It’s been a busy year for Susie Porter, who was among the star-studded cast of hit Australian film Ladies in Black and also made her debut in Foxtel’s Wentworth in 2018. When WHO chatted to the actress about her role in the period film (out on DVD and Blu-ray on Wed., Dec. 19) for an upcoming issue, we couldn’t help but also try and get the inside word on what is happening with the prison drama – it was rumoured to be ending after Season 7 airs in 2019, but new reports suggest there may be an eighth season on the way.
Were you a fan of Wentworth before joining the cast in Season 6?
I was a massive fan of Prisoner growing up. Then, I didn’t have Foxtel, so I hadn’t watched Wentworth, but I remember catching some of it on a plane and going, “Wow, this is really good.” I remember thinking I would so love to be in it. As it kept going by, and the right character didn’t come up for me. I kept thinking, “Maybe I won’t be in it.” I am very philosophical about these things. And I thought, “Oh well, if I don’t manage to be in Wentworth, then so be it.” But I am so excited I have been part of it.
Have you signed on to Season 8? Have you heard anything or is it hush hush?
It could be all very hush hush. I can’t shed any light on that, to be honest. But we would all love to [come back]. It’s been such a great experience as an actor. And I had never really done series television, where you turn up at and everything is down to a fine art – you go into your green room, and then you go straight to wardrobe, which is just a room full of teal tracksuits with your name on it … I love the tracksuits! And I have loved that character, because it was a challenge. She is very complex.
Could you speculate on where Marie might head if it did get picked up for another season?
Gosh! I don’t know. My character gets up to all sorts of mischief in Season 7.
It’s hard to talk about, because you have filmed all of Season 7, but we haven’t seen it yet!
And I also never know how much to say. They are very cagey about plotlines and what to give away. You know what I love that Wentworth does so well? The writers literally have every scene worked out. They go, “This is what needs to happen in this particular episode,” and they plot it and structure it so tightly. That is why you are on the edge of your seat. And it all ties together brilliantly. Because they spend such a long time getting the right structure. That is why there are so many things where you’re like, “I can’t believe that happened.” Even being in it, you go, “Wow!” I can understand why people have loved it over the years.
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