Prisoner of Melbourne: Joan Ferguson

Maggie Kirkpatrick as Joan “The Freak” Ferguson. Joan Ferguson must have seemed like the role of a lifetime – a corrupt, sadistic bull dyke screw. She molests and terrorizes the beloved Doreen in her very first episode (#287) and raises the entertainment value ten-fold while taking the show in a whole new direction. Joan is the engine that drives Prisoner from then until the final episode of the show (#692). You see, Joan is not your everyday Freak. On the strength of Kirkpatrick’s performance she is also a devoted foster mother, loving daughter, caring friend and golf partner, vulnerable lover, and even aging failure – in addition to a rainbow of shades of evil. Joan went on to become a worldwide icon and Maggie one of Australia’s best known actresses. We caught her in the Melbourne production of the San Francisco-created “worldwide penomenon” Wicked at the Regent Theatre.

The Freak is seen here in Episode 461, giving the women the news that their mate, Phyllis Hunt has permanent brain damage.

Maggie congratulates Mister SF, the first gay groom of San Francisco. Jeff likens this to Madonna kissing Brittany Spears on MTV.

Maggie is a great activist. Jeff and I shared the story of our fight for marriage equality and our admiration for Sean Penn in his role as Harvey Milk. Penn had won the Oscar just moments before we met Maggie at OTI’s event in St. Kilda. The actor shamed Prop 8 supporters in his acceptance speech. “He’s my favorite actor,” says Kirkpatrick, “He completely disappears inside the role.”