There have been plenty of dramatic death exits for characters in Wentworth, but earlier this season we saw one that gave us hope – the exit of inmate Doreen.
The prisoner was released from Wentworth Correctional Centre and reunited with her partner and young child after serving her sentence.
Her portrayer Shareena Clanton had appeared in the Foxtel prison drama since season one.
Chatting to TV WEEK, Shareena, 27, admitted she had bawled when she filmed her final scenes late last year.
“When that final moment came and you’re hearing the words ‘it’s your final scene’, I just had tears running down my face,” Shareena says.
“I got this overwhelming sense of grief and had to give myself a moment.”
“I’d received a call from my agent that this was the final show for the character, and the head of scripts and our producer sat me down and explained the trajectory of Doreen so I had time to prepare for it,” she says.
She was glad Doreen was given the positive ending she received – freed and reunited with her loved ones.
“It offers up a beacon of hope,” Shareena says.
Shareena Clanton in Wentworth.
“Given the fact there is such a high over-representation of Aboriginal women within the judicial system, and men, and given the fact there is a huge amount of recidivism that happens within the criminal justice system, it was really important to have the character’s journey end positively and end with hope.”
Since leaving Wentworth, Shareena has taken a role in the current Melbourne Theatre Company production Macbeth starring actor Jai Courtenay.
While she’s moving on to new jobs, she won’t forget her Wentworth family.
“These women became my mentors and my family and like sisters,” Shareena says.
“Robbie [Magasiva] was like a big brother to me. I’m honoured to be a part of it and it has been a really beautiful experience – I couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful journey.”
