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Terrie Waddell played the part of prisoner Lisa Mullins, towards the end of the series in 1986. Fate had it that the original actress Nikki Paul would be ill with glandular fever which meant that someone else was needed to replace her - Terrie accepted and the rest is history!
Terrie, now Dr Terrie Waddell, took some time out of her schedule in Victoria to talk to us about her time in Prisoner and also answered some questions put to her by members of our forum!
First of all, Prisoner finished 17 years ago in 1987. Are you surprised that the series still has a loyal worldwide fan base - and indeed a 'cult' status? What do you think is the reason for fans continued support?
One of the reasons might be that it’s rare, even today, to have an entire show based around the lives of women – and difficult women at that. In those early days female characters weren’t given nearly as much of an opportunity to behave in nonconformist or transgressive ways. The lack of make-up, the physical variety of the actors, the chance to work with interesting (non romantic) storylines, and the opportunities it provided for a large body of Australian female actors, I think was greatly supported by viewers.
How did you feel about being offered the role of Lisa Mullins due to the illness of Nikki Paul? Were you worried in any way that viewers wouldn't be able to follow the character's storylines because she was played by two different people?
When you’re an actor in a small country, the thing you think about most is work. I was 24 and straight out of acting school, so it was a great opportunity for me to experience television. To be brutally honest the last thing I thought about was the storyline – they ended up being so convoluted anyway... although you play them as best you can, you can’t afford to worry about being compared with someone else. If you look at soaps today, especially the American soaps, this kind of character switch happens all the time, it’s almost become a convention of the genre.
 Even though you were only with the series for a short time you became one of the central characters and were involved in a number of important storylines. Do you have any memories of anything you particularly enjoyed filming?
I have strong memories of what I didn’t enjoy filming. I remember there was a storyline about a a character having mice pushed into her cell – at the time I had a morbid fear of rodents and they had to clear them out of the studio when I was around or I’d go into a panic attack!
You were part of the cast when it was decided that the series was going to end. Was this something that the cast and crew had expected and would you have liked to stay with Prisoner if it was to continue?
I did know the series was going to end – I’m kind of glad it did because I don’t think I would have gone on with it. I actually didn’t really like working in television and at the time was more interested in trying to get theatre work. It can be a totally exhausting medium.
The standard of acting towards the end of the series seemed to be of a very high quality and appeared to much improve through the years. Did you watch Prisoner before you were involved in the show? What did you think of the series?
I watched Prisoner in patches, not as a fan – again it was the newness of the program – the all female cast.
How important was it for you to work in a production which was dominated by women on-screen?
It was a great opportunity, but once again it was basically a job on the way to another job. I know fans must hate hearing that, but the other side of the screen gives you a totally different perspective, you really don’t know a deal about many of the other storylines except your own and they come so thick and fast that you quickly forget them.
Do you still keep in touch with anyone from the series?
No, I have no idea what any of the cast I worked with are doing today.
 A lot of cast members understandably don't like to talk about Prisoner because it was done so long ago. Are you a little embarrassed with the series because time has certainly taken it's toll or do you think it created a benchmark for other series such as Neighbours?
Look I do think it was an important piece of television drama, but yes I am embarrassed by it, not as a series, but personally ... especially if my students or colleagues see episodes I was in!
Tell us how your career progressed since leaving Prisoner.
Since Prisoner, I went on to act for a number of years and then moved into academia in my late 20s, got my Masters and PhD. and became a lecturer in Media Studies.
What do you think about Australian television today? Is there anything that you'd like to appear in at the moment, or do you have an ideal role?
I really have no interest in acting anymore, but there’s a great show you must watch out for called ‘The Games', a spoof on the organisation of the Olympics, it’s a few years old, but one of my favourites.
Finally, you're now working at the La Trobe University, Victoria. What can you tell us about your job today, and how have your acting experiences from the past assisted you?
As I said earlier I’m a lecturer in media. Fandom and theories related to spectatorship are a large part of what I teach so I’m happy to speak to you in this way.
I’m co-editing a book at the moment called “Lounge Critic: The Couch Theorist’s Companion”, due out later this year – you may be interested, its about television in Australia, from local content to cult programs that have developed a huge following here.
I’m also writing a book myself for Routledge UK called “Mis/takes: Archetype, Myth and Identity in Screen Fiction” - it’s a text on film and television analysis through analytical psychology (Jungian theory) - should be out next year.
Many thanks Terrie for agreeing to take part in our interview, and best of luck with your books - we'll look out for them!
Thanks to all forum members who submitted questions.
© 2004 On The Inside. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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