Irene Mary Wetton (26 July 1936 – 10 November 1998), better known by her stage name Mary Millar, was an English actress and singer best remembered for her role as the second actress to play Rose in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances from 1991 to 1995 and for originating the role of Madame Giry in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera.
Early life Millar was born in Doncaster, England, on 26 July 1936, to Irene (née Mellor) and Horace Wetton, both music hall singers. She intended to become a stable hand, but later decided to pursue a stage career. She toured the country with her parents, who had an act called Sweethearts in Harmony.
Career Millar made her debut in theatre in 1952, in a production of Babes in the Wood with comedy duo Morcombe and Wise at the Empire Theatre, Sheffield at the age of 16.
She made her first television appearance the following year in 1953, in Those Were the Days. She also made appearances on The Dick Emery Show and The Stanley Baxter Show.
In 1960, Millar travelled to New York to understudy Julie Andrews in Camelot. She began her West End career in 1962 as Cloris in Lock Up Your Daughters. In 1969, she played the title role in the musical Ann Veronica, based on H. G. Wells's novel. In 1986, Millar originated the role of Madame Giry in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera. She played the role for four years and her voice appears on the original cast album.
Millar gained acclaim for her part in Keeping Up Appearances as Rose. She replaced Shirley Stelfox from the beginning of series 2 in 1991, as Stelfox had prior commitments to the series Making Out. Millar remained with the programme until its end in 1995.
From 1997 to 1998, Millar played Mrs Potts in the London production of Beauty and the Beast. She also appeared on the cast album. In February 1998, Millar left the show because of deteriorating health.
Personal life, illness and death Millar married photographer Rafael D. Frame in November 1962; the marriage produced one child. Millar was a practising Christian.
In January 1998, Millar was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and underwent chemotherapy. She died on 10 November 1998, aged 62, in Brockley, London, with her husband and daughter at her bedside. Three weeks before her death, when asked what she would do when she arrived at heaven's door, Millar said, "Rehearse for a part in the Angelic choir, darling." An episode of Keeping Up Appearances was broadcast on BBC One the following week and dedicated to her.
Works Television Year Title Role Notes 1953 Those Were the Days 1963, 1964 The Dick Emery Show 1963–71 The Stanley Baxter Show 1967 Titipu Yum-Yum BBC2 production 1968 Iolanthe Phyllis BBC2 production 1970 Rookery Nook Poppy Dickie 1991–95 Keeping Up Appearances Roseseries 2 to series 5
Theatre Year Play Role Theatre Notes 1952, 1954–55 Babes in the Wood Principal character The Empire Theatre, Sheffield (1952) Derby Hippodrome Theatre (1954–55) 1957, 1959 The Desert Song Margot Bonvalet His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen 1967 studio recording 1958–59 Old Chelsea Mary Fenton King's Theatre, Glasgow 1960 Camelot Queen Guenevere Majestic Theatre, Manhattan Julie Andrews' understudy 1962 Lock Up Your Daughters Cloris Mermaid Theatre Her Majesty's Theatre 1963 See You Inside Duchess Theatre 1963–64 All in Love Lydia Languish Mayfair Theatre Based on The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan 1965 Dearest Dracula Lucy Olympia Theatre, Dublin 1966 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Milly 1966 recording 1967–68, 1971 Bless the Bride Richmond Theatre 1967 studio recording 1967 Love From a Stranger Cecily Harrington Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch 1967 Virtue in Danger Berinthia Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch 1968 The Rivals Lydia Languish Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch 1969 The Real Inspector Hound Cynthia Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch 1969 Black Comedy Clea Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch 1969 Ann Veronica Ann Veronica Stanley Cambridge Theatre Cast recording 1970 Spider's Web Clarissa Hailsham-Brown Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch 1972 Popkiss Poppy Dickie Globe Theatre Cambridge Arts Theatre 1973 The Importance of Being Earnest Honourable Gwendolen Fairfax Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch 1975 Small and Brassy King's Head Theatre Wyndham's Theatre 1978 Lark Rise Emma Timms Royal National Theatre 1984 Pack of Lies Barbara Jackson Lyric Theatre, London Replacing Judi Dench 1985, 1993–94 Follies Sally Durant Plummer Forum Theatre, Wythenshawe Brighton Dome Haymarket Theatre 1986–90 The Phantom of the Opera Madame Giry Her Majesty's Theatre Leader of bible studies between shows, cast recording 1993 Jack and the Beanstalk 1995 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs The Wicked Witch 1996 Follies: In Concert National Concert Hall, Dublin 1997–98 Beauty and the Beast Mrs Potts Dominion Theatre Cast recording Pal Joey The King and I Anna Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich The Mating Game An Evening with Mary Millar One-woman showTalking about her Christianity, life and work
References
External links Overview of Mary Millar's career
Mary Millar at the British Film Institute