Mary Cooper

Mary Cooper was born some time prior to 1947. She married Geraint Cooper, and the two would have a daughter, Gwen Cooper. Through her daughter Gwen, Mary would eventually become the mother-in-law of Rhys Williams and grandmother of Anwen Williams.

BIOGRAPHY
In her encounter with the quantum transducer, Gwen used the ghost machine to instigate a flashback of her and Rhys leaving to attend Mary's 60th birthday party. (TW: Ghost Machine)

At the time of her daughter's wedding she was living in Swansea. Mary attended Gwen's wedding. After seeing Gwen, who unbeknownst to Mary was actually impregnated by a Nostrovite, Mary was happy at the prospect of a grandchild - particularly because she believed it would shock Brenda. Although Mary was not privy to the nature of Gwen's job, she was caught up in the adventure when she was threatened by the Nostrovite who had assumed the guise of Brenda. Despite Gwen and Rhys proclaiming that they would not keep secrets from each other in their marriage, Mary's memories -like those of the other wedding guests - were erased by Jack Harkness. Mary forgot about the whole ordeal, which her daughter felt to be "for the best". She was last seen sleeping against Brenda - perhaps an indication that the two would manage to put aside their differences. (TW: Something Borrowed)

During the Dalek invasion of Earth, Gwen told Rhys tell Mary to take her pills and go to sleep. (DW: The Stolen Earth) When investigating a man connected to the 456 going by the alias "Timothy White"; Gwen commented that her mother used to shop there. (TW: Children of Earth: Day One) At some point prior to Miracle Day, Gwen informed Mary of the true nature of her job with the Torchwood Institute. (TW: The New World)

MIRACLE DAY

On Miracle Day, Mary accompanied her husband to the hospital after he had had a heart attack, and met her daughter, son in law, and - for the first time since Anwen was born - her grandaughter. She asked Gwen for information about The Miracle, though she didn't get any answers as Gwen didn't know what had happened. (TW: The New World) After they were released from police custody, Mary shared her home in Swansea with son-in-law Rhys and grandaughter Anwen. When Geraint was taken to Cowbridge Overflow Camp, Mary encouraged Gwen's rescue mission, also collating all the information she could find about the camps. (TW: The Categories of Life) Shortly after Geraint was rescued, Mary was kidnapped along with the rest of Gwen's family, and used as leverage in an attempt to force Gwen to turn in Jack Harkness. (TW: The Middle Men) However, after Esther Drummond got in contact with Andy Davidson, Gwen's former colleague, he came to the family's rescue with a South Wales attack team. (TW : Immortal Sins ) Mary’s life threatening experience results in her telling Gwen not not give up in her Torchwood quest, and to "go and get the bastards" responsible.(TW : End of the Road )

Gwen is later deported from the U.S.A and as her own home was partially destroyed, returns to her mother's home with the rest of her family. Two months later, Mary is seen to be still hiding her category one husband from the government authorities. After the house is initially searched, Mary breaks down in tears after having been forced to physically restrain Geraint to prevent him making noise. When the house is searched a second time, Mary is refused entry. She later signs the forms releasing her legally dead husband, who is taken back to the Cowbridge overflow camp in preparation for incineration.(TW : The Gathering ) After Gwen helps to reverse the Miracle, Mary gets a final chance to say goodbye to her husband by telephone as son-in-law Rhys has gained a police visa. (TW : The Blood Line )

PERSONALITY
Gwen is seen to have a more frosty relationship with her mother, than she does with her father Geraint. At her daughter's wedding Mary was seen to be somewhat of a snob, nagging her husband Geraint and taking pleasure in scoring points against Rhys' Mum, Brenda Williams. (TW: Something Borrowed) After Mary meets Gwen for the first time since her exile, she teases Gwen about her 'frugal' lifestyle, asking if she'd been feeding Anwen lard. (TW: The New World) Upon returning to Wales, and her mother, Gwen makes a joke about America's superiority in allowing people to divorce their mothers, which evokes a sense of discord between the two. Mary likes to dress Anwen in a way that displeases Gwen, who sees the exclusively pink outfit as frivolous. (TW: The Categories of Life) When Gwen spoke to Rhys at the Colasanto residence, Mary told him to tell her daughter that she wasn't available to speak personally because she was watching T.V, even though she wasn't. (TW: End of the Road

Although the relationship between Gwen and Mary was at times strained, Mary actively encouraged her daughter's missions during Miracle Day. (TW: End of the Road) (TW: The Blood Line) A softer side is seen to the character when she is seen to rely on her daughter for emotional support after restraining Geraint in the basement, sobbing onto her shoulder. (TW: The Gathering) When Gwen is in Shanghai attempting to put an end to "Miracle Day" Mary tells her that she better not let anything happen to her.(TW: The Blood Line)

She also enjoyed looking after Gwen's daughter Anwen. (TW: The New World) (TW: The Categories of Life)(TW: The Blood Line)