Frankie Doyle, thanks to a 9 year old boy.

Actress Carol Burns, who trailblazed as lesbian Frankie Doyle in Prisoner, this week gave an interview to ABC Radio’s Conversations with Richard Fidler.

Burns only played the role in 19 episodes but it is still etched in our minds and hearts.

She says she stumbled onto the character when she was sitting on a train in the late 1970s.

“You can never be bored as an actor because you’re always observing people,” she said. “Public transport is the best reservoir for characters.

“I was sitting opposite two little boys who were what little brothers are to each other. They didn’t really want to be sharing the seat. They didn’t really want to be on the train. So they wriggled and squirmed and pushed ans said ‘Piss’orf.’

“And I thought ‘That’s the sort of mentality that Frankie Doyle is.’ So I found the attitude from a nine year old boy and I found the laugh from hearing somebody in the street, (a woman with) a shockingly raucous laugh.

“When they offered me the part they said ‘Do you want to play the most hated woman on television?’

“And I said ‘Just so long as you let me show why she’s hated.’ Because as soon as you do that everybody falls in love with you.

“I had offers of marriage and proposal of support from people all over Australia which was wonderful.”

Burns is also Qld president of Equity and vice-president of the Actors’ and Entertainers’ Benevolent Fund. Her next role is in the QTC production of Pygmalion at Playhouse Theatre, QPAC in early November.