THE FREAK & BEA ВАCK TOGETHER AT LAST!

FORGET THE RUMOURS, PRISONER STARS MAGGIE KIRKPATRICK AND VAL LEHMAN ARE STILL GREAT MATES

- Craig Bennett

In the '80s, Val Lehman and Maggie Kirkpatrick were forever at each other's throats. As Prisoner's original 'top dog' Bea Smith, Val went toe-to-toe with Maggie's sadistic warden Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson - which resulted in some of Aussie TV's most famous fights!

However, when the two iconic actresses caught up recently for an exclusive shoot with New Idea, there were copious rafter-rattling laughs, jokes about saggy bottoms, and countless fond memories of the show.

"For decades there have been rumors that we couldn't stand each other, but nothing could be further from the truth,” smiles Val as she gives Maggie a warm hug. "It was assumed that because we are two strong women who played fabulously feisty characters, then we must have been at loggerheads in real-life."

The actress, who turns 79 next month, adds that she and Maggie had an instant respect for one another.

"I was in awe of her as I'd known her brilliant work in the theatre. Maggie was and always will be a true pro."

Maggie, 81, agrees. While she and Val “may have butted heads once or twice”, it would be incorrect to suggest they were Australia's answer to infamous Hollywood rivals Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, as media reports at the time insisted.

“I have always said that some of my best work on Prisoner was playing opposite Val,” says Maggie. "She was wonderful to work with, we had an incredible rapport, and I knew with Val she always gave as good as she got."

During our shoot, Val vividly recalls her first day on the Prisoner set in 1979.

"I was with the show from episode one, but I hadn't done much television work before, so I was as nervous as hell.”

For Val, Bea was a wonderful character to play. She says she's immeasurably proud of the 400 episodes she starred in.