SHE found love in a hopeless place. Now it’s official — Bea Smith is dead. Last night’s Wentworth series final saw the program’s most iconic character Bea Smith (played by Danielle Cormick) attacked by Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson, played by Pamela Rabe. Ferguson stabbed Smith repeatedly with a screwdriver in a frenzied attack.
Towards the end of her run in Prisoner (she officially left in episode 400) Bea Smith had kidney problems and Lehmann wanted out of the show, reportedly having had enough of the production company and the character. In episode 536 viewers were told the original Bea Smith had died in a fire — the show finished with episode 692 in 1986.
Prison top-dog Bea died after impaling herself on a knife that was held by former prison governor-turned-raging psychopath Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson (Pamela Rabe). The current season has focused on her fellow inmates’ need for revenge and Magasiva hints this could be coming soon.
At the end of 2016, much-loved character Bea Smith left our screens when she was controversially killed off after being stabbed by Joan “The Freak” Ferguson (Pamela Rabe) in Wentworth.
Why did Bea stay at Wentworth?
Bea was being abused and raped by Harry but stayed because she didn’t want to upset Debbie. One day Bea tried to murder Harry and make it look like suicide which eventually led to her arrest. Bea’s arrival at Wentworth led to her needing to be sedated, after panicking about whether her daughter Debbie was safe.
Bea is attacked by Boomer under Franky’s orders, in an attempt to display dominance over her and solidify her position as the new top dog. Simone Slater returns to the prison, and eventually forms an alliance with Bea after she saves her from Boomer, who is using her to get at Brayden.
Alarmed at the scene, she tried saving Harry. Bea stopped her, and then finally realising her actions, told Debbie to call for an ambulance as she took off the tape from his wrist and face. Bea is sent to Wentworth on remand. Bea was then approached by Franky to sign a visitors request form.
In “To The Moon”, Bea learns that her daughter Debbie has died of a drugs overdose.
She was introduced in the first episode of the series “ No Place Like Home “, broadcast on May 2013. Bea is notable for her storylines of being abused by her husband Harry, avenging the death of her daughter by murdering Brayden Holt and being the top dog in Wentworth Prison.
Bea then stabs Jacs in the neck with a pen causing her to bleed out and die. After this, she presses the duress button, and is escorted away by two guards as her fellow inmates watch in shock and confusion. This scene contrasts Bea entering the prison in 1×01 being escorted by guards.
In the episode Failing Upwards, Bea makes agreements with Ferguson about the consequences of the riot, drugs and privileges. Bea also gets the women pizza for breakfast. Bea finds out that Harry was murdered. Bea also burns Boomer’s hands on the steam-press.
Who is leaving Wentworth?
Danielle Cormack on leaving Wentworth and her exciting new role on Jack Irish.
It was one of the most talked-about deaths in Aussie TV history. Fans never thought the show’s creators would dare kill off their beloved Bea. It was a brutal end to Danielle’s time on the show, and the actress admits she, like the rest of Australia, suffered a period of mourning. “It was hard to leave the show and the character,” Danielle …
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