Our victories continue in our battle for the 'good oil' on Prisoner .  This issue we are proud to publish our interview with Lesley Baker, who played husband basher Monica Ferguson - a character that no doubt lots of us can relate to.

Lesley was born on January 20th 1944 in Melbourne, Australia and grew up with visions of being a dancer.  At the age of 14 she enrolled for dancing classes but soon realized she was not going to be the next Ginger Rogers.  "Being considerably bigger than the rest of the class proved to be a big disadvantage - I was very tall for my age (5ft at 14) and it just didn't work out."

Lesley continued to harbour thoughts of a stage career and in 1963, aged 19, she landed her first acting role in a revue at St. Martins theatre.  She then went on to understudy in many leading musicals including Funny Girl, Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun and Oh! What A Lovely War.  "Even though I was understudying, I frequently got to play the lead role and gained valuable experience."  From the theatre Lesley was signed up for a TV job as resident comedienne and singer on the In Melbourne Tonight show.  She then moved on to the Paul Hogan Show and many other light entertainment programmes.  She eventually hosted her own programme, 'The Incredible Lesley Baker Show', which was screened in the mornings and Lesley describes as "quite insane".

All of these appearances were based around Lesley's talent of all-round entertainer - singer, dancer, comedienne; her serious acting ability had yet to come under the TV spotlight.  "I had notched up hundreds of bit parts in various Crawford productions (The Sullivans etc) but never a regular role.  In 1979 Lesley joined the Prisoner cast as Monica Ferguson, initially on a two-week contract.  The character proved to be popular and was written into future episodes, allowing Lesley to develop her first strong TV role.  "It was quite depressing really," says Lesley.  "Grundy hadn't got their act together and had no idea how to schedule scenes.  Some days we would be called to the studio for 5 am and still be there at 11.30 pm - and end up appearing in only one or two scenes.  The facilities were appalling.  Our dressing room was a tunnel which all members of the cast had to use.  It was quite amusing really because the actresses that played the crims used one side and the screws the other.  Because it was so cramped, we all started to assume the characteristics of the characters we were playing and sometimes things got quite out of hand."

Just as Lesley became established on the Prisoner set, she had to face the agonizing decision of whether or not to quit the show.  She had just endured the break-up of her marriage and was left to cope alone with her 17-month-old son, Benjamin.  Ben, however, was more of a handful than most other toddlers; he was severely disabled.  "I suspected something was wrong when he was six weeks old, but it wasn't until he was ten months old that Cerebral Anoxia was diagnosed.  It's a condition caused by lack of oxygen to the brain during birth and, consequently, Ben suffered brain damage.  When Ben was younger, he needed medical treatment, constant attention and the emotional security of having me with him.  So I had to give up Monica and dedicate my time to him."

Lesley did not give up acting altogether and continued to work when Ben allowed her.  "I scheduled my life around him and his needs, but most potential employers accept it, even though my time is limited."

A few years ago, Lesley was offered another contract with Prisoner, not as Monica but as 'Tinkerbell', a tough bikie who sheltered an escapee and ends up being related to a prison officer.  "The whole storyline was ludicrous - I told them thanks for thinking of me but just don't bother."  [N.B. Although this quote seems to imply that Lesley turned down the part, she did in fact take the role.  Unless the mistake was made by the writer of the article, Lesley's recollection of the storyline is also inaccurate.]

Lesley's life is more settled these days.  Ben goes to school and, with the support of her mother (who's 80) and a home help, Lesley is treading the boards again.  "Things are still pretty hectic.  I have to get up at 7.30 am to get Ben ready for school and I never get to bed before 2 am."

Lesley is currently appearing in 'The Naughty Nineties' at a theatre restaurant owned by Terry Gill (Inspector Grace in Prisoner).  He writes, produces and appears in his own productions, and is highly respected in the theatre world.  "I showed him my copies of the Herald (which, incidentally, Lesley describes as brilliant) and he was that impressed by it all, he's promised to put the hard word on a few people to help the fan club."

Cheers, Lesley - we think your blood's worth bottling too.

[Taken from the H-Block Herald - March 1989]
 

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