Home and Away star Emily Weir has spoken out after her character Mackenzie Booth suffered a tragic miscarriage in recent Australian scenes. The devastating moment happened the day before Cash and Eden’s wedding (which was followed by the similarly sad death of Theo). Since then, Mack has pushed away both her partner Levi and and roommate Mali away.
“We’ve really wanted to do it justice,” Weir told Aussie outlet Chattr, explaining that it’s “a very common story” in real-life, as well as something Mack has experienced before.
“She had the ectopic pregnancy back a few years ago, so she’s lost a baby before, and a fallopian tube removed, but I think this time she’s just so much more solidified in her relationship,” the actor explained.
“It’s an exploration medically, but also emotionally, about how she [Mack] feels and all the ups and downs of hormones, everything she’s going through.”
She continued: “There’s something about, you know, to a couple intentionally wanting something… [Mack and Levi] both want to start a family. And then the heartbreak, because it’s such a common story, it really tests relationships.”
She added: “It really tests women, like, mentally, physically, emotionally, especially around Mack’s age. It seems really relevant and topical. So, yeah, I feel very privileged that I get to explore it and all the ups and the downs of what Mack’s experiencing. It’s an honour, but it’s also wanting to do it delicately.”
Looking ahead, Weir said that viewers will see the “ripple effect” of the miscarriage as the couple will grieve the loss of their future that they had planned in their heads.
“There’s a true exploration around how a partnership kind of suffers a loss like this,” she stated. “And often people with grief and stress, they can turn on each other and pull away from each other.
“The hope with Mack and Levi is that they love each other very much and [Levi] is the forever guy in her eyes. But you know, it’s not without its trials, I will say.”
She concluded by stating that fans have reaching out and thanked the soap for tackling the difficult story, and she hopes seeing what Mack is going through can help people feel less alone.
