Is anyone else a little peeved with Danielle Cormack?
I know this posting is pure speculation until it is confirmed next year, whether Bea Smith is dead or alive. Working on the assumption that Bea is dead and it was Danielle's decision to exit Wentworth, as a fan of the show, are you a little annoyed if this turns out to be the case?
I completely understand Danielle is under no moral or legal obligation to the show or fans, to stay on playing a character she is bored with or wanting to pursue other acting opportunities. She's red hot at the moment (no pun intended) She probably has television and movie offers coming left, right and centre. I wouldn't be surprised in the least. With all of that being written, if the above scenario is true, that it was her decision to bailout, I feel it's a bit of a cop out to leave as the show's integral character.
If I'm totally wrong and it was the creative process to have Bea leave at the end of Series 4 with Danielle's agreement and she didn't fight it. I'd take it all back and would accept the outcome more. If Wentworth's Creative Team can't write for Bea anymore, so rather than tarnish the character they have her leave 'gracefully' (graceful as getting bludgeon with a screwdriver can be) it is not a perfect situation but understandable. If however it was a unilateral decision on Danielle's behalf and not being contractually obliged, to remain in the role permanently, I know she is well within her rights to do so. Writing honestly though, it would be disappointing to hear it was Danielle's choice to quit the programme. Of course Wentworth can retool the cast with main characters like Prisoner Cell Block H did in the past.
There is no getting away from the fact the entire show has been built around Bea Smith. The reason I would find it disappointing if Danielle has called it quits, is because the investment it has taken over four years to make a character people care about, is undone if they are written out prematurely. Maybe this decision is what contributed to Series 4 being a poor relation to the previous three series. The Creative Team may have had to hurriedly write an artificial exit, which in my opinion was lacklustre.
Again taking into account, Danielle doesn't owe the fans or Wentworth's creators loyalty, especially if actors only sign an annual contract. With all that stated, Danielle must of known before taking on the character of Bea Smith, if the programme took off as it has done, she would be playing her for a long period of time. Ideally the creators should have locked all main characters into long term contracts. If Bea is deceased and only the characters that were left at the end of Series 4, then Series 5 could be Wentworth's last. Who is left to carry the show and fill Bea's void? Tedious Kaz? Allie cat? Juice? Franky was only in Series 4, for 5 episodes, it wasn't enough. Will this happen again?
Actors and actresses deserve autonomy over their own careers but deciding to play a character, that potentially could be a ten year plus job, then really the actor or actress should have the imperative to stay in it for the long haul or shouldn't take the role on in the beginning.