Will Jackson (Wentworth)
| Will Jackson | |
|---|---|
| Wentworth character | |
| First appearance | “No Place Like Home" |
| Created by | Lara Radulovich |
| Portrayed by | Robbie Magasiva |
| Status | Alive |
| Duration | 2013- |
| Information | |
| Full name | William Jackson |
| Occupation |
Social worker (formerly) Prison officer |
| Affiliation |
Wentworth Prison Bea Smith |
| Significant other(s) |
Meg Jackson (wife; deceased) Rose Atkins |
William "Will" Jackson is a character in Wentworth Prison. Will is portrayed by Robbie Magasiva. Will is notable for his friendships with Matthew Fletcher and Bea Smith. Will has also been involved in a one-sided notable rivalry with Joan Ferguson. Despite being credited, Will was absent in the episode "The Long Game".[1]
Development
Magasiva talked about getting the role. He said "It was an interesting time. It was a learning curve for me. If the whole idea was to get into a room with a casting director and make an impression I did what I came for. They've seen my work and have me in mind, so I've achieved that. I came back thinking it was the most impossible thing to do, there's no chance of me ever kind of making it there. But I came back and thought if I put in the hard work and keep on doing what I'm doing it is doable."[2]
Storylines
Backstory
Before his wife's death, Will seemed to be a very easy going officer. He was quite relaxed around the prisoners. Like his colleague, Vera Bennett, he cared about the women, and got involved in prison life, but unlike Vera, he didn't get too concerned with the prisoners problems.
Will was a social worker before becoming a prison officer, during his time as a social worker, he removed a baby from a prisoner, who was later murdered because of her inappropriate relationship with an officer.[3]
2013-
Will is first seen processing Bea (Danielle Cormack) when she is brought into Wentworth Prison. Will then is seen flirting with Meg and is caught by Matthew Fletcher (Aaron Jeffery). Will then takes Bea out for a smoke when she is in the slots. The episode ends with Will finding Meg dead and Bea covered in her blood.[4]
Following Meg’s death, Will was seen watching the interviews of the prisoners on his laptop. When Doreen and Kaiya make a picture for Will, he rips it up in front of them.[5]
Will continues to investigate the death of his wife Meg, he the discovers how his friend Fletch and Meg had a peculiar relationship.[6] Will later discovers that his wife Meg had an abortion sometime before she died, Fletch had to help him come to his senses after he got so high on cocaine.[7] Soon after, Will is blackmailed by Jacs Holt when he confronts her about catching Brayden and Debbie doing drugs.[8]
Will supports Bea during the death of her daughter Debbie. When Bea isn’t allowed to see the body, Will visits Debbie and spends some time with her and passes on that Bea loves her.[9]
In the season one finale, Will listens to a recording of Jacs convincing Brayden to kill Debbie. When Will confronts Jacs, she manipulates him to delete the recording in return for information about Meg’s murder. When Will and Fletch do a cell toss, Will finds Meg’s bracelet in Jacs’ cell but unknown to him Liz Birdsworth planted it there to protect Franky.[10]
Will continues as a prison officer in Season Two, Will gets quizzed by Joan Ferguson about his past as a social worker. Joan then tells him that the addiction programs would cease from that moment on.[11]
In Twist The Knife, Will learns that Fletch was having an affair with his wife Meg, Will brutually attacks Fletch in the boiler room during a prison lockdown.[12]
When Maxine Conway tries to escape prison, she is caught by Will.[13]
Will refuses to let Harry Smith see Bea, Harry then accuses Will of having an affair with Bea. Will and Rose later go on a date where a mysterious van runs them off the road. Will goes to Harry’s to confront him and smashes his van up. Will is then arrested for criminal damage. Ferguson gets Will off the charges but it is revealed in a flashback that Ferguson is trying to get revenge against Will.[3]
In the Season Two lead up to the finale, Bea has a battle with Franky where she slashes her wrists to avoid cuffing, Will leaves Bea unattended and Bea then escapes.[14] Will then goes searching for Bea and speaks to Liz Birdsworth. Joan leads the police to believe that Bea and Will were working together. Will is later arrested.[15]
In Season Three it is revealed that Will received four months suspension for “aiding” Bea. Will holds a grudge against Bea for a while. Ferguson then has Will framed for murdering Harry Smith. Will continues to date Rose.
In Failing Upwards, Will visits Fletch and finds it in himself to move on from his negative history with him. Will is also accused of murdering Harry.[16] During the time trying to prove his innocence, Kaz Proctor plans the murder weapon in his garage and then presumably tips off the police.
On the day of Franky’s parole, Ferguson sends Will a confession from Franky admitting that she killed Meg. Will then confronts Franky but ends up forgiving her which displeased Ferguson.[17]
Will is arrested again on suspicion of Harry’s murder but Bea manages to get him a name that she received from a vigilante. Will then helps Bea and Franky rescue Joshua and Ferguson from a fire in the prison that was started to cover up Jess Warner’s death.[18]
Reception
In both 2014 and 2015, Robbie Magasiva was nominated for Most Outstanding Male Performance in the ASTRA Awards for his role as Will Jackson.[19][20]
References
- ↑ "Wentworth Prison: The Long Game (2015) credits". IMDB. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ↑ "Wentworth season 3: Robbie Magasiva returns to prison life". Sydney Morning Hearald. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- 1 2 Episode 19: The Fixer
- ↑ Episode 1: No Place Like Home
- ↑ Episode 2: Fly Me Away
- ↑ Episode 4: The Things We Do
- ↑ Episode 7: Something Dies
- ↑ Episode 8: Mind Games
- ↑ Episode 9: To The Moon
- ↑ Episode 10: Checkmate
- ↑ Episode 11: Born Again
- ↑ Episode 15: Twist The Knife
- ↑ Episode 17: Metamorphosis
- ↑ Episode 21: Into The Night
- ↑ Episode 22: Fear Her
- ↑ Episode 24: Failing Upwards
- ↑ Episode 32: A Higher Court
- ↑ Episode 34: Blood and Fire
- ↑ "Wentworth Dominates 2014 ASTRA Awards". Fremantle Media. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ↑ "Wentworth and Devil’s Playground dominate nominations for 2015 ASTRA Awards". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
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