Allie Novak
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10 May 2016
26 October 2021
| Allie Novak | |
|---|---|
| Wentworth character | |
 Allie in First Blood | |
| First appearance | "First Blood" 10 May 2016 |
| Last appearance | "Legacy" 26 October 2021 |
| Portrayed by | Kate Jenkinson |
| Duration | 2016 – 2021 |
| In-universe information | |
| Occupation | Prostitute[1] |
| Affiliation | Red Right Hand (formerly) Kaz Proctor Bea Smith Franky Doyle (formerly) Jake Stewart |
| Significant other | Marie Winter (lover) Bea Smith (soulmate) Ruby Mitchell (girlfriend) |
Allie Novak is a fictional character from the Australian drama series Wentworth, played by Kate Jenkinson. She made her first appearance during the fourth season episode titled, "First Blood", broadcast on 10 May 2016. The character was introduced as a new prison inmate and friend of Kaz Proctor (Tammy Macintosh), participating in their vigilante group, which has a vested interest in protecting women. One story writers developed for Allie was a romance with then-central character Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack), a pairing that television critic Elaine Atwell has praised.
Kate Jenkinson had wanted a role in Wentworth since she had started watching the show while sick with the flu.[2] Jenkinson recalled that when her agent contacted her informing her of the role in Wentworth, she replied "well it's mine".[2] The actress has stated that "playing a character so “damaged and broken and colourful” is a responsibility she takes seriously."[2] Jenkinson decided to research her role by seeking out women similar to her character. Her search led her to women's outreach centers, where residents shared her own experiences and advice.[2]
Development
Allie was once a drug addicted street prostitute who suffered abuse by her clients and her pimp failed to protect her. Kaz found her and insisted on taking her under her wing. Fiercely independent, Allie had no interest in being saved by anyone but she was interested in the violent retribution the Red Right Hand was enacting. As a gay woman, Allie found solace being with women and emotional respite from a lifestyle she couldn’t escape. Kaz let Allie live with her and together they attacked the various John Goodson's who had assaulted Allie over the years. Having somewhere to sleep every night and a purpose during the day, helped ease Allie’s drug dependency. She owes Kaz a lot and now the crew has been apprehended and doing time in Wentworth, she is firmly in Kaz’s camp and her loyal compatriot.
— An excerpt taken from the character's biography on the show's official website.[1]
The sentence is Allie's second prison term. She had previously been incarcerated for assault. Despite this charge, the character is not "flustered" and actually brings "a warm and disarming wit" to the show.[1] Jenkinson told David Knox of TV Tonight that "what really attracted me to her as a person and character was this endless positivity and optimistic outlook on life. Perhaps that comes from having experienced the worst that life has to offer. She has the attitude that things can only get better."[3] Additionally, Allie was billed as "an ice-addicted prostitute with a warm and engaging wit."[3]