Australian actor Rachel Griffiths has joined the cast of upcoming series Wentworth: Halfway Home.
The spin-off from the popular Wentworth prison series is currently filming in Melbourne, with many familiar faces being joined by new characters.
Wentworth, a reimagining of the classic Australian television drama Prisoner, ran for eight seasons between 2013 and 2021. Now, some of the show’s most beloved characters are set to return as the story follows former prisoners building new lives on the outside.
Kate Box returns as Lou Kelly, Nicole da Silva reprises her role as Franky Doyle, and Katrina Milosevic is back as Susan “Boomer” Jenkins.
The series begins with Boomer and Lou arriving at Sal’s Halfway House as they start life on parole. However, when a body is discovered, questions emerge about who can be trusted. The show explores how life on the outside can be just as challenging as time behind bars.
Griffiths will play a new character named Moira, described as a “glamorous new resident at Sal’s Halfway House”.
Moira was convicted of fraud and paroled after serving three years of a five-year sentence following a whirlwind second marriage to a high-society man. However, after his death, their fortune was revealed to be part of an elaborate criminal scheme.
“Moira is a delicious character to bring to life and is going to shake things up at the house,” Griffiths said.
“I am so excited to be working with such an amazing group of actors and creatives, and being part of the iconic Wentworth world is going to be a lot of fun.”
Rachel Griffiths first captured Australian audiences’ attention when she starred alongside Toni Collette in the iconic Australian film Muriel’s Wedding.
Over the past three decades, she has built an acclaimed international career in theatre, film and television, appearing in series including Six Feet Under, Brothers & Sisters, House Husbands, When We Rise and Total Control, among many others.
On the big screen, she has starred in Hilary and Jackie, Ned Kelly, Saving Mr. Banks and the cult classic Welcome to Woop Woop.
Wentworth: Halfway Home is expected to have a quick production turnaround and will be on screens before the end of the year, according to Foxtel.
