Cult Labs

Go Back   Cult Labs > Entertainment > Television > Prisoner Cell Block H: The Official UK DVD Forum > The Lags & Screws Of Wentworth > The Inmates

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 2nd March 2011, 10:13 PM
ChrissyJM's Avatar
Cult Rookie
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Default Helen Smart

One of my favourite characters in Prisoner was always Helen Smart, although I often found myself frustrated at how underused she was. When she kidnapped her sister from the cult and was imprisoned I thought that finally they were going to give her some big story lines inside of wentworth and what happens? The transfer her to another block.

Helen was a funny, warm and caring character and was played brilliantly by the talented Caroline Gilmer!

I'm looking forward to re-living Helens finest moments with the forthcoming DVD's.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 3rd March 2011, 10:24 PM
Cult Rookie
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Reading, UK
Default

Helen Smart was brilliant. Quirky, funny, sexy - she livened up the show no end every time she showed up. Caroline Gillmer did wonders with what could very easily have been a small and forgettable role.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 3rd March 2011, 10:52 PM
JAMIOUSE's Avatar
Cultist on the Rampage
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: York, North Yorkshire
Default

For some reason until I watched the Aussie DVD's I had no recollection of Helen Smart or Caroline Gillmour ever appearing in Prisoner. Helen Smart is a great character, very funny, very bolshy, very Australian but also the character had depth and emotion. Her final storyline was a complete stinker with the whole 'cult' thing and her sister. It would of been nice if they'd have brought her back in for a couple of episodes just to get closure on the character. Helen Smart, came from nowhere but left a legacy behind her, a true Prisoner star!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 28th March 2011, 04:09 PM
Cultist in Training
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JAMIOUSE View Post
Helen Smart is a great character, very funny, very bolshy, very Australian but also the character had depth and emotion. Her final storyline was a complete stinker with the whole 'cult' thing and her sister. It would of been nice if they'd have brought her back in for a couple of episodes just to get closure on the character.
I agree totally, one of the most underused characters I thought. I reckon she would have made a brilliant top dog, I don't think the women would mess with her. I wasn't too keen on her first stint when she kept doing that annoying accent but loved the comedy value the character had, which was exactly what the series needed at the time.

The cult storyline.... oh... it was an interesting storyline but I didn't care much for it either. I think maybe they just tried a little too hard and it just ended up being a bit over the top... although the scenes in the attic of the half way house were pretty impressive.
__________________
Co-founder: The Official Prisoner Cell Block H Website
On The Inside - www.prisonercellblockh.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 28th March 2011, 04:19 PM
Cult Addict
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Borehole 10-X
Blog Entries: 2
Default

Helen Smart comes in in Vol 6 doesn't she? I used to love Caroline Gillmer in Neighbours, but not as much as her daughter Danni. She was hot!
__________________
The Church Of What's Happening Now.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 28th March 2011, 04:39 PM
Cult Rookie
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Reading, UK
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mr 420 View Post
Helen Smart comes in in Vol 6 doesn't she?
Helen is definitely in Vol 6 (she helps Judy when she's on the run), but her first appearance is in Vol 4 (episode 118 IIRC) - she's a friend of Kerry Vincent's.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 28th March 2011, 04:52 PM
Cult Addict
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Borehole 10-X
Blog Entries: 2
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wilf View Post
Helen is definitely in Vol 6 (she helps Judy when she's on the run), but her first appearance is in Vol 4 (episode 118 IIRC) - she's a friend of Kerry Vincent's.
Cheers for that, I've yet to catch up on vol.4.
__________________
The Church Of What's Happening Now.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 4th April 2011, 05:21 PM
Cult Rookie
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Newcastle, UK
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mr 420 View Post
Helen Smart comes in in Vol 6 doesn't she? I used to love Caroline Gillmer in Neighbours, but not as much as her daughter Danni. She was hot!
And in a weird twist, when Caroline Gillmer fell ill, guess who Grundy got to play Cheryl Starkl? They got Collette Mann, aka Doreen, to fill in for a while.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 17th April 2011, 09:51 PM
thewaythingsare's Avatar
Cult Rookie
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Default

I love Helen, she's definitely my favourite recurring character. I think she probably worked better as recurring rather than permanent though as 'comedy characters' like hers can get a bit grating after a while if you see them in episode after episode but when they are just in the show for a shorter stint the writers can just maximise their output.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 20th April 2011, 08:39 PM
Stephen@Cult Labs's Avatar
Cult Master
Cult Labs Radio Contributor
Good Trader
Senior Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Irvine, Scotland
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thewaythingsare View Post
I love Helen, she's definitely my favourite recurring character. I think she probably worked better as recurring rather than permanent though as 'comedy characters' like hers can get a bit grating after a while if you see them in episode after episode but when they are just in the show for a shorter stint the writers can just maximise their output.
It took me a while to realise that the actress was yet another member of the Neighbours cast!
__________________
"Give me grain or give me death!"
Reply With Quote
Reply  

Like this? Share it using the links below!

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Our goal is to keep Cult Labs friendly. If you feel discouraged from posting by certain members' behaviour then you can e-mail us in complete confidence.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
All forum posts are contributed by members of the site; Cult Labs cannot take responsibility for all content posted on the site. If you have an issue with content posted on the site please click the 'report post' button.
Copyright © 2014 Cult Laboratories Ltd. All rights reserved.