Faye Morton (also Michaels, Hewson, Wilson and Byrne) is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Patsy Kensit.
Her storylines have seen her marry registrar Joseph Byrne (Luke Roberts), and develop feelings for consultant Linden Cullen (Duncan Pow) following the death of her son.
[7] Television critic Jim Shelley noted that Kensit's casting in the role followed a trend of Holby City producers for hiring established actors, including comedian Adrian Edmondson and Jesus of Nazareth star Robert Powell.
[8] In preparation for the role, Kensit spent three days shadowing a real nurse,[9] and observed open heart surgery being performed as research.
"[12] The Daily Express have described her as "Gregarious...likes a gossip, but she's emotionally vulnerable",[13] while Holby City actress Tina Hobley has compared Faye to her own character, Chrissie Williams, explaining that "Faye is a quieter character all round who will do anything for an easy life, whereas Chrissie likes to stir up a bit of drama.
"[13] In the flashback episode "What Lies Beneath", exploring Faye's decision to move to Holby, she is seen to fight with her husband James, then later step over his dead body on the stairs.
"[17] Holby City's executive producer Simon Harper said that Faye and Joseph were "two huge, iconic characters" and their return would be a "nostalgic and exciting treat for long-term viewers.
"[17] Harper described the "unique episode" as centric to the "classic Darwin trio with all their past tensions and rivalries bubbling to the surface.
"[17] Faye arrives at Holby General in the episode "Into the Dark", requesting that registrars Joseph Byrne and Jac Naylor (Rosie Marcel) help her gain employment as a Bank Nurse.
Faye begins a friendship with Ward Sister Kyla Tyson, and supports her through her domestic abuse ordeal at the hands of her husband, his subsequent death, and the loss of her son to foster care.
[19] She resists the advances of hospital lothario Sam Strachan, and impresses general surgical consultant Dan Clifford (Peter Wingfield) with her approach to patient care - leading to an on the spot promotion after a clash with Thandie Abebe (Ginny Holder) in the episode "Leap of Faith".
When STI clinician Tim attacks staff members with a crossbow, Faye is shot in the back, but makes a full recovery.
She reveals to Joseph that she was formerly married to a much older man named Donald, who left her a substantial amount of money after his death from cancer.
Joseph and consultant Linden Cullen travel there to find her, and discover that Faye has a young son, Archie, who has Lowe syndrome.
Archie is later admitted to hospital when he accidentally swallows a whistle and he undergoes an operation to remove it and he is seemingly recovering in ICU however when nurse Lauren Minster mistakenly administers him the wrong drug Potassium, he dies.
[22] The character's introduction to the series was highly publicised in the media, including a front cover and inside spread featuring Kensit discussing her new role in the week's edition of the Radio Times.
[13] It was reported on 19 August 2007 that Kensit's casting had "boosted the series' appeal" to such an extent that for the first time, a Holby City calendar had been commissioned.
[3]This criticism was echoed by Shelley, who, commenting on an interview Kensit had given to publicise the show and her role with Jonathan Ross, suggested that "reality" was not a term that could be applied to Holby City's portrayal of nursing.
The "Holby City woman" archetype is modelled on Faye,[28] a female voter in her 30s or 40s, employed in a clinical or clerical position or some other public sector job.
[30] Jonathan Oliver for The Times noted that "Faye Morton, the Holby City staff nurse played by Patsy Kensit is just the sort of person that Cameron might now hope to recruit".