Morning Show", her character would only be on the show for three weeks. Morag threatened corrupt cop Dylan Carter and revealed Dylan's past relationship with his ex-fiancée, Constable Katarina Chapman.
Morag returned for a final time 2017 to represent John Palmer during his arson and manslaughter trial.
Sadly, Cornelia Frances died in 2018. To date the character has not been recast and it is unlikely to happen in the future.
Memorable info[]
Date of birth: 1941
Full Name: Morag Bellingham (Née Stewart)
First line "Few days" in answer to Alf about how long she is staying for Roo's wedding.
Final line "Well, you've never backed away from a challenge, I respect that. And I look forward to meeting my great-niece, or nephew...Oh, pull yourself together. And anything you need, just ask." (to Roo)
Nicknames Bugsy (by Martha Stewart), Morgs (by Lance Smart)
Trivia[]
In 1988, Morag called Alf her "little brother", suggesting she is a few years older.
Quotes[]
Family[]
Father Gordon Stewart
Mother Sarah Jane Stewart
Siblings Celia Stewart, Alf Stewart, Barbara Stewart, Debra Stewart; Colleen Smart (half, same father)
Grandfathers Duncan Stewart Snr
Great Grandfathers Angus Stewart
Spouse Richard Bellingham (1969-1989), Ross Buckton (2008-2011)
Children Bobby Marshall (1970)
Stepchildren Charlie Buckton
Cousin Jennifer Atkinson
Nieces/Nephews Roo Stewart, Duncan Stewart, Alan Fisher, Rebecca Nash, Lance Smart