# Glenda Linscott

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

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

## Personal life

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

## 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. As of 2023, Linscott was a guest director of theatre at Flinders University.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Howling III: The Marsupials | Bahloo | Feature film |
| 1993 | Big Ideas | Lix Dixon | TV movie |
| 1995 | Back of Beyond | Mary Margaret | Feature film |
| 2001 | The Man Who Sued God | Co-plaintiff | Feature film |
| 2002 | The Nugget | Bunny | Feature film |
| 2005 | Deck Dogz | Exboobs | Feature film |
| 2006 | Jindabyne | Detective | Feature film |
| 2009 | Transformation | Amanda | Short film |
| 2011 | Underbelly Files: Infiltration | Sandra | TV movie |
| 2011 | Game | (Not acting) | Short film – writer & director |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | The Cowra Breakout | Heather | Miniseries |
| 1985-1986 | Prisoner | Rita Connors | Seasons 7–8, 106 episodes |
| 1986 | Kids 21st Birthday Channel Ten Telethon | Guest - Herself with Prisoner cast: Colette Mann, Elspeth Ballantyne, Jane Clifton & Val Lehman taped appearance | TV special |
| 1987 | Rafferty's Rules | P.C. Waterman | Season 1, episode 13 |
| 1990 | A Country Practice | Vera Charles | Season 10, episodes 61 & 62 |
| 1991 | The Miraculous Mellops | Professor Moorcroft | Season 1, episodes 3, 11 & 13 |
| 1995 | Janus | Kathy Tainsh | Season 2, episode 9 |
| 1995 | Soldier Soldier | Betty Palmer | Season 5, episode 6 |
| 1997–2000 | Murder Call | Dr. Imogene 'Tootsie' Soamses | Seasons 1–3, 31 episodes |
| 2001 | All Saints | Anna Murchinson | Season 4, episode 31 |
| 2003 | MDA | Gretle Celeste | Season 2, episode 1 |
| 2004 | Fergus McPhail | Gabrielle | Season 1, episodes 15 & 16 |
| 2004 | McLeod's Daughters | Celia Rivers | Season 4, episode 13 |
| 2006 | Real Stories | Jesse Martin's Mother | Season 1, episode 3 |
| 2013 | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Mrs. Biggs | Season 2, episode 4 |
| 2011–15 | Neighbours | Jessica Girdwood | Seasons 27–28 & 30 |
| 2011–16 | Winners & Losers | Lily Patterson | Seasons 1 & 4 (guest, 8 episodes) |
| 2020 | The Heights | Eva | Season 2, episode 8 |
| 2022 | Talking Prisoner | Self | Podcast, 1 episode |