WO
Yes British soap actresses are like that too. Pat Butcher in real life sounds like the Queen, as does Little Mo.
CW
cwathen
Founding member
A bit more plot wrapping up (this took place during episode 691 to allow the Rita-Joan storyline to take pride of place in the final episode.
When Kath abandoned Merle at their escape, she no longer trusted her and rejected her when she came back.
In episode 691, the pair made up, and Kath herself was quite clearly a changed woman, delivering an impassioned speach about what it's like to be in prison to the head of the department. This subsequently led to her being elected as top dog when Rita handed the job in.
If you want a complete episode guide to Prisoner (with pictures in some places), go to www.wwwentworth.co.uk.
When Kath abandoned Merle at their escape, she no longer trusted her and rejected her when she came back.
In episode 691, the pair made up, and Kath herself was quite clearly a changed woman, delivering an impassioned speach about what it's like to be in prison to the head of the department. This subsequently led to her being elected as top dog when Rita handed the job in.
If you want a complete episode guide to Prisoner (with pictures in some places), go to www.wwwentworth.co.uk.
WO
That URL is giving me a 404 not found error.
cwathen posted:
A bit more plot wrapping up (this took place during episode 691 to allow the Rita-Joan storyline to take pride of place in the final episode.
When Kath abandoned Merle at their escape, she no longer trusted her and rejected her when she came back.
In episode 691, the pair made up, and Kath herself was quite clearly a changed woman, delivering an impassioned speach about what it's like to be in prison to the head of the department. This subsequently led to her being elected as top dog when Rita handed the job in.
If you want a complete episode guide to Prisoner (with pictures in some places), go to www.wwwentworth.co.uk.
When Kath abandoned Merle at their escape, she no longer trusted her and rejected her when she came back.
In episode 691, the pair made up, and Kath herself was quite clearly a changed woman, delivering an impassioned speach about what it's like to be in prison to the head of the department. This subsequently led to her being elected as top dog when Rita handed the job in.
If you want a complete episode guide to Prisoner (with pictures in some places), go to www.wwwentworth.co.uk.
That URL is giving me a 404 not found error.
EM
It's well known that Val Lehman, who played Bea, is very much up her own arse and her relationship with Grundy degenerated very quickly. Thus, it was more an act of spite than anything else which saw her character end in such an unspectacular way (the first scenes of episode 400, her final episode, really don't set the scene as that being Bea's swansong). However, the character was popular and ratings took a slide after she left and Grundy desperately tried to get her back, when they couldn't, they then decided to kill off the character leaving Val Lehman no further way back into the series. It is noteworthy that she has never worked at Grundy since.
Interesting... I heard that Meg Morris was a 'bit of a mole' for the Grundy bosses- and frequently 'grassed up' any actors that stepped a toe out of line. She apparently did not get on with Val Lehman for that reason.
I'd LOVE to see this series back- we have both sets of DVD's from Oz here and it really is timeless.
DG
cwathen posted:
Quote:
Anyway, Bea was the best Top Dog, but she had an unspectacular ending - just transferred to Barnhurst or another wing. She wasn't mentioned for a while, but then in later episodes came the news that Bea Smith had been killed in a fire at the other prison. It would have been great if Bea could have come back at the end of the series to finish off the Freak but it just wasn't to bea.
It's well known that Val Lehman, who played Bea, is very much up her own arse and her relationship with Grundy degenerated very quickly. Thus, it was more an act of spite than anything else which saw her character end in such an unspectacular way (the first scenes of episode 400, her final episode, really don't set the scene as that being Bea's swansong). However, the character was popular and ratings took a slide after she left and Grundy desperately tried to get her back, when they couldn't, they then decided to kill off the character leaving Val Lehman no further way back into the series. It is noteworthy that she has never worked at Grundy since.
Interesting... I heard that Meg Morris was a 'bit of a mole' for the Grundy bosses- and frequently 'grassed up' any actors that stepped a toe out of line. She apparently did not get on with Val Lehman for that reason.
I'd LOVE to see this series back- we have both sets of DVD's from Oz here and it really is timeless.
DG
CW
That's also what Val Lehman said so it's not clear whether or not it's true. That said, Meg Jackson/Morris was the only character to last the entire series and Elspeth Ballantyne was (at the time) a very weak actress. There must be some reason why she stayed on for so long.
cwathen
Founding member
Quote:
Interesting... I heard that Meg Morris was a 'bit of a mole' for the Grundy bosses- and frequently 'grassed up' any actors that stepped a toe out of line. She apparently did not get on with Val Lehman for that reason.
That's also what Val Lehman said so it's not clear whether or not it's true. That said, Meg Jackson/Morris was the only character to last the entire series and Elspeth Ballantyne was (at the time) a very weak actress. There must be some reason why she stayed on for so long.
NU
The link contains a trailing full-stop which you need to remove, i.e. www.wwwentworth.co.uk
Woody_streatham posted:
That URL is giving me a 404 not found error.
The link contains a trailing full-stop which you need to remove, i.e. www.wwwentworth.co.uk
FG
That's also what Val Lehman said so it's not clear whether or not it's true. That said, Meg Jackson/Morris was the only character to last the entire series and Elspeth Ballantyne was (at the time) a very weak actress. There must be some reason why she stayed on for so long.
Elsbeth Ballentyne's CV was certainly not weak by the time she checked in as Meg at Wentworth she statred in theatre at the age of eight in Macbeth she went onto work in many theatre productions and also appearded in the very popular soap Bell Bird .
cwathen posted:
Quote:
Interesting... I heard that Meg Morris was a 'bit of a mole' for the Grundy bosses- and frequently 'grassed up' any actors that stepped a toe out of line. She apparently did not get on with Val Lehman for that reason.
That's also what Val Lehman said so it's not clear whether or not it's true. That said, Meg Jackson/Morris was the only character to last the entire series and Elspeth Ballantyne was (at the time) a very weak actress. There must be some reason why she stayed on for so long.
Elsbeth Ballentyne's CV was certainly not weak by the time she checked in as Meg at Wentworth she statred in theatre at the age of eight in Macbeth she went onto work in many theatre productions and also appearded in the very popular soap Bell Bird .
CW
It just means she was in a lot of things, it doesn't mean she was particularly good at it. The woman kept staring at the floor and mumbling, her two big upset/distraught scenes (episode 4 when Bill died, and episode 500ish when she started to crack up when her and Ann were held hostage in the warehouse) had me in tears of laughter rather than sadness. She did improve - by the time she was on Neighbours she wasn't too bad, but she still imo put in a weak performance throughout Prisoner - she just seemed out of her depth doing anything other than throwaway easy exchanges between characters. Anything more dramatic she could never pull off.
cwathen
Founding member
Quote:
Elsbeth Ballentyne's CV was certainly not weak by the time she checked in as Meg at Wentworth she statred in theatre at the age of eight in Macbeth she went onto work in many theatre productions and also appearded in the very popular soap Bell Bird .
It just means she was in a lot of things, it doesn't mean she was particularly good at it. The woman kept staring at the floor and mumbling, her two big upset/distraught scenes (episode 4 when Bill died, and episode 500ish when she started to crack up when her and Ann were held hostage in the warehouse) had me in tears of laughter rather than sadness. She did improve - by the time she was on Neighbours she wasn't too bad, but she still imo put in a weak performance throughout Prisoner - she just seemed out of her depth doing anything other than throwaway easy exchanges between characters. Anything more dramatic she could never pull off.
FG
It just means she was in a lot of things, it doesn't mean she was particularly good at it. The woman kept staring at the floor and mumbling, her two big upset/distraught scenes (episode 4 when Bill died, and episode 500ish when she started to crack up when her and Ann were held hostage in the warehouse) had me in tears of laughter rather than sadness. She did improve - by the time she was on Neighbours she wasn't too bad, but she still imo put in a weak performance throughout Prisoner - she just seemed out of her depth doing anything other than throwaway easy exchanges between characters. Anything more dramatic she could never pull off.
I'm not disputing that all i stated was that her CV was very impressive .The only actress that didn't have to audition for Prisoner was Sheila Florence ( Lizzie)and the only two actresses that i recongnised from anything else was Patsy King (Erica) who was in Chopper Squad. and Peita Toppano (Karen) who was in The Young Doctors .
cwathen posted:
Quote:
Elsbeth Ballentyne's CV was certainly not weak by the time she checked in as Meg at Wentworth she statred in theatre at the age of eight in Macbeth she went onto work in many theatre productions and also appearded in the very popular soap Bell Bird .
It just means she was in a lot of things, it doesn't mean she was particularly good at it. The woman kept staring at the floor and mumbling, her two big upset/distraught scenes (episode 4 when Bill died, and episode 500ish when she started to crack up when her and Ann were held hostage in the warehouse) had me in tears of laughter rather than sadness. She did improve - by the time she was on Neighbours she wasn't too bad, but she still imo put in a weak performance throughout Prisoner - she just seemed out of her depth doing anything other than throwaway easy exchanges between characters. Anything more dramatic she could never pull off.
I'm not disputing that all i stated was that her CV was very impressive .The only actress that didn't have to audition for Prisoner was Sheila Florence ( Lizzie)and the only two actresses that i recongnised from anything else was Patsy King (Erica) who was in Chopper Squad. and Peita Toppano (Karen) who was in The Young Doctors .
EM
Haha yes, I was about to add the 'look at shoes and mumble' remark Chris. Somwhow, though- this kindof added to her character a bit.
There were soooo many damned good actresses in Prisoner. I've always thought it a shame to keep downing it for 'shaky scenery.'
Maggie Kirkpatrick for example- one HELL of an actress, as was/is Glenda Linscott. I would have loved the opportunity to see the series continue with Kath as Top Dog- and what about 'Merle' ... another hell of an actress.
3 words... BRING IT BACK!!!
DG
cwathen posted:
The woman kept staring at the floor and mumbling, her two big upset/distraught scenes (episode 4 when Bill died, and episode 500ish when she started to crack up when her and Ann were held hostage in the warehouse) had me in tears of laughter rather than sadness.
Haha yes, I was about to add the 'look at shoes and mumble' remark Chris. Somwhow, though- this kindof added to her character a bit.
There were soooo many damned good actresses in Prisoner. I've always thought it a shame to keep downing it for 'shaky scenery.'
Maggie Kirkpatrick for example- one HELL of an actress, as was/is Glenda Linscott. I would have loved the opportunity to see the series continue with Kath as Top Dog- and what about 'Merle' ... another hell of an actress.
3 words... BRING IT BACK!!!
DG
SE
Maggie Kirkpatrick for example- one HELL of an actress
Oh without doubt. The character of Joan Ferguson was inspired, she had such depth, not just a one dimensional baddie. Whilst Joan held the balance of power on the inside, her personal life outside was as insecure as the lives of the women in the prison.
In fact the prison was her life, it consumed her even though she could walk through the gates every day. It was fitting that the end of the series featured the demise of this character central to it's plot. I don't think the viewer could really have been disappointed by the ending. Brilliant character.
On the topic of characters, was there a single worst character in the series than the dreadful piano playing Jenny Hartley and her ghastly "Nanna" ? That was a real low for me, you probably have your own worst character though.
Square Eyes
Founding member
Elektrik Media posted:
Maggie Kirkpatrick for example- one HELL of an actress
Oh without doubt. The character of Joan Ferguson was inspired, she had such depth, not just a one dimensional baddie. Whilst Joan held the balance of power on the inside, her personal life outside was as insecure as the lives of the women in the prison.
In fact the prison was her life, it consumed her even though she could walk through the gates every day. It was fitting that the end of the series featured the demise of this character central to it's plot. I don't think the viewer could really have been disappointed by the ending. Brilliant character.
On the topic of characters, was there a single worst character in the series than the dreadful piano playing Jenny Hartley and her ghastly "Nanna" ? That was a real low for me, you probably have your own worst character though.