Helen Stewart
Played by
Simone Lahbib
Grade
Wing Governor, then Lifers' Liaison Officer and then finally Governing Governor.
Background
Father is a Presbyterian minister and brought Helen up alone after her mother died. Joined the Prison Service soon after leaving University and was fast-tracked onto their graduate training scheme.
Profile
Because of her family background, Helen has wanted something structured in her life, to feel that she can make an impact. She has a deep-rooted sense of natural justice and an instinctive empathy for those women on the inside who have been dealt a rough hand in life.
However, Helen's personality is complex and contradictory. She is talented and supremely able but suffers from external prejudices and internal demons. She can therefore be a stickler for the rules. Her uncompromising stance doesn't go down well with many of the inmates, or with some of her colleagues... especially Fenner.
Helen has great empathy for the inmates and their life stories and problems take their emotional toll on her. She is an excellent judge of character and relies on her instincts even when the facts tend to suggest she's wrong - which is why she is so drawn to Nikki.
Last seen...
Jobless, but finally reunited on the other side of the bars with Nikki (s3ep16).
Read our exclusive interviews with Simone...