Simone Lahbib
Plays
Helen Stewart
Helen Stewart is the new Wing Governor. An attractive, intelligent woman, she's been promoted at a very young age - "too young" many of her colleagues believe. An idealist who feels deeply for the women in her care whom she feels have been dealt a rough hand in life. She's determined to bring about changes in the regime, to run it firmly but fairly. She hasn't reckoned on just how set in their ways many prison officers - especially Jim Fenner - can be.
Simone has her own ideas about Helen. "I think she can be very heavy handed at times. I think she does care, but she is also very ambitious and she would perhaps put her career above the inmates at times - undoubtedly."
"Helen Stewart is a free woman - and so one of the few with a full life outside prison. She lives with, and is engaged to Sean. "I don't think she is ever really into her engagement or impending marriage, but I don't think she realises that until it's nearly too late. She starts to find in Nikki Wade, the strength and understanding that isn't there in Sean."
As the series progresses, so does Helen's relationship with one of Larkhall's more difficult prisoners - and that in itself has some unforeseen consequences for the Wing Governor.
But for Simone Lahbib, Helen Stewart has been a good part to play. "I have enjoyed being Helen. I think there is a bit of me in her, but not a lot. We are both bossy people, but I think I have more fun than she does. I think if Helen was going to buy a CD for her car it would be some jazz collection, whereas I would buy something like The Propellerheads."