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Did you always want to be an actress?
“No, I originally wanted to be a ballet dancer, the acting bug
came later”.
What was your first professional role in the theatre?
“It was in a play called ‘Play It Again Sam’ with Dudley Moore
at the Arts Theatre Cambridge. – The characters name was Angie,
we went on to transfer to the then Globe Theatre in the West
End”.
What is your favourite role to date?
“The part of Yvette as she brought me to the public eye which
enabled me to be offered wonderful parts in TV and theatre.”
How
did you get the part in “Allo Allo”?
“I
played the part of a French robot maid in another David Croft series
‘Come Back Mrs. Noah’ in which my sister Ann starred and he remembered
me from there. I actually read for two parts, Yvette and Michelle of the
resistance”.
Are
you still in touch with anyone else from “Allo Allo”?
“Yes
we often ring each other or go and see each other in plays etc."
Rumour has it you once
made a record with Gorden Kaye. Is this true?
“Absolutely,
It was called ‘Je Taimes’ I’m sure I’ve still got a copy of it at
home somewhere".
Allo
Allo is one of the most successful sitcoms of all time and is still
enjoying re-runs all over the world. Why do you think that is?
"It is so
brilliantly written. The scripts can't date because they are already
set in the past and it has something for everyone. The adults like
it because of all the 'double entendres' and the children because
they see the innocent side of the comedy. Also all the characters
are incredibly strong. Originally some people found it offensive but
it has a go at everyone really, the French characters are randy, the
German, kinky and the English, stupid".
You must have a lot of
memories of it. Are there any that particularly stick in your mind?
"There are so
many, where shall I start? Working at the Palladium, the tours to
Australia and New Zealand. Then there were the practical jokes. I
remember in one of the TV episodes, Yvette was caught by Edith in a
passionate clinch with Rene by the duck run and Rene used the excuse
she had fainted from lack of food. I was supposed to eat some potato
peelings meant for the ducks. During the rehearsal they were made
from rice paper but when it came to the take, they had been changed
for the real thing, so I ended up with a mouthful of grit and raw
peelings".
"Then there
was the time when we were touring with the play version and Gorden
put my foot in a bucket of water whilst I was standing behind the
bar and had to squelch around for the rest of the scene".
Speaking of
practical jokes, you did a pretty good job with Noel Edmonds for
Lional Blair's Gotcha in Bournemouth, did you really not realise
what was going on when Noel gotcha'red you?
"Well
I obviously knew something wasn't quite right but because I was
being hired by someone else to do the job, I just got on with it. It
wasn't until Noel appeared with the Gotcha that it registered that
that was why things weren't right"!
Do you get nervous before
a performance?
"Terribly. I always
have and I don't expect things to change now".
Have you a favourite
actor / actress?
"I couldn't begin to
choose. I enjoy any good performance and I wouldn't want to leave any of
my friends out".
What do you watch on TV?
"I don't really get
a chance to watch anything on a regular basis but I do love films".
Have
you a favourite film?
"Several. I love
Disney and My Fair Lady on the lighter side but if you want to pin me down
to one film it would have to be One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest".
What
kind of music do you like?
“Anything
modern mainly but I do like classical and opera, it
just
depends what sort of mood I’m in”.
What
is your favourite food?
“Anything
healthy. I’m into organic food at the moment”.
What
are your ambitions?
“Just
to keep working and growing as a performer. I’d really like to do
another T.V series”.
What
would you be if you weren’t an actress?
“Apart
from running my own business, produce or direct films and T.V
programmes”.
Describe
yourself in three words.
“I
couldn’t possibly, I’ve got too many wonderful things to say about
myself!!!
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