Gwen Cooper

Gwen Elizabeth Williams (maiden name Gwen Elizabeth Cooper) was a Cardiff Police Constable who joined Torchwood 3.

Prior to joining Torchwood
Gwen's parents are Geraint and Mary Cooper. Gwen met her boyfriend Rhys in college, Rhys fancied her as soon as he saw her because of her nice personality and her good looks. Rhys often made jokes during the stupidest time, Gwen referred to this as "Rhysing around". (TW: Adam) At some point, though, Gwen also had an affair with Andy Davidson (TW: Adrift) and someone named Bruce. Rhys and Gwen lived together. Rhys did not believe in aliens, believing terrorists had caused hallucinations by putting psychotropics in the water supply.

Gwen was a uniformed police constable when she was called in on a murder scene, only to encounter a mysterious team of individuals known only as "Torchwood". She got involved when she stumbled across the team investigating one of several murders covertly carried out by one of Torchwood's own personnel, the devious Suzie Costello. She also witnessed the killing of a hospital porter by a Weevil, an obviously non-human being. Captain Jack Harkness took her on a tour of the Hub, after which he dosed her with retcon but she still managed to make notes on her meeting with the team. Subsequently, she joined Torchwood at the invitation of Captain Jack Harkness, who valued her empathic nature and ability to see beyond the facts. Alone of all the team at that time, because she saw Costello shoot him pointblank in the head and come back to life, she knew that Jack could die and then return. (TW: Everything Changes)

Early career
Gwen was taught to use guns by Jack, and there appeared to be some sexual tension, but any developing feelings were apparently negated when she returned home and the "ghost machine" showed her memories of her relationship with Rhys. (TW: Ghost Machine) She and another team memder, Owen Harper kissed passionately whilst hiding from the partially cyber-converted Lisa Hallett. (TW: Cyberwoman) Following his seduction of her (TW: Countrycide), Owen and Gwen embarked upon a brief affair with him, largely because she couildn't share her supernatural and extraterrestrial experiences with her boyfriend, Rhys, even though she does care for him.

Gwen was the only one to hear the ghost of Eugene Jones (although she didn't know that it was him at the time). (TW: Random Shoes)

Gwen jokingly tells Rhys she is using telepathy on him. Throughout the episode, her emotions are played with as Rhys' life is threatened then taken away, eventually leading a coup with Owen to overthrow Jack and open the Rift, believing it will resurrect Rhys. While ecstatic when eventually Rhys is returned at the price of Jack, who battled with Abaddon and remained dead for days, Gwen stayed by his side for the entire time, unwavering in her belief in him, before he is finally resurrected, and thanked her after she kissed his dead lips. A few minutes afterward, Jack vanished, having left the team behind to chase after the TARDIS (TW: End of Days)

Jack's disappearance
After Jack's disappearance she, along with the rest of the team, was despatched on a "wild goose chase" to the Himalayas by Mr. Saxon. (DW: The Sound of Drums)


 * Gwen's fate during the Year That Never Was remains unrevealed.

Gwen took over as team leader upon their return to Wales. Rhys proposed to her and she accepted. (TW: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang)

Reunion
Just as suddenly as she had vanished, Jack re-appeared and once more took over Torchwood. (TW: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang) Following a case which involved Rhys' hauling company and his attempt to investigate, Gwen came clean about the true nature of her work for Torchwood. (TW: Meat)

When Adam Smith arrived at Torchwood, he inserted himself into Gwen's memory and she forgot about Rhys. When she came home, he was in the flat and she called Jack thinking he was a mad man who had broken into her flat. She remembered him after he refreshed her memory of how they met. (TW:  Adam)

Gwen married Rhys and became Gwen Williams. (TW: Something Borrowed)

She was upset when Andy Davidson (Her former police partner) told her she had become alienated since she joined Torchwood. Angry at this she set out trying to unlock the mystery of the rift despite Jack's opinion. (TW: Adrift)

Personality
As a Torchwood operative she provided an essential foil to Captain Jack, although her personal agendas often interfered with her duties. Her actions and descisions are often guided by her desire to protect her live-in boyfriend (and alter husband), Rhys. She had a brief, disruptive affair with another operative, Owen Harper.

Other information

 * Her parents live in Swansea.

Key Life Events

 * Gwen joins Torchwood 3 (TW: Everything Changes)
 * Gwen marries Rhys Williams. (TW: Something Borrowed)