Lyn Ford

The Wentworth Star, Issue 10, December 1996

P-TWS had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Lyn on this celebratory Prisoner night. In between munches of Barbara [Jungwirth]'s home-made treats, P-TWS managed to squeeze out a few home truths about Prisoner.

Hi Lyn, when did you come into Prisoner?
I came in for the last five years, 1982-1986. Elspeth was around of course and Maggie Kirkpatrick came in two weeks before me.

Why were you brought in?
The casting person from Grundy's had seen me in Cop Shop and asked who I was. I was supposed to come in as a heavy, to belt everyone up and after three weeks, they thought my face didn't fit the bashing up look (Laughter), so I stopped portraying a heavy and became a Non Speaker, for about twelve months, then I was given lines.

Being a regular Extra, did you have an indefinite contract as an Extra?
We didn't have contracts at all and at times Non Speakers (NS), as we call ourselves did speak! There's a slight difference between Extras and Non Speakers. All NS's had names, like Ronnie Kennedy and Lorna Young, so anyone that came in especially for a fight or riot scene, they were the Extras. We were paid at a higher rate. The lead actors would refer to your character, ie Bea would say, 'Hey Ronnie, come in here.' and I would have to grunt or do a nod (Laughter).

How did you feel about having to grunt instead of returning words?
Well, we used to say, 'This deserves a grunt or that deserves look #49 or look #56 ...' (Laughter) Whatever. We used to laugh about that, but we felt disappointed a lot of the time because we had so much to give but we'd have to stand there and give nothing except the facial expressions, which we got very used to. Yes it was disappointing and I would say it had to do with Prisoner's budget, absolutely!

Were you in awe of any of the actors who came into the series?
Oh, definitely! Maggie Dence, who was in the Sullivans, she played Bev Baker. She absolutely could put a chill down your spine in a scene with her! She would walk near you and give you that look and I'd be thinking, 'Please put that knife down, when you're near me.' She's say, 'Mate, you're really shivering"' She was really amazing. I loved her! Another actress I admired was Carole Skinner, Nola McKenzie, who was shot in the head, by Bea Smith. She was fabulous! They were so good and if you did a scene with them, they'd hold you up there.

Were you treated the same as the rest of the cast?
Yes, mostly the lead actors were very pleasant. Nearly all of them. We became a big family. We'd join in many conversations. I worked with Tina Bursill in Skyways, so it was great to see her again in Prisoner! Elspeth was wonderful, as was Maggie Kirkpatrick. But some were so strong in their beliefs. But not only that, they were a big part of the show and their attitude was, 'You're just a NS (Non Speaker)' and 'What right do you have to come in and do anything?' Really! I always remember that nice guy, Andy Anderson, from The Sullivans, saying 'My God, it's terrible! Why are they going on like that?' Sean Scully - a lovely man, he couldn't believe it either! The group we belonged to were friends, there was nothing we couldn't say to each other.

After all those years on Prisoner, what's your most enjoyable scene?
The one where I had quite a bit of dialog, episode #600. The one where the prisoners were on a hunger strike and we had a new young actress whose role was really violent and she was going to knife everybody, including me! Every now and then they would bring a new actor in to do something specific like that and that would be it. You wouldn't see her again! She'd be transferred to another block or prison.

How many extras would be used for a group scene?
Usually about eight to ten of us, including NS's. If we're doing dining room scenes the room could be full, perhaps fourteen of us with the main cast! Smaller scenes would have six of us.

Were you a team?
Yes we were, weren't we Barb? Remember the day they (writers) wanted us to be lesbians? (Laughter) Barbara tried to undo my blouse and I got the giggles. I always had my top button undone, but Lorna ripped my blouse completely open in this angry scene! We were fighting over something. Right open to reveal my huge boobs with black bra (Laughter)!!!

How do you enjoy getting Fan Mail even though you were not a lead?
I think it's wonderful and well deserved (Laughter)!

Much thanks to you Lyn.