Hunter McKay

Hunter McKay is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who was portrayed by Lee Donoghue from December 2006, as part of a new family unit consisting of parents Callum McKay (Peter Mochrie) and Justine Jones (Laurie Foell), and younger sister Sophie McKay (Kimberley Crossman). Donoghue stayed with the role until he quit in late 2011. Hunter made his final appearance in March 2012.
Hunter was portrayed as an intelligent character who was seen as a womaniser, starting an affair with his bully's mother Tess
 (Anita Torrance) in 2007. Storylines around Hunter often saw his 
relationship with his family, strained due to his large ego and career 
choices throughout adolescence, this included the decision to become a 
model despite his parents best wishes. The character starred in numerous
 ethical storylines including the dangers of modelling, an HIV storyline
 and drug addiction. However the character was also often involved in 
relationship storylines, including long running partnerships with Tess, Morgan Braithwaite (Bonnie Soper), Jill Kingsbury (Natalie Medlock) and serial killer Penny Rourke (Carolyn Dando).
Donoghue has been praised throughout the characters run, being 
labelled a "hunk" and a "hottie". His acting has also been praised by 
television critics, stating he is believable and enjoyable. Hunter's 
storylines have also been well received, primarily the bullying 
storyline that resulted in Scarlett Valentine attempting to murder him and his drug addiction.
== Creation and Casting ==
The character of Justine Jones had been introduced to the show in 2005 as a vehicle for Australian actress Laurie Foell to enter the soap, having previously made her name on Home and Away.[1] The following year, Foell was offered a reprisal of the role with the intention of centring a new family unit around Justine.[2] To accompany the return of Justine, the characters of her husband Callum, daughter Sophie,
 and son Hunter, were created. Hunter was said to be "a young man with 
huge potential." and would be "strong-willed, egotistical and driven as 
his parents."[3] Lee Donoghue
 was part way through gaining his qualifications from Toi Whakaari: New 
Zealand Drama School, when he was offered the role of Hunter McKay.[4]
 Hunter and Sophie made their first appearance on 8 December 2006 with 
Hunter's first line being: "Very rustic, can't I get a hug from my mum 
first?". Donoghue took a 9-week break in mid-2011 to study in New York.[5] Whilst there, Donoghue fell in love and got a management contract.[5] Seeing as his Shortland Street contract was nearing its end, he decided not to renew it.[5]
 Hunter was written off in the conclusion to his drug addiction 
storyline, with Donoghue filming his final scenes in December 2011.[5] Hunter made his final appearance in early March 2012 with his final line being; "I love you too."
== Storylines ==
Hunter arrived to New Zealand with sister, Sophie (Kimberley Crossman) in December 2006 and instantly got in trouble with airport security, much to parents Callum (Peter Mochrie) and Justine's (Laurie Foell) anger. He had a brief fling with Scarlett Valentine
 (Nicole Thomson) but started to bully her, resulting in Scarlett 
attempting to murder Hunter. Hunter began to get bullied by gay 
schoolboy – Nate (Damien Harrison), who had a crush on him. He started a controversial relationship with Nate's mother Tess (Anita Torrance) which ended when he proposed. In 2008 Hunter used the fake death of Justine (Lucy Wigmore) to guilt Morgan Braithwaite (Bonnie Soper)
 into a relationship. His attempts at a career in modelling abruptly 
ended in 2009 when he realised the huge drug culture in the industry and
 he briefly dated nurse Aroha Reed (Geneva Alexander-Marsters) before joining medical school to become a doctor.
In 2010 Hunter briefly dated Tracey Morrison (Sarah Thompson)
 before getting stabbed with a needle by a drug addict. Faced with 
possible HIV, Hunter was outcast by his colleagues and when he was 
stabbed by a thug in May, he finally discovered he did not have the 
disease. He started to date Penny Rourke (Carolyn Dando) but learnt she was a murderer and turned her into the police. In 2011 Hunter started to date Jill Kingsbury (Natalie Medlock), but stress and competition with rival Paige (Rachel Foreman) caused Hunter to take ADHD
 medication. He found himself increasingly reliant and started taking 
harder drugs when Jill left him for Callum. Hunter eventually was 
dropped from medical school and Jill ended up dead when Hunter robbed a 
pharmacy for drugs. Struggling to cope with sobriety, his awaiting trial
 and disappointment from Callum, Hunter departed to Hastings to attend 
rehab in March 2012, finally on good terms with his father.
== Character development ==
=== Drug addiction ===
In
 2010, producers decided to exhibit Hunter through a drug addiction 
storyline to highlight the far stretch and extent of drug addiction.[6] In April 2011 it was announced Rachel Foreman would arrive as new character, Paige Munroe.[7] Paige and Hunter were set to be rivals and compete for top of the medical class.[7]
 Struggling to cope with medical school study, Hunter starts to take 
caffeine pills and after seeing Paige taking ADHD medication, borrows 
some off her to help study.[8] Donoghue purposefully tired himself out to make his acting realistic.[9] The doctor who supplies Hunter is arrested Hunter struggles to stop taking the drugs[9] and when he sees his father Callum has started an affair with his girlfriend Jill, he gets in a car crash and gets seriously injured.[10] The car crash saw the climax of the 2011 feature-length episode.[11] The long episode allowed producers to carry out such a stunt.[11] Injured and upset, Hunter starts to take speed.[10]
 Donoghue was interested at the storyline, stating it was the most 
difficult he had encountered in his 5 years on the show but knew it was 
important, saying; "I think it's quite an important storyline because 
I've been told that this type of addiction really happens. As Hunter 
becomes more reliant on the stuff, it starts affecting his relationship 
with his father, his girlfriend and everyone around him. If he tells 
anyone about it he's going to get kicked out of med school. He's very 
much alone and bearing the weight of this all by himself."[9] Evan discovers Hunter's secret and blackmails him,[10][12] later telling Daniel who forces Hunter to get help.[10] Hunter flees to Dunedin to try to get help.[4]
 Hunter lies to both Daniel and Callum about his trip to Dunedin, 
something which Donoghue insisted was easy for him; "With al that's 
happened, Hunter can't bear losing face to Callum. He has become good at
 lying about his addiction so is quick to come up with another plan."[13] However 3 months later, Hunter returns heavily addicted to Crystal Meth.[14] Donoghue found Hunter's P addiction "very challenging but incredibly rewarding."[14] He used personal grievances to portray the anguish Hunter suffered.[15]
Producer Steven Zanoski thought the storyline was contemporary, 
stating; "We have shown that drugs know no socio economic boundaries and
 even an educated medical student from a wealthy background can fall 
victim. The storyline has shown that drugs destroy lives and this year's
 cliff-hanger showcases this, all while providing us with some of the 
best performances of 2011."[6]
 Director – Katherine McRae, enjoyed the development of Hunter's drug 
addiction, stating; "It was such a change from his original character, 
but over the months the writers have built a credible and involving 
story and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Lee on this journey."[16] The 2011 season concluded with Hunter and drug addict friend, Bailey, robbing a pharmacy.[17]
 Daniel and Jill track Hunter down, only for Daniel to get bludgeoned 
with a crowbar by Bailey and Jill getting stabbed by a security guard.[17]
 The season's final scene portrayed Hunter cradling Jill as Daniel lies 
in a pool of blood. Writers of the show described the scene as a 
parallel of the last scene of Hamlet.[18]
 The cliffhanger forces Hunter to accept the consequences with Donoghue 
explaining; "Hunter's addiction to 'P' has caused him to reach a new 
low, and with his actions leaving his friends' lives in the balance, 
Hunter has to now deal with the consequences of the situation, no matter
 how serious they are."[19] Hunter got arrested and ended up getting bailed to his father's apartment.[20]
 Although clean from drugs, Hunter struggled with his father's presence 
and in March 2012 left for a Hastings rehab for a fresh start.[20]
 Donoghue thoroughly enjoyed playing the storyline and the confidence it
 brought, stating; "I threw myself into work there those last few 
months. Usually you ease off the longer you're there, but with the 
addiction storyline I took things to another level. It was good to show 
that a serious drug problem can happen to anyone. Hunter had everything 
he ever wanted and was on his way to becoming a doctor but it only takes
 one wrong move and it can ruin your life."[5]
Category:TV Show Heroes
Category:Live Action Heroes
Category:Male