Ahead of Wentworth's return to Channel 5 in an explosive third series, we got the opportunity to chat to Katrina Milosevic about what's in store for her character Boomer. With a lot changing both in the show and Katrina's personal life, she made for an extremely gracious and interesting interviewee - find out what she had to say in our exclusive new interview below.
Katrina Milosevic as Boomer
First of all congratulations on the Logie Award win earlier this year, how did that feel?
Oh thank you, yeah that's right I forgot! (laughs) We won a Logie! I was shocked. I was really shocked. Not because I doubt the quality of our show but I just, I've been nominated myself once and obviously I didn't win and I just thought that was par for the course! (laughs) So I was really quite excited, it was great. It was just a really good feeling amongst everyone, including the execs, so that's always nice, to keep your bosses happy!
Fantastic - well, when we spoke to you last year you'd just finished filming seasons two and three of Wentworth pretty much back to back, how was that experience?
Oh gosh. It was a blur, it was amazing. Oh gosh, I unfortunately lost my mum during the filming of season two, and if I didn't have the show and the cast around me, I don't know how I would've got through, so it's such a blessing but yeah, I have to say it's a bit hazy, trying to look back. But I can honestly say I've loved every minute, this is my favourite job I've ever had. It's very rare you get to stretch yourself so much and you actually get to have a lot of input, which is as I said really rare. So yeah, I'm incredibly grateful, even though it was all a bit hazy.
Despite the long days and filming periods I know you're all extremely close on the show and off the show, so what have been some of your favourite behind-the-scenes moments?
Oh God, there's so many! They kind of still continue! Celia (Ireland) and I particularly, we talk every second day I think! She's up in Sydney and I'm in Melbourne, we just chew the fat about everything.
There's been so many in jokes, so many little phrases we come up with. The boys are hilarious, I just spend my time laughing at people I think. Despite it being so intense it's a very jovial bunch! (laughs)
We spoke to a couple of other cast members - Celia and Pamela Rabe - they mentioned how Pamela wore teal after filming the final season three scenes...
Oh she did! She did, and her character's name was Wowouise, which is meant to be Louise but she made her Wowouise. She was hilarious, I think I took photos! I warmed to her immediately! I love her, I love Wowouise! (laughs)
Last season in the show, in season two, we saw Boomer's sentence increased in part due to Liz's actions - with Liz returning to Wentworth surely there's conflict in store?
Yeah, Boomer. Look, it's the number one rule, you don't lag, you don't tell on someone, you certainly don't go to the powers that be and put anyone's name forward for anything, it's the number one crime you can commit within prison politics, and Liz did that, and Boomer got another seven years, because of Franky and also because of Liz. So, it's gonna take a lot to come round, however, I think, keeping in mind who Boomer is - she's kind of more occupied by whatever's in front of her at the time! (laughs) She doesn't allow herself to go to too many dark places, she does go to a few but she just tries to keep things ticking along, so far as whatever she can handle.
Now with Bea as 'Top Dog' in Wentworth, where does Boomer stand in the prison heirarchy?
Yeah, she's kind of not in the heirarchy at all for various reasons. You will see, she's kind of flapping in the wings a little bit for a few reasons, so she's sort of her own little entity! (laughs)
Do you think Boomer can ever get her happy ending?
(laughs) Oh gee, I don't know! I don't know if I want her to! Selfishly, Katrina the actor doesn't want her to have a happy ending! (laughs) It'd be nice for Booms! (laughs)
We could have a Boomer spin-off if it happens!
(laughs) Yeah! I'll have my own show, thank you! (laughs) Even though I'd be the only audience member watching, I'd enjoy that. Let me be Top Dog for once, let me! (laughs)
I know season three has wrapped in Australia now, how have you found the response from the Aussie audience?
I am hopeless on social media! Really bad, I don't have my own Facebook page, I've just got my personal one and I send little things like songs, or, 'look at this chicken!' I'm on Twitter but I'm the world's most mute Twitterer ever! I don't know what to say! So, I don't really have a handle on how the audience are coping, but what I do receive on Twitter is that they're not coping too well, that it's coming to an end. Personally, I've gotten completely drawn into the series, I actually watched episode 11 with the audience and got completely sucked in and forgot I was in the thing! (laughs) So I get it!
The show has an extremely loyal fanbase, it must feel great to have this core group always watching? I know the viewing figures are very steady...
Yeah! That is extraordinary I think in this day and age. I'm so used to television - there was a time I did a show, 11 years ago now, and that was the Golden Age of television, that was a show that lasted for eight series and had pretty good numbers the whole way through but then something happened and TV, it was kinda hard to get more than one series out because you'd lose audience, so it was always scary starting again and wondering what was gonna happen. But you're right.
I think it's due to obviously to its predecessor Prisoner, and hopefully due to an honesty in the production. I'm a firm believer that if you start pulling people's legs they get pretty sick of it pretty quickly. You've really gotta put your heart and soul on the line for anyone to feel anything, so that's our job, and we're lucky enough to just be doing it in a bubble.
Where we film is like being in prison. We're taken away from the outside world so, we've got nothing to do but focus on work, and muck around with each other! (laughs) So yeah, hopefully that continues, it's pretty special.
And how long does it take to complete an entire season of Wentworth?
Oh gosh, that's a really good question! I've gotta think! (laughs) With pre-production, for us actors, I know some of the crew for season four are starting next week or something, but actors probably won't get in there until... I think it takes about five months. Let's say that. Five or six months, something like that.
But yeah we work on two episodes at a time - so that's called a block - so episodes one and two will be with one director, three and four will be with another director, five and six et cetera et cetera. Yeah, it all just blurs, the time goes really slowly but really quickly at the same time if you know what I mean.
You have one of the biggest transformations on the show from Katrina the actor to Boomer the character, so do you often get recognised in public?
I often get, 'Are you Boomer?!' I had a strange moment the other day - I've just moved house and I'm loving my little house, I've been working in the garden and I was out in the front, I think I was talking to myself to be quite honest. I heard the neighbour across the way, 'I'll see you on Tuesday night for Wentworth!', and I just freaked out and thought, 'Oh my God, I've gotta work in the backyard from now on, I can't work in the front', I was talking to myself. Then I think 'oh maybe they won't recognise me', but then of course someone always does! It's kinda strange!
It's sort of liberating, turning into Boomer. I get to literally, quite literally let it all hang out. Everything. Literally. (laughs)
How best would you summarise this third season of Wentworth for UK viewers?
That's a good question. A lot changes. Be prepared to feel like you are on a rollercoaster and that your gut's been ripped out, and that your heart's throbbing at the same time. It's got everything, it really does. You learn quite a bit more about each character. Some you're gonna like and some, you're not gonna believe! (laughs)
The show's such a psychological one, how does it feel as an actor to get something like that?
I love it, I absolutely love it. I think it is such a gift to be able to work with a show that is driven by its characters' psychology and the psychology of being in a particular environment. It's a ripper. It's my favourite job I've had. Then the bonus is, the cast that we have, we noticed pretty early on, are all incredibly clever and incredibly passionate, and we work really, really hard with each other to make something work and get the most out of it. That is so much fun, it's very rare that you feel so safe to play, to actually play onset. And I don't mean that in a disruptive way, I mean with the scripts and good intention, you know? I sound a little bit like an actor w**ker there, I know! (laughs) Sorry! It really is true! (laughs) It's just so cool, it's really cool. That's all I can say!
And so I imagine that chemistry really gives everything a huge boost of positivity?
Yeah it does. We are a little bit like a family. You have your ups and downs and where we film, it's all in one, so everyone from the editors to the cast to the crew to the kitchen to everything, we're all stuck in this building, we cannot leave! There's nowhere to go and I particularly look like crap so I ain't going nowhere! (laughs)
You become a family and we've all had pretty life-changing events, like I said with my mum and I hope Celia doesn't mind me mentioning but she lost her mum, after I lost mine so we've sort of clung to each other. It's pretty amazing. Therapy! For want of a better word.
And who knows? The dynamics can change, and you have to roll with the punches! As you know, as everyone knows. It's the same in any workplace I guess, isn't it?
So season four is a go ahead, when do you start filming?
Yeah, well I don't even know if I'm allowed to say! But we start series four next month (July). I was talking to Celia yesterday, I was saying, 'get as much relaxing as you can, just relax, every second you get!' I'm just continuing to potter in my garden! (laughs)
The third season of Wentworth Prison begins on Channel 5 at 10pm on July 22.
Season 3 is coming to DVD in the Autumn and will also be available to download. Season 1 & 2 are available to buy now on DVD and digitally.
Tagged in Wentworth Prison