Ruth Stewart (Home and Away)

Roo Stewart
Georgie Parker as Roo Stewart (2013)
Home and Away character
Portrayed by	Justine Clarke (1988–1989) Georgie Parker (2010–)
Duration	1988–1989, 2010–
First appearance	20 January 1988
Introduced by	Alan Bateman (1988) Cameron Welsh (2010)
Book appearances	Family Matters Home and Away Volume 1: Summer Bay Blues Home and Away Volume 2: Scandal at Summer Bay
Classification	Present; regular
Profile
Occupation	Student Macklin employee Businesswoman Foster parent Waitress University lecturer
Home	Summer Bay House
Justine Clarke as Roo Stewart (1988)
Father Alf Stewart Mother Martha Stewart Stepmother Ailsa Stewart Half-brothers Owen Dalby Duncan Stewart Half-sisters Quinn Jackson Husband Frank Morgan (1990–91) Harvey Ryan (2012–14) Daughters Martha MacKenzie Stepdaughters Lottie Ryan Grandfathers Gordon Stewart Grandmothers Sarah Stewart Aunts Morag Bellingham Celia Stewart Barbara Stewart Debra Stewart Colleen Smart Nephews Ric Dalby Bryce Stewart First cousins Alan Fisher Rebecca Nash Bobby Simpson Lance Smart Other relatives Seb Miller

Ruth Martha "Roo" Stewart (previously Morgan) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Justine Clarke from 1988 to 1989. The character made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 January 1988. Clarke quit the role in 1989 and the character was written out. In August 2010, it was announced that Roo would return to Home and Away with Georgie Parker in the role. The character returned on 29 October 2010.

In 1987, Clarke auditioned for the roles of Carly Morris, Lynn Davenport and Bobby Simpson; but was unsuccessful each time. After the series had finished filming their pilot episode, producers changed their minds and invited Clarke to audition for the role of Roo, which she won. Clarke told a reporter from TV Life that she was "really pleased" because she thought Roo was a "great character".

Roo's personality gained an unwelcome reception amongst viewers. Clarke said that "everyone" hated Roo and revealed that people would "boo" at her while attending promotional appearances. On one occasion Clarke had to leave a shopping centre because females were shouting "slut" at her. Clarke said that Roo is "a cow" but defended her because Roo ultimately ends up suffering.

In the serial's first season, Alan Bateman wanted Home and Away to tackle serious social issues and a few months later Roo became the first character to have a teenage pregnancy. The production team felt that Roo's pregnancy was "risque" because Home and Away was aired in an early evening time-slot. Clarke said she did not know what it was like to be pregnant and had to carry out research. While filming the storyline, Clarke was required to wear a bag filled with lentils beneath her clothing. This was to give the impression that Roo was pregnant, and as her pregnancy progressed more lentils were added to the bag to maintain continuity. Clarke remained unaware of how to portray a convincing birth scene. The wife of the episode's director had previously given birth during a complicated labour. She helped Clarke with her research, which also included watching child birth videos. Clarke said that while she had learned most aspects of labour, not experiencing the actual pain of birth resulted in her feeling unprepared for the scenes. The birth scenes were filmed over the period of one day, consisting of more than fifteen shoots. Clarke said the dramatic breathing left her "dizzy" and even caused her to hyperventilate.