Glenda Linscott

Last updated

Glenda Linscott
Born1958 (age 6667)
Nationality English Australian
Education National Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA)
Occupation(s)Actress, director
Notable work Prisoner (198586)
Murder Call (19972000)
SpouseRichard Buckham (m.1989) [1]

Glenda Linscott (born 1958) is an Australian actress and director, born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) of English descent, best known internationally for her performance in cult drama series Prisoner as tough bikie inmate and top dog Rita "The Beater" Connors and series Murder Call

Contents

Career

Glenda was born in Rhodesia, before briefly immigrating to England, and finally to Adelaide, Australia, as a child. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Linscott's most notable role is Network Ten prison drama Prisoner , for which she first appeared towards the end of the seventh season in 1985. Her character (Rita "The Beater" Conners) became immensely popular during the final season in 1986, despite the show's decline in ratings at that time. Before appearing on the show, Linscott gained much research on women prisoners and approached the New South Wales Department of Correctional Services and organised to spend some time inside one of their maximum security prisons. She also did extensive research on bikie gangs, spending a lot of time with real-life bikie Ian Doig who played her boyfriend "Slasher" in the series. [2]

She later returned to Britain when she appeared in a stage play version of Prisoner. Guest roles include A Country Practice, All Saints and McLeod's Daughters. She also had a recurring role in the Australian drama, Murder Call as Pathologist, Dr. Imogen Soames between 1997 and 2000.

In November 2011, it was announced Linscott had joined the cast of Neighbours for three months as Dr. Jessica Girdwood, a surgeon at the Erinsborough Hospital. She made her first on screen appearance that same month. [3]

In 2022 Linscott gave a rare interview with Prisoner podcast Talking Prisoner where she talked extensively about her time on the show. [4]

Personal life

Linscott met ABC Radio Australia producer Richard Buckham in 1985 and they married in early 1989. [1]

Other activities

In 2015 she took up the position of Head of Acting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) until she stepped down from the position in 2023. [5] [6] As of 2023, Linscott was a guest director of theatre at Flinders University. [7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987 Howling III: The Marsupials BahlooFeature film
1993 Big Ideas Lix DixonTV movie
1995 Back of Beyond Mary MargaretFeature film
2001 The Man Who Sued God Co-plaintiffFeature film
2002 The Nugget BunnyFeature film
2005 Deck Dogz ExboobsFeature film
2006 Jindabyne DetectiveFeature film
2009TransformationAmandaShort film
2011 Underbelly Files: Infiltration SandraTV movie
2011Game(Not acting)Short film – writer & director

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984 The Cowra Breakout HeatherMiniseries
1985-1986 Prisoner Rita ConnorsSeasons 7–8, 106 episodes
1986Kids 21st Birthday Channel Ten TelethonGuest - Herself with Prisoner cast: Colette Mann, Elspeth Ballantyne, Jane Clifton & Val Lehman taped appearanceTV special
1987 Rafferty's Rules P.C. WatermanSeason 1, episode 13
1990 A Country Practice Vera CharlesSeason 10, episodes 61 & 62
1991 The Miraculous Mellops Professor MoorcroftSeason 1, episodes 3, 11 & 13
1995 Janus Kathy TainshSeason 2, episode 9
1995 Soldier Soldier Betty PalmerSeason 5, episode 6
1997–2000 Murder Call Dr. Imogene 'Tootsie' SoamsesSeasons 1–3, 31 episodes
2001 All Saints Anna MurchinsonSeason 4, episode 31
2003 MDA Gretle CelesteSeason 2, episode 1
2004 Fergus McPhail GabrielleSeason 1, episodes 15 & 16
2004 McLeod's Daughters Celia RiversSeason 4, episode 13
2006 Real Stories Jesse Martin's MotherSeason 1, episode 3
2013 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Mrs. BiggsSeason 2, episode 4
2011–15 Neighbours Jessica Girdwood Seasons 27–28 & 30
2011–16 Winners & Losers Lily PattersonSeasons 1 & 4 (guest, 8 episodes)
2020 The Heights EvaSeason 2, episode 8
2022Talking PrisonerSelfPodcast, 1 episode

References

  1. 1 2 "The Beater turns bride", by Amanda Zachariah – TV Week, issue published 6 December 1988, p.29.
  2. "Prisoner's Tall Story"TV Week, issue published 24 August 1985, p.81.
  3. Kilkelly, Daniel (10 November 2011). "'Neighbours' casts 'Prisoner' actress Glenda Linscott as new surgeon". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK . Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  4. Talking Prisoner Cell Block H EP 41 Interview with Glenda Linscott Top Dog Rita Connors, 19 May 2022, retrieved 5 February 2024
  5. Writer, Staff (1 July 2024). "Flinders Drama Centre to offer Audition Bootcamp for the first time". flinders.edu.au. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  6. "Ms Glenda Linscott". 27 March 2015.
  7. Theatre, Aussie (11 July 2023). "New Flinders Student Drama focuses on social change". AussieTheatre.com. Retrieved 25 February 2025.