Vera 'Vinegar Tits' Bennett

[prisonerjohn]

From the very first episode, the character of Vera is highly intriguing. Superbly portrayed by Fiona Spence, the officer's harshness towards the women and sometimes other staff members nearly always results in her receiving some method of revenge, whether physical or verbal.

Vera has no real friends or social life what so ever outside of Wentworth, and therefore makes her job the principle aspect of her life. In contrast to her outside world, Wentworth allows Vera to have some authority over other people and gives her purpose in her otherwise rather empty life.

Though, at times, Vera causes conflicts for no apparent reason and can be quite hurtful when willing to be, a part of me can feel a bit sorry for her at certain points. On the whole, Vera's attitude towards the inmates is predominanty and she considers the idea of rehabilitation a complete waste of time. Having said this, the woman is very much a fighter and most certainly one of the show's most iconic characters. I will always remember Vera's numerous confrontations with Erica Davidson.

Some of Vera's best moments, exploits and events (that I can remember off hand):

Episode 1 - Christened 'Vinegar Tits' by Franky
Episode 3 - Plays a big part in provoking Franky's riot
Episode 7 - Supposedly house-bound mother dies
Episode 16 - Framed by Bea, Lizzie and Monica and later suspended
Episodes 32/33 - Tied up by George Lucas
Episodes 39/40 - Loses the position of deputy governor to Jim Fletcher
Episode 54 - Held at fork-point by Martha Eaves
Episode 75 - Made fun of during the Christmas concert
Episode 121 - Stripped of her uniform and tied up during the rooftop demonstration
Episodes 140-141 - Teams up with Kay White against Bea
Episode 144 - Attacked outside her home for pressurising Tracey Morris
Episode 148 - One-night stand with Damien Travena
Episode 155 - Turns up to work drunk and gets her keys pinched. A group of the women later force feed her alchohol
Episodes 214-223 - Develops a romance with Terry Harrison which almost concludes in the pair getting married
Episode 224 - Leaves Wentworth for good to become the governor of Barnhurst

[mr 420]

I've really enjoyed Fiona Spence's portrayal of Vera. So much more than a one dimensional character, she played her with a wide range of emotions. She wasn't always the nasty one, as her scenes with her tending to Meg after she had been shot show. At the end of the day though, the bad always managed to rise to the top. I think this due to her 'programming' by her mother. One of the better, more rounded characters that Prisoner produced.

[Phantom_Lagger]

Have to agree. I love how she's more sympathetic and less merely psychotic than the Freak. It always bugs me that Joan's home life is so nice and twee, and I can't find any reason for her behaviour at work, which I can with Vera. She was more a stickler for the rules than anything worse, although she did enjoy her shit-stirring.

[mr 420]

I'm enjoying Vera's new found vigor for the job under Gillespie in vol 6. I could imagine her seeing him as her perfect man!

[Skippy]

I like the complexity of Vera. She is a stickler for the rules and can be quite harsh, but this is merely a cover for her own anxieties and awkwardness. I like watching the different interactions between Vera and different characters in the show (eg she is quite kind to Lizzie and backs of when challenged by Bea). I've just watched her 'exit' from Wentworth for the first time and really appreciated the audio commentaries by Fiona Spence.

[VinegarFits]

Viva Vera!!

Such a complex woman though!!! Do you remember Bea's flashback where Vera was practically gloating over her not being able to attend her daughters funeral? Ouch!

[Skippy]

She does it a couple of times I think - I remember the gloating at the start of the series and then again with the amnesia (brilliant storyline). I wonder if Vera really gets how the women feel towards her? When she is training the new officer (Debra Lawrence - can't remember the screen name) Vera doesn't seem to get that the women have no respect for her at all. It took me a bit of watching the show before I got the idea that she didn't bait the prisoners in front of the other officers.

Viva Vera

[Stephen@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Skippy

She does it a couple of times I think - I remember the gloating at the start of the series and then again with the amnesia (brilliant storyline). I wonder if Vera really gets how the women feel towards her? When she is training the new officer (Debra Lawrence - can't remember the screen name) Vera doesn't seem to get that the women have no respect for her at all. It took me a bit of watching the show before I got the idea that she didn't bait the prisoners in front of the other officers.

Viva Vera

I watched the brilliant amnesia episodes yesterday and the storyline is definately my favourite of the series so far. Val Lehman did an amazing job of portraying a very different Bea Smith. Vera goading Bea and telling her about her daughter actually made me call her a f***** bitch outloud (excuse the language).

[Mark]

She was the best officer in my opinion and made 1-224 unmissable, if only they'd allowed her the 3 month break she wanted, imagine her walking into sandy's riot.

[Wilson Bros]

We had the pleasure of meeting Ms Spence about 20 years ago and she was lovely.

Kev W