Perth actress Kate Atkinson to star in Prisoner remake Kate Atkinson stars in Foxtel's new show Wentworth, a remake of Prisoner. WA actress Kate Atkinson is about to step into some seriously bitter boots. The Kalgoorlie-born thespian will be playing one of TV's most iconic villains, "Vinegar Tits," in Wentworth the edgy Foxtel remake of 1980s melodrama Prisoner. The original character, Vera Bennett, was a senior prison officer, twisted by caring for her invalid mother, who thought of inmates as animals. But this time around, fans learn she once was kind. "She's a soft touch, she's an open heart," Atkinson said. She evolves. Right towards the end of the series some fairly pivotal things happen to her. Researching the role, Atkinson met guards from all walks of life. "There's a whole range of reasons why people might choose to go into correctional service people who want to abuse their power, people who believe in rehabilitative justice and people who just want a job," she said. Atkinson, who lives in Melbourne, moved around a lot as a girl, thanks to her father's job as a geophysicist. Wentworth also stars WA's Shareena Clanton and Kiwi Danielle Cormack. Though Atkinson always loved acting, the "very scholastic kid" didn't see it as a sensible career, but after a few theatre gigs she followed her brothers to Melbourne to try her luck. A role in SeaChange (Constable Karen Miller) gave her a big break. These days the "challenge" of study has lured her and she is 18 months into her master of international relations at Melbourne University. "I am just endlessly fascinated with the world," she said of her study choice. I've got a background in human-rights issues, I used to do a lot of refugee advocacy. I'd love to do research for Amnesty or Human Rights Watch. The study took a back seat while we were doing Wentworth but I am really determined to finish this. If I am a 50-year-old graduate I really don't care. I don't really see an artistic life and an academic life as necessarily being mutually exclusive. I think everything you do in your life informs your work as an actor. In fact I think if you are driven solely by your achievements as an actress you are not open to the workings of the world. Wentworth premieres on Foxtel's SoHo channel on Wednesday at 6.30pm.