It’s the TV death that has left Wentworth fans stunned. And now that we’ve had enough time to let the shock settle in, it’s time to discuss the tragic passing of one of Aussie drama’s most iconic villains – Bea Smith, who was played by Danielle Cormack.
“You don’t run this prison. I do.” Bea Smith is a former inmate of Wentworth Correctional Centre. Before Smith was sent to Wentworth she was a simple housewife from the suburbs who had a job as a hairdresser. Smith’s home life with her husband Harry Smith (Wentworth) was abusive, but they stayed together for their daughter Debbie Smith (Wentworth).
In Season 3, Bea is returned to Wentworth after being sentenced to life without parole for the murder of Brayden Holt. When she returns from her trial we find out that the Governor Joan Ferguson is taking away all the privileges even smoking.
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.
In “To The Moon”, Bea learns that her daughter Debbie has died of a drugs overdose.
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.
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.
Which then Meg Jackson walked in asking Bea to hand over gear and Bea was then charged for trafficking drugs. Bea was also accused of murdering Meg Jackson during the riot between Franky and Jacs’ gangs, as she was found covered in blood after tripping over Meg’s body. Police later cleared her of the charges.
How did Bea die in Prison?
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.
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Robbie Magasiva as prison guard Will Jackson in the TVNZ drama series Wentworth. “The first four seasons were driven by Bea. That was the main driving force of the whole show and then, when Bea passed, it opened up the door to other characters,” he says.
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