Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em star Michelle Dotrice has returned to acting in The Ladykillers. Chris Price caught up with her.

Nearly 35 years after she last had the phrase “ooh Betty” apologetically uttered to her on screen, Michelle Dotrice is returning to the limelight.

Her part as the wily and eccentric old widow Mrs Wilberforce in the Ladykillers feels a world apart from the young actress who won the nation’s hearts alongside Michael Crawford as the long-suffering and patient wife of Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em.

The huge change is understandable, considering the massive personal journey the 63-year-old actress’ has taken in life. Since becoming a household name in the 1970s.

Michelle lived in New York for a long time while her husband Edward Woodward starred in the US TV series the Equaliser, for which he won a Golden Globe. Her career was put on hold as she raised their daughter Emily and cared for her husband through a heart attack, triple bypass surgery, prostate cancer and pneumonia until his death in 2009.

“I’m coming back to my career again after many years,” said Michelle, who comes from a thespian family. Her parents Roy and Kay were Shakespearean actors and sister Karen played Jane Banks in Mary Poppins. Her sister Yvette is best known as Wendy Crisp in Crossroads.

“I’m a very different person from Betty but she was a huge part of my life and still is. I’m very lucky that she happened to me at a young age – I was 22 when I did that show. The viewing figures of 26m were unheard of and it made me a household name at the time.

“I look on it fondly but I look at the show now and think ‘who is that girl?’ It all seems a very long time ago. I’m still friends with Michael Crawford and that is a wonderful thing to have 40 years later.

“I hope this next step for me with The Ladykillers will be part of the next success in my life as an older woman.”

The show is the stage version of the 1955 black comedy starring Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers and Katie Johnson. It follows a gang of criminals who resolve to kill the unsuspecting elderly lady (Mrs Wilberforce) who puts them up after she discovers their crime. It was adapted as a play last year by Graham Linehan and quickly moved to the West End after it premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse.

“I remember seeing it years ago,” said Michelle. “It has a very funny plot. Unfortunately I didn’t see it when it was on in London this year where it was such a huge success.

“I’m the only woman with five men. How bad can that be? That is probably the main attraction.

“Mrs Wilberforce is a lonely, innocent, little old busy body but is not as stupid as you think she is. It is very funny and I think it is going to be a lark. It is great fun to play.”

The UK tour arrives at Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre, where Michelle is pleased to be playing alongside ex-EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson, who lives in Selling, near Faversham.

“I loved him in Extras. The way he sent himself up was brilliant,” she said.

“The last time I was in Canterbury, my late husband was playing God in the Mysteries at Canterbury Cathedral back in 2004. We got a house there for a few weeks and we loved it.”

Michelle's bit of Frank advice

Michelle got a bit of advice about her new role from her old co-star in Some Mother’s Do ‘Ave ‘Em, Michael Crawford.

“He called me and said ‘I want to help you with Mrs Wilberforce’ and he started to do little bits of it. He was absolutely brilliant and I said he should have thought about playing it instead of me. He did it so well.

“I have not based the character on anyone but Michael helped me a lot.”

The Ladykillers comes to Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre from Tuesday, September 25 to Saturday, September 29. Tickets £17 to £33. Box office 01227 787787.