Wentworth star Nicole da Silva calls out violence against women as 2025 death toll in Australia surges to 23

By MIKAELA WILKES FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 06:18 BST, 25 April 2025 | Updated: 06:30 BST, 25 April 2025

Nicole da Silva is urging Australians to put violence against Australian women first in their minds as they enter the polling booths for the federal election. 

The Wentworth star, 43, is best known for portraying affable prison boss Franky Doyle in the award-winning TV drama between 2013 and 2018. 

In her first interview in several years, the actress called attention to the 23 Australian women who have died at the hands of violence this year. The deaths occurred between January 13 and April 21. 

‘The rate of femicide in this country is completely unacceptable,’ she told Confidential ahead of her return to the stage in The Lover at Enmore Theatre. 

According to the Australian Femicide Watch, 103 Australian women and 16 children were killed in 2024, with 26 of those deaths occurring by April last year. 

‘It really is going to be a case of the government that comes in actively and genuinely trying to change that tide, and trying to change those numbers,’ Nicole said. 

Wentworth star Nicole da Silva is urging Australians to put violence against Australian women first in their minds as they enter the polling booths for the federal election 

According to the Australian Femicide Watch , 103 Australian women and 16 children were killed in 2024, with 26 of those deaths occurring by April last year. In the first four months of 2025, 26 women have been killed. Each heart on the Memorial map represents one death

‘The way we accept domestic violence in this country and the way it’s perpetrated through the legal system, through the frontline workers, is unacceptable,’

‘I really hope that our politicians start to heed some of that.’

Her words come as Adrian Noel Torrens, 53, died in custody three days after his arrest for allegedly murdering 19-year-old Audrey Griffin.

The government department tasked with keeping the accused killer of a 19-year-old woman alive so he can face trial for her alleged murder has sent condolences to people ‘affected by his death’. 

The Central Coast man was found unresponsive in his cell at Silverwater Jail in Sydney’s west about 4.50pm on Thursday and couldn’t be revived by paramedics and corrective services officers.

‘Violence against women and domestic violence affects everyone,’ Nicole continued.

‘It limits and narrows the options for men and boys in this society. It’s a bigger conversation than just women.’ 

Nicole Da Silva, who is best known for portraying Franky Doyle (left) in TV drama Wentworth, said the rate of femicide in Australia is ‘completely unacceptable

This week, both Labor and the Coalition announced their policies to reduce the rates of gender-based violence ahead of the federal election on May 3. 

Both major parties have committed to continuing an existing 10-year plan to address the ‘national crisis’, which was updated last year to dedicate $900million to frontline services. 

Nicole, who has also starred in Rush, Doctor, Doctor and One Night, said the responsibility to address this crisis falls on every Australian. 

‘I think what’s been lacking in the dialogue so far is men speaking up and holding other men accountable and actively wanting to change a kind of inherently misogynistic system,’ she concluded.

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Wentworth star Nicole da Silva calls out violence against women as 2025 death toll in Australia surges to 23

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