TV Soap, Vol 4 No2 (February 1998)

On the Outside

Now ex-Prisoner Glenda Linscott helps put the bad guys away ...

As Rita Connors on Prisoner, Glenda Linscott was a killer. She was the last top dog, and her claim to fame is that fans around the world remember her best as the woman who finally disposed of "The Freak"

Ten years on, Glenda has changed sides. As forensic pathologist Dr "Tootsie" on Nine's X-Files-inspired drama, Murder Call, Glenda is working with the police, rather than against them, to solve baffling murder mysteries. But despite her rising profile, Glenda says it's her work on the now defunct cult classic Prisoner for which she is still best known.

"Prisoner was the only other TV experience I had had before I won this role," she says.

"And I came to Murder Call thinking that it would be the same as working on Prisoner. But I couldn't have been more wrong. The only thing that is the same is that I get a script every week. Everything else is different!"

With a young son to care for, Glenda at first found the day-in, day-out grind of working on weekly TV again a bit draining, but it's all been worth it, especially when she is recognised by long-time fans.

"John, my son, and I were shopping the other week when this woman came up and started saying the first line I uttered on Murder Call! I was only in one scene the first night but this woman obviously remembered me. It's funny, people recognise me from the show but I get the feeling they are responding to me as Rita and remembering me from my Prisoner days.

"Fans ask me for my autograph and tell me how much they liked me as Rita. It's very heartening that 10 years after I left a show people are still saying they liked my work."

"Tootsie" is Rita's opposite. A serious, dedicated doctor, "Tootsie" sees herself more as an outsider in the force and is a very unassuming, efficient team member. Rita was an extrovert bikie chick with a furious temper.

"It was her attitude people responded to. But I found her a lot easier to play. It's hard to play someone so constrained. I am much more comfortable playing an energetic sort of character."