Prisoner characters - inmates

A list of all inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in the television series "Prisoner".

Listed in order of appearance:

* Bea "Queen Bea" Smith (Val Lehman - 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 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. 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 transferred to Branhurst but we were later told that she was killed during a riot.

* Doreen Anderson (Colette Mann - episodes 1-446), a dim-witted and easily led, but generally well meaning prisoner who was briefly involved in a sexual relationship with Franky Doyle (Carol Burns). 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 many returns to Wentworth she was released and never heard from again.

* Lizzie Birdsworth (née Cameron) (Sheila Florance - 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. Lizzie was best known for her always present red cardigan sweater given to her by the prison's governor, Erica Davidson.

* Franky Doyle (Carol Burns - episodes 1-20), an agitating lesbian bikie whose violent attitude stemmed from the fact that she was illiterate. Despite her popularity, she appears in only the first 20 episodes as she was killed by a cop while on the run with Doreen.

* Karen Travers (Peta Toppano - episodes 1-80), a middle-class school-teacher who had stabbed her abusive, adulterous husband to death in the shower when she had found him in bed with another woman after he had forced her to have an abortion. Karen's sentance was reduced from life to 2 years for good behaviours.

* Lynn Warner (Kerry Armstrong - episodes 1-44), a young 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. She returns and later is released for good. It was eventually discovered that the child's own mother had buried the child alive; which gave Lynn's innocence claims more credence.

* Jeanette "Mum" Brooks (Mary Ward - episodes 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.

* Marilyn Mason (Margaret Laurence - episodes 1-16), the prison nymphomaniac, inside for soliciting and chiefly memorable for her erotic assignations with electrician Eddie Cook (Richard Moir) in the prison roof.

* Rosie Hudson (Anne-Maree McDonald - episodes 2-73), a pregnant prisoner who gives birth at Wentworth. One year later, she suffers a breakdown being unable to cope after her baby son is taken into care.

* Chrissie Latham (Amanda Muggleton - 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, but later on saved Meg herself from a brutal bashing by Margo Gaffney. At first, an enemy of Bea Smith, she later on became one of Bea's allies. She was eventually transferred to Barnhurst.

* Helen Masters (Louise Pajo - episodes 8-10), a businesswoman remanded to Wentworth for running down a child and whose haughty attitude alienates both staff and prisoners.

* Monica Ferguson (Lesley Baker - episodes 15-60), a brutish, hulking inmate inside for bashing her weaselly husband Fred (Gary Files). A friend of Bea Smith, except for one time when she took over as Top Dog for Bea during Bea's escape. After Bea's recapture, Monica wanted to remain Top Dog. After one scuffle with Smith and with her parole coming up, Monica backed down rather than risk not getting paroled.

* Barbara Davidson (Sally Cahill - episodes 17-24), the niece of governor Erica Davidson. Barbara is admitted to Wentworth on drug charges.

* Catherine Roberts (Margo McLennan - episodes 18-24), a middle-class housewife who runs down and kills the man who she thinks is the one who raped her teenage daughter.

* Susan Rice (Briony Behets - episodes 25-29), an emotionally fragile woman who shoplifts to gain attention from her pop star husband.

* Martha Eaves (Kate Jason - episodes 29-64), a dimwitted prisoner ridiculed by the other women, but who often acts as hired muscle for wannabe top dogs or those needing physical back-up.

* Noeline Burke (Jude Kuring - 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."

* Clara Goddard (Betty Lucas - episodes 30-39), a genteel, flighty socialite remanded to Wentworth for embezzlement who gains considerable influence amongst the women. Sarcastically nicknamed "Madame Clara" by Bea Smith, jealous of the way Clara manages to usurp her authority as top dog of the prisoners. She was released at her trial.

* Kathleen Leach (Penny Stewart - episodes 30-149), background prisoner who sometimes played a bigger role in the series.

* Leanne Burke (Tracey-Jo Riley - episodes 33-121), Noeline Burke's daughter, who has inherited her mother's criminal tendencies. She fell to her death from the Prisoner Roof during Judy's Protest that Jock Stewart killed Sharon.

* Irene Zervos (Maria Mercedes - 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.

* Joyce Martin (Judy Nunn - 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.

* Denise Crabtree (Lynda Keane - 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.

* Edith Wharton (Colleen Clifford - episodes 44-49), an elderly woman who is made homeless and ends up in Wentworth charged with vagrancy, bringing out the softer side of deputy governor Jim Fletcher. The night before her release Edith sadly dies in her sleep.

* Melinda Cross (Lulu Pinkus - episodes 47-58), a devious young woman and university student who is remanded to Wentworth after trying to blackmail the lecturer with whom she had been having an affair.

* Bella Albrecht (Liddy Clark - episodes 51-52), a remorseless child killer who had murdered her toddler daughter and arrives at Wentworth on remand, arousing the anger of the women, who despise those who harm children.

* Phyllis Hunt (Reylene Pearce - 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.

* Antonia McNally (Pat Bishop - episodes 57-64), a cool, classy woman on remand for murder who takes 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, therefore pressure is brought to bear on governor Erica Davidson to give her special privileges that further cements her high status amongst the prisoners. She was shot after her trial by Ros Coulson, Daughter of the women she killed.

* Roslyn Coulson (Sigrid Thornton - episodes 63-92), an idealistic young woman charged with killing the woman who had murdered her mother, Antonia McNally. She escaped with help from outside friend, who shot Erica Davidson but she was returned to Wentworth and transferred to another block so she could concerntrate on her studying.

* Pat O'Connell (Monica Maughan - episodes 65-110), an imprisoned mother separated from her young children, Pat had aided and abetted her husband and eldest son in an armed robbery.

* Janet Dominguez (Deidre Rubenstein - episodes 79-83), a suspected terrorist held in solitary awaiting extradition to the United States to stand trial for her crimes. An attempt by her fellow guerillas to rescue her by breaking into Wentworth at night forms the first end-of-season cliffhanger in the series.

* Caroline Simpson (Rosalind Speirs - episodes 89-114), a sophisticated middle-class woman who stabbed her abusive father to protect her mother, Vivienne Williams (Bernadette Gibson), from being beaten. Both Caroline and Vivienne are remanded to Wentworth, and Caroline becomes attracted to deputy governor Jim Fletcher, who as a result earned the nickname "Fletch the letch".

* Sharon Gilmour (Margot Knight - episodes 90-116), a scheming, spoiled young woman imprisoned for drug dealing and an immediate enemy of Bea Smith. Sharon's older girlfriend, Judy Bryant, deliberately had herself imprisoned to be with Sharon, only for Sharon to shamelessly manipulate her in her bid to become top dog. Sharon was pushed down the stairs by bent screw Jock Stewart, she died.

* Judy Bryant (Betty Bobbitt - 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.

* Margo Gaffney (Jane Clifton - episodes 92-448), one of a long line of agitators in the prison cellblock 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 at Wentworth, thus beginning the Great Fire at Wentworth, and lied about it to the cops.

* Heather "Mouse" Trapp (Jentah Sobott - episodes 106-326), a rather stupid 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 (episode 326) where she perishes in the flames and burns to death.

* Kerry Vincent (Penny Downie - episodes 112-124), a prisoner transferred to Wentworth because of her artistic talent but who turns out to be a mediocrity, exploited for her prisoner status.

* Helen Smart (Caroline Gillmer - 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."

* Gail Summers (Susanne Howarth - episodes 124-133), a harassed housewife and neighbor of officer Meg Morris, driven to beating her young children because of an inability to cope. Remanded to Wentworth where she faces the anger of the other prisoners for being a "baby basher".

* Kay White (Sandy Gore - episodes 127-145), the administrator of a clothing factory where the women are out on work release. Kay arrives at Wentworth after embezzling the payroll, using it to finance her compulsive gambling habit. A fellow inmate struck Kay with an electric jug-kettle and she died of a blood-clot on the brain. (She was attacking Lizzie Birdsworth for fixing a game, In which Kay was'nt to happy about and Linda came in and hit her over the head with the kettle).

* Tracey Morris (Sue Devine - episodes 141-198), 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 with officer Meg Jackson.

* Hazel Kent (Belinda Davey - 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.

* Jacki Nolan (Diane Craig - episodes 149-159), a sophisticated young woman who had escaped from Barnhurst years previously and lives under an alias. When her cover is blown, she is brought to Wentworth as a high profile inmate, with various groups campaigning for her release.

* Myra Desmond (Anne Phelan - 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.

* Anne Griffin (Rowena Wallace - episodes 160-167), a fragile young woman who is remanded to Wentworth protesting her innocence of a robbery charge. She became very worrying to viewers and was later carted off to a Seure Psyciatric Unit.

* Sandra Hamilton (Candy Raymond - episodes 173-180), an ambitious journalist who deliberately gets herself imprisoned to write a story about life behind bars.

* Evelyn Randall (Julia Blake - episodes 175-179), an eccentric, middle-aged woman and herbalist who is imprisoned for manslaughter after a patient died. Evelyn's arrival coincides with Wentworth being gripped by a mysterious disease and placed under quarantine conditions.

* Georgie Baxter (Tracy Mann - episodes 175-186), a violent, illiterate biker's moll whose aggression is caused by her deafness.

* Jeannie Baxter (Leila Hayes - episodes 180-183), Georgie Baxter's mother, who had neglected her as a child. Admitted to Wentworth for "living off immoral earnings" as a brothel madam.

* Marie Winter (Maggie Millar - 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 excerise and clinging onto a helicopter and flying away. Notebly the best exit. We are told that a few days later she is captured and sent to Blackmoor.

* Michelle Parks (Nina Landis - 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 - 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.

* Kathy Hall (Sue Jones - episodes 213-220), a woman imprisoned for theft who is heavily involved with the local underworld. Kathy knows too much, and attempts are made to silence her for good.

* Alison Page (Fay Kelton - episodes 215-227), troubled suburban prisoner inside for shoplifting and unhappy at being locked up with "common criminals".

* Andrea Hennessy (Bethany Lee - episodes 228-236), a student and political activist who is admitted to Wentworth after assaulting officer Colleen Powell during a demonstration outside the prison. To secure her release, her followers kidnap governor Erica Davidson.

* 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 killed Kay White when she was attacking Lizzie.

* Sandy Edwards (Louise Le Nay - episodes 235-264), a cocky gangster's moll inside for murder. Briefly took over as top dog whilst Bea Smith was away in hospital.

* Kate Peterson (Olivia Hamnett - 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. She was later carted off to a nut-house when she tried to strangle her cell-mate Judy. (Notably an iconic scene).

* Susie Driscoll (Jacqui Gordon - 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. Due to her young age and innocent nature, she is taken under the collective maternal wing of most of the women. She was killed when she tried to escape through the ventilation system which she was trapped in and workmen pumped harmful gases into the vents unaware she was inside the trapped.

* Faye Quin (Anne Lucas - episodes 285-352), a petty criminal inmate who attempts to take charge of all gambling at Wentworth. Always on Nola McKenzie's side.

* Hannah Simpson (Julieanne Newbould - 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 - episodes 290-303), a doomed heroin addict whom Bea Smith tries to help through cold turkey, 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 - episodes 297-392), a young biker frequently inside Wentworth for petty theft. She was shot dead by an officer while trying to escape.

* Barbara Fields (Susan Guerin - episodes 300-326), a devious middle-class woman who 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.

* Paddy Lawson (Anna Hruby - 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 - episodes 307-309), a young woman imprisoned for prostitution.

* Sally Dempster(Liz Harris - episodes 313-320), neurotic middle-class housewife who tries to run down her neglectful husband after an argument. Like Gail Summers, she too was given rough treatment by the other women, because she bashed her kid.

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

* Nola "The Bitch" McKenzie (Carole Skinner - episodes 331-370), a vicious double murderer who had escaped from death row in Western Australia. Possibly Bea Smith's deadliest rival and the first inmate to actively collude with corrupt officer Joan "The Freak" Ferguson. She angered Bea after callously murdering Paddy Lawson. She eventually tries to drive Bea crazy, until Bea eliminated her by Bea 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.

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

* Roxanne Bradshaw (Peppie D'Or - episodes 345-381), friend of Maxine Daniels who later arrives inside for receiving stolen goods. She is pregnant after agreeing to a surrogacy arrangement with a middle-class couple.

* Jill Clark (Kathleen Brinson - episodes 348-353), a departmental employee posing as an inmate in order to conduct a covert investigation of the prison.

* Lainie Dobson (Marina Finlay - episodes 354-366), tattoo-covered shoplifter who turns to drugs while inside.

* 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.

* Zara Moonbeam (Ilona Rodgers - episodes 362-370), on remand for fraud. Zara claims to be a medium with "second sight" and becomes embroiled in a bizarre scheme by Joan Ferguson and Nola McKenzie to drive Bea Smith insane. Moonbeam was the proud owner of a disturbing Yorkshire accent.

* Tracey Belman (Alyson Best - episodes 368-372), paraplegic prisoner who poisoned her husband after a car crash which left her confined to a wheelchair. But Joan Ferguson proved everyone wrong when she caused Tracy to reveal she could walk and did not need a whellchair.

* Maggie May Kennedy (Davina Whitehouse - episodes 371-376), geriatric drugs mule convicted for smuggling heroin. Turns out to be an old friend of Lizzie Birdsworth. She had, arguably, the most bizarre accent in the entire series, drifting between American slang, BBC English and Dame Edna.

* Carol Colsen (Merrin Canning - episodes 373-377), next door neighbour of Joan Ferguson and an abused housewife who finally snaps and kills her husband.

* Laura Gardiner/Brandy Carter (Roslyn Gentle - 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 - episodes 377-510), a flighty, romantic inmate initially admitted on bigamy charges. (Mason, addicted to weddings, had married a number of men.) She was cruelly raped by Frank Burke, but her friends and Joan Ferguson helped set up evil screw, Len Murphy, for the rape.

* Petra Roberts (Penny Maegraith - episodes 383-407), a former teacher remanded to Wentworth charged with the murder of her abusive father. Is in love with prison doctor Scott Collins. Her storyline was basically a re-hash of the Karen Travers one from several years earlier.

* Sharon Smart (Liddy Clark - episodes 383-388), the younger sister of Helen Smart who becomes involved with a crooked religious cult.

* 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 prostitute and junkie.

* Rosemary Kaye (Jodie 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 - 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. She escaped and was last seen standing on a clifftop.

* Randi Goodlove (Zoe Bertram - 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) into marriage as a cover for her prostitution.

* Cass Parker (Babs McMillan - episodes 401-460), a gentle-natured farmer's daughter with a murderous bad temper. She was later carted off to a secure nut house.

* Minnie Donovan (Wendy Playfair - episodes 405-437), an elderly woman who had been a foster carer and had organised her charges into a team of shoplifters. Became the series' most unorthodox top dog. The first of several Lizzie Birdsworth-lite characters.

* Bobbie Mitchell (Maxine Klibingaitis - 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 - 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.

* Sarah Higgins (Nell Johnson - 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.

* Reb Kean (Janet Andrewartha - 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 was returned to Wentworth later in the series, a changed character following electric shock treatment.

* Mo Maguire (Bronwyn Gibbs - episodes 428-432), antagonistic remand prisoner protesting her innocence of a burglary charge.

* Camilla Wells (Annette Andre - episodes 429-432), a radio show hostess and journalist who arrives at Wentworth as a "celebrity" inmate for not paying a parking fine.

* Meryl King (Marilyn Maguire - episodes 429-432), a prostitute imprisoned for drug possession with links to the local underworld.

* Gloria Payne (Tottie Goldsmith - episodes 430-445), trouble-making inmate and early antagonist of new top dog Myra Desmond, having been her husband's mistress on the outside.

* Sarah Webster (Fiona Paul - 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 - 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. Off-sider of Lou Kelly, but enemies when Lou killed Alice's father, Following Lou's death, Alice became an ally to Rita Connors.

* Rachel Millsom (Kim Trengove - episodes 450-472), a young woman on remand for running down the man who ran down and killed her grandfather.

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

* Lou Kelly (Louise Siversen - 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 by Janet "Maggot" Williams.

* Leigh Templar (Virginia Hey - 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 - episodes 461-534), a juvenile prankster imprisoned for manslaughter after one of her practical jokes had gone tragically wrong.

* Dot Farrar (Alethea McGrath - 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 - 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 - 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 - episodes 472-477), an infamous serial killer, dubbed "The Beast" by the tabloids, who terrifies both staff and inmates alike. Wnhen she went on the warpath in Wentworth, She killed Rob Summerton and soon after commited suicide by injecting herself with an empty hypodermic needle.

* Angela "Angel" Adams (Kylie Foster - 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 phyciatric unit when her true colours began to show.

* Kerryn Davies (Jill Forster - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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.

* Frank Burke (Trevor Kent - 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.

* Yemil Bakarta (Maria Mercedes - episodes 504-516), a Middle Eastern Islamic inmate charged with causing a car accident when attempting to escape from her brutal husband.

* Lexie Patterson (Pepe Trevor - episodes 509-650), a loud-mouth punk and card-shark, who spent her first few months in Boy George-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.)

* Ettie Parslow (Lois Ramsay - 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.

* Janice Grant (Jenny Ludlam - 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.

* Sheila Brady (Colleen Hewett) - episodes 519-534), misfit remand inmate inside for heroin possession with a secret singing talent. She performed 'Pixie's Song', the only other piece of music ever to close an episode of the soap.

* Anita Selby (Diane Craig) - 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.

* Nora Flynn (Sonja Tallis - episodes 537-588), a long-term, self-reformed prisoner transferred from Barnhurst. 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. Flynn is also desperate to conceive her own child. After managing to conceive she suffers a miscarriage. She takes over as an unconventional, pacifist top dog following Myra Desmond's tenure. She was later hunted down by an ex-cop with a grudge against prisoners and was unceramounacly was dumped out side of the prison gate in a bin bag (only her hand was seen).

* May Collins (Billie Hammerberg - 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. She was an enemy of Lou Kelly like many others and also taught Lou many lessons.

* Willie Beecham (Kirsty Child - 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. She returned for a surprising, one-off appearance later in the series.

* Julie "Chook" Egbert (Jackie Woodburne - episodes 537-628), a shy but highly intelligent young girl who had stolen from her workplace to help her terminally ill mother.

* Daphne Graham (Debra Lawrance - 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.

* Ruth Ballinger (Lindy Davies - 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. 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, which leads to the shocking demise of one of the series' most popular characters.

* Jenny Hartley (Jenny Lovell - episodes 540-588), a naive, wimpish young woman on remand protesting her innocence of the murder of her wealthy grandmother. Not one of the most endearing characters in the series.

* Queenie Marshall (Marilyn Rodgers - episodes 556-573), sassy prostitute who later becomes a friend to the women on the outside.

* 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.

* Cindy Moran (Robyn Frank - episodes 568-574), another juvenile offender sent to Wentworth to be "scared straight".

* Eve Wilder (Lynda Stoner - 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. 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 - 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 frm Top Dog when she attracted terminal cancer (Was she really ill ?)

* 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.

* Nancy McCormack (Julia Blake - 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.

* Jessie Windom (Pat Evison - 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.

* Ida Brown (Paddy Burnet - episodes 592-691), Rita Connors' formidable elderly auntie involved with her niece's biker gang.

* "Roach" Waters (Linda Hartley - episodes 595-643), a young punk inside for armed robbery. "Roach" (real name Rachel) is the girlfriend of Rita Connors' brother Bongo (Shane Connor).

* Janet "Maggot" Williams (Christine Earle - episodes 599-639), a second-rate prison thug who becomes an offsider to a number of the wannabe top dogs at Wentworth. First, Lou Kelly and then Kath Maxwell. She later killed Lou Kelly in solitary and was transferred.

* Kath Maxwell (Kate Hood) - 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 th last top dog of the series.

* Vicki McPherson (Rebecca Dines - episodes 608-692), a wisecracking inmate who becomes an ally to Kath Maxwell and "Spider" Simpson.

* Lorelei Wilkinson (Paula Duncan - episodes 623-677), a vivacious con-woman imprisoned for posing as a policewoman.

* Merle Jones (Rosanne Hull-Brown - 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. With a violent temper she knocked out Rita.

* Rose "Spider" Simpson (Taya Straton - episodes 649-686), a sneering career criminal who takes charge of all rackets and contraband trading at Wentworth. Spider caught attention from Jon Furgason who was in love with her.

* Lisa Mullins (Nicki Paull/Terrie Waddell - 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 - episodes 651-659), an undercover policewoman sent into Wentworth to shadow endangered inmate Lisa Mullins and to gather information about her case.

* Sarah West (Kylie Belling - episodes 658-668), a fiery, impulsive Aboriginal inmate who suffers from abuse from racist prisoners but who starts to fight back.

* Michelle "Brumby" Tucker (Sheryl Munks - episodes 665-692), a young prisoner first seen at Blackmoor prison. A misfit and a troublemaker.

* Margaret "Spike" Marsh (Victoria Rowland - 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.

* "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.

See also

*Prisoner characters - Prison Staff
*Prisoner characters - Background Prison Officers
*Prisoner characters - Miscellaneous