Glenda Linscott

Glenda Linscott (born 1958) is an Australian actress and director, born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) of English descent, best known internationally for her performance in the cult drama series Prisoner as tough bikie inmate and top dog Rita "The Beater" Connors and in the series Murder Call.

Career Linscott was born in Rhodesia, before briefly immigrating to England, and finally to Adelaide, Australia, as a child. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Linscott's most notable role is Network Ten prison drama Prisoner, for which she first appeared towards the end of the seventh season in 1985. Her character (Rita "The Beater" Conners) became immensely popular during the final season in 1986, despite the show's decline in ratings at that time. Before appearing on the show, Linscott gained much research on women prisoners and approached the New South Wales Department of Correctional Services and organised to spend some time inside one of their maximum security prisons. She also did extensive research on bikie gangs, spending a lot of time with real-life bikie Ian Doig who played her boyfriend "Slasher" in the series.

She later returned to Britain when she appeared in a stage play version of Prisoner. Guest roles include A Country Practice, All Saints and McLeod's Daughters. She also had a recurring role in the Australian drama, Murder Call as Pathologist, Dr. Imogen Soames between 1997 and 2000.

In November 2011, it was announced Linscott had joined the cast of Neighbours for three months as Dr. Jessica Girdwood, a surgeon at the Erinsborough Hospital. She made her first on screen appearance that same month.

In 2022 Linscott gave a rare interview with Prisoner podcast Talking Prisoner where she talked extensively about her time on the show.

On 20 November 2025, it was announced that Linscott was a part of the extended cast of ABC series Treasure & Dirt.

In April 2026, Linscott returned to theatre for the Importance of Being Earnest for the South Australian State Theatre Company.

Personal life Linscott met ABC Radio Australia producer Richard Buckham in 1985 and they married in early 1989. As of 2023, Linscott was a guest director of theatre at Flinders University.

Filmography

Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1987 Howling III: The Marsupials Bahloo Feature film 1993 Big Ideas Lix Dixon TV movie 1995 Back of Beyond Mary Margaret Feature film 2001 The Man Who Sued God Co-plaintiff Feature film 2002 The Nugget Bunny Feature film 2005 Deck Dogz Exboobs Feature film 2006 Jindabyne Detective Feature film 2009 Transformation Amanda Short film 2011 Underbelly Files: Infiltration Sandra TV movie 2011 Game Short film – writer & director

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1984 The Cowra Breakout Heather Miniseries 1985-1986 Prisoner Rita Connors Seasons 7–8, 106 episodes 1986 Kids 21st Birthday Channel Ten Telethon Guest - Herself with Prisoner cast: Colette Mann, Elspeth Ballantyne, Jane Clifton & Val Lehman taped appearance TV special 1987 Rafferty's Rules P.C. Waterman Season 1, episode 13 1990 A Country Practice Vera Charles Season 10, episodes 61 & 62 1991 The Miraculous Mellops Professor Moorcroft Season 1, episodes 3, 11 & 13 1995 Janus Kathy Tainsh Season 2, episode 9 1995 Soldier Soldier Betty Palmer Season 5, episode 6 1997–2000 Murder Call Dr. Imogene 'Tootsie' Soamses Seasons 1–3, 31 episodes 2001 All Saints Anna Murchinson Season 4, episode 31 2003 MDA Gretle Celeste Season 2, episode 1 2004 Fergus McPhail Gabrielle Season 1, episodes 15 & 16 2004 McLeod's Daughters Celia Rivers Season 4, episode 13 2006 Real Stories Jesse Martin's Mother Season 1, episode 3 2013 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Mrs. Biggs Season 2, episode 4 2011–15 Neighbours Jessica Girdwood Seasons 27–28 & 30 2011–16 Winners & Losers Lily Patterson Seasons 1 & 4 (guest, 8 episodes) 2020 The Heights Eva Season 2, episode 82026Treasure & DirtPackenhamTV series