Prisoner characters - Inmates
Encyclopedia
A list of all inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...

 series Prisoner
Prisoner (TV series)
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...

.
Note that episode numbers cited are for first and last appearances; many characters had spells where they were absent and subsequently returned.

Listed in rough order of appearance.
  • Sally Lee (Lisa Aldenhoven
    Lisa Aldenhoven
    Lisa Aldenhoven is an Australian actress.She remains best known for her role in the television soap opera The Young Doctors as Nurse Julie Holland. She appeared in the series from 1978 to 1981....

     - episode 1) - the first ever prisoner seen in the series, being chased through the corridors by officers Meg Jackson and Vera Bennett, after freaking out on drugs, supplied by corrupt officer Ann Yates. Later in the episode Sally is found to have hanged herself. The show's first Halfway House (a boarding house for recently released prisoners) is later named after her.

  • Frieda Joan "Franky" Doyle (Carol Burns
    Carol Burns
    .Carol Burns is an Australian actor. She has worked in film, television and theatre in Australia and the United Kingdom.-Career highlights:...

     - episode 1-20), an agitating lesbian
    Lesbian
    Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...

     bikie
    Motorcycle
    A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...

     who suffers ferocious outbursts when she becomes angry. Her violent attitude stems in part from the fact that she is illiterate. She falls in love with Karen, who does not appreciate her advances; however, the pair eventually strike up a friendship when Karen begins teaching Franky how to read. Despite her immense popularity with viewers, Franky appears in only the first 20 episodes (due to actress Carol Burns choosing to leave as the series was extended from a sixteen-part serial to an on-going soap opera); after her brother Gary (Greg Stroud) is killed in a tractor accident, and feeling jaded by Karen after Franky takes her friendship to mean something more, Franky escapes with Doreen and Lizzie. Although Lizzie is forced to turn back due to her weak heart, Franky and Doreen spend a few episodes on the run, before Franky is shot dead by a Policeman. Despite Franky's short run on the show, the character is mentioned numerous times over the next couple hundreds of episodes.

  • Karen Mary Travers (Peita Toppano
    Peta Toppano
    Peta Toppano is an actress who found success in Australian television. She is best known for her roles in popular television series such as The Young Doctors, Prisoner, and Home & Away, as well as Return to Eden in which she played a "superbitch".-Early life:Toppano was born in Finsbury Park,...

     - episode 1-80), a middle-class school-teacher who had stabbed her abusive, adulterous husband to death. Initially Karen offers up little defense for her actions (which had led to her being given a life sentence), only later does it emerge that, as well as the physical and mental abuse she refused to report, she had returned from having the abortion
    Abortion
    Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...

     that her husband had forced her to have, only to find him in bed with another woman, which ultimately sees her sentence reduced to two years. Arriving at the prison, as well as being intimidated by the sexual harassment
    Sexual harassment
    Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...

     of Franky Doyle (whom she later manages to befriend), she is reunited with Dr. Greg Miller, whom she previously had a close relationship with before getting married. The pair have a close friendship within Wentworth at times, but also grow apart during the course of the 1979 season. With her sentence reduced, Karen is permitted to have day release to study at University; during this time she has a brief relationship with lawyer Steve Wilson, who defends her in court. Although given a two-year sentence, Karen is released from Wentworth by the end of the 1979 season (not tallying with her two year sentence on-screen); after several false starts, she is befriended by prisoner rights campaigner Angela Jeffries (Jeanie Drynan
    Jeanie Drynan
    Jeanie Dryan is an Australian film and television actress well known for her roles in the Australian television series Class of '74 and in the 1994 film Muriel's Wedding.-Career:...

    ), who ultimately puts Karen in charge of the show's first Halfway House. Karen runs the house for a short time towards the end of the 1979 season, with the newly released Doreen as the first tenant, but during this time, Greg confesses his love for her and the two resume their relationship. In the 1979 season finale, Karen is shot by Pat O'Connell (see separate entry)'s son David, who believes that Greg was responsible for his mother's re-arrest and mistakenly shoots Karen instead of Greg. With Karen narrowly escaping death and badly scared, Greg makes plans for them to start afresh in Queensland; Karen is last seen in episode 80, recovering from her wounds; Greg (and, off-screen, Karen) leaving the series a few episodes later. When Greg makes a brief return appearance in episode 107, we hear that Karen is recovering well and the pair have married. She's lastly mentioned in episode 201 by a psychiatrist who tries to jog back Bea's memory who ended up with a serious case of amnesia
    Amnesia
    Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...

     from a car accident from her transfer back to Wentworth after her temporal stay at Banhurst.

  • Lynette "Lynn" Warner - "Wonk" (Kerry Armstrong
    Kerry Armstrong
    Kerry Michelle Armstrong is an Australian actress on film, television, and stage. She is one of only two actresses to win two Australian Film Institute Awards in the same year...

     - episode 1-44), a young, rather naïve country girl who had come to the city to work as a nanny and arrived at Wentworth protesting her innocence at having kidnapped the baby in her care and buried him alive. She was brutally initiated into prison life, when Bea Smith, upon hearing about her crime, burned her hand "accidentally" with the press, giving rise to one of Prisoner's most iconic scenes. Lynn gains the nickname "Wonky Warner" (or just "Wonk") from some of the other women, especially Doreen, due to her being perceived as mentally unbalanced due to her supposed crimes. It is eventually discovered that the child's own mother had buried the child alive; clearing Lynn of her accused crime. However, upon her release, Lynn runs away from her parents' farm with Doug, also an ex-convict, whom she marries, and reluctantly becomes involved with an armed hold-up, which leaves Doug dead and Lynn back inside (as well as losing the unborn baby she was carrying after being raped as a nanny). During her second spell in Wentworth, she became part of the new work release programme, working during the day at a local garden centre for Syd Butterfield (Alan Rowe
    Alan Rowe
    Alan Rowe was a New Zealand-born English actor, perhaps best known for his appearances on the British science fiction programme Doctor Who.-Career:...

    ), and getting close with Syd's son Geoffrey (David Cameron) in the process, much to the chagrin of Syd. Both Lynn's work programme and parole are jeopardised when she is caught trying to smuggle letters out of the prison, which she insists she has never seen before. It eventually emerges that they were planted by Doreen, who has developed a crush on Lynn, and is scared of her leaving her. After serving her time, Lynn is finally released again, though on her release day, is kidnapped by thugs who confused her with Monica Ferguson (who is released on the same day and who knew the whereabouts of some stolen loot). After being rescued by the Police, Lynn presumably returns to her parents' farm, and this is the last we see of the character (we hear of her sending a Christmas present to Doreen in episode 75). She is lastly mentioned in episode 203 by return prisoner Jeanette "Mum" Brooks (see below) who mentions Bea burning her hand on the steam press when Mum, according to her solicitor, believes she has to bring up some events about Bea during their time together in Wentworth to help explain why she was too anxious to go to the police when Bea arrived at her house with amnesia in episode 199. This was to help them in their court case as Mum intentionally wanted to help Bea get herself together before she had to be turned in, aiding a prisoner which led to her second re-arrest.

  • Gladys "Marilyn" Mason (Margaret Laurence
    Margaret Laurence (actor)
    Margaret Laurence is an Australian actress, best known for several soap opera roles.She trained in Britain, and then worked in America on stage and in several daytime soap operas....

     - episode 1-16), the prison nymphomaniac, inside for soliciting and chiefly memorable for her erotic assignations with electrician Eddie Cook (Richard Moir
    Richard Moir
    -Biography:In 1990, Moir was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, the degenerative effects of which gradually brought his acting career to a premature end...

    ) in the prison roof. Upon release, she moves in with Eddie, determined to get a decent job and go straight, but, hard up for money, reluctantly turns back to prostitution, leading to a bust up with Eddie and being sent to Wentworth once again. As Marilyn is released a second time, Bea eventually sets the pair straight, convincing Monica Ferguson to let them run her milk bar
    Milk bar
    Milk bar is a term in some parts of Australia for suburban local shops or general stores. They are known as tuck shops, delicatessens or delis in South Australia and Western Australia, and as corner stores in Queensland and New South Wales...

    . We hear in episodes 42-44 of Monica selling the shop to Marilyn and Eddie, and they presumably happily continue running it. During a storyline in which Bea becomes attracted to prison visitor Ken Pearce (Tom Oliver
    Tom Oliver
    Tom Oliver is an English television, film and theatre actor best known today for playing the role of Lou Carpenter in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Career:...

    ) between episodes 105 and 116, there are several references to Marilyn and Eddie's romantic liaisons in the prison.

  • Doreen 'Basher Burns' Mae Anderson (later Burns) (Colette Mann
    Colette Mann
    Colette Mann is an Australian actress, most notable for playing the role of Doreen Anderson , in the Australian series Prisoner from 1979–1982, with return appearances in 1983 and in 1984....

     - episodes 1-446), a childish and easily led, but generally well-meaning prisoner who was briefly involved in a sexual relationship with Franky Doyle. Thumb-sucking, teddy-bear clutching Doreen was a petty criminal, in and out of juvenile institutions before ending up at Wentworth, with a particular talent for forgery. After Franky's death, she became close friends with Lizzie and Bea, their friendship was one of the driving forces behind the first 300 episodes success. She was released twice in the series, after her first release she was arrested for stealing, and on her second, she steals Chrissie's baby from the hospital. In 1980 during the time she was out of the prison, she fell in love with Kevin Burns whom she married, but they were divorced not long after she was raped during her second stint in the prison during a work release scheme. The end of her marriage nearly caused her to commit suicide. She was the first victim of the Freak's 'black glove' treatment in 1982, just prior to her release. She made a few appearances in 1983 when during Bea's escape, Doreen put her up in Sydney. Although the first to initially leave the series of the main three, she was also the last to be seen - when in 1984, she got herself put back in prison to try and avoid a marriage she had somehow agreed too, her return was more as comic relief and to bring back an old favourite following the departures of Lizzie and Bea.

  • Elizabeth Josephine "Lizzie" Birdsworth (née Cameron) (Sheila Florence - episodes 1-418), an elderly, chain-smoking, alcoholic recidivist prisoner, who provided much of the series comic relief. At the series start, Lizzie had already served twenty years in prison. Working as a bush cook, she had in a drunken rage allegedly poisoned a group of sheep shearers who'd had the audacity to complain about her cooking. It was later learned someone else had added the poison to the food and Lizzie was released and awarded compensation. Unfortunately she was ill-equipped to fend for herself outside and quickly committed a series of crimes and was returned to prison. A fraud and her daughter looking for money pretended to be Lizzie's family which Paul Reid and Kevin Burns discover. We later find out Lizzie knew all along that they weren't her real family and she wanted to spend time with them Marcia (Lizzie's fake daughter) tells Lizzie that she was her daughter's best friend at the orphanage and that Lizzie's real daughter died in a car crash. The fake family: Marcia and Josie disappear without any explanation Lizzie was recognisable for her always present red cardigan sweater given to her early on in the show's run by the prison's governor, Erica Davidson. Lizzie suffered from several heart attacks and during her final time in hospital she was released to be with her real family: The Charlton's.


  • Beatrice Alice "Bea" Smith (Val Lehman
    Val Lehman
    Val Lehman is an Australian actress, best known for her role as top dog Bea Smith in the Australian series Prisoner...

     - episodes 1-400), the tough and uncompromising top dog - the name given to the unofficial leader of the prisoner population - who ruled Wentworth's H Block with an iron fist. Bea was initially imprisoned for strangling her husband's mistress and then shot dead her cheating husband upon her release. Her teenage daughter Debbie (played by Val Lehman's real-life daughter Cassandra) had died from a heroin overdose in 1977 while Bea was in prison, therefore Bea was renowned for her hatred of drug pushers and her hatred of prisoners who commit crimes against children which everyone followed her hatred. This characteristic, which is common in all prisons, was evident when Bea slammed the hot steam press on Lynn Warner's hand. She and Chrissie Latham were enemies at first (as Chrissie was originally on Franky Doyle' side in the first riot) but later, they became allies, especially against Margo Gaffney. Bea was Joan Ferguson's first of three major enemies. Any chance of Bea's parole was foiled after shooting and killing Nola Mckenzie in a hospital bed. Bea's last rival for top dog was Sonia Stevens Bea was transferred to Barnhurst after the Joan Ferguson sets up for Bea to give her a bashing. There are many references after Bea's transfer especially when Lizzie compares Bea's top dog qualities to Minnie Donovan's top dog qualities including the code of lagging when Minnie lagged on Sonia Stevens in a plan to soil Joan Ferguson. Bea writes a letter saying "Vinegar Tits is worse than ever" when Cass is transferred from Barnhurst Lizzie says "our best mate Bea Smith was transferred" Cass said that she heard Bea arrived. In episodes 536-537 we hear there was a Barnhurst riot and there were 8 transfers Myra ask Nora Flynn if they brought Bea. Nora tells Myra that she was killed in the riot trying to stop it, but Ann tells Meg that she "burnt" to death. Bea's death was probably the biggest upset of the show as many viewers assumed that there was hope that Val Lehman would return to the show

  • Jeanette Mary "Mum" Brooks (Mary Ward
    Mary Ward (actress)
    Mary Ward is an Australian stage and television actress, who trained in England and is best remembered and well known for her roles in Prisoner as Jeanette "Mum" Brooks and Sons and Daughters as Dee Morrell. In 2000, she also appeared in Blue Heelers...

     - episode 1-204), an elderly, dignified long-term inmate who worked in the prison garden, well loved and respected by both prisoners and officers. "Mum" had committed euthanasia on her terminally ill husband and had served fifteen years at the start of the series. She helped with making newcomers to Wentworth get used to the prison routine. In episode 2, she is released, but has nowhere to live, and after spending a brief spell living with her daughter, Lorraine Watkins (Anne Charleston
    Anne Charleston
    Anne Charleston is an Australian actress currently based in Galway, Ireland and the UK. She is known for her roles as Madge Bishop in the Australian soap opera Neighbours and Lily Butterfield in Emmerdale.-Early career:...

    ), who cannot accept that Mum killed her father and does not like an ex-criminal being around her family, Mum shoplifts to deliberately get sent back to Wentworth. However, by episode 16, she is again released, this time under the care of new parole officer Jean Vernon, who sets Mum up in a little flat with her pregnant grand-daughter Judith-Ann (Kim Deacon) (whom Mum grew close to during her awkward stint living with her daughter), at which point Mum is written out of the series (as with Carol Burns, Mary Ward did not wish to commit to an on-going serial). However, Mum and Judith-Ann appear again in episodes 30-33, when they unwittingly become involved with the escaped Bea (this storyline was conceived in part after requests from viewers to see what had happened to Mum). Mum and Judith-Anne are visited again in a storyline running from episode 61-67. Mum is in poor health, but overworking in order to support Judith-Anne's imminent birth. Meg (who is still visiting Mum) convinces Greg to tend to her, who in turn, convinces Karen (now released) to stay with Mum and Judith after Mum's short spell in hospital until the child is born. Mum's estranged daughter Lorraine (now played by Gabrielle Hartley) eventually re-appears on the scene, and after seeing Judith's baby, offers to make amends, and asks Judith and Mum to come back home and live with her. Mum is seen one more time later in the series for yet another storyline in episodes 199-204, reappearing in episode 199 when Bea - who has lost her memory in a crash while being transported back from Barnhurst - finds her once more. After another brief stint at Wentworth for aiding Bea, we are told a couple of years later in Episode 388 that she has died of a heart attack, but left $20,000 to the prisoners.

  • Rosie Hudson (Anne-Maree McDonald - episodes 2-73)(seen in recap of 74), a young prisoner who is heavily pregnant at the start of the series and gives birth during the riot of episodes 3-4. After giving birth, the character disappears from the series (being moved to the maternity block), but reappears in episodes 70-73. With her baby coming up to his first birthday (once again, not tallying with real time), she is in denial that he will be taken away from her by foster parents once he turns one. As a result, she suffers a breakdown, part of which, during a security alert, she punches the pregnant Chrissie in the stomach, endangering Chrissie's baby. Rosie is not seen again after these events, being taken into psychiatric care, this causes a lot of tension between the prisoners.

  • Lorna Young (Barbara Jungwirt - episodes 2-692), One of the longest serving background characters: she appears regularly throughout the whole run of the series. Her first speaking contribution (and in a surprisingly posh voice too) is in 120, which is the first time the name Lorna is used for her, Later credits in 218 for an argument with Doreen over TV in the rec room 219 and 250 where her only line appears to be baaing like a sheep 253 where she criticises Bea for framing Marie Winter 293 when she contributes a present to use for the frame up on Joan. She gets the springs for the "bomb" to embarrass Joan.

  • Tina Murray (Hazel Henley - episodes 2-692), Prisoner in Wentworth. The actress is one of the background characters throughout the whole series from, though not always with this name. she is first called Murray in 206. She usually isn't given lines, and so is only credited for episodes 593 and 607.

  • Christine Angela "Chrissie" Latham (Amanda Muggleton
    Amanda Muggleton
    Amanda Lillian Muggleton is a British-born theatre, television and film actress. She is best known for her role on television soap opera Prisoner.-Early life:Muggleton was born in Stepney, London in 1951 and emigrated to Australia in 1974...

     - episodes 3-338), a lascivious prostitute who spent much of her time behind bars lamenting the fact that there were no men around. She murdered Bill Jackson, Meg's husband, with a pair of scissors during the show's first riot. She returned in episode 065 after being in Barnhurst where it is discovered she became pregnant in custody. Chrissie keeps the baby to avoid a bashing from Bea and her daughter Elizabeth (named after Lizzie Birdsworth) becomes Chrissie's main focus causing her to turn over a new leaf. Whilst trying to protect or keep Elizabeth from being put into homes, Chrissie tried many stunts including running away interstate with the baby. Upon her return to Wentworth, new officer Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson begins work. It is here where Joan is often dangling the idea of visits with her daughter that causes Chrissie to reveal Bea's plans to set up the Freak. When Joan admits to Chrissie she will stand up in court and give bad character references at a custody hearing, Chrissie lashes out. During this fight we see the full extent of what the Freak is capable of and Chrissie becomes hospitalised at the hands of the Freaks first real bashing. At first, an enemy of Bea Smith, she later on became one of Bea's allies. She was eventually transferred to Barnhurst, as Bea herself later would be.

  • Helen Masters (Louise Pajo
    Louise Pajo
    Louise Pajo is a British actress, who is remembered by fans of Doctor Who for her role as Gia Kelly in the 1969 serial The Seeds of Death....

     - episodes 8-10), a businesswoman remanded to Wentworth for running down a child and whose haughty attitude alienates both staff and prisoners. She subsequently won over many of the prisoners, including Bea, as she demanded better conditions and promised to campaign for such when she was released. However, on a television interview after she was freed, she turned on the prisoners, saying they deserved all they got, humiliating Bea.

  • Monica "Monnie" Ferguson (Lesley Baker
    Lesley Baker
    Lesley Baker is an Australian actress, singer, dancer and comedienne.She is best known for her roles as hulking husband basher Monica Ferguson in Prisoner and Angie Rebecchi in Neighbours.-Filmography:...

     - episodes 15-60), a brutish, hulking inmate inside for bashing her weaselly husband Fred (Gary Files
    Gary Files
    Gary Files was born in Melbourne, Australia and is an Australian-Canadian actor, writer and director who has resided in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He has lived in Australia since 1976.-Early life:...

    ). A friend of Bea Smith (though the pair often argued) after the pair had previously been cellmates in another prison, she initially acts as a sidekick to her (at which point the character was a semi-regular), but upon Bea's escape, takes over as Top Dog herself, using very heavy handed tactics and upsetting many of the women. After Bea's recapture, Monica attempts to remain Top Dog, leading to a brief power struggle. After one scuffle with Smith, in which Meg Jackson is injured, and with her parole coming up, Monica backs down rather than risk not getting paroled. However, with her release, she agrees to recover Joyce Martain's hidden loot from a payroll heist in return for a cut, in order to pay of husband Fred's gambling debts; but Fred has exaggerated his debts in order to get money out of her and run off with his fancy girl Denise "Blossom" Crabtree (see separate entry). When Monica finds out, distraught after she had done so much to make a fresh go with him, she bashes him, and is sent to Wentworth once again (and the loot is recovered soon after). During her second stint in Wentworth, Monica becomes involved in a couple of minor escapades (such as exploiting Deputy Governor Jim Fletcher's haemophobia with Bea), but for the most part tries to keep out of trouble in order to get her parole. Towards the end of her sentence, with Bea in solitary, Monica finds herself at odds with criminal mastermind Toni McNally (see separate entry), whom she refuses to bow down to, while Toni and henchman Martha suspect Monie of tipping off Vera with information about Toni's smuggling booze and drugs into the prison (although just how much Monica has told Vera, if anything, is never made overly clear). Monica's parole seems doomed when she finally flips over Martha's taunts and lashes out, until Officer Jackson speaks up for her in front of Governor Davidson, saying that she believes the incident was a setup to ruin Monica's parole. Erica decides to release Monnie, who is planning to start afresh in a new State, and it is the last time the character is seen in the series.

  • Barbara Davidson (Sally Cahill
    Sally Cahill (Australian actress)
    Sally Cahill is an Australian actress, best known for playing Barbara Davidson in the television series Prisoner.She has subsequently appeared in Water Rats, All Saints and Home and Away.-External links:...

     - episodes 17-24), the niece of governor Erica Davidson. Admitted to Wentworth on drug charges, a seemingly girly, innocent persona covers the fact that she is calculating and sly. She strikes up a partnership with Vera, which includes framing Monica Ferguson for possession of drugs. She is eventually transferred after Doreen's bullying pushes her to dousing her cell in petrol and threatening to set light to herself, leading Erica to realise that it is unrealistic to have a close relation in Wentworth without risk of either special treatment or bullying. She is mentioned last in episode 215.

  • Catherine Roberts (Margo McLennan
    Margo McLennan
    Margo McLennan was a British actress known for her role in the Australian soap opera Prisoner. Born Eileen Marguerite McMenemy in Peckham, London she originally trained to be an ice skater before becoming an actress....

     - episodes 18-24), a middle-class housewife who runs down and kills the man who raped her teenage daughter. After she is sentenced, striking a friendship with Bea in the process, the character just fades away, without any mention of being transferred, or resolution of the problems that her husband and daughter are facing without her (although there is brief mention of the character being moved to another floor in episode 28).

  • Susan Rice (Briony Behets
    Briony Behets
    Briony Behets is a British-born actress who found fame acting in Australian soap operas of the 1970s.-Early life:...

     - episodes 25-29), an emotionally fragile woman sent to Wentworth after being caught shoplifting
    Shoplifting
    Shoplifting is theft of goods from a retail establishment. It is one of the most common property crimes dealt with by police and courts....

    . As Officer Jackson becomes concerned about Susan's mental state, it becomes apparent that Susan is angry at a (fictional) pop star Jason Richards for taking her husband Fredrick away from her, destroying their marriage. It ultimately transpires that Richards is actually the stage name
    Stage name
    A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...

     of Fredrick, and they are one and the same. Upon release, Susan invades a TV interview with "Richards", throwing acid in his face, before being taken away to a secure psychiatric unit.

  • Martha Eaves (Kate Jason
    Kate Jason
    Katie Jason is an Australian actress.She is probably best known for her role as Martha Eaves in the television series Prisoner....

     - episodes 29-64), a dimwitted, burly prisoner ridiculed by the other women, but who often acts as hired muscle for wannabe top dogs or those needing physical back-up. She is involved in two notable storylines: the first comes in episodes 50-52 when, after constantly being bullied and belittled by the other woman for being stupid, she tries to befriend child murder Bella Albrecht (see separate entry), who is hated by the other women for her crime. But after Martha overhears Bella saying that she too thinks Martha is stupid, Martha attacks her in the shower blocks and drowns her. When Martha returns from solitary in episode 58, she starts working for criminal mastermind Antonia McNally, who uses Martha's muscle to take over Bea's position while Bea is in solitary. Eventually, as the other women begin to become disillioned with McNally and start to side with Bea to go up against Vera Bennett and Jim Fletcher who are running the prison when Governor Erica Davidson takes a leave, Martha wants her and Toni to join in on the act but Toni wants no part of it due to her trial. She tells Martha that she could join them in the act if she wants to which she does. Although not written out of the series in any real manner, Martha is not seen after the conclusion of the McNally storyline in episode 64. In episode 128, Noeline Burke is scaring another woman accused of "baby bashing", Gail Summers, by telling her that Martha killed the previous such inmate and was sent to the loony bin as a result, which seemingly conflicts with Martha's involvement in the McNally storyline. (It might be presumed that Noeline was just trying to cause trouble).

  • Noeline Burke (Jude Kuring
    Jude Kuring
    Jude Kuring is an Australian actress who appeared in film and television during the late 1970s and early 80s. She remains best known for her role as Noeline Bourke in the soap opera Prisoner....

     - episodes 30-132), the head of a family of petty criminals usually inside for burglary and theft. An antagonist of both Bea Smith and Monica Ferguson. Noeline was famous for her refusal to take anything she considered charity. In Noeline's words "The Burkes don't take charity, we just take." when she comes back to wentworth she is very upset over Leanne Burke (see separate entry)'s death she blames the officers for it and she doesn't understand that it was a tragic accident. She is later transferred to Barnhurst for her own safety. Note that Noeline's surname varies between Burke and Bourke in different sources; it is pronounced on-screen as "Burke".

  • Clara Goddard (Betty Lucas
    Betty Lucas
    Betty Lucas is an Australian actress, best known for her roles on television. She played prominent roles in Prisoner as Clara Goddard in 1979, Taurus Rising as Faith Drysdale in 1982, and Richmond Hill as Mavis Roberts in 1988....

     - episodes 30-39), a genteel, flighty socialite who initially planned to start a Halfway House for ex-prisoners, but ended up being remanded to Wentworth for embezzlement, where she gains considerable influence amongst the women, especially in the escaped Bea's absence. Sarcastically nicknamed "Madame Clara" and "Tinkerbell" by Bea when she returns, jealous of the way Clara manages to usurp her authority as top dog of the prisoners. During an examination of the running of the prison, the V.J. orders that Clara be moved to a dedicated remand section at Fairlea.

  • Kathleen Leach (Penny Stewart - episodes 30-149), beginning as a background prisoner (often uncredited), Kathleen went on to be involved with two notable plotlines. She is put in to share a cell with Ros Coulson in episode 80, in the middle of Ros planning to escape with terrorist Janet Dominguez. Kathleen tries to convince her not to, fearing that the terrorists will kill the officers, but Ros escapes anyway during the botched breakout. Kath is last seen during this storyline in episode 89, being questioned by the police, and presumably goes on to be released. The character returns in episode 143, seemingly arrested on a short sentence for prostitution, but has in fact been put inside as a plant by Tracey Morris' "boyfriend" Joe to make sure that Tracey will not testify against him. When Tracey realises that Joe has been using her, Kathleen is given orders to kill Tracey; unable to carry out the instructions, she goes to Bea for help. Bea purposely scolds Kathleen's hand in the laundry steam press (episode 149), putting Kathleen out of action and sending her off to hospital, with a valid "excuse" to her employers for being unable to carry out her orders; this is the last time the character is seen in the series.

  • Leanne Burke (Tracey-Jo Riley - episodes 33-121), Noeline Burke's daughter, who has inherited her mother's criminal tendencies. She first is seen visiting Noeline with her rather slow brother Col (Brian Granrott) in episode 33, telling her about the problems they are facing without her. Leanne returns in episode 50, where her mother and herself are caught trying to rob a building. Although Leanne escapes charge, Noeline is once again sent to Wentworth; and Leanne meets Welfare Officer Jean Vernon while visiting. Jean gives her the address of the apartment she shares with Meg if she needs guidance - only for Leanne to rob the place with a young man, Denny (Tony Mahood) she's met. However, Jean is determined to try and set Leanne on the straight and narrow, and convinces Meg to let Leanne move in with them while they find Leanne a steady job. Leanne constantly abuses this trust, infuriating Meg; Jean continually convinces Meg to give Leanne "one more chance", until eventually, in episode 55/6, Leanne and Denny are caught trying to hold-up a service station. Leanne disappears from the series at this point, and it is not clear what she is charged with (she is not sent to Wentworth). The character finally arrives at Wentworth in episode 120 charged with petty larceny. Although some of the other women are sceptical of Leanne as she is Noeline's daughter, she quickly becomes good friends with Judy, and is very active with helping arrange the riot to demand that murderous officer Jock Stewart be brought to justice. However, in episode 121, when the riot takes to the prison roof, Leanne falls to her death while trying to wave a banner for the gathering media to see. Note that, like mother Noeline, Leanne's surname varies between Burke and Bourke in different sources; it is pronounced on-screen as "Burke".

  • Irene Zervos (Maria Mercedes
    Maria Mercedes (actor)
    Maria Mercedes is an Australian actress who has many credits in television, movies, and theatre.Mercedes has had starring roles in the television comedy/variety series Greeks on the Roof as Poppy, the mother of Effie, and in the comedy series Kick as Dora Mavros...

     - episodes 38-40), a young Greek woman admitted to Wentworth after being blackmailed into prostitution by a relative who is aware of her status as an illegal immigrant. Matters are complicated further by the fact that Irene does not speak English, leaving Karen, with only a smattering of basic Greek, trying to translate for her.

  • Joyce Martin (Judy Nunn
    Judy Nunn
    Judy Nunn is an Australian actress and author.-Acting career:Her breakout role was as the scheming bisexual reporter Vicky Stafford in the risque soap opera The Box. Her character became a popular cult figure in the series. Nunn continued in the role for the show's entire 1974–1977 run...

     - episodes 40-48), the wife of an armed robber inside for being an accessory, and the only person who knows the location of the loot. After her husband forcibly tries to have her abducted from the prison grounds to force her into revealing the loot's location to him, Joyce makes a deal with Monica, who is due for release, for Monica to retrieve the stash in return for giving Monica a cut. Heavies hired by Joyce's husband try to snatch Monica, but mistakenly grab Lynn, who is released on the same day. The loot is eventually recovered when Jim Fletcher double-crosses Denise Crabtree (see below entry) to find the stashed key to unlock the loot. With the storyline having run its course, Joyce is moved to D Block in episode 48, the last time the character is seen.

  • Denise "Blossom" Crabtree (Lynda Keane
    Lynda Keane
    Lynda Keane is a British-born Australian acting coach, producer, film and television actress. She guest starred on numerous television series during the 1960s and 70s, most notably Bellbird, Homicide, Number 96, The Box, and Prisoner.She is the founder Lynda Keane Talent School with her husband...

     - episodes 43-48), a tartly young woman who is the girlfriend of Monica Ferguson's husband Fred, but who turns out to be using him to get her hands on the stolen loot from the robbery committed by Joyce Martin's husband. When she winds up in Wentworth, Monica is angry to find that she has been having an affair with Fred; while Denise, when released, tries to seduce Jim Fletcher into helping her, after the key to the loot was stashed in the prison. However, Jim double-crosses her, and hands the loot into the Police.

  • Edith "Edie" Wharton (Colleen Clifford
    Colleen Clifford
    Eileen Margaret , better known as Colleen Clifford, was a British-born Australian musician, stage, film and television actress...

     - episodes 44-49), an elderly, kindly woman who is made homeless with her partner Horrie. Horrie dies after the pair spend the night sleeping rough, and Edith ends up charged with a minor vandalism crime (against the shelter who refused to take them in) and ends up in Wentworth charged with vagrancy. Edie's stay in the prison brings out the softer side of deputy governor Jim Fletcher, who goes out of his way to see that she is comfortable and cared for. Lizzie quickly strikes up a close friendship with her, and they enjoy talking about the old days. With a roof over her head, regular meals and with the new friends she has made, Edith does not want to leave Wentworth to go to the shabby bedsit that Jean Vernon has arranged, but dies in her sleep the night before she is due to be released, leaving Lizzie contemplating the prospect of dying in prison herself. With no relations or estate to pay for Edie's funeral, Jim Fletcher quietly steps in to pay for the funeral himself, out of the reward for recovering Joyce Martin's stolen loot.

  • Melinda Cross (Lulu Pinkus
    Lulu Pinkus
    Lulu Pinkus is an Australian screenwriter, producer, stage, film and television actress. She made appearances on numerous television crime and police dramas during the 1970s and early 80s, including a nine episode stint on Prisoner, as well as supporting roles in a number of feature films...

     - episodes 47-58), a devious young woman, who is a student at the same university as Karen. She tries to blackmail Tom (Hu Pryce), her lecturer with whom she has been having an affair, with intimate pictures of her with him, demanding money else she will show the pictures to Tom's wife. When Tom's wife does find out, she informs the Police, and after being caught in the act receiving a payoff, Melinda arrested and sent to Wentworth awaiting trial. She is pregnant with Tom's child, and after a brief spell in Wentworth, escapes conviction by convincing the Judge that she was only acting out of desperation of wanting the father of her baby. However, once released, she tells Greg (who has just opened up his own practice after leaving his job at the prison) that the story was just a convenient excuse, and that she plans to have an abortion
    Abortion
    Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...

    , putting Greg in an awkward position as it means that Melinda committed perjury
    Perjury
    Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...

    . The newly released Karen very briefly moves in with Melinda, but after Melinda goes elsewhere to have an abortion after Greg refuses to help, and does it under Karen's name, Karen leaves to live elsewhere; this is the last time Melinda is seen in the series.

  • Bella Swan Albrecht (Liddy Clark
    Liddy Clark
    Elizabeth Anne Clark is an Australian actor and former Australian Labor Party politician.-Acting career:...

     - episodes 51-52), a remorseless child killer who had murdered her toddler daughter - which she saw as getting in the way of her securing a relationship - and arrives at Wentworth on remand. The officers attempt to keep her crime under wraps, knowing it will anger the other women, who despise those who harm children, but word soon leaks out after Bea dupes visiting psychologist Peter Clements into revealing why she is really in Wentworth. Although Bella tries to strike up a friendship with Karen, her only real 'friend' comes in Martha Eaves, feeling lonely after bullying by the other woman. Bella winds up attacked in the shower block and drowned in a wash basin; Martha is later found out to be the culprit. She's later mentioned in episode 277 by Lizzie when the women feel that a new prisoner who have arrived and placed in solitary that they aren't being told about or allowed to see due to possibly being dangerous. Lizzie then refers to the prisoner possibly doing something similar to Bella's crime of killing children due to her possibly doing something big they're not being led on about.

  • Phyllis Hunt (Reylene Pearce
    Reylene Pearce
    Reylene Pearce is an Australian actress, best known for her long-running role in the television drama series Prisoner as Phyllis Hunt. She appeared in the show from 1979 to 1984, during which time the role had developed from a background bit part to a central character.She appeared in an Australian...

     - episodes 54-460), background prisoner who eventually takes on a larger role around the time of Bea Smith's departure from the series, turning nasty in the process. After messing up Reb's drugs scheme at the Wentworth Fete, Reb takes revenge and horribly bashes her with a wooden statue, leading her to have permanent brain damage. her boyfriend takes revenge on Ann Reynolds.

  • Antonia "Toni" McNally (Pat Bishop
    Pat Bishop
    Pat Bishop was an actress noted for her performances in Australian theatre, film and television.She received an Australian Film Institute award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her representation of Jenny in the 1976 film Don's Party.Bishop also appeared frequently on television, with...

     - episodes 57-64), a cool, classy woman on remand for the murder of the woman who was having an affair with her husband, and who tries to buy the women's favour and take over as top dog while Bea Smith is away in solitary confinement. Antonia is the wife of the head of the local underworld with friends in high places - amongst other things, she pulls strings to have Jim Fletcher given leave to get him off her back - and pressure is brought to bear on governor Erica Davidson to give her special privileges that further cements Toni's high status amongst the prisoners. Toni also starts smuggling in contraband
    Contraband
    The word contraband, reported in English since 1529, from Medieval French contrebande "a smuggling," denotes any item which, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold....

    , including booze and drugs, and hires Martha Eaves as her muscle and lackey. When Bea is released from solitary, the two briefly strike up an uneasy alliance, until Bea learns that Toni has been smuggling in drugs, at which point the two become involved in a power struggle. By this point, though, Governor Davidson takes a temporary leave and the other women begin to side with Bea to go up against Vera Bennett and Jim Fletcher who are now in charge of the prison. Toni however refuses to take part in this. Shortly after, Antonia is sent for trial, but is let off scott free after thugs hired by her intimidate the only witness into giving a false statement. Walking free from court, she is shot by Ros Coulson, the daughter the woman Toni killed, and dies soon after.

  • Roslyn "Ros" Coulson (Sigrid Thornton
    Sigrid Thornton
    Sigrid Thornton is an Australian multi-award winning actress.-Early years:Thornton was born in Canberra, the daughter of Merle, a teacher of women's studies and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic. She spent most of her formative years growing up and attending school at St. Peter's Lutheran...

     - episodes 63-92), an idealistic young woman, in her last year at convent school, who first appears in episode 63 claiming to be a relation of Antonia McNally. However, Ros is actually the daughter of the woman McNally murdered. When McNally gets off scott free, Ros fatally shoots her, seeing it as justified. Once sentenced, the gentle Ros's attitude quickly changes, as she believes she has done nothing wrong. She orchestrates an escape, arranging a distraction, allowing her to stow away in a visiting van. She seeks refuge at the newly opened halfway house, but - despite Doreen's pleas - Karen turns her away, telling her that if they were found harbouring a fugitive, it would destroy the whole project. Ros tries the brothel
    Brothel
    Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...

     where her late mother worked, but when an associate of McNally's tries to force her into prostitution, she flees, and is captured soon after. Back in Wentworth, she is won over by terrorist Janet Dominquez, who plans to escape and offers to take Ros with her in return for Ros's help. But the terrorist breakout doesn't go as planned; Ros saves Governor Davidson from being fatally shot, and escapes on her own; following a tip-off from Chrissie, she is re-captured a while later. After this, Ros, with encouragement from Erica, begins to see that her attitude will not get her anywhere, and under the guidance of welfare officer Paul Reid, begins studying. To aid her in this, Erica has her moved to a quieter block with some other studying prisoners, in episode 92 - the last time the character is seen. When Doreen gets married at the prison in episode 116, she mentions asking permission for Ros to be a guest, but the character does not appear. In episode 158, while giving a pep talk to Doreen, Erica mentions that Ros got her qualification. She is lastly mentioned in episode 176 when prisoner Evelyn Randall offers Lizzie some of her homemade tea that helps a person sleep easily; to which Lizzie tells her how she wishes that can put the prison staff to sleep for a while like how Roslyn did in episode 81 with some drugs in an attempt to escape from Wentworth with terrorist Janet Dominguez (see below) that unfortunately went unsuccessful.

  • Patricia Mary Theresa "Pat" O'Connell (Monica Maughan
    Monica Maughan
    Monica Maughan was an Australian actor with notable and well-known roles in film, theatre, radio and television.-Early life and education:...

     - episodes 65-110), a level headed, kind hearted middle-aged mother who is transferred from Barnhurst along with Chrissie Latham in episode 65. She is inside for aiding and abetting her criminal husband in an armed robbery (although, confusingly, on the character's first mention before her transfer, in episode 60, we hear that she is charged for driving a car through a shop window that had repossessed her furniture, something that is never mentioned again). Pat is being forced to go through with a divorce from her husband in order to give her a better chance of keeping her children, and is determined to keep out of trouble so that she might get her parole by Christmas and be reunited with her son and daughter, who are staying with her elderly mother who is finding it hard to cope with them. Despite jeopardising her parole by meeting with her eldest son David, who is also in prison and visiting Wentworth on a work party, Pat is paroled and reunited with her youngest children in time for Christmas. However, around this time David escapes from prison, which leads to a Police shootout when he tries to visit her, resulting in Pat being returned to Wentworth when the Police are convinced she was in cohorts with David, and leaving David jaded at Dr. Greg Miller, whom he is certain tipped the Police off, prompting him to try and shoot Greg but getting Karen in error. Unable to cope in prison, David kills himself soon after. Pat's kind nature comes through when she insists that Bea not attack the pregnant Chrissie, and with both Doreen and Lizzie on release, she becomes Bea's main sidekick for a spell. Pat is eventually released when her sentence is reduced on appeal and she is given parole, she is last seen when Paul Reid drives her home with her kids.

  • Janet Rose Dominguez (Deidre Rubenstein
    Deidre Rubenstein
    Deidre Rubenstein is an Australian television and theatre actress, well known for her performance in Australian soap operas and main stage dramatic roles...

     - episodes 79-83), a terrorist brought to Wentworth awaiting extradition to the US to face charges in connection with the bombing of a South American official outside the UN building. She is held in solitary away from the other women, as the officers do not want her interacting with or influencing the other women, but she wins over Ros Coulson, who is being held in the adjoining solitary cell. Ros helps aid an escape and is given an instant sleep powder to drug the guards while armed terrorists brake into the prison to free Janet. However, the breakout does not go according to plan, and Dominguez is shot and wounded trying to escape. She is taken away from Wentworth on a stretcher soon after, accompanied by federal Police. She's mentioned in episode 277 by Lizzie after the women are surprised a letter they written and sent to be published in a newspaper wasn't published in it. This led to Lizzie believing that terrorist could have been responsible behind it and refers to Janet.

  • Caroline Margaret Simpson (Rosalind Speirs
    Rosalind Speirs
    Rosalind "Ros" Speirs is a retired Australian film and television actress. She starred on several television series during the 1970s including Silent Number, Heidi and the television miniseries Power Without Glory...

     - episodes 89-114), arrives at the Halfway House with her fragile mother Vivienne (see below entry), who is seeking shelter from her abusive husband but is turned away. Soon after, when her father's violent temper boils over and he threatens to kill her mother with a shotgun, Caroline fatally stabs him. Caroline convinces Vivienne that they must say intruders killed him, but their story is soon exposed and they end up in Wentworth awaiting trial. Once inside, Officer Jim Fletcher shows an interest in Caroline, subtlety at first, but it is soon noticed by the other women (reinforcing his nickname "Fletch the Letch"), although Caroline does not return his advances. Caroline's estranged, possessive ex-husband Michael (Peter Ford) offers to pay bail, but she refuses to bow down to his terms; while Michael becomes jaded at Jim, whom he sees as coming between Caroline and himself. Although Jim also offers to pay bail, Caroline refuses, not wanting to be in his debt, but when Vivienne's frail state of health worsens, Caroline finally agrees. Eventually Jim bails Caroline too; when she moves into the Halfway House, she continues seeing him and she finally returns his advances, and the pair begin a romantic relationship, even though Jim is breaking the terms of Caroline's bail. When Michael and Geoff Butler (Ray Meagher
    Ray Meagher
    Ray Meagher surname pronouned "Marr" , is a veteran Australian character actor. He has appeared regularly in Australian film and television since the mid 1970s, and is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, as Alf Stewart on Home and Away, having played the...

    ) (who is bitter at Jim for turning him in to the police over a previous incident) join forces, Butler dupes Michael - who insists that he wants no-one badly hurt - into delivering a bomb to Jim's motel room, it kills Jim's wife and children. This puts a severe strain on Caroline and Jim's relationship, with him telling her after the explosion that he blames her. But when Vivienne and Caroline finally go to trial, and are released on good behavior bonds, she visits him one last time and they part on reasonable terms. This parting scene with Jim, before she goes to stay with Michael's sister, is Caroline's last appearance in the series. Note: Although billed as Caroline, many characters, including her own mother, pronounced her name as Carolyn.

  • Vivienne Anne Williams (Bernadette Gibson - episodes 89-114), the mother of Caroline (see above entry), who is suffering at the hands of her abusive husband. After Caroline kills him in self defense, the pair arrive at Wentworth, where Vivienne's fragile health worsens. Eventually, it is Lizzie (who at the time is on release and visits to see Bea) who recognises Vivienne and Caroline from seeking shelter at the Halfway House, adding some support to their claims of abuse, and Vivienne is released awaiting trial. However, once home, the strain of events is too much for Vivienne and she tries to commit suicide
    Suicide
    Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...

    , after which she is put into a care home, not seen for a few episodes. Eventually, in episode 114, Vivienne and Caroline come up for trial, and their charges are reduced to manslaughter
    Manslaughter
    Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...

    , allowing them to be freed on good behavior bonds.

  • Sharon Gilmour (Margot Knight
    Margot Knight
    Margot Knight is an Australian actress, best known for playing two roles in two highly popular television serials. In Prisoner, she played inmate Sharon Gilmour in 1980 and junior prison officer Terri Malone in 1985...

     - episodes 90-116), a scheming, spoiled young woman who is imprisoned for drug dealing after a Police raid where she was selling dope to a group of youths (including Social Worker Paul Reid's son Tony (John Higginson
    John Higginson
    John Higginson was one of the eight founding fellows of Jesus College, Oxford in 1571. He matriculated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1561, obtaining his BA degree in 1565 and his MA in 1568. He was appointed vicar of Claybrooke, Leicestershire, England in 1571 and ordained priest in 1572...

    )). Being a drug dealer, not to mention a vindictive trouble-stirrer, Sharon immediately becomes an enemy of Bea. Despite having a lover, Judy Bryant (see separate entry), on the outside, Sharon becomes involved in a romantic relationship with Chrissie Latham, and the pair work together for a time to become Top Dog(s) while Bea is in isolation. Jealous of this romantic relationship, Judy purposely gets herself arrested so she can be inside with Sharon, but Sharon uses her spiteful ways to manipulate Judy as she does with everyone else. With Chrissie moved to maternity to be with her baby, Sharon later starts vicious rumours that Kerry Vincent (see separate entry) is a "lagger" (informant) after Kerry turns down her romantic advances. Judy finally becomes tired of Sharon's scheming, manipulative
    Psychological manipulation
    Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...

     ways and puts an end to their relationship. When Sharon witnesses corrupt officer Jock Stewart (Tommy Dysart
    Tommy Dysart
    Tommy Dysart is a Scottish-born actor, currently resident in Australia. Dysart has been a regular fixture on Australian television for several decades, frequently appearing in guest-starring roles in drama series and comedies, and in character roles in films and miniseries.High-profile early roles...

    ) blackmailing and physically attacking Doreen, she tries to strike up working deal with him - she'll keep quiet about what she has seen in return for him protecting her. But soon after, she is found at the bottom of a flight of stairs with her neck broken. Judy, Bea and Kerry are all suspects, but it was Jock who murdered her.

  • Judith Francis "Judy" Bryant (Betty Bobbitt
    Betty Bobbitt
    Betty Bobbitt, born 7 February 1939, in Philadelphia in the United States, is an Australian-based actor.Bobbitt's entertainment career in Australia began shortly after arrival in the country when she was hired to appear as a regular on a Melbourne television variety show, Daly At Night, in 1962...

     - episodes 91-534), an American ex-pat lesbian who deliberately committed a crime to join her lover Sharon Gilmour in prison. She was initially an agitator, but later became one of Bea's allies, as well as a long-term inmate. Judy ran Driscoll House, a Half-Way House for ex-criminals to get back on their feet. Judy was sent back to Wentworth after helping friend, Hazel Kent, kill herself while she was suffering from a terminal brain tumor. Served as a sort of "deputy Top Dog," to both Bea and Myra. She was later released to become a successful song writer.

  • Lilian "Lil" Stokes (Judith McLorinan - episodes 91-392), The smaller one of Margo Gaffney's goons. Most of her appearances come without a speaking part. she is first seen in episode 91 briefly in the background with Margo Gaffney's bigger goon: Bev Covelli. Lil has her first big scene when she helps Margo and Bev give Sharon a "haircut". In her last appearance she dies when the prison is under quarantine, in deputy governor Colleen Powell's arms.

  • Margo Jane Gaffney (Jane Clifton
    Jane Clifton
    Jane Clifton is a Gibraltar-born actress and singer who lived as a child in Cardiff, Wales. In 1961 she emigrated to Perth, Australia. Her best known acting role is probably that of tough prison bookie Margo Gaffney in Prisoner...

     - episodes 92-448), one of a long line of agitators in the prison cell block who generally played rival to the reigning top-dog. Margo took charge of all gambling inside Wentworth and was usually accompanied by her stooges "Lil and Bev" (played by extras Judith McLorinan and Kaye Chadwick). Margo went back and forth during the series run from a good to bad guy, usually leaning toward the bad side. One of Margo's most heinous acts was the bashing of guard Meg Morris, who was temporarily a prisoner for contempt of court, and this earned her the combined wrath of Bea and Chrissie (who ironically saved Meg, despite her killing Meg's first husband, Bill Jackson), and avenged her bashing, by tying her up and tarring and feathering her in the lavatory. Margo was also later bashed by Bea and Chrissie when it was discovered that she set the storeroom on fire with a Molotov cocktail
    Molotov cocktail
    The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...

     at Wentworth, thus beginning the Great Fire at Wentworth, and lied about it to the cops. She later tries to frame Reb for attacking Myra Desmond but is found out and transferred to Blackmoore. Note: In the character's second appearance, in episode 93, her surname is given as Dempsey, not Gaffney.

  • Bernadette (Anne Phelan
    Anne Phelan
    Anne Mary Phelan, OAM , is a much awarded Australian actress, who has appeared prominently in Theatre, Australian television productions and soap operas, including Prisoner where she played the role of 'Top Dog' Myra Desmond and Monica Taylor in Something in the air...

     - episodes 94-95), A dopy background prisoner who appears to be good mates with Top Dog: Bea Smith.

  • Heather "Mouse" Trapp (Jentah Sobott
    Jentah Sobott
    Jentah Sobott is an Australian actress, best known for her recurring role in the cult television drama Prisoner as Heather "Mouse" Trapp.-External links:...

     - episodes 106*-326), a rather timid young woman in and out for Wentworth for petty crime. She escapes and goes on the run with Judy Bryant after crawling through the tunnel during the pantomime. Later she returns to Wentworth and gets mixed up in the plans for the Great fire where she perishes in the flames and burns to death. * - Note: although first credited in episode 106, Sobott had been appearing as an uncredited extra in the series for some time beforehand. The character - with no dialogue - is first referred to as "Mouse" in episode 100.

  • Kerry Vincent (Penny Downie
    Penny Downie
    Penny Downie is an Australian actress, noted for her appearances on British television.She began her career in Australia, initially in Brisbane at Twelfth Night Theatre and Brisbane Arts Theatre. She trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art , Sydney...

     - episodes 112-124), a young prisoner transferred to Wentworth to give her room to let her artistic talent flourish. Some of the women are skeptical of the special treatment that Kerry is given, such as being given a double cell to herself to give her room to do her paintings. Bea in particular does not take to her after she finds that Kerry's transfer was arranged by Ken Pearce (Tom Oliver
    Tom Oliver
    Tom Oliver is an English television, film and theatre actor best known today for playing the role of Lou Carpenter in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Career:...

    ), whom Bea has developed a crush on. As we learn more about Kerry, we hear that she is a former prostitute who is inside after violently attacking a client. Kerry's agent is David Austin (Rod Mullinar
    Rod Mullinar
    Rod Mullinar is an actor, noted for his roles on Australian television.He took a regular leading role in Hunter late in the show's run in 1968, however he appeared in just eight episodes due to the cancellation of the series...

    ), a smarmy art dealer who is exploiting Kerry's status as a prisoner to drum up publicity and sell her work for huge profit. Kerry tries to get on with the other women, but they turn on her when malicious Sharon Gilmour starts spreading rumours of her being a lagger (informant) after Kerry turned down her romantic advances. During this period, Kerry also gives Vera a painting that she intends to destroy, only for Austin to concoct a story of Vera bribing it out of Kerry, in order to give him more publicity, nearly costing Vera her job until Jock Stewart helps her set things straight with Austin; as a result, Austin is banned from visiting her at Wentworth. Kerry is given parole in episode 117 and set up in a small studio flat, but only on the proviso that she does not see Austin, but Kerry is oblivious to his manipulating her and continues seeing him, and becomes jealous of other women he is seeing. This leads her to several drunken benders, the last of which results in her smashing David over the head with an ashtray, causing her to think she has killed him. She plans to flee the area; Helen Smart (see separate entry)'s pimp
    Pimp
    A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...

     sells her some drugs to calm her down, but she takes them with alcohol, nearly killing her. When David finds her in this state, instead of calling for medical aid, he takes her paintings instead. Helen discovers Kerry and alerts Parole Officer Paul Reid just in time; after she is out of danger, he arranges that her parole not be cancelled if she agrees to be treated in a sanatorium
    Sanatorium
    A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...

    . Kerry agrees to this, and it is the last time she is seen in the series.

  • Helen Smart (Caroline Gillmer
    Caroline Gillmer
    Caroline Gillmer is an Australian actress, best known for her roles in various television series, such as Prisoner as Helen Smart and Neighbours as Cheryl Stark....

     - episodes 118-441), a likable, amusing prostitute frequently sent to Wentworth for soliciting who becomes a useful contact for the women on the outside. Became good friends with Judy Bryant. Helen was known to the prison as "The 'tart' with a heart." Attempted victim of the leather gloved killer, she also helps Judy a lot with Driscoll House. Her younger sister Sharon becomes involved with a cult so Helen kidnaps her and tries to deprogram her. Sharon stabs and murders one man who was helping causing Helen to be admitted to Wentworth for kidnapping - her first offence other than prostitution. She later develops a tropical disease brought in by Glynis Ladd whilst Wentworth is under quarantine. She eventually is transferred to B Block.

  • Gail Audery Summers (Susanne Howarth - episodes 124-133), a harassed, downtrodden housewife who becomes Meg's new neighbour when Meg moves to a new apartment. Meg soon becomes concerned when she hears Gail's young children constantly crying and ferocious arguments between Gail and her short-tempered husband Tim (Jeremy Higgins); when Meg notices bruises on the children she believes that Tim is abusing them, but when, after some debating, she goes with Welfare Officer Paul Reid and the Police to intervene, Gail breaks down and confesses that it is her that has been abusing the children, driven to it being unable to cope being left with them all day with no help or support from Tim. She is sent to Wentworth on remand, where she instantly faces the anger of the other women when they find what she is in for, branding her a "baby basher". Eventually, a talk from Captain Barton (standing in for the departed Paul Reid) convinces her to stand up for herself; she gives an emotional speech to the other women telling them how she simply could not cope but loves her children, after which the women ease up on her. Gail goes to trial and is given a suspended sentence, on condition that she seek help. She moves away to join a support group.

  • Kay Frances White (Sandy Gore
    Sandy Gore
    Sandy Gore is an Australian actress, renowned for her work in theatre. Was married to Director George Miller and had one daughter. Gore has worked extensively for Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company...

     - episodes 127-145), the sly administrator of Andrew Reynolds's clothing factory, where a work scheme has been arranged with Wentworth for some of the prisoners. Kay places several large bets with bookie Margo (and holds out on paying up the money she owes), and agreeing to help Judy make a dress for an escape attempt. With suspicion on her for a series of thefts from the factory, she sets up Noeline to take the blame, to try and get Mr. Reynolds off of her back. Soon after, her long-running embezzlement of company funds, to fund her compulsive gambling habit, is uncovered when she "borrows" payroll money to place a large bet, in hope of making back the money she has taken from the company, but she is caught in the act, and sent to Wentworth awaiting trial. There, she tries to use her gambling addiction as a claim that she needs psychiatric help in order to escape charge, but having got on the wrong side of the women over the cancellation of the work programme, and her generally manipulative attitude, Bea orchestrates a scheme to expose that Kay is still willingly gambling; the plot is successful, and Kay does not escape charge, returning to Wentworth as an inmate with a five year sentence. But from this point, Kay's manner only get more extreme - she opens her own book to overtake Margo's, and using very heavy-handed methods to secure bets. This leads to Bea being sent to solitary after giving Kay a "bashing", and in Bea's absence, Kay makes a move to be Top Dog. Judy, with help from Lizzie and others, plan to put Kay's racket out of action by placing large bets that she can't possibly afford to cover. After this backfires, they record a dog race from the radio on Tracey Morris's tape recorder, place a huge bet with Kay (knowing the outcome) and doctor the newspaper's racing page accordingly, and play the tape back next day as if it were live. The scheme works, but when Kay "borrows" Tracey's tape recorder and realises she's been set up, she goes frantic and violently attacks Lizzie in her cell, nearly strangling her until Linda Jones smashes Kay over the head with a kettle jug to save Lizzie, leaving Kay unconscious and covered in blood. She later dies from a blood clot on the brain. Lizzie stows Linda away from the scene and insist that she herself must take the blame (for more on this, see Linda Jones's profile, below).

  • Linda Mary Jones (Elaine Cusick - episodes 140-150), first introduced as an existing prisoner who is working as a runner for Margo's betting racket, Linda also has concerns when her son Danny (Darren Sole) is unhappy living with her overbearing, bullying sister while she is inside and runs away. Officer Fletcher later tracks down Danny and offers to take him in to live with him until Linda gets her parole; Danny's behavior at first causes some trouble, but Jim soon licks him into shape and the pair form a close bond. Meanwhile, Kay White, starting her own more heavy handed bookie racket, forces Linda into acting as runner for her, something that Linda reluctantly does. When the women try to put Kay out of action with a gambling con, Kay flips out at Lizzie and tries to strangle her in her cell; Linda arrives and smashes Kay over the head with a kettle jug, leaving Kay unconscious. Lizzie manages to stow Linda away before any officers arrive on the scene, and insists that she take the wrap for it instead, both in return for Linda saving her life, and concerned about her being reunited with Danny. Linda insists she tell Erica what really happened, but Lizzie insists she keep quiet. Kay later dies, but Lizzie convinces the V.J. that she was behind Kay's injuries, allowing Linda to get her parole and be reunited with Danny, leaving to live in the new apartment that Danny and Jim have organised. However, a few episodes after Linda's departure, a jaded Doreen goes to Mrs. Davidson and tries to tell her the real circumstances of Kay's death. Erica sends Jim Fletcher to visit Linda and question her, but she convinces him that Lizzie's version is correct. She attends Lizzie's trial, where Lizzie - expecting an 18 month extension to her sentence for manslaughter - is given a heavy sentence.

  • Tracey Morris (Sue Devine - episodes 141-198) & (Michelle Thomas - episodes 463-464), a young woman on remand accused of smuggling heroin into Australia but claims that she was set up by her gangster boyfriend. Tracey's father Bob becomes romantically involved and marries officer Meg Jackson. She returned in episode 463, landing herself on her ex-step mother and creating problems when she and her boyfriend held Meg hostage.

  • Hazel Kent (Belinda Davey
    Belinda Davey
    Belinda Davey is an Australian actress, best known for her recurring role in the television series Prisoner as Hazel Kent.She appeared in the series from 1980 to 1983. Subsequent credits include: The Henderson Kids, The Flying Doctors,Blue Heelers, Ocean Girl and Raw FM.-External links:...

     - episodes 142-399), background prisoner whose situation is eventually explored. A generally decent sort, later episodes show Hazel as being a depressed, drunken loser, turning to the bottle after her partner leaves her for another woman, taking their children with him. Hazel was suffering from a brain tumour and asked Judy Bryant to give her an overdose - leading to Judy's return to Wenthworth for her final stint.

  • Sarah Forrest / Jacqueline Mary "Jacki" Nolan (Diane Craig
    Diane Craig
    Diane Mary Craig is an actress born in County Down, Northern Ireland but who is best known for her performances on Australian television....

     - episodes 149-159), a classy, sophisticated and well spoken women that Jim meets at a party. They arrange to see more of each other, and, trying to impress her and not put her off about his job, Jim tells her that he works as a building contractor. Sarah is part-owner of an interior design business, and offers Jim a business deal, much to the disdain of Sarah's haughty partner, Julian (Peter Stratford). After Sarah and Julian spend the night together, Sarah finds Jim's Prison Officer jacket and flees, and when he visits her at the interior design business, she is very cold towards him and tells him that the relationship is over. At the same time, Erica is thinking of having some home decorating done, and Meg mentions that she has heard Jim has an interior design friend. Although Jim tries to put her off, Erica visits Sarah's business and seems to recognise her. Soon after, she realises that she is actually Jacki Nolan, who escaped from Barnhurst a few years previously, and is now using Sarah Forrest as an alias. Erica convinces Jim to try and persuade Jacki to turn herself in; Jim is unsure what to do and stalls, but Jacki turns herself in on her own accord. Sent to Wentworth, Sarah and Jim try to play down their relationship to both Erica and the other inmates. Jim joins Erica at a Prisoners Reform Group meeting, where the group comes up with a high-profile publicity campaign to get Jacki pardoned - insisting that she has self-rehabilitated and that her successful business proves this - amongst other propaganda. But Julia has his own campaign to get Jacki pardoned, and warns Jim to keep away else it will ruin the whole petition. Jacki faces going back to Barnhurst, but she is loathe to as she was molested by a bullying lesbian officer (who some fans have theorized may have been Joan Ferguson) during her previous sentence, hence her escape in the first place. With increasing media attention over the case, Jacki is just about to be transferred to Barnhurst when her pardon comes through. She leaves Wentworth, presumably to resume running the business with Julian, and never to see Jim again.

  • Myra June Desmond (Anne Phelan
    Anne Phelan
    Anne Mary Phelan, OAM , is a much awarded Australian actress, who has appeared prominently in Theatre, Australian television productions and soap operas, including Prisoner where she played the role of 'Top Dog' Myra Desmond and Monica Taylor in Something in the air...

     - episodes 154-552), a former prisoner who had worked with the Prison Reform Group before arriving back at Wentworth and replacing Bea Smith as the show's second long-running "top dog". She was a thoughtful but strong woman. But gave up her life for the safety of the other hostages of The Ballanger Siege. Before the siege, Desmond organized a scheme to set up Joan Ferguson by having her followers bash Lou Kelly and frame Joan for the assault. The scheme worked until inmate Anita Selby revealed the truth to then-Governor Ann Reynolds. Reynolds then reinstated Ferguson and introduced a stricter security regime at the prison. She later confronted Desmond and told her that she would no longer recognize her as top dog. She also threatened Desmond with a transfer to Blackmoor if she caused anymore trouble.

  • Anne Griffin (Rowena Wallace
    Rowena Wallace
    Rowena Wallace is a Gold -Logie winning Australian actress, best known for her role as Patricia in Sons and Daughters.-Early life and budding career:...

     - episodes 160-167), a seemingly meek, timid young woman sent to Wentworth for robbing a shopkeeper and knife-point. She insists that she is innocent, and the money found on her when she was arrested was loaned to her by her friend Megan; however, no trace (or even proof of existence) can be found of Megan and so with no alibi, Anne is to await trial. Soon after Anne's arrival, Bea is attacked from behind in the corridor, and it eventually emerges that Anne was responsible (not liking Bea's authority over the other inmates); Bea plans her revenge but Judy persuades her to hold off, convincing her that Anne is mentally unwell. Anne tries to convince the authorities that Megan has written to her, giving her the alibi she needs, but it turns out that Anne wrote the letter herself. As Erica realises that Anne needs psychiatric help, various details come to light about Anne's abusive upbringing, her imaginary friend Megan, and the baby she later had that died, also called Megan, which has left Anne in a very confused state. Anne is inside during the big tunnel escape plan of the end of the 1980 season; after the other woman realise Anne is unreliable, they try to cover up all proof of the escape plans, telling her it was merely a prank, in fear that she might inform the officers. Things come to a head during the escape attempt (165); Judy, Mouse, Doreen and another inmate make their escape, but Lizzie decides at the last minute to join Doreen, leading both her down into the tunnels, and Bea after her trying to call her back. As the tunnels collapse, trapping Bea, Lizzie and the injured Doreen, Anne deliberately covers the cover to the tunnel (with a "grave" for Megan) to stop them from getting out, leaving them trapped in the collapsed tunnel for several days. Eventually Mouse is recaptured, and raises the alarm, leading the officers to rescue Bea and co. Bea plans to kill Anne for what she did, but Dr. Weisman by this time certifies her to be mentally unbalanced, and she is lead away to a psychiatric hospital before Bea can extract her revenge.

  • Sandra "Sandy" Hamilton (Candy Raymond
    Candy Raymond
    Candida Raymond is an Australian actress active in film during the 1970s and early 1980s. she attended St Ives High School in Sydney. She is the sister of actress Victoria Raymond....

     - episodes 173-180), a new prisoner who arrives claiming to be inside for the first time after being caught driving with expired tax. However, Bea and others soon become suspicious as, for a supposed first timer, Sandra seems very familiar with prisoner etiquette, and asks a lot of questions, particularly around and concerning Judy. They suspect her to be an undercover Police officer after information about Judy's recent escape and recapture, heightened even more when she convinces the Governor to move her into Judy’s cell, and she even tries making seductive advances towards Judy; but after Bea and Judy put the heavy on her, she confesses that she is actually a newspaper journalist
    Journalist
    A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...

     who deliberately got herself put inside to try and get the scoop
    Scoop (term)
    Scoop is an informal term used in journalism. The word connotes originality, importance, surprise or excitement, secrecy and exclusivity.Stories likely considered to be scoops are important news, likely to interest or concern many people. A scoop is typically a new story, or a new aspect to an...

     on Judy's escape. When Evelyn Randall (see below profile) arrives in episode 175, Sandra offers to write an article about how Evelyn has been unjustly imprisoned in return for Evelyn getting information with her; when Bea and the women plant Evelyn's stolen file in Sandra's cell, Sandra is sent to isolation. When the prison is struck by an unidentified disease (episodes 177-179), and the isolation cells needed to bed quarantine
    Quarantine
    Quarantine is compulsory isolation, typically to contain the spread of something considered dangerous, often but not always disease. The word comes from the Italian quarantena, meaning forty-day period....

    d officers, Sandra is returned to the women, where she becomes very scared of becoming infected, after seeing her mother waste away some years earlier, and even tries to escape during a food pick-up, leaving Jim Fletcher threatening to shoot her if she does not return, for fear of her infecting people outside the prison. With the mysterious disease "cured" in episode 179, Sandra finds herself framed for scarring Evelyn in a fire booby trap
    Booby trap
    A booby trap is a device designed to harm or surprise a person, unknowingly triggered by the presence or actions of the victim. As the word trap implies, they often have some form of bait designed to lure the victim towards it. However, in other cases the device is placed on busy roads or is...

     under Evelyn's bed, which will stop any chances of her imminent release; Evelyn strikes up a deal with Bea, for Bea to prove she was innocent, in return for Sandra writing an expose on poor prison conditions when she is released. However, after she is released in 180, she instead writes a story written around her and her time inside, neglecting to mention the conditions she promised to expose.

  • Evelyn "Evie" Randall (Julia Blake
    Julia Blake
    Julia Blake is a British-born actress based in Australia.Blake was born in London, England. She is married to Terry Norris. She is the mother of actresses Sarah and Jane Norris....

     - episodes 175-179; seen in recap of 180), an eccentric, middle-aged herbalist
    Herbalist
    An herbalist is:#A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants.#One skilled in the harvesting and collection of medicinal plants ....

     who arrives with other new prisoners Jenny Armstrong and Georgie Baxter (see separate profiles). She has been accused of manslaughter after poisoning one of her patients, but insists that she is innocent, and has a grudge against conventional medicine, insisting that everyone should see that herbal remedies are the true cure. Her haughty attitude soon get's Bea's back up, but most of the other prisoners take a liking her, annoying Bea even more. When an under-the-weather Doreen asks Evelyn for a remedy, she falls ill, leading Bea to believe that Evelyn has poisoned her; but Evelyn finds that Doreen has mistakenly heated the remedy first, which has resulted in Doreen falling sick. Soon after, a mysterious bug breaks out in the prison; it is assumed to be a tropical disease brought in by Jenny Armstrong, who had just returned from overseas. As many prisoners and officers fall dangerously ill and Wentworth is quarantined, Evelyn insists that her herbal remedies could find a cure, as conventional doctors struggle to find the cause. The other prisoners even start to believe her, when one of her secretly brewed remedies begins to heal the very ill Meg; but it eventually emerges that Evelyn was behind the "disease", lacing people's food with enough special ingredients to cause them to fall sick, giving her the opportunity to "heal them" and prove herself. When the other women find out, Bea insists that they do not take action straight away, instead biding their time and making Evie nervous. But a booby trap fire using turps
    Turpentine
    Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin obtained from trees, mainly pine trees. It is composed of terpenes, mainly the monoterpenes alpha-pinene and beta-pinene...

     placed under Evelyn's bed badly scalds her, seeing her lead away to hospital in episode 179. She is not seen after this, and although Bea was aware that the booby trap was placed, it was only designed that it would scare her, and it is never fully revealed how Evie came to be so badly scalded.

  • Jennie Armstrong (Sally Cooper - episode 175), a young, naive prisoner brought to Wentworth at the same time as Georgie Baxter and Evie Randall, and emerges from the prison truck covered in blood and terrified after being attacked by Georgie. While in the prison hospital recovering, she explains to Lizzie that she is only in prison after not paying a minor traffic fine, thinking that prison sounded "fun". Lizzie scares her about prison life, leading Jennie to quickly decide to pay the fine and get out. However, very soon after, prisoners and staff being to fall dangerously ill; it is suspected that Jennie might have been the cause, as she has just returned from Africa
    Africa
    Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

     and might have brought a rare disease back with her. Jennie is only ever seen in episode 175; after her release, Police try to find her to trace the "disease", until it is finally discovered that Evelyn Randall is behind the matter, lacing people's food with poison.

  • Georgina "Georgie" Baxter (Tracy Mann
    Tracy Mann
    Tracy Mann is an Australian actress. Her film credits include Hard Knocks, The Scarecrow, and Fast Talking.Mann got her first big break playing Tina Harris in the 1970s television soap opera The Box. She is possibly best remembered to audiences for playing a character who ended up behind bars, deaf...

     - episodes 175-186), a violent, illiterate biker's moll who arrives in a prison van with Jeannie Armstrong and Evelyn Randall in episode 175, and who has viciously attacked Armstrong during the journey. Georgie is immediately put in solitary, and stays there after a series of volatile outbursts. Several inmates and staff alike, compare her to Franky Doyle. Prison teacher David Andrews (Serge Lazareff
    Serge Lazareff
    -Acting:Lazareff performed in many Australian television series from the late 1960s to the late 1980s and made numerous appearances in Crawford Productions police shows including Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police and Chopper Squad. He had a featured part in the 1970 ABC-TV drama series Dynasty...

    ) convinces Governor Davidson to let him see Georgie to try and get to the root of her behavior, and suggests putting Georgie in with Judy, who can more than take care of herself, and Judy becomes Georgie’s first real friend inside. During the mysterious "plague" that sweeps through the prison (176-178), Georgie stays at Judy's bedside and tends to her, but, once the mystery disease has passed, Judy misinterprets Georgie's caring friendship and makes a pass at her, sending Georgie into a rage and seeing her sent to another stint in solitary (despite Judy's trying to explain to the Governor that it was her own mistake). Visiting Georgie in solitary once again, David realises that Georgie suffers from a severe hearing impediment, which has led her to misunderstand many things through life and believe people are laughing at her. Georgie soon undergoes an operation and her hearing remarkably improves. Once back at Wentworth, David suggests putting Georgie in with Bea (and Lizzie), which angers Doreen for being turfed out of her old cell, igniting a never-ending feud between the pair. Bea soon takes Georgie under her wing, but when Doreen is sent to solitary for a fight that Georgie instigated, Judy and Bea clash after Bea let Doreen take the blame. This leads to a big split between Judy and Bea, with various prisoners taking each side, and which Georgie, still furious at Judy's advances, works in the middle of to deliberately inflame even further. During this time, Georgie's mother Jeannie (see separate profile) also arrives at the prison for running a brothel, but Georgie wants nothing to do with her; while in David's classes, he begins teaching the illiterate Georgie how to read. By this time, Georgie's chance for parole is coming up, but David puts in a recommendation that she not yet be realised so that he can ensure she continues with her education. When the women discover this from Vera, they boycott David's classes, but a positive word to the V.J. from Meg, who has found Georgie a job, as well as David backing down his request so long as it is ensured Georgie continues her education outside, sees Georgie get her parole. Georgie leaves to live with biker friend "Mike the Bike" (Jon Geros), who had visited her inside several times, but finding the shabby flat a mess and that the bullying Mike only wants her for sex, Georgie storms out. After this bust up, Meg can't find her when she is due to take her to the first day of the new job, working in a supermarket, and goes to the store to apologise to the manager, only to find that Georgie has turned up on her own accord and is happily hard at work, and seems to be making a real go of going straight and putting her problems behind her.

  • Jean Nancy "Jeannie" Baxter (Leila Hayes
    Leila Hayes
    Leila Hayes is an Australian actress, best known for playing Beryl Palmer in the hit 1980s soap opera Sons and Daughters throughout its entire run.She began her career as a singer...

     - episodes 180-183), Georgie Baxter's mother, who had neglected and belittled her as a child. She first appears when visiting Georgie after her operation in episode 180, which results in an argument between the pair. The following episode, Jeannie is admitted to Wentworth for "living off immoral earnings" as a brothel madam. She immediately falls on the wrong side of Bea, who has taken Georgie under her wing and is determined to see that she gets an education and goes straight, and Georgie wants nothing to do with her. Before Jeannie is released, she tries to apologise to Georgie for her treatment, but Georgie doesn't want to know. However, just as Jeannie is leaving, Georgie convinces David Andrews to let her see her mother, and the pair part on amicable terms, with Georgie even calling her "Mum" for the first time.

  • Marie Winter (Maggie Millar
    Maggie Millar
    Maggie Millar is an Australian actress, best known for her TV appearances as Marie Winter in Prisoner, Elizabeth Bradley in The Sullivans and Rosie Hoyland in Neighbours.-External links:*...

     - episodes 197-471), a tough long-term prisoner who was top dog of country prison Barnhurst, specialising in pushing drugs. She escaped with help form Lou Kelly and The Freak by climbing over the fence in afternoon exercise and clinging onto a helicopter and flying away. We are told that a few days later she is captured and sent to Blackmoor.

  • Michelle Parks (Nina Landis
    Nina Landis
    Nina Landis is a leading Australian stage and screen actress, who trained in Australia and New York. Her feature film credits include the title role in Rikky and Pete, Komodo, Four of a Kind, Handle with Care, and Blackjack: Sweet Science...

     - episodes 209-213), an attractive young athlete with Olympic potential, Michelle is remanded to Wentworth charged with stealing from the office where she worked and once inside, literally runs rings around deputy governor Jim Fletcher.

  • Lori Young (Susannah Fowle
    Susannah Fowle
    -Film:She is best known for her role as Laura Tweedle Rambotham in the film The Getting of Wisdom , about which the 2006 documentary Telling Schoolgirl Tales: The Making of 'The Getting of Wisdom was created, and her role in the television series Prisoner as Lori Young.-Theatre:She performed on...

     - episodes 209-347), a young girl who visits Wentworth searching for her biological mother who had given her up for adoption - Judy Bryant. Lori later deliberately gets herself imprisoned to spend more time getting to know her mother.

  • Dinah Walford (Trudy Simms - episodes 213-223), a middle-age woman who arrives with Kathy Hall (see below). She is imprisoned for soliciting and sentenced to two weeks imprisonment. She is sent over to D-block. While on cleaning duty in the hallways alone, she pulls an alarm in episode 215 to help keep the prison officers busy while an attack is made on prisoner Kathy Hall. Bea and Judy both suspect she was responsible for the attack after a briefly questioning her whereabouts during the incident, as she was around when Kathy was attacked. However, she is released on parole in episode 215 before Bea got the chance to question her some more. However Bea informs Kathy about the possible thought of Dinah being responsible for the attack as well as the other threats she's gotten before hand. Kathy would later inform this to her ex-husband Terry Harrison who works at the Wentworth prison, but still remains in denial on it as she doesn't know Dinah. In episode 216, Harrison confronts Walford after looking for her on the street who denies knowing anything about the attack. Instead, she would take him to see a male friend of hers who threatens to beat him up. As it would turn out however, she is indeed be one who attacked Kathy to keep her silent about something she knows about illegal business going on in a pawn shop she went to one night involving Dinah and her gangster friends. In episode 223, she and some of her gangster friends confront Terry Harrison to help them with some business. After one of them witness a conversation between him and Inspector Grace outside of Wentworth, this is looked at the wrong way and Terry is soon killed during a hit-an-run.

  • Kathy Hall (Sue Jones
    Sue Jones (actress)
    Sue Jones is an Australian actress, born in Wales, UK. She is probably best known for playing Pam Willis in Neighbours from 1990 to 1994. She had also played an on-going role in the situation comedy The Tea Ladies , and was Kathy Hall in Prisoner in 1981...

     - episodes 213-220), a woman imprisoned for theft who is heavily involved with the local underworld. She's also the ex-wife of prison officer Terry Harrison (Brian Hannan) who works at the prison during her time there. She also falls victim to harmful attempts by prisoner Dinah Walford (see above) which is unknown at first, to silence her for good on something she knows about illegal business that goes on at the pawn shop Dinah and her friends hang out at that Kathy went to visit one night. After Dinah's release on parole, Bea informs Kathy that she expects Dinah was responsible, and strangely after Dinah is released on parole, the harmful attempts stop, but Kathy still remains in denial on Dinah until Terry Harrison confronts her after being beaten up by Dinah's friends. Kathy admits to being in the pawn shop they hang out at where she met a man named John who made some secretive business with them. Upon the time of her release, she tries to pull schemes around the prison to keep her from the possible danger on her life on the outside but is unsuccessful. In episode 220 unknowingly to her, Terry Harrison decided to set her up to have her killed as revenge for ending their relationship and losing his unborn child Kathy was pregnant with while having a relationship with another man who was abusive. Terry informs the pawn shop manager by phone (not knowing it's Harrison) on the date of Kathy's release. When she is released towards the end of the episode, she is run over by a hit-and-run driver and dies. Her body is discovered in episode 221 by a prison guard on duty and is taken away by an ambulance.

  • Alison Page (Fay Kelton
    Fay Kelton
    Fay Kelton is a retired Australian stage, radio and television actress. She was a regular performer on the Australian Broadcasting Company radio serials Blue Hills, Danse Macabre and Forests of the Night during the 1960s and 70s....

     - episodes 215-227), troubled suburban prisoner inside for shoplifting and unhappy at being locked up with "common criminals". She strikes out at some of the other women resulting in some conflict with them, most importantly bumping heads with Doreen. In episode 216 she tries to commit suicide by electrocuting herself but is found by Bea in time and taken to the prison hospital where she recovers. When she does, she is put into sharing a cell with Judy Bryant who isn't pleased. She is also given permission by the Governor to work in the reception area which angers the other women who feels she is being given "special treatment". Bea uses this as a way to get information in exchange for her protection from the other women. But Alison feels uncomfortable doing this and is requested a transfer to the isolation block to be by herself. In the meantime she face family trouble with her 15 year old son Chris acting out at school and running away from home temporarily unable to cope with her imprisonment. When her husband Don gets into an accident at work, their teenage son and 10 year old daughter Susan are fostered by ex-prisoner Myra Desmond. On the day her children are taken care of by their father again who gets out of the hospital, Myra gives Alison some advice on how to cope with the other women in prison when she visits them a couple weeks before her release. This convinces Alison to transfer back to H block to reconcile with the other women and apologizes for acting as though she was better than them and they forgive her. Afterwards she clashes in with a newly bitter prison officer Colleen Powell a few times, leading to an assault by Powell to which Alison strikes back at her. Powell presses assault charges, possibly causing Alison to have a longer stay at Wentworth. However Powell decides to drop the charges after the women decide to go on strike regarding the issue, much to Powell's dismay. Alison is then released.

  • Andrea Hennessy (Bethany Lee
    Bethany Lee
    Bethany Lee is a retired Australian film and television actress. She guest starred on numerous television series during the 1970s, including recurring roles on The Long Arm, Number 96 and Skyways, but is best known for her role as Andrea Hennesey in the cult soap opera Prisoner Cell Block...

     - episodes 228-236), a student and political activist who is admitted to Wentworth after assaulting officer Colleen Powell during a demonstration outside the prison. She tries to fight for "true freedom" on the inside such as leaving messages written all over her cell and the rec room; causing her to quickly bump heads with the other women inside. To secure her release, two of her followers kidnap governor Erica Davidson and keep her tied up at their hideout. However, their hideout is discovered by the police who shoot one of the women, killing her. The other, Linda Golman (see below), is taken to Wentworth in episode 233. After her friend Linda commits suicide in her cell, Andrea is pressured by new coming prisoner Sandy Edwards resulting in the two having a fight. She is later transferred to E block for her own protection.

  • Linda Golman (Mary Charlston - episodes 228-236), associate of Andrea Hennessy who is remanded to Wentworth for her part in the kidnapping of governor Erica Davidson. She had changed after being placed in solitary and ends up being very very depressed. She was then found hanging in Andrea's cell which is looked at as a suicide, but people wonder if Andrea actually hung her to which she denies doing.

  • Sandy Edwards (Louise Le Nay
    Louise Le Nay
    Louise Le Nay is an Australian actress, best known for playing Sandy Edwards in Prisoner in a role which spanned the end of 1981 and the beginning of 1982 on screen. In the show, Sandy became Top Dog whilst Bea Smith was in hospital, and was a popular and key character...

     - episodes 235-264), a cocky gangster's moll inside for murder. Briefly took over as top dog whilst Bea Smith was away in hospital, inciting a riot with the help of Kate Peterson. During this riot she makes advances to office Steve Faulkner who is trapped inside. After the riot, the two have an affair. She later disappears after a fixed 'meeting' with Kate Peterson at the rubbish bins but when the girls are called in Kate returns instead of Sandy. Helen overhears Kate's charge: the murder of Sandy Edwards.

  • Kathryn Elaine "Kate" Peterson (Olivia Hamnett
    Olivia Hamnett
    Olivia Hamnett was a Manchester-born actress who found success after emigrating to Australia in the early 1970s. In the UK Hamnett had guest roles in such television programs as Department S and Randall and Hopkirk in 1969.She continued to act after moving to Australia, appearing in films and in...

     - episodes 235-273), a former doctor who had poisoned her lover. A refined, intelligent and coolly self-reliant inmate. Kate was one of the few characters on the show who was a "good guy", and later turned "bad". Usually it was the other way around. Involved with everything from lagging to screws, lagging to cops, murder, drugs and bribery. Acts as though she is above everybody else. She was later carted off to a mental institution when she tried to strangle her cell-mate Judy.

  • Susie Driscoll (Jacqui Gordon
    Jacqui Gordon
    Jacqui Gordon is an Australian actress, best known for her role in the television drama Prisoner as Susie Driscoll. She toured the United Kingdom in a stage play version of the series in 1990....

     - episodes 260-302), a young girl who is admitted to Wentworth after she has escaped from all the juvenile institutions she has been placed in. She spent most of her time in Wentworth trying to escape. Due to her young age and innocent nature, she is taken under the collective maternal wing of most of the women, including the sarcastic guard, Colleen Powell. She is later released on her 17th birthday and eventually is led by Donna Mason into prostitution. She is the first resident of the halfway house run by Judy Bryant, which is later named 'Driscoll House'. She eventually moves to the country to live with Joanne Slater.

  • Jackie Louise Donahue (Catherine Lynch – episodes 261-290) – a young prostitute who is picked up by a middle-aged man named Ron Crosby in episode 261 and goes back with him to his motel in a taxi driven by prisoner Judy Bryant who is now on parole who witness Crosby treating Jackie in a harsh manner during the ride. When they get to the motel, Jackie changes her mind going with him which leads to Judy fighting Crosby off who tries to take Jackie with him. During this, Jackie robs the wallet off of him taking all the money inside of it, and leaves the empty wallet in Judy's taxi. When Crosby goes to the police and press charges on both Judy and Jackie for assault and robbery, the police then arrive and search through the home Judy's been staying at and finds the empty wallet in her possession. This leads to Judy being sent back to Wentworth when she is suspected of assaulting and robbing Ron Crosby. Jackie later turns up in Wentworth for a two week stay on remand on a soliciting charge in episode 280. Judy recognizes her and is angry due to her being the cause of her being back in Wentworth. She clashes with the other women in particularly Bea Smith who convinces her to tell the Governor the truth about the whole incident to let Judy off. When Jackie decides to write a written confession on what happened, she gets bashed by Doreen and Margo – angering Judy who feels Jackie wouldn’t confess now. However Jen decides to sign a written confession on the whole incident and Judy is released from Wentworth. She is released from her remand in episode 283 but is seen again in episode 290 when prisoner Susie Driscoll is released and meets her on the street. Jackie takes her for dinner and introduces her to another prostitute Donna Mason.

  • Joanne Slater (Carole Yelland - episodes 273-302), Imprisoned for parking violations, Susie Driscoll believes her to be her birth mother, however to stop Susie from escaping, the women let Susie believe it. Joanne offers for Susie to stay with her and her family out on their farm.

  • Carol Francis Lewis (Elizabeth Crosby - episodes 276-284), a young woman imprisoned for shooting her husband Doug to death who was responsible for kidnapping prison officer Colleen Powell's daughter Jenny along with his friend Mel. While Jenny was held captive, Carol made sure was well protected. While trying to contact her parents at their hideout to let them know she was alright, Doug catches her and beats her unconscious. After he rapes Jenny, Carol awakens and scratches Doug. In episode 279, Doug, Mel, and Carol flee from their hideout to stay at a hotel while the police were on to them taking Jenny with them. That night, Carol was fed up with Doug's actions and kills him, later telling Mel to take Jenny and dump her in the middle of nowhere for her protection. Jenny makes her way to the police station and is reunited with her parents. Carol is then sent to Wenthworth for killing her husband. Despite saving her daughter, Powell finds her to be just as guilty as her husband by not acting against him sooner. Carol is mistreated by Powell who forces her to do massive chores while she is on remand. Powell goes as far as sabotaging Carol's work efforts on two occasions to turn the women against her; costing them their buy up privileges. This happens temporarily, but prisoner Margo Gaffney has always been convinced that Powell was behind sabotaging Carol and took every chance defending her. Soon, Carol convinces the other women to put the pieces together and they soon start to believe her. Bea confronts Powell who denies everything and threatens to put a charge on her. Carol receives a letter from Jenny who thanks her for helping her out which angers Powell who takes it from her and burns it to keep her from using at her upcoming trial. At the trial, Lewis pleas guilty and Jenny testifies at her trial and tells the truth about her helping her and Doug abusing Carol. Carol gets lightened sentenced to three years which upsets Powell. For her own protection against her, Carol is transferred over to Banhurst along with Margo Gaffney due to her gambling activities.

  • Faye Quinn (Anne Lucas
    Anne Lucas
    Anne Lucas is an Australian actress, best known for her roles on television as Eve Turner in The Young Doctors and Faye Quin in Prisoner....

     - episodes 285-352), a petty criminal inmate who attempts to take charge of all gambling at Wentworth and the first inmate to actively collude with corrupt officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson. Frequently on Nola McKenzie's side after being forced to share a cell with her. She is last seen being reduced to tears after being transferred to C-Block and reading a letter from her son, Billy.

  • Hannah Simpson (Julieanne Newbould
    Julieanne Newbould
    Julieanne Newbould is an Australian actress who first came to prominence in the 1970s.She was a popular original cast member in soap opera The Restless Years. The series started in late 1977; Newbould left the series in early 1979. She later played two roles in Prisoner. She appeared first in 1982...

     - episodes 288-303), a young woman on remand for armed robbery who becomes the first unwilling object of officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson's Sapphist lust.

  • Donna Mason (Arkie Whiteley
    Arkie Whiteley
    Arkie Deya Whiteley was an Australian actress who appeared in television and films.Arkie Whiteley's parents were the renowned artist Brett Whiteley and his wife Wendy Whiteley...

     - episodes 290-303), a doomed heroin addict and prostitute who leads Susie Driscoll astray and manipulates her into joining prostitution. Bea Smith tries to help her come clean cold turkey as she reminded of her own deceased daughter Debbie. She later died when she injected herself with spiked drugs, She died in Bea Smith's arms.

  • Maxine Daniels (Lisa Crittenden
    Lisa Crittenden
    Lisa Crittenden is an Australian actress, noted for her roles in various television series, such as The Restless Years , The Sullivans , Prisoner , Sons and Daughters and the New Zealand produced Shortland Street .She also played a lead role in mini-series Whose Baby? and...

     - episodes 297-392), a young biker frequently inside Wentworth for petty theft. She escaped with Lucy Ferguson but was shot dead by a security guard whilst on the run and trying to escape the scene of a robbery.

  • Barbara Fields (Susan Guerin
    Susan Guerin
    Susan Guerin is a British actress, best known for her role as Barbara Fields in the Australian television drama Prisoner.-External links:...

     - episodes 300-326), a devious middle-class woman imprisoned after being caught with embezzled funds from the shoe factory where she worked. Barbara is the first Wentworth inmate to pose a threat to Joan Ferguson after she acquires the Freak's secret diaries full of incriminating evidence of the corrupt screw's dodgy dealings. During The Great Fire she tries to recover the diaries from Erica's office but collapses and dies.

  • Paddy Lawson (Anna Hruby
    Anna Hruby
    Anna Hruby is an Australian actress who has appeared in many Australian television series and theatre productions.Hruby first achieved recognition for her role in Prisoner as Paddy Lawson...

     - episodes 304-339), a young woman charged with assault and a highly aggressive inmate. It is eventually discovered that Paddy suffers from claustrophobia. After this, she settles down and becomes a friend of Bea Smith. Paddy was viciously murdered by Nola McKenzie by drowning, earning her Bea's wrath.

  • Penny Seymour (Joy Dunstan
    Joy Dunstan
    Joy Dunstan is a retired Australian film and television actress. She is best remembered as the teenage star of Chris Löfvén's 1976 film Oz, a modern-day remake of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, with Graham Matters, Bruce Spence, Gary Waddell, and Robin Ramsay.The then 25-year-old former school...

     - episodes 307-309), a young woman imprisoned for prostitution. After she was released, she fell victim of the Black Gloved Killer who broke her neck and left her dead in an alley.

  • Tina Lee Gibson (Debbie Cumming - episodes 310-311), a young woman sentenced for seven days in Wentworth for prostitution. She arrives with returning prisoner Helen Smart and afterwards soon bumps heads with Joan Ferguson who shows her lets her in on her dislike for prostitutes. Both she and Helen are released together where Tina then goes back on the streets. She then becomes the second victim of the Black Gloved Killer.

  • Sally Dempster (Liz Harris
    Liz Harris
    Elizabeth "Liz" Harris is a retired Australian stage and television actress who appeared on a number of popular television series and films from the mid-1960s up until her retirement in 1993...

     - episodes 313-320), neurotic middle-class housewife who tries to run down her neglectful husband after an argument in episode 316. Like Gail Summers, she too was given rough treatment by the other women, because she abuses her daughter Michelle. She attempts suicide in her cell but is saved by Colleen Powell. Colleen convinces her husband to stand by her after the attempted suicide so she gets off all charges and is released to be with her husband and daughter.

  • Jeannie Stanton (Rona McLeod
    Rona McLeod
    Rona McLeod is an Australian actress, noted for her television appearances.She appeared as pregnant inmate Jeannie Stanton in Prisoner, had a recurring role in Neighbours during 1990 and 1991 as Felicity Brent,completely unrecognisable from her appearance in Prisoner and later played Barbara Fisher...

     - episodes 325-329), pregnant prisoner whose baby is delivered by Bea Smith and Chrissie Latham in a men's prison (as the men rioted).

  • Valerie Jacobs (Barbara Angell
    Barbara Angell
    Barbara Angell – also known as Barb Angell and sometimes wrongly credited as Barbara Angel – Australian writer and actor was Australia's first female television comedy writer-entertainer...

     - episodes 330-332), an old friend of deputy governor Colleen Powell having stolen goods for her boyfriend to sell in his shop.

  • Nola McKenzie (Carole Skinner
    Carole Skinner
    Carole Skinner is an Australian actress who works mainly in the theatre and is well known to armchair viewers for her roles in many long running soap operas.Skinner played top dog Nola McKenzie in Prisoner...

     - episodes 331-370), a vicious double murderer who had escaped from death row in Western Australia. Possibly Bea Smith's deadliest rival. She angered Bea after callously murdering Paddy Lawson by drowning her in a wash basin. Bea brands Nola with a soledring iron. She eventually tries to drive Bea crazy, until Bea eliminated her by shooting her with a Zip Gun.

  • Trixie Mann (Anna Mizza - episodes 336-340), a young woman imprisoned for prostitution who becomes a brief offsider of Nola McKenzie. She was released.

  • Ruth Shaw (Mary Murphy - episodes 343-537) - a prisoner first seen showing hatred towards Nola McKenzie after Bea tells the prisoners that she had branded her in revenge of her killing Paddy. Shaw is later caught with some of Nola's stolen cigarettes taken from the storage room given to her by Faye Quinn who is trying to sell items to make money for her and Nola while operating an insurance scheme. After her appearances during the Nola McKenzie storyline, Shaw makes more frequent appearances on the show playing minor roles until episode 537.

  • Janice Young (Catherine Wilkin - episodes 344-352), proud suburban wife and mother imprisoned for refusing to pay a court fine. Her husband Chris (Roger Oakley
    Roger Oakley
    Roger Oakley is a New-Zealand-born character-actor noted for his performances on Australian television., but more recently active as a Theatre Performer....

     - episode ) becomes involved with deputy governor Colleen Powell while she is inside.

  • Roxanne Bradshaw (Peppie D'Or - episodes 345-381), friend of Maxine Daniels who is the courier when Maxine, Nola and the Freak are smuggling goods into the prison. She is later admitted to Wentworth for receiving stolen goods and is pregnant after agreeing to a surrogacy arrangement with a middle-class couple. Once she gives birth, she is transferred to Barnhurst.

  • Jill Clark (Kathleen Brinson
    Kathleen Brinson
    Kathleen Brinson is an Australian actress, remembered for her roles in television soap operas. Her performing career began as a ballet dancer in the 1970s and she played the princess in the children's pantomime "the little Tin Soldier" in 1976...

     - episodes 348-353), a departmental employee posing as an inmate in order to conduct a covert investigation of the prison.

  • Lainie Dobson (Marina Finlay
    Marina Finlay
    Marina Finlay is an Australian actress who played notable roles in television soap operas – Lucy Dunlop in The Young Doctors, Elizabeth Drysdale in Taurus Rising, Lainie Dobson in Prisoner and Laura Banning in Sons and Daughters....

     - episodes 354-366), tattoo-covered shoplifter who turns to drugs while inside. She is admitted with 'Elen' Farmer and the two are thought to be having a homosexual relationship, however it is discovered that 'Ellen' is really Allan. She tries to remove her tattoos by dipping her cut arms into caustic soda, she was released.

  • Allan "Ellen" Farmer (Michael Cormick - episodes 354-360), a shy woman who is brought to wentworth along side Lainie Dobson. Lainie first refers to her as shy. Joan later finds Ellen and Lainie in bed together, Joan assumes it's a homosexual relationship. in the shower blocks Helen Smart discovers that Ellen is a man. He claims that the police had a mix-up and then just went with it. Meg discovers that Ellen is Allan after Maxine tries to seduce him. he is later released so the department does not face causing a mix-up like that. Judy later visits him to make sure he is still waiting for Lainie.

  • Diane Henley (Rhonda Cressey - episodes 355-361), illiterate prisoner whose plight highlights the lack of educational facilities at Wentworth.

  • Denise Tyler (Geraldene Morrow - episodes 361-367), working-class single mother on remand for apparently killing one of her sons. It is later revealed by Judy she was covering for her other eight year old son and is therefore released.

  • Zara Moonbeam (Ilona Rodgers
    Ilona Rodgers
    Ilona Rodgers is a British actress and television presenter who has lived and worked in several countries.In the United Kingdom in 1964 she played the role of Carol in The Sensorites, a six episode adventure of the BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who...

     - episodes 362-370), on remand for fraud. Zara claims to be a medium with "second sight" and becomes embroiled in a scheme by Joan Ferguson and Nola McKenzie to drive Bea Smith insane. she was released.

  • Tracey Belman (Alyson Best - episodes 368-372), paraplegic prisoner who poisoned her husband after a car crash which left her using a wheelchair. Joan is assigned special care of Tracey, but after learning Joan is a lesbian, she accuses her of attempting to kiss her when she is awoken from a nightmare. Joan Ferguson proved everyone wrong when she caused Tracy to reveal she could walk and did not need a wheelchair. She is sentenced to three years and transferred to Barnhurst.

  • Maggie May Kennedy (née Mullins) (Davina Whitehouse
    Davina Whitehouse
    Davina Whitehouse, OBE was a stage, film and television actress acclaimed in both her native UK as well as Australasia.She was a star of the London stage in the 1930s before emigrating to New Zealand in 1952,...

     - episodes 371-376), geriatric drugs mule convicted for smuggling heroin, who turns out to be an old friend of Lizzie Birdsworth. At first convinces the women she was convinced she was carrying diamonds, however after her and Bea smuggle out a letter to the newspaper regarding imprisonment of older people, it is revealed that this was at least the third time but the first time she was caught. She applies for an extradition back to the USA where she believes her "press friends" will help her get a release. When she receives the extradition order, Ted Douglas informs her it is on condition that she carries out her full twenty year sentence.

  • Carol Colsen (Merrin Canning - episodes 373-377), next door neighbour of Joan Ferguson and an abused housewife who finally snaps and kills her husband as Joan enters the house. She holds her daughter Jill and Joan hostage. Once admitted to Wentworth, the women don't look favourably upon her for threatening her daughter. Joan takes Jill under her wing and brings her in to see her mother, but upon Jill's rejection to her mother, Carol hangs herself in her cell with her stockings.

  • Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter (Roslyn Gentle
    Roslyn Gentle
    Roslyn Gentle is an Australian actress, best known for her role in the television series Prisoner as librarian/prostitute Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter – an inmate who suffers from multiple personality disorder – in 1983....

     - episodes 373-382), admitted to Wentworth as a surly, antagonistic prostitute, officer Meg Morris recognises her as a meek librarian. However, it is not simply a case of a woman living a double life as it soon becomes apparent that Laura/Brandy is schizophrenic...

  • Sandra "Pixie" Mason (Judy McBurney
    Judy McBurney
    Judy McBurney is an Australian actress famous in several television soap opera roles.In 1974 McBurney was cast in the role of key new character Marilyn McDonald in Number 96 but before any of her scenes had gone to air and with about 30 scenes in the can she had to withdraw from the role due to...

     - episodes 377-510), a flighty, romantic inmate initially admitted on bigamy
    Bigamy
    In cultures that practice marital monogamy, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. Bigamy is a crime in most western countries, and when it occurs in this context often neither the first nor second spouse is aware of the other...

     charges. (Mason, addicted to weddings, had married a number of men.) applied for a job on the outside and still kept the job after the owners found out she was a prisoner. She was cruelly raped by Frank Burke, but her friends and Joan Ferguson helped set up evil screw, Len Murphy, for the rape. She never recovered from her ordeal with Frank and is transferred to Ingleside.

  • Petra Roberts (Penny Maegraith - episodes 383-407), a former teacher remanded to Wentworth for murdering her father. It is revealed he raped her and her younger sister. She was engaged to prison doctor Scott Collins. Once her sister is found dead, Petra reveals that she was actually not the murderer, but covered for her younger sister. Her storyline was basically a re-hash of the Karen Travers one from several years earlier. She was released.

  • Sharon Smart (Liddy Clark
    Liddy Clark
    Elizabeth Anne Clark is an Australian actor and former Australian Labor Party politician.-Acting career:...

     - episodes 383-388), the younger sister of Helen Smart who becomes involved with a crooked religious cult. When Helen, Judy, a former cult member and deprogramming man lock her in the Driscoll House attic to help deprogram her, she stabs and kills the man helping. She is eventually released due to being held against her will.

  • Lucy Ferguson (Yoni Prior - episodes 385-389), the niece of officer Joan Ferguson who arrives inside on drug charges.

  • Glynis Ladd (Debbie Cumming - episodes 389-391), a dealer and junkie who admits she has previously been inside Barnhurst. She develops a tropical disease causing Wentworth to be locked under quarantine. Shortly after, she dies.

  • Rosemary Kaye (Jodie Yemm
    Jodie Yemm
    Jodie Yemm is an Australian actress, best known for her roles in television soap operas.She played Jennifer Healy in Sons and Daughters, Rosemary Kaye in Prisoner, and Kelly Morgan in Neighbours.She is the daughter of actor Norman Yemm....

     - episodes 391-402), naive country girl who comes to the city looking for work and ends up in Wentworth falsely accused of theft.

  • Sonia Stevens (Tina Bursill
    Tina Bursill
    Tina Bursill is an Australian actress usually seen on television playing sophisticated and coolly self-reliant women such as Louise Carter in Skyways. Det. Sgt...

     - episodes 394-447), a cool vice queen who had operated a protection racket fleecing prostitutes whilst maintaining a cover as a policeman's wife. Imprisoned for heroin trafficking. cruely took over as top dog before Bea could say Barnhurst. her position was taken over by Minnie Donovan but Judy and Helen ensured Sonia would not return to be top dog. She escaped and was last seen standing on a clifftop. but we later see bullets through the window which might explain she was shot down by Renner or Eddie's people.

  • Randi Goodlove (Zoe Bertram
    Zoe Bertram
    Zoe Bertram is an Australian actress, whose first major role was in the teen-oriented television soap opera The Restless Years as Olivia Baxter from 1977 to 1981.Bertam has guested in numerous television series and appeared in movies, as well on stage...

     - episodes 394-414), a mercenary, high-class prostitute who crosses swords with officer Meg Morris when she tries to manipulate her son Marty (Andrew McKaige
    Andrew McKaige
    Andrew McKaige is an Australian actor.In addition to being an original cast member of the 1980s soap opera Sons and Daughters , he is the second actor to play the role of Marty Jackson in Prisoner – succeeding Ronald Korosy and preceding Michael Winchester.More recently, he has appeared in Paradise...

     - episode ) into marriage as a cover for her prostitution. Randi fell victim of Murderous David Bridges, she was killed and stashed in the boiler room. which is never discovered by the staff or prisoners.

  • Cass Parker (Babs McMillan
    Babs McMillan
    Babs McMillan is an Australian actress, best known for her roles in two popular TV series during the 1980s.She played the acerbic Sister Erin Cosgrove during the final year of The Young Doctors and dimwitted country bumpkin Cass Parker in Prisoner....

     - episodes 401-460), a gentle-natured farmer's daughter with a murderous bad temper. She was later carted off to a secure nut house, after attempting to strangle Dennis Crukshaunk, when he caused Bobbie Mitchell to miscarry her baby.

  • Minerva Edith "Minnie" Donovan (Wendy Playfair
    Wendy Playfair
    Wendy Playfair is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Minnie Donovan in the television series Prisoner. She was educated at the prestigious Ascham School in Sydney....

     - episodes 405-437), an elderly woman who had been a foster carer and had organized her charges into a team of shoplifters. Became the series' most unorthodox top dog. The first of several Lizzie Birdsworth-like characters. She is transferred to B-Block.

  • Roberta "Bobbie" Mitchell (Maxine Klibingaitis
    Maxine Klibingaitis
    Maxine Klibingaitis is an Australian actress. She played the character Bobbie Mitchell in the series Prisoner from 1983 to 1985, and later played Paul Robinson's first wife Terry Inglis in Neighbours in 1985. She was married to the Australian television director, Andrew Friedman and they have one...

     - episodes 405-533), a streetwise and rebellious youngster and punk imprisoned for shoplifting and assault. Accused of pushing Reb over the catwalk but cleared of the charge and later released.

  • Brenda Hewitt (Carmen Warrington - episodes 408-416), a talented forger working for the local underworld who is involved in a brief business partnership with Sonia Stevens while inside.

  • Belinda Johns (Jane Turner
    Jane Turner
    Jane Turner is an Australian actress, comedian and Logie Award winning comedy writer.Turner has appeared in many popular Australian TV programs, namely Prisoner in a straight dramatic role, with comedy roles in sketch comedy programs The D-Generation, Fast Forward, Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse...

     - episodes 414-428), an embittered blind woman who gets herself imprisoned to take revenge on Sonia Stevens, whose protection racket partner left her blind after a bashing. She was transferred to Barnhurst and away from Sonia after an attempted bashing which involved a wrench.

  • Sarah Higgins (Nell Johnson
    Nell Johnson
    Nell Johnson is an actress.She is perhaps best known for her recurring role in the television series Prisoner as Sarah Higgins.More recently, she has appeared in films such as Twelve Monkeys, Condition Red, The Sterling Chase and Next Tuesday.-External links:...

     - episodes 416-499), Aryan-looking Visiting Justice notorious for her tough attitude and the harsh sentences she gives out to the prisoners. Sarah gets a taste of life on the other side of the bars when she is remanded on corruption charges. Fran slits her throat

  • Marge Briggs (Christine Best - episodes 419-534), Transferred from D block by Joan to act as muscle for Sonia. She manages to goad Cass into a fight. Seen over a year later as a prisoner waiting for her parole decision and mentions Hazel to Judy. Despite her bitter comments, Alice tells us later she does get parole.

  • Reb Kean (Janet Andrewartha
    Janet Andrewartha
    Janet Andrewartha is an Australian actress. She is famous for playing on-going roles in two popular Australian soap operas: that of Reb Kean in Prisoner and Lyn Scully in Neighbours.-Biography:...

     - episodes 422-589), a tough inmate who played rival to top dog Myra Desmond. She was born into money, but rebelled against her wealthy family. she also pushed Joan Ferguson off the catwalk in self defense and was also pushed off the catwalk by Marie Winter. She was transerred to Blackmoor after attacking Myra and assaulted Joan swearing to her that she will be back. She was returned to Wentworth later in the series, a changed character following electric shock treatment and a nice bashing from evil Blackmoor officer Cynthia Leech. She is released after she is cleared of the attack on Joyce Barry.

  • Mo Maguire (Bronwyn Gibbs - episodes 428-432), antagonistic remand prisoner protesting her innocence of a burglary charge. she was released along Camilla Wells.

  • Camilla Wells (Annette Andre
    Annette Andre
    Annette Andre is an Australian actress best known for her work on British television throughout the 1960s and 1970s. She was educated at Brigidine College, Sydney. Her father was an upholsterer....

     - episodes 429-432), a radio show hostess and journalist who arrives at Wentworth as a "celebrity" inmate for not paying a parking fine. she was released.

  • Meryl King (Marilyn Maguire - episodes 429-432), a prostitute imprisoned for drug possession with links to the local underworld. She was released and later shot dead.

  • Gloria Payne (Tottie Goldsmith
    Tottie Goldsmith
    Tottie Goldsmith is an Australian actress and singer.-Biography:Goldsmith is the daughter of Melbourne restaurateur and nightclub owner Brian Goldsmith and British-born actress Rona Newton-John. Her great grandfather was German physicist and Nobel Prize winner Max Born...

     - episodes 430-445), trouble-making inmate and early antagonist of new top dog Myra Desmond, having been her husband's mistress on the outside. She was last seen suffering in hospital after having boiling water tipped on her by Philis, attempting to frame Myra.

  • Sarah Webster (Fiona Paul
    Fiona Paul
    Fiona Paul is an Australian actress, perhaps best known for her role as Maureen Sullivan in the television drama The Sullivans.She later appeared in Prisoner as Sarah Webster.-External links:...

     - episodes 433-441), a young single mother who finds herself remanded to Wentworth after sheltering her old friend Reb Kean while she is on the run.

  • Alice "Lurch" Jenkins (Lois Collinder
    Lois Collinder
    Lois Collinder is an Australian actress, best known for playing gangly inmate Alice "Lurch" Jenkins in the television series Prisoner. She in fact started out in the series in 1984 as a non-speaking extra and worked her way up from being a bit player to developing "Lurch" into a central character...

     - episodes 448-692), a prisoner who, like many, graduated from a small non-speaking part into a more fleshed-out role. Her character, initially a thug, later mellowed and became an ally of Rita Connors after the riot she took part in, realizing Lou was no good for her and what she did was wrong. This was further consolidated after Lou killed Alice's brother and mother. Lou was also raped by Alice's brother while escaped.

  • Rachel Millsom (Kim Trengove
    Kim Trengove
    Kim Trengove is an Australian actress.She remains best known for her role as Rachel Millsom in the television series Prisoner.Other credits include: The Flying Doctors, Neighbours, Stingers Sons and Daughters and Blue Heelers....

     - episodes 450-472), a young woman on remand for running down the man who ran down and killed her father.

  • Hannah Geldschmidt (Agnieszka Perepeczko
    Agnieszka Perepeczko
    Agnieszka Perepeczko is an actress, best known for her performances after her emigration to Australia.Perepeczko was born in Warsaw, Poland. In 1966 she graduated at Aleksander Zelwerowicz State Theatre Academy in Warsaw...

     - episodes 451-456), an East German Jewish concentration camp survivor and illegal immigrant who arrives at Wentworth awaiting extradition back to East Germany.

  • Louise Jane 'Lou' Kelly (Louise Siversen
    Louise Siversen
    Louise Siversen is an actress.Siversen began acting as a child after her parents sent her to dance and drama classes to help her overcome her shyness. Siversen began to enjoy acting and went on to perform with St Martins Youth Theatre, appearing in many productions...

     - episodes 452-616), a vicious prison thug — perhaps the most violent agitator in H Block, during the later years of the series. She held a riot in which she killed Eve Wilder the Phantom Lagger but she was later killed while in solitary ; being beaten to death with a glass bottle by Janet "Maggot" Williams. Lou escaped after the riot she caused by faking a murder attempt by cutting herself with knife, setting up Rita. While she escaped she was raped by Alice's brother and killed him and his mother.

  • Leigh Templar (Virginia Hey
    Virginia Hey
    Virginia Hey is an Australian actress, known for her role as Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan on the science fiction TV series Farscape....

     - episodes 457-470), a glamorous fashion model remanded to Wentworth after killing her manager, who had been blackmailing her with some porn films she had made at the start of her career.

  • Marlene "Rabbit" Warren (Genevieve Lemon
    Genevieve Lemon
    Genevieve Lemon is an Australian actress who has appeared in a number of soap operas – as Zelda Baker in The Young Doctors, Marlene "Rabbit" Warren in Prisoner and Brenda Riley in Neighbours...

     - episodes 461-534), a juvenile prankster imprisoned for manslaughter after one of her practical jokes had gone tragically wrong. She is later released to be with husband, Matt Delaney.

  • Dot Farrar (Alethea McGrath
    Alethea McGrath
    Alethea McGrath is an Australian actress who played the role of Jocasta Nu in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. She is also widely known for her roles on television, playing Dot Farrar in Prisoner and two parts in Neighbours: Mary Crombie from 1989 to 1990 and Lilly Madigan in 1998...

     - episodes 462-486), an elderly, hypochondriac prisoner who had served years inside. Generally regarded as a nuisance by the other women.

  • Edna Pearson (Vivean Gray
    Vivean Gray
    Vivean Gray is an English actress, who found her niche playing gossipy characters in Australian television series. In her early life, she lived in England but moved to Australia after she had trouble finding any acting opportunities...

     - episodes 463-468), a genteel woman imprisoned for trying to poison her second husband. (Note: the episodes featuring Edna Pearson were edited to remove all her scenes after a woman who had been acquitted of a similar offense threatened to sue Grundy's, claiming similarities between the character and her own case. The complete storyline has been screened in certain subsequent international screenings but is missing from the SHOCK DVD release.)Most UK viewers saw Edna arrive, do very little and then disappear.

  • Deirdre Kean (Anne Charleston
    Anne Charleston
    Anne Charleston is an Australian actress currently based in Galway, Ireland and the UK. She is known for her roles as Madge Bishop in the Australian soap opera Neighbours and Lily Butterfield in Emmerdale.-Early career:...

     - episodes 464-492), Reb Kean's estranged socialite mother who is remanded to Wentworth after helping her daughter to escape.

  • Bev "The Beast" Baker (Maggie Dence
    Maggie Dence
    Maggie Dence is an Australian actress who after high profile television comedy work became better known for several soap opera roles....

     - episodes 472-477), an infamous serial killer, dubbed "The Beast" by the tabloids, who terrifies both staff and inmates alike as it transpires she hurts and kills people simply because it gives her a 'high'. After a reign of terror inside Wentworth (which includes cutting open Bobbie's hands with a razor and deliberatley burning Judy Bryant with a soldering iron),she eventually kills new social worker Rob Summerton, by stabbing him with a knitting needle. Soon after this, Bev commits suicide by injecting herself with an empty hypodermic needle infront of Judy Bryant and Ann Reynolds.

  • Angela "Angel" Adams (Kylie Foster
    Kylie Foster
    Kylie Foster is an Australian actress, who remains best known for her role in Prisoner as "bad seed" inmate Angela "Angel" Adams. She also appeared in Home and Away as Leanne Dunn in 1989....

     - episodes 477-488), a deceitful young prisoner who plays on a "little girl lost" facade as a cover for her genuine criminal activities. She was later sent to a psychiatric unit when her true colours began to show.

  • Kerryn Davies (Jill Forster
    Jill Forster
    -Career:Fortster has been in numerous Australian television dramas including Motel, Number 96, The Box, The Restless Years, Starting Out, Prisoner, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, The Power, The Passion and SeaChange...

     - episodes 485-495), a white-collar fraudster who finds it hard to cope being in prison and separated from her husband.

  • Sam Greenway (Robyn Gibbes
    Robyn Gibbes
    Robyn Gibbes is an Australian actress, probably best known for her roles in Prisoner and Round the Twist ....

     - episodes 495-520), a young arts student framed for drug possession. Later died when Lou set up for another inmate to be electrocuted through a door handle which Sam used first.

  • Matt Delaney (Peter Bensley
    Peter Bensley
    Peter Bensley was an Australian "pin-up" actor of the 1980s.One of Bensley's earliest roles was as Dennis Braithwaite on the Seven Network drama series Class Of '74...

     - episodes 499-533), one of a trio of male prisoners transferred to Wentworth for their own safety after they had foiled a mass breakout attempt.

  • Geoff Macrae (Leslie Dayman
    Leslie Dayman
    Leslie "Les" Dayman is an Australian actor best known for being the fighter of the Nightman.He starred in the crime series Homicide as Senior Detective Bill Hudson during the late 1960s. In the 1980s, he was a major cast member in the soap operas Sons and Daughters and Prisoner...

     - episodes 500-556), the unofficial top dog of the male inmates transferred from Woodridge men's prison. Becomes romantically involved with top dog Myra Desmond. He was last seen at Myra's funeral.

  • Frank Burke (Trevor Kent
    Trevor Kent
    Trevor Kent was an Australian theatre and television actor who achieved a level of public recognition in the 1980s....

     - episodes 500-555), the last of the male Woodridge inmates moved to Wentworth, Frank is a convicted rapist and all-round villain. Raped Pixie Mason. He escaped and eventually took his revenge on Dennis Cruikshank by shooting him, leaving him paralysed.

  • Yemil Bakarta (Maria Mercedes
    Maria Mercedes (actor)
    Maria Mercedes is an Australian actress who has many credits in television, movies, and theatre.Mercedes has had starring roles in the television comedy/variety series Greeks on the Roof as Poppy, the mother of Effie, and in the comedy series Kick as Dora Mavros...

     - episodes 504-516), a Middle Eastern Islamic inmate charged with causing a car accident when attempting to escape from her brutal husband. Attacks Dennis Cruickshank, believing it to be Frank Burke, although Judy takes the blame. She is released on a bond, but later sends a letter to Ann telling her that Judy was innocent to pave the way for her release.

  • Lexie Patterson (Pepe Trevor
    Pepe Trevor
    Penelope "Pepe" Trevor is an Australian actress, journalist and award-winning author who is perhaps best known for her role as young card sharp and trouble-maker Lexie Patterson in Prisoner.-Biography:...

     - episodes 509-650), a loud-mouth punk and card-shark, who spent her first few months in Boy George
    Boy George
    Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...

    -style garb. (Note: With George's change in image and subsequent fall from favour occurring prior to Lexie's on-air debut in February 1985, these episodes already seemed dated at the time of first broadcast.) Meets her real mother inside for the first time, Jessie Windom. Suspected of being the Phantom lagger, and escapes, where she is hunted down, by the same killer of Nora Flynn. She is later released with Nancy McCormack and given a very soecial farwell from Rita, Alice and Lorelei.

  • Ettie Parslow (Lois Ramsay
    Lois Ramsay
    Lois Ramsey is an Australian actress, best known for her performances as eccentric old ladies on television.She was a major cast member of the 1970s soap opera The Box as tea lady Mrs. Hopkins...

     - episodes 514-600), a senile old dear who turns out to have been imprisoned since the Second World War due to a bureaucratic mix-up. Develops a close relationship with officer Meg Morris when it turns out that Ettie nursed her as a new-born baby in prison. After getting released and $250,000 compensation, she manages to get herself put back inside by accidentally shooting a police officer. Is released again, and decides to run a 'halfway' house, where Ann Reynolds briefly works. She was last seen begging to be let into Wentworth to see Julie Egbert on her birthday.

  • Janice Grant (Jenny Ludlam
    Jenny Ludlam
    Jenny Ludlam is a New Zealand-born actress, who remains best known for her roles in Australian television.She was a regular cast member in the short-lived soap opera Waterloo Station followed by guest stints on Prisoner and Sons and Daughters .-External links:...

     - episodes 514-528), a sophisticated solicitor imprisoned for dangerous driving. It turns out that Janice is an alcoholic, suffering from withdrawal symptoms and dependent on buying prison home brew from other inmates. Is poisoned by Alice, and sent to a psychiatric ward, where Ettie Parslow pays for her to receive the best possible treatment.

  • Sheila Brady (Colleen Hewett
    Colleen Hewett
    Colleen Hewett is an Australian actress and popular singer. She is perhaps best known to international audiences for her 1984 guest role in the television series Prisoner as Sheila Brady.-Pop singer:...

     episodes 519-534), misfit remand inmate inside for heroin possession with a secret singing talent. The women struggle with her 'odour' initially. Found not guilty and released - but is seen on TV by Judy shortly after, having turned 'Pixie's song' into a chart hit. Judy tries to sue her, until they come to an agreement that she will write an album of songs for Sheila and join her on tour. Last seen driving off with Judy for stardom. Her version of 'Pixie's Song', is the only other piece of music ever to close an episode of the series.

  • Anita Selby (Diane Craig
    Diane Craig
    Diane Mary Craig is an actress born in County Down, Northern Ireland but who is best known for her performances on Australian television....

     - episodes 526-536), a Catholic nun imprisoned for causing a disturbance at a nuclear disarmament demonstration. Anita's overall goodness and willingness to seek such virtue in others brought about a brief moral chaos to Wentworth, its prisoners and staff. In particular she proved to be the perfect character foil for cell mate Lou Kelly and evil officer Joan Ferguson. She was released on bail and last seen having a heart to heart with Joan Ferguson.

  • Nora Flynn (Sonja Tallis
    Sonja Tallis
    Sonja Tallis is an Australian actress, singer, and drama teacher.Sonja Tallis began her showbiz career as a folk singer, touring as part of a duo called "Sean & Sonja", before moving onto acting. After acting in serial The Young Doctors, she had a small role in Sons and Daughters, before going onto...

     - episodes 537-588), a long-term, self-reformed prisoner transferred from Barnhurst. She acts as the new 'Top Dog' after the death of Myra Desmond. She had served 23 years for her involvement in the thrill-kill murder of three hitch-hikers. Perhaps inspired by the situation of the Charles Manson gang members, despite appearing to be self-reformed Flynn is repeatedly denied parole. When she arrives she has already escaped once from prison, and in doing so managed to get herself pregnant. But a scuffle with Lou denies Nora her dream of becoming a mother. Later learns her mother has died, and with little left to live for, she executes a mysterious escape from prison. Later her murdered corpse is dumped outside the prison: it transpires that after her escape she had been hunted down and killed by an ex-policeman serial killer with a grudge against prisoners.

  • May Collins (Billie Hammerberg
    Billie Hammerberg
    Billie Hammerberg was born Billie Lorraine Hammerberg. She was an Australian actress, best known for her role in the television series Prisoner as May Collins....

     - episodes 537-587), an earthy career criminal who was a famous cat burglar. Although getting on in years, May is a tough lady who watches out for the more vulnerable, younger prisoners. After her escape, she works with a gang to rob an art gallery and after much disagreement she is shot in her chest.

  • Willie Beecham (Kirsty Child
    Kirsty Child
    Kirsty Child is an Australian actress, best known for playing three roles in the cult drama Prisoner. She played two guest roles – prison officer turned drug dealer Anne Yates in 1979, and Glynis Johnson, the sister of an inmate, in 1983. In 1985 she played a more prominent part in the series as...

     - episodes 537-682), May Collins' partner-in-crime. Willie was a fence on the outside and runs a bartering business in prison. Willie is something of a snob, and often antagonises the women with her supercilious attitude. When offered the opportunity of a full pardon, May and Willie worked with the police to try and expose a new criminal syndicate, when May was shot and killed, Willie made sure everyone at Wentworth knew and left the series feeling she no longer had anyone who cared for her. She returned for a surprising, one-off appearance later in the series as an employee which Joan goes to see for a job.

  • Julie "Chook" Egbert (Jackie Woodburne
    Jackie Woodburne
    Jackie Woodburne is a Northern Irish-born Australian actress.-Personal life:Woodburne was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Her father was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. She has two older siblings: John and Stephen. At age three she emigrated with her family to...

     - episodes 537-628), a shy but highly intelligent young girl who had stolen from her workplace to help her terminally ill mother who later dies. She is transferred back to Barnhurst until her release so she can live with her new husband, Steve Ryan.

  • Daphne Graham (Debra Lawrance
    Debra Lawrance
    Debra Lawrance is an Australian actress best known for her role as Pippa Ross on Home and Away, which she played from 1990 to 1998. She continues to guest star to this date- her last appearance was in 2009.-Biography:...

     - episodes 537-590), a garden-loving inmate who had been a juvenile offender before ending up in prison. It is later discovered that Daphne's crime and her subsequent self-harming in prison is linked to extreme PMT. Ben Fulbright, later to marry Pippa Reynolds, fought for her release on these grounds and she leaved Wentworth. Briefly was seen on TV making her case known to the public.

  • Ruth Ballinger (Lindy Davies
    Lindy Davies
    Lindy Davies is an Australian actress, director and drama teacher. From 1995–2007 she was the Dean of the School of Drama at the Victorian College of Arts in Melbourne....

     - episodes 538-552), the shady wife of an international drugs baron remanded to Wentworth with special privileges in the hope that she will assist the Federal Police with their efforts to nail her husband's drug trade. One of the few prisoners to really ruffle the feathers of The Freak, when she discovers among her crimes she was involved with child pornography. Ruth's time in the series climaxes in a three-episode-long terrorist siege when her husband sends a team of armed mercenaries to spring her from the prison. After the successful escape, she is caught at the airport and is transferred to Blackmoor. (Joan phones Cynthia Leach to have Ruth 'taken care of')

  • Jenny Hartley (Jenny Lovell
    Jenny Lovell
    Jenny Lovell is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Jenny Hartley in the television series Prisoner It was during her acting role in Prisoner where she became agoraphobic, due to the constant heckling by the public who constantly called her a Poor man's Lynn 'Wonky' Warner.She has...

     - episodes 540-588), a young woman on remand protesting her innocence of the murder of her wealthy grandmother. Initially introduced as a friend of Pippa Reynolds, she is also a professional piano player, who teaches Daphne Graham to play. Grows in strength and character through her time in the prison. Last seen travelling to London with Pippa Reynolds, after her uncle is found guilty of the killing of her grandmother.

  • Queenie Marshall (Marilyn Rodgers - episodes 556-573), sassy prostitute who later becomes a friend to the women on the outside when they need her help to ensure that Nikki Lennox does not end up in prison. Queenie also led to Andrew Fry's resign he was known as her "best" customer

  • Nikki Lennox (Vicki Mathias - episodes 568-574), the leader of a gang of juvenile delinquents sent to Wentworth to spend time with convicted criminals as part of a "scared straight" scheme. She became an enemy of Lexie Patterson when she cheated at a game of cards and they broke out in a fight. Nora, May & Willie teamed up with Queenie Marshall on the outside to make sure she would never return to the prison.

  • Cindy Moran (Robyn Frank - episodes 568-574), another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight". Attacked May, and discovered Daphne having hung herself amongst other things that worked to ensure she would not return to prison.

  • Eve Wilder (Lynda Stoner
    Lynda Stoner
    Lynda Stoner is an Australian actress and animal rights activist.In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Stoner was known for several roles on Australian television and was popularly regarded as a sex symbol...

     - episodes 574-600), a beautiful, enigmatic socialite who arrives in Wentworth protesting her innocence at having allegedly shot the man she had been having an affair with. During her stay, she bashed guard Joyce Barry. She was killed by Lou Kelly by hanging during a riot. As she was found out to be the "Phantom Lagger"

  • Rita "The Beater" Connors (Glenda Linscott
    Glenda Linscott
    Glenda Linscott is an Australian actress, best known for her performance as tough bikie inmate and top dog Rita "The Beater" Connors in the television drama Prisoner, for which she won a Penguin award....

     - episodes 585-692), a spirited bikie, nicknamed "Rita the Beater" who arrives inside for grievous bodily harm and becomes the show's third long-running top dog. She also brought down The Freak. Stepped down from Top Dog when she contracted terminal cancer

  • Barbara "Barbie" Cox (Jayne Healey - episodes 586-602), a daffy young woman whose vocabulary is limited to "Hi-de-hi!" and "Naughty, naughty!" As part of a running joke, it is never revealed why Barbie is in prison. She is released with Jesse Windon, but returns the following episode to throw tennis balls to the women, that were filled with alcohol.

  • Nancy McCormack (Julia Blake
    Julia Blake
    Julia Blake is a British-born actress based in Australia.Blake was born in London, England. She is married to Terry Norris. She is the mother of actresses Sarah and Jane Norris....

     - episodes 589-650), a demure, dignified housewife imprisoned for killing her abusive husband. In fact, Nancy is covering up for her son, who had accidentally killed his father during a fight. She is released alongside Lexie Patterson.

  • Jessie Windom (Pat Evison
    Pat Evison
    Dame Helen June Patricia Evison, DBE , known as Pat Evison, was a New Zealand actress.-Early life and education:...

     - episodes 589-620), a no-nonsense, resourceful former brothel madam who deliberately gets herself imprisoned in order to search for the daughter she gave away years before - Lexie Patterson. She is released and later takes Lexie's son until Lexie is released.

  • Ida Brown (Paddy Burnet - episodes 592-691), Rita Connors' formidable elderly auntie involved with her niece's biker gang. She is last seen visiting Rita in 691.

  • Fay Donnelly (Maud Clark - episodes 594-601), Tall lanky prisoner, a crony of Lou Kelly's.

  • Rachel "Roach" Waters (Linda Hartley
    Linda Hartley
    Linda Hartley-Clark is an Australian actress who played Kerry Bishop on the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 1989 to 1990. She also did a guest stint in 2005 playing Gabrielle Walker, who in the storyline was recognised by Harold Bishop as Kerry's lookalike...

     - episodes 595-643), a young punk inside for armed robbery. "Roach" is the girlfriend of Rita Connors' brother Bongo (Shane Connor). She escaped while on work release.

  • Wendy Stone (Vivien Davies - episodes 598-601), Short prisoner with wild hair (and teeth) supporting Lou Kelly together with Faye Donnelly during the riots. She is first seen in 598, and bashes Julie badly in 600, which results in Julie and Dr. Steve becoming involved when he gives her medical attention. When the riots ended Wendy and Faye got transferred to D-Block and never returned.

  • Janet "Maggot" Williams (Christine Earle
    Christine Earle
    Christine Earle is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Janet Williams in the television series Prisoner. She appeared in a guest roles in Neighbours both before and after Prisoner!-External links:...

     - episodes 599-639), a second-rate prison thug who becomes an offsider to a number of the wannabe top dogs at Wentworth. She murdered Lou Kelly. She is later transferred to A-Block following a bashing from Kath Maxwell.

  • Kath Maxwell (Kate Hood
    Kate Hood
    Kate Hood is an Australian actress, best known to international audiences for her role in the cult television drama Prisoner as the misunderstood mercy killer Kath Maxwell during the final year of the series....

     - episodes 601-692), a middle-class woman committed for killing her terminally sick, handicapped daughter. Initially brutalised by the other women, Kath toughens up and becomes Rita Connors' main rival for the top dog position. She is the last top dog of the series.

  • Vicki McPherson (Rebecca Dines
    Rebecca Dines
    Rebecca Dines is an Australian actress, best known to television viewers for her performance as Vicki McPherson during the final year of the drama series Prisoner....

     - episodes 608-692), a wisecracking inmate who becomes an ally to Kath Maxwell and "Spider" Simpson.

  • Lorelei Wilkinson (Paula Duncan
    Paula Duncan
    Paula Margaret Duncan is an Australian actress. She is prominent mainly in the genre of soap opera. Her sister is fellow soap actress Carmen Duncan....

     - episodes 623-677), a vivacious con-woman imprisoned for posing as a policewoman. She was transferred to Ingleside Mental Institution after stabbing Ernest Craven, in which she became mentally unstable.

  • Merle Jones (Rosanne Hull-Brown
    Rosanne Hull-Brown
    Rosanne Hull-Brown is an Australian actress, who remains best known for her performance as Merle Jones during the final year of the television drama series Prisoner.She subsequently retired from acting and became a music teacher.-External links:...

     - episodes 625-692), a mentally disabled, illiterate prisoner initially regarded as a figure of fun by the other women, but finds friendship from inmate Kath Maxwell. She escaped with Kath but was left behind after an injury and sent to a pyschiatric hospital; was subsequently returned to Wentworth where Kath made several attempts to make up with her - they eventually reconciled in 691.

  • Margie Anson (Samantha Carter
    Samantha Carter
    Samantha "Sam" Carter is a fictional character in the Canadian-American military science fiction Stargate franchise, appearing in television series Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe. SG-1 and Atlantis are both about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien...

     - episodes 645-685), Prisoner beaten up by Kath and Vicki as part of Kath's bid to take over top dog. She backs off from helping Spider unload contraband when van is searched and keeps nit while Spike fixes up the playback of Lisa's tape of Rodney.

  • Rose "Spider" Simpson (Taya Straton - episodes 649-686), a sneering career criminal who takes charge of all rackets and contraband trading at Wentworth. also became jealous of Spike Marsh. She was transferred to Barnhurst.

  • Lisa Mullins (Nicki Paull
    Nicki Paull
    Nicola Paull is an Australian actress. Though predominantly known for her work on television, she has also appeared in films and on stage, as well as performing as a voice-over artist and narrator....

    /Terrie Waddell
    Terrie Waddell
    Terrie Waddell is a former Australian actress, best known for her role as Lisa Mullins in the television series Prisoner. She had replaced Nicki Paull, who had left the role due to an illness. Waddell remained with the series until its final episode in 1986....

     - episodes 651-692), a young woman arrested for operating a prostitution and blackmail racket on the outside. (Note: Lisa was played by Nikki Paul for her first six episodes. When Paul suddenly became ill, the part was taken over by Terrie Waddell).

  • Wendy Glover (Julieanne Newbould
    Julieanne Newbould
    Julieanne Newbould is an Australian actress who first came to prominence in the 1970s.She was a popular original cast member in soap opera The Restless Years. The series started in late 1977; Newbould left the series in early 1979. She later played two roles in Prisoner. She appeared first in 1982...

     - episodes 651-659), an undercover policewoman sent into Wentworth to shadow endangered inmate Lisa Mullins and to gather information about her case. when the women find out Wendy cops a very strong bashing and they write a tatto on her head saying "cop" she is last seen visiting Lisa to tell her that her boyfriend Lester is dead.

  • Sarah West (Kylie Belling
    Kylie Belling
    Kylie Belling is an Australian actress.She is best known for her television work. She played Sarah West in Prisoner and was also an original cast member of The Flying Doctors as Sharon Herbert.-External links:*...

     - episodes 658-668), a fiery, impulsive Aboriginal inmate who suffers from abuse from racist prisoners but who starts to fight back. She was transferred to Barnhurst after Craven's threats to Pamela.

  • Michelle "Brumby" Tucker (Sheryl Munks
    Sheryl Munks
    Sheryl Munks is an Australian actress.She is best known to audiences for her role as "Brumby" Tucker in the television series Prisoner....

     - episodes 665-692), a young prisoner first seen at Blackmoor prison. A misfit and a troublemaker.

  • Margaret "Spike" Marsh (Victoria Rowland
    Victoria Rowland
    Victoria Rowland is an Australian actress, best known for playing "Spike" Marsh in the television drama Prisoner during its final months in 1986.-External links:...

     - episodes 665-691), "Brumby"'s best friend at Blackmoor who was framed for heroin trafficking. "Spike" was a university student studying the sciences before being imprisoned and has kept her middle-class background hidden from the other prisoners. She was released to be with her parents.

  • Billy Slocum (Glennan Fahey - episodes 668-684), Blackmoor prisoner transferred to Wentworth after the fire there, and first seen when Merle tries to trade comics with him. Craven lets him and Stud Wilson into solitary to rape Lorelei, and when the women find out they were responsible, they are held hostage in a store room for some mental torture with a razor.

  • "Stud" Wilson (Peter Lindsay - episodes 668-684), male former Blackmoor inmate transferred to Wentworth after Blackmoor is burnt down following a riot. A convicted rapist and an underling of evil governor Ernest Craven.

  • Harry Grosvenor (Mike Bishop - episodes 679-692), former male Blackmoor prisoner moved to Wentworth, becoming a love interest for Alice Jenkins. He was transferred to Barnhurst in the last episode telling Alice that he loves her.

See also

  • Prisoner characters - Prison Staff
    Prisoner characters - Prison Staff
    A list of all prison staff at the Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.Listed in order of appearance:* Erica Davidson , the prison's governor...

  • Prisoner characters - Background Prison Officers
    Prisoner characters - Background Prison Officers
    A list of background prison officers at the Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series Prisoner.* Sue Bailey , frequently seen background prison officer...

  • Prisoner characters - Miscellaneous
    Prisoner characters - Miscellaneous
    A list of miscellaneous characters in the television series Prisoner.Listed in order of appearance:* Eddie Cook , an electrician contracted to do repair work at the prison...

  • Prisoner characters - Background Prisoners
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