Brooke Freeman (Previously Marsden, and Rolleston) is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Beth Allen.
Two of her notable relationships include a failed romance with Ethan Pierce (Owen Black) - which almost led her to suicide.
Brooke has been positively received by critics, favouring her deceitful nature and calling her the serial's "token bitch".
[2] She had always aspired to work on Shortland Street[2] and also found Brooke's complexity an appealing factor upon taking the role.
[5] Described as "ultra-fashion-conscious", Brooke has usually dressed in tight silky blouses, high-waisted skirts and high heels.
The serial's stylist Nicola Newman revealed that when Brooke showed her "vulnerable side", she implemented lighter colours to convey the change.
Black told The Sunday Star-Times that he had a good working relationship with Allen, which helped them successfully perform many "big pashing scenes.
"[7] Brooke makes an enemy in Ethan's girlfriend Alice Piper (Toni Potter) and they later have a cat fight.
[8] In one storyline Brooke becomes too focused on running the Primary Care Clinic, that she put a patient's life elsewhere at risk.
"[10] The scenes played out when she incorrectly prescribed Barry Knox (Richard Green) with the wrong drugs, he developed serotonin syndrome.
Sarah Potts (Amanda Billing) confronted Brooke over her negligence and she realised she needed to cover her tracks.
"[11] Brooke was later forced to cope with the arrival of her alcoholic mother Annette, with Louise Wallace being cast in the role.
[15] In December, actress Rachel Blampied arrived to the soap as Brooke's illegitimate half sister, Bree.
"[16] In 2023, Allen reprised the role and Brooke makes a cameo appearance working at St Catherines hospital.
[17] Brooke arrives at Shortland Street as a locum GP and instantly attracts a male attention from Kip Denton (Will Hall) and Chris.
Tania Jeffries (Faye Smythe) and Tracey Morrison (Sarah Thomson) take a disliking to Brooke as they think she is playing mind games with Kip and Chris.
The Ferndale newspaper publish an article about Brooke, revealing that her father, Grant scammed millions of dollars from people.
Brooke is shot by hitman Don Lennox (Chris Easley), after he mistakes her for Justine and she survives the attack.
Brooke gives romantic advice to Callums daughter Sophie McKay (Kimberley Crossman) about Kieran, this has a negative effect on her own relationship.
On her return Brooke clashes with ED doctor Maxwell Avia (Robbie Magasiva) which leads to a potential romance.
Once in the hospital, Brooke learns more about Bree's motives and then makes the painful choice to refer her sister to a psychiatric unit.
She had visited Bree but it was cut short and she was told to keep away from her, causing Brooke to feel guilty that she is unable to support her one and only sibling.
Brooke later marries wealthy doctor Boyd Rolleston in an attempt to free him of ties to his horrific family.
At first Brooke only considered Boyd because of his money and manipulated him into taking her to his family estate, but now has formed a somewhat normal relationship with him.
Brooke reunites with Chris who asks her to help fund the reopening of Shortland Street, but she declines, showing little love for her former workplace.
[19] Sarah Lang of The New Zealand Herald said Brooke was the serial's "latest vixen" who had been putting her "pins to good use".
"[1] Lang's Herald colleague Zoe Walker said Brooke is Shortland Street's "token bitch" with a liking for "tailored jackets, pencil skirts and plunging necklines.
"[20] Whilst Nicola Russel of the Sunday News similarly branded Brooke as the serial's "resident bitch.
"[11] The Sunday Star-Times said "Brooke's angelic looks hide a ruthless personality she won't hesitate to lie her way out of sticky situations."
[4] Many of Allen's co stars listed Brooke as the soap's best villain, noting the character's ability to manipulate whilst also empathise with the audience.