Maxine Conway (formerly Max) is a recurring character from Wentworth, portrayed by actor Socratis Otto.

The backstory given by Wentworth's website states "Maxine is a male-to-female transgender person who, despite having undergone gender reassignment surgery and wearing a wig and make-up, looks unambiguously male.

Devastated after being rejected by her boyfriend following her surgery, Maxine responded by stabbing him resulting in her doing time in Wentworth.

[4] Speaking to the interviewer for Female First, Otto stated, "For me Daniel it was trying to not necessarily educate but just to present a character, a transgender that would make audiences question their own approach and their own stereotypes about transsexuals.

Although the huge similarity she shares with Maxine is that they've both grown up feeling and being told they don't belong, mocked, outsiders.

"[6] In an interview with Gay Times, Otto said, "When I signed up I had an inkling because I knew it was reliant on intense characters and drama.

I have special trans-gender underwear, which accentuates the physique so I've got butt implants and hips, not to mention my chicken fillets.

For me, the story is about who am I in the face of a life or death situation and what do my family and friends reveal to me and we are much more than our gender at the end of the day.

[11] In "Metamorphosis", Maxine makes an escape attempt but does not get past the gates because she is apprehended by Will Jackson and Vera Bennett.

[19] In "Blood and Fire", Maxine watches in shock and fear when Bea and Franky run into the burning prison to rescue Doreen's baby Josh.

[4] The Daily Telegraph said that Otto was "unrecognisable in his new role playing transgender prisoner Maxine Conway".

[23] A writer on AfterEllen, compared Maxine to Sophia Burset, the transgender character on Orange Is The New Black played by Laverne Cox.

And I’m actually fine with the rest of the characters saying shitty things to her that reduce her to her anatomy–they’re not the most enlightened people ever—but the camera seems to treat her with the same crassness as the inmates.