EXCLUSIVE: Wentworth’s Kate Jenkinson opens up about her family plans, life in lockdown and THAT explosive new season
In the meantime, Kate is relishing her Wentworth character’s transformation from the naïve prostitute she was in series four, to the butt-kicking big kahuna behind bars she is in season eight.
“Allie went into the prison so full of optimism and enthusiasm – which is ironic given she was in jail – but over the past few seasons, all that hope and joy has been stripped away from her,” the actress says.
“She’s probably the most twisted, bitter and hopeless she’s ever been, but in a weird way it’s equipped her to be the strongest, most badass version of herself, which has been refreshing to play.
“Having played Allie at her lowest ebb for so many seasons – the heartbreak, the despair and loneliness – it really did have a trickle-down effect on how I felt as a person.”
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The new Allie is also more true to who Kate is in real life too.
“I know what I want and what I think is right,” the star explains.
“I’ve always had a strong sense of morality and what I believe is a good way to live. Allie hasn’t had such a strong sense of self.
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Calling all Wentworth fans! Foxtel just revealed the season 8 premiere date and dropped a juicy new trailer
Wentworth star Kate Jenkinson reveals the hilarious moment she wet her pants on set
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“Ironically, going through such utter destruction and despair – and having the people she loves die so tragically – has emboldened her. She’s able to turn herself into a person of value.”
So what’s the most badass thing Kate has ever done off-screen?
“I tried to break up a fist-fight once,” she says with a laugh, still clearly shocked by the memory.
“I’d just finished work and I was walking through the CBD in Melbourne in broad daylight when I saw these two big guys having a proper street brawl.
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“There was a circle of people just watching, enjoying the spectacle of these men beating the cr*p out of each other. Some kind of primal, animalistic, somewhat maternal – but also feral –side of me reared its head.
“I was so disgusted – not only with the guys fighting, but also those watching – that I turned into a screaming banshee and got into the middle of the fight to physically try to stop the brawl.
“I was yelling at them, ‘What are you doing? This is madness!’ Then I turned to the bystanders and was like, ‘What is wrong with you people? Somebody call the police!’ I tried to do the right thing by breaking up the fight, but I ended up just getting punched in the head. It was pretty stupid of me.”
Fortunately, Kate walked away with just a graze, but she adds, “I have a history of doing some pretty stupid things on the streets of Melbourne.”
