Josie Russell (Home and Away)
Jacinta "Josie" Russell | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Fictional character |
| Known for | Home and Away |
Jacinta "Josie" Russell is a character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portrayed by Laurie Foell. She made her debut on 9 August 2004 and exited the series on 29 June 2005. Prior to this role, Foell appeared in the show as Kelly McCane in 1999 and later as Josie's cousin Angie Russell in 2002.
Josie's narrative arcs encompass forming a bond with her cousin’s daughter Tasha Andrews, engaging romantically with Jesse McGregor, having an affair with her former partner Marc Edwards, and confronting threats connected to the death of a client.
Development
After portraying Angie Russell two years earlier, Foell returned in 2004 to play Josie, Angie’s identical cousin. Foell characterized Josie as "considerably warmer" and "a survivor," distinguishing her from the more cold-hearted Angie.
Storylines
Josie is introduced when Irene Roberts and Dylan Russell discover her working at a city brothel. Irene disapproves of Josie's relationship with Tasha Andrews due to Josie's occupation. Josie's likeness to Angie stirs unease upon her arrival in Summer Bay.
Upon settling in Summer Bay, Josie contributes $2000 to the local school, invests in the surf club, and suggests naming a new bar "Noah's" in memory of the recently deceased Noah Lawson. Tasha’s friends Sally Fletcher and Flynn Saunders grow suspicious, believing Josie might be after Tasha's inheritance. After receiving legal counsel from Morag Bellingham, Josie withdraws her application for guardianship when a hidden part of her past comes to light. Later, she aids Tasha’s biological father Ian Osbourne with surveillance activities that are eventually uncovered and abandoned.
Josie starts dating her business associate Jesse McGregor but ends their relationship when he confesses his love for her. Tasha manipulates events by pretending to break up with her boyfriend Robbie Hunter to bring them back together. Josie supports Tasha emotionally after Ian rejects her. The arrival of ex-boyfriend Marc Edwards leads to an affair Josie soon regrets. Marc then blackmails her over the suspicious death of one of her clients. Although Josie accepts Jesse’s proposal of marriage, Marc reveals their affair, prompting Jesse to leave town temporarily.
Following Marc’s arrest as a suspect in stalking incidents and his subsequent murder by the actual stalker Eve Jacobsen, Josie is initially under suspicion but later cleared. She decides to leave Summer Bay and invites Tasha to accompany her; however, Tasha declines.
Josie returns partnering with Brett Macklin in business but uncovers his involvement in illegal waste dumping. She devises a plan against Brett which fails when Stafford McRae does not arrive as expected. Brett then attempts to murder Josie by pushing her off a cliff but is arrested. After a brief relationship with Scott Hunter ends quickly, Josie departs once more, relocating to Boston. The following year she invites Tasha, Robbie, and their daughter Ella to join her there.
Reception
Roz Laws from the Sunday Mercury commented that "Josie, the eerily similar sister of Angie, has been on Home And Away for just five minutes but has definitely made an impression." A writer for What's On TV described her as "twisted" and emphasized Foell’s strong performances in both roles as Angie and Josie. An Inside Soap journalist referred to Josie's introduction as a "mad — yet brilliant" storyline.