Joan Ferguson

**Joan Ferguson** was an inmate and former Governor of Wentworth Correctional Facility. She was a main character of the Foxtel series Wentworth from Season 2 up until and Season 5 and was the main antagnoist. At the end of Season 7, it is revealed that she is still alive, has been hiding in a hidden shed under a train track in Melbourne, and returns for Seasons 8 and 9 (or S8 Part 2). She is portrayed by Pamela Rabe.

She was first introduced in Season 2, Episode 1 as the replacement Governor after Erica Davidson left.

Whilst in her position as Governor she committed several crimes in order to maintain power including killing Simmo Slater and Harry Smith. She was arrested in Season 3, Episode 12 and sent to a psychiatric hospital where she manipulated her way out of it. She was then sent to Wentworth as an inmate.

After arranging to have someone kill Nils Jesper, she was released from prison but was confronted with Bea Smith outside. After a struggle, Bea forced Joan to stab her with a screwdriver in order to make sure she ends up in prison.

## Biography

"Joan’s strength is her determination to succeed against the odds. She found a career in corrections and started as an officer. Her no-nonsense attitude won her fans in high places and she was fast-tracked to Deputy Governor of Queensland’s most troublesome prison, Blackmoore, (a prelude to her appointment at Wentworth in Season 2).

Bea Smith’s escape in Season 2 had the powers that be questioning Ferguson’s ability to keep Wentworth under control in Season 3 and set in motion the Freak’s demise as Governor. In desperation Ferguson tried to cover up the murder of Jess Warner by setting fire to Wentworth at the end of Season 3.

Charged with conspiracy to murder, Ferguson returned on remand to Wentworth. After being acquitted of all charges, within seconds of freedom, Bea Smith executes her own suicide by impaling herself on a weapon held by Ferguson – revenge for Ferguson’s attack on her lover Allie who Bea believes has died.

Ferguson returns in Season 5 with two goals – to become top dog and bring down Vera Bennett."

*---from the official Foxtel website.*

## Wentworth

Joan Ferguson is a former inmate and former Governor of Wentworth Correctional Centre.

Ferguson before being transferred to Wentworth worked as an officer at Blackmoor Prison earning the nickname 'The Fixer' for drying out the compounds of several prisons she had worked at.

Ferguson comes to Wentworth after the presumed resignation of governor Erica Davidson, Ferguson is brought in to curb the prisons high drug problem and to get the public back onside after the death of Jacs Holt.

Ferguson's term as governor has Vera Bennett serving as her deputy governor but Ferguson's relationship with the inmates is rocky as she tries her hardest to deal with memories of her time at Blackmoor with her relationship with inmate Jianna Riley being the starting point to her downfall. Joan attempts to have Will Jackson arrested for the murder of Bea's husband Harry Smith and hires her hitman Nils Jesper to run down Matthew Fletcher. Ferguson becomes undone and when she kills Jessica Warner in the Fire of Wentworth she is taken to Sinclair for treatment.

Upon her return to Wentworth Joan immediately petitions to get put into the general population and her plan is to make sure her charges are dropped for the fire, but she comes undone when Bea kills herself with Joan's help after Joan hotshotted Allie in the shower.

Joan later escapes from Wentworth with the help of Jake Stewart and is presumed dead when a body is dug up months later. Joan is hiding on the run when she is attacked and losses her memory. Joan is returned to Wentworth where Will Jackson is now the Governor and Linda Miles is his deputy.

Joan regains her memory and has urges that she wants to attack the people who wronged her. Joan ultimately saves Vera during the prison explosion and goes on the run again.

* Season 2
* Season 3
* Season 4
* Season 5