‘Wentworth’ star Pamela Rabe explains why Joan hates Bea

“Wentworth” season 4 has seen the shocking death of Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack) after she has been stabbed multiples times by Joan “The Freak” Ferguson (Pamela Rabe). Several viewers were shocked to see the reigning queen of Wentworth prison die. In relation to her sudden death, Rabe has explained why her character hated Bea above everyone else.

In an interview with Female First, Rabe has explained that Joan sees Bea as a feasible opponent. Rabe’s character is one who likes a good fight which makes her and Bea somehow alike. Bea was an uncaring and sadistic leader of Wentworth prison.

Rabe believes there is a grudging respect for what the “Wentworth” main character has endured to survive. Joan happens to be looking for someone whom she can thrust and parry with.

In the same interview, the actress has shared that she thinks her character believes very much in excellence, success, what she would think is the greater good. However, the outcomes of what she believes in justify any means, which is being reflected by her behaviour.

Rabe added that there are deeper, unconscious motivations that push her character to do what she does. These motivations are constantly evolving.

Joan’s anger towards Bea has led to the latter’s death. “Wentworth” season 4 is likely to see Joan taking a dose of her own medicine as there are theories she will die next in the fifth season.

Rabe has teased that her character might just end up dead but also believed that Joan is skillful and clever. “But she's not stupid, she would know that that was always a huge risk to take,” she told Female First.

Bea’s lesbian lover, Allie Novak (Kate Jenkinson), has awakened from a coma. There’s a chance that she will seek revenge and kill Joan to get even. It will be interesting to see whether Rabe’s character will stay longer in the show or die in “Wentworth” season 5.

Rabe is being recognised as one of Australia’s most celebrated actresses. Some of her awards include Best Actress in the Stockholm International Film Festival for her 1997 performance in “The Well.” She has also won a Helpmann Award as Best Female Actor in a Play for “The Glass Menagerie.” She was awarded Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama for “Wentworth” at the 2015 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA).

The first season of the crime drama TV series originally aired on SoHo in Australia. Official air date for “Wentworth” season 5 is yet to be announced.