Anita Dobson, Lady May (born 29 April 1949) is an English actress and singer. She is best known for playing landlady Angie Watts in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from the show's inception in 1985 until 1988. She achieved a top five hit in the UK singles chart in 1986 with "Anyone Can Fall in Love", a vocal version of the theme music of EastEnders, and briefly reprised her role for the show's 40th anniversary in 2025.
Dobson's other television roles include Cath in the 1989 ITV sitcom Split Ends and Mrs Flood, later revealed to be the Rani, in Doctor Who from 2023 to 2025. In 2003, she was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress for the National Theatre production of Frozen. She has also starred in the West End as Mama Morton in the musical Chicago (2003) and Gertrude in Hamlet (2005), making her RSC debut in the 2012 revival of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Her film appearances include Darkness Falls (1999) and London Road (2015).
Early life Dobson was born 29 April 1949 in Stepney, London. She trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Career Dobson appeared in several series in the early 1980s including the Jim Davidson sitcom Up the Elephant and Round the Castle (1983). She is best known for playing the emotionally battered and alcoholic landlady Angie Watts in BBC1 soap opera EastEnders, a role she played from the show's inception in 1985 until 1988. Dobson worked closely with actor Leslie Grantham, who played her adulterous husband 'Dirty Den Watts', landlord of the Queen Vic. On Christmas Day 1986, 30.15 million viewers tuned in to witness Den handing Angie divorce papers. After Dobson left EastEnders in 1988, BBC executives made numerous offers for her to return, but she did not accept any of them; she later commented: "Why tarnish the gorgeous creation that was Angie Watts?"
Dobson reprised her role for EastEnders 40th anniversary, making a surprise one-off appearance as Sharon's hallucination in an episode broadcast on 19 February 2025.
Other roles Dobson appeared in Red Dwarf (1993), and her own sitcom series Split Ends (1989). She has also made guest appearances in the BBC dramas Dangerfield (1995), Ghosts (1995), Sunburn (1999), and Hotel Babylon (2007), and the ITV detective series The Last Detective (2004) among others, along with the films Sweet Revenge (1998), and Darkness Falls (1999). She was also reunited with fellow EastEnders star Leslie Grantham in a Sky production called The Stretch, and Five's horror series Urban Gothic (2000).
Dobson guest starred in the ITV1 police drama The Bill in 2005, and appeared in the radio Doctor Who serial Blood of the Daleks. Dobson has also played five different guest characters in the BBC medical drama Casualty, appearing in episodes in October 2000, July 2009, July 2011, March 2013 and October 2017; she also had two guest roles in Casualtys sister series, Holby City, in September 2003 and December 2014 respectively. Dobson featured in the film London Road (2015), and appeared alongside Simon Callow in the Gold comedy series The Rebel (2016-2017).
On 20 January 2023, it was announced that Dobson would be guest starring in the fourteenth series of Doctor Who as the mysterious Mrs Flood. The episode was broadcast on Christmas Day 2023.Radio Times 23 December 2023 – 5 January 2024 On 27 April 2023, Dobson appeared in an episode of the BBC series Inside No. 9, "Mother's Ruin", as Frances. She returned as Mrs Flood in Doctor Who for multiple episodes in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, and in the episode "The Interstellar Song Contest" it was revealed that Mrs Flood was an incarnation of Doctor Who villain the Rani.
Musical and stage career Dobson has also performed as a singer, with varying degrees of chart success. In August 1986 she reached No. 4 in the UK singles chart with "Anyone Can Fall in Love", a song based on the theme music of EastEnders, which was written by Simon May. The song was produced by Queen guitarist Brian May, who later became her husband. She has also released several other singles and albums with minor chart success.
On stage, Dobson has starred in repertory at Salisbury Playhouse in Shaw's Pygmalion in 1980; the 1981 Ray Davies/Barrie Keeffe musical Chorus Girls at the Theatre Royal Stratford East; and as Hazel Fletcher in the short-lived musical Budgie with Adam Faith in the West End in 1988. She appeared in a revival of the Tom Stoppard play Rough Crossing and played a holocaust survivor in My Lovely Shayna Maidel. She also played Mama Morton in the West End musical Chicago.
Dobson played the role of Gertrude in the English Touring Theatre production of Hamlet, at the New Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End, following a UK tour in the autumn of 2005.
In 2012, Dobson played the role of Mistress Quickly in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of The Merry Wives of Windsor.
From September 2016 to January 2017, Dobson appeared as Madame Morrible in the musical Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London.
In May and June 2018, Dobson starred in Katy Brand's new comedy-drama 3 Women at the Trafalgar Theatre, playing the role of Eleanor alongside Debbie Chazen and Maisie Richardson-Sellers.
In June 2019, Dobson joined Trevor Nunn's West End revival of Fiddler on the Roof at the Playhouse Theatre, playing the role of Yente, alongside Maria Friedman taking on the role of Golde, until the production's closure in November 2019.
Strictly Come Dancing On 6 September 2011, it was announced that Dobson would take part in the 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing. In the launch show of the ninth series on 10 September 2011, it was revealed that she would be partnered by Robin Windsor. She was eliminated on 27 November 2011 after Windsor had been unable to dance for a week due to an injury. Dobson therefore rehearsed and danced the Cha Cha Cha and the Swingathon with Brendan Cole.
Week # Dance/song Judges' score ResultHorwoodGoodmanDixonTonioliTotal1Waltz / Three Times a Lady—Commodores777728N/A2Salsa / Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)—Harry Belafonte777728Safe3Jive / You Can't Stop the Beat—from Hairspray677727Safe4American Smooth / I've Got You Under My Skin—Frank Sinatra888832Safe5Tango / Devil Woman—Cliff Richard788831Safe6Charleston / I Got Rhythm—George Gershwin78* 8831Safe7Argentine tango / Tango—from Cirque du Soleil798933Bottom two8Samba / Come On Eileen—Dexys Midnight Runners677727Safe9Cha Cha Cha / Uptown Girl—Billy Joel787830EliminatedSwing Marathon / Chattanooga Choo Choo 2 out of 7
In Week 6 Jennifer Grey guest judged for Goodman.
Awards For her time on EastEnders as Angie Watts, Dobson received the Pye Award for Outstanding Female Personality.
In 2003, Dobson was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for her performance in Frozen at the Royal National Theatre.
In 2007, Dobson was made a Companion of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
Dobson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2025 Birthday Honours for services to charitable fundraising and to philanthropy.
Personal life Dobson married Brian May on 18 November 2000. They had first met in 1986 when May was married to his first wife. She is a patron of The Match Girls' Memorial of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America, and the Focus Foundation.
Filmography Film +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released Year Title Role Notes1994 Beyond Bedlam Judith Seaview Knights The Blind Concierge 1998 The Revengers’ Comedies Daphne Teal The Tichborne Claimant Fanny Loder 1999 Darkness Falls Mrs. Hayter 2004 Charlie Mrs. Richardson Senior 2015 Solitary Nurse Mary The Rise of the Krays Madge London Road June 2016 The Fall of the Krays Madge 2018 The Fight Gene Dunn 2022 Tomorrow Morning Karen 2023 Christmas at the Holly Day Inn Molly Hennings 2024 This Time Next Year Ms. Mentis 2025 3 Wishes for Christmas CarolineTBAJeb: The Fame and Fury The NarratorPost-production
Television +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released Year Title Role Notes 1978 Leave Him to Heaven Roxanne TV film 1978-1981 Play Away co-presenter 24 episodes 1981 Nanny Dorothy Episode: "Innocent Party" 1983 Partners in Crime Esther Quant Episode: "The House of Lurking Death" 1983–1984 Up the Elephant and Round the Castle Lois Tight 3 episodes 1985–1988, 2025 EastEnders Angie Watts Regular role; 275 episodes 1989 Split Ends Cath 6 episodes 1990 The World of Eddie Weary Roxanne TV film 1993 Red Dwarf Captain Tau Episode: "Psirens" Rab C. Nesbitt Cath Episode: "Rich" Woof! Mrs. Fuller 2 episodes Sean's Show Betty Episode: #2.6 1994 Smokescreen Gertie 5 episodes The Fireboy Mum TV film 1995 Ghosts Suzi Rudkin Episode: "I'll Be Watching You" Go Back Out Mum TV film Dangerfield Miriam Lampeter Episode: "The Body in the Quarry" 1996 The Famous Five Mrs. Stick Episode: "Five Run Away Together"1997 New Voices Ellen Episode: "Enough Excitement" Highlander Molly Kingsley Episode: "Diplomatic Immunity" Get Well Soon Mrs. Ivy Osbourne 4 episodes The Bill Jane Elliot Episode: "Has Anybody Here Seen Bigmouth?"1999 Sunburn Joyce Potts Episode: #1.6 Junk Mrs. Lawson TV film2000 Hearts and Bones Donna Slaney Episode: "Slipping Through My Fingers" Urban Gothic Fenella Episode: "Pineapple Chunks" Casualty Elaine Carrington Episode: "Choked: Part 2" The Stretch Sam Greene TV film Daddyfox Joanne 2002 NCS: Manhunt Jean Harris 2 Episodes Fun at the Funeral Parlour Fernando Episode: "Dog Dago Afternoon" This is Your Life Herself Guest of Honour2003 Doctors Elizabeth Prior Episode: "Truth Or Dare" Holby City Lynn Spencer Episode: "Love Nor Money" 2004 The Last Detective Ruth Leyman Episode: "Christine" 2005 New Tricks Elaine Wanless Episode: "A Delicate Touch" The Bill Lynn Hunter Episode: "Dangerous Relationships" 2008 Hotel Babylon Lady Amelia Hamilton Episode: #3.2 2009 Casualty Cora Episode: "Ask Me No Questions" 2009–2011 Gigglebiz Annette/ Voiceover 2 Series2010 Mission Green Santa Mrs. Santa All 10 episodes Little Crackers Nan Episode: "My First Nativity"2011 Casualty Rachel Lan Episode: "Pascal's Wager" Coming Up Maggie Episode: "Hooked" 2012 Sadie J Nan Bet Episode: "Kissalicious"2013 Casualty Ruth Boswell Episode: "And the Walls Come Tumbling Down" Moving On Kate Marr Episode: "The Value" 2014 Holby City Betty Stern Episode: "Star of Wonder" 2015 Pompidou Sally Episode: "The Date" 2016–2017 The Rebel Margaret All 9 episodes 2016 Doctors Edwina Herriot 2 episodes2017 Casualty Naomi Danes Episode: "Mrs Beauchamp's Powder" Call the Midwife Mabel Tillerson Episode: "Christmas Special" 2018 Torvill & Dean Miss Perry TV film 2018–2019 The Worst Witch Mirabelle Hubble 3 episodes 2021 The Long Call Grace Stephenson All 4 episodes 2022 Andy and the Band Auntie Shona Episode: "Boo! Who?" Dodger Bertha Plummer Episode: "Christmas"2023 Inside No. 9 Frances Episode: "Mother's Ruin" Murder, They Hope Bella Episode: "Blood Actually"2023–2025 Doctor Who Mrs. Flood/The Rani 12 episodes2024 Curfew Janet All 6 episodes Generation Z Janine All 6 episodes 2025 Father Brown Eunice Lytton Episode: "The Deserving Poor" Play for Today Cynthia Jackson Episode: "Never Too Late"
Theatre credits