Wendy Case is a fictional character played by Drea de Matteo in the series Sons of Anarchy. She is Jax Teller's ex-wife and Abel Teller's biological mother. Shortly after Jax breaks up with her, she intentionally becomes pregnant in the hope that it would keep Jax with her. She was a "crank" addict during her pregnancy, which nearly killed Abel, who was born ten weeks premature with a hereditary heart malfunction and a tear in his abdominal wall. Drea de Matteo is a supporting cast member for the majority of her time on the series. She was promoted to main cast billing for the seventh and last season.
Character biography
Season 1
Jax's mother, Gemma Teller Morrow, finds Wendy unconscious, necessitating her being hospitalized and her baby being delivered ten weeks premature via Caesarean section. She takes her to the hospital and calls Jax, who then also shows up at the hospital. Dr. Tara Knowles, Jax's high school sweetheart, tells him that the baby has a heart defect which, combined with Wendy's drug abuse, gives him just a 20% chance of survival. Jax flees the hospital without seeing his newborn son and beats Wendy's dealer. At the hospital, Tara recommends that Abel's heart surgery happen immediately, and asks to privately talk to Gemma. She asks her to talk to Wendy and let her know that she has somebody, but Gemma says she would only give her vitriol. Tara asks if she has a problem with her being involved with the case, to which Gemma replies that as long as she's a good doctor, she couldn't care less. Tara performs a successful surgery on Abel and Gemma visits Wendy, ridiculing her and telling her that the District Attorney is dropping any charges against her. Wendy says that she will get clean, now that she has her baby. Gemma threatens her, saying that if she tries to get custody of the child, she will kill her. Gemma then gives back the Bible Wendy was reading, now containing a needle, hinting that Gemma will discreetly allow Wendy to commit suicide via overdose. Jax also returns to the hospital, and reunites and embraces with Tara. She notices the blood on his clothes, and tells him to clean himself up. Wendy has an overdose in her hospital bed, as the doctors desperately try to save her. Jax finally visits his son. At the hospital, Wendy regains consciousness after her overdose. Tara approaches her and suggests that Gemma supplied the drugs, but Wendy refuses to accept the allegation. Instead, she reflects upon her situation as compared to the doctor's. Wendy walks in on a tender moment between Jax and Tara and realizes that Gemma is using her to get to Tara. Wendy confronts Gemma, then notifies Tara that she intends to mend her relationship with Jax and that Gemma is determined to sabotage Jax and Tara's relationship. At Abel's homecoming, Tara kisses Jax in front of Wendy, and slaps Jax when he privately asks her not to rub their relationship in Wendy's face. Tara leaves. Later that night, Wendy consoles Jax and the two have sex. She attends Donna Winston's funeral.
Season 4
Wendy returns after being absent for three seasons. She brings Tara a vase of flowers in the hospital, and makes known her intention to reclaim her place in the life of her son, Abel. After Wendy leaves, A furious Tara smashes the vase and breaks her cast, further injuring her wounded hand. Gemma visits the hospital and learns that Jax and Tara are planning to leave Charming. She meets with Wendy and warns her to stay away from Abel until Tara has recovered.
Season 5
Wendy reveals that she is now interested in women romantically and lives with her new lover in her apartment and is now living a clean life. After her threats to take custody of Abel, Jax shows up and threatens her by shooting her in the arm with a syringe.
Season 6
Wendy returns again, and conspires with Tara to gain full custody of the children if Tara goes to prison. Tara organises with Wendy to feed Gemma a series of lies in order to make her agree to help Wendy get full custody. However Wendy, feeling guilty for what she has done, goes back into a heroine relapse. She is found unconscious in her apartment and is taken care of by Gemma, who gets her back into rehab.
Season 7
Juice has been hiding out in Wendy's apartment while on the run from SAMCRO. Wendy helps Gemma and Unser by hiding Juice as she continues to help out as a carer for Thomas and Abel.
Reception
Drea de Matteo, along with David LaBrava and Niko Nicotera were all promoted to the regular cast for the seventh season.
