Michele Dotrice is an English actress. She played Betty Spencer, the long-suffering wife of Frank Spencer, portrayed by Michael Crawford, in the BBC sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, which ran from 1973 to 1978, and returned in 2016 for a special.
Career Her first significant role was in the 1962 13-part BBC TV adaptation of The Old Curiosity Shop in which she played Nell,The Old Curiosity Shop bbc.co.uk, retrieved 15 October 2017 and she appeared in The Witches for Hammer Films in 1966. In 1970, she had starring roles in the horror thrillers And Soon the DarknessAnd Soon the Darkness tcm.com, retrieved 15 October 2017 and The Blood on Satan's Claw.The Blood on Satan's Claw tcm.com, retrieved 15 October 2017 Her other film appearances include Jane Eyre (1970) with George C. ScottJane Eyre tcm.com, retrieved 15 October 2017 and the 1976 comedy Not Now, Comrade.Not Now, Comrade tcm.com, retrieved 15 October 2017
It was her appearance in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em that made her a household name, and she played the role for five years from 1973.Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em comedy.co.uk, retrieved 15 October 2017Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em bbc.co.uk, retrieved 15 October 2017Lewis, Roz. "Where are they now... ? 'Some Mothers Do ’Ave' ’Em actress Michele Dotrice" Express, 22 October 2016 In 2016, she reprised the role in a one-off special broadcast as part of the Sport Relief charity fundraiser event.
Her other 1970s roles include Felicity in the Jason King episode "Buried in the Cold Cold Ground", and Lady Percy in the BBC productions of Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2 in 1979.
In 1981, she took the leading role in the short-lived sitcom Chintz, which aired on ITV.Chintz comedy.co.uk, retrieved 15 October 2017 In 1986, Dotrice played the role of a new mother whose child was snatched in an episode of The Equalizer along with her future husband Edward Woodward. In the mid-1990s, she appeared for several episodes in the period drama Bramwell. She appeared in the film Captain Jack (1999) with Bob Hoskins. She has made numerous guest appearances in well-known British television series, including Midsomer Murders (1 episode, 1998), Holby City (1 episode, 2002), Murder in Suburbia (as Cindy in series 2, episode 6, 2005), and the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors (2 episodes, 2008 & 2009). In addition, she made a couple of appearances in a 2004 BBC comedy-drama entitled A Thing Called Love, set in Nottingham, which starred Paul Nicholls and Roy Barraclough among others.
In 2012, she toured in The Ladykillers, playing the role of Mrs. Wilberforce.Paton, Maureen. "I'm the luckiest lady alive says Michele Dotrice" Express, 22 October 2012 In 2014, she played Pam Chandler, a suspected murderer, in the last episode of series three of Death in Paradise." 'Death in Paradise', Episode 8" bbc.co.uk, retrieved 15, 2017 In 2015, she played Marion, mother to Christine in the Inside No. 9 episode "The 12 Days of Christine". In 2016, she played Nancy, the faithful dresser and woman of all work to the main character, in the West End production of Nell Gwynn.Billington, Michael. " 'Nell Gwynn' review – Gemma Arterton sparkles in chaotic comedy" The Guardian, 12 February 2016 In 2017, she played Jessie in the stage musical The Girls at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End.Shenton, Mark. " 'The Girls', Musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, to Premiere in West End" Playbill, 16 September 2016
In 2018, she returned to television playing Edna Friendship in A Very English Scandal.
ITV launched their new drama, McDonald & Dodds, in 2020, in which she played Mary Costair in the second episode of series 1. In 2025 she appeared in the Costume Drama The Hardacres.
Personal life Her parents were the actors Roy Dotrice and Kay Dotrice. She has two sisters, including Karen Dotrice.
Dotrice was married to actor Edward Woodward from January 1987 until his death in November 2009.Equalizer Star Dies
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1966 The Witches Valerie Creek 1970 And Soon the Darkness Cathy Jane Eyre Mary Rivers 1971 The Blood on Satan's Claw Margaret 1976 Not Now, Comrade Nancy Rimmington 1999 Captain Jack Deirdre 2015 The Importance of Being Earnest LIVE Miss Prism 2016 Starfish Jean The Lock-in Posh Woman Short film2020 Blithe Spirit Edna
Television Year Title Role Notes1961 The Treasure Seekers Princess Episode 3: "Held to Ransom" Operation Fantail Susan Forest Television films Vice Versa Dulcie Grimstone Adventure to Order Sandra1961–1962 Signpost Schoolgirl 8 episodes1962 BBC Sunday-Night Play Barbara Cahoun Series 3; episode 19: "The Happiest Days of Your Life" Daff Series 3; episode 31: "To Whom It May Concern" The Father Bertha Television film Katy Clover Carr All 8 episodes1962–1963 The Old Curiosity Shop Nell Trent All 13 episodes1965 Love Story Jill Allen Series 3; episode 19: "The Sad Smile of the Mona Lisa"1966 Thirteen Against Fate Sonia Episode 13: "The Consul" Out of the Unknown R.747 Series 2; episode 4: "Level Seven"Theatre 625 Vera Alexandrovna Series 3; episode 24: "A Month in the Country" Thérèse Series 4; episode 7: "Amerika" ITV Play of the Week Julie Series 12; episode 17: "Julie's Gone"1967 Tess Cosgrove Series 12; episode 18: "On the Island" Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Vicky Heald/Crabbe 6 episodes Les Misérables Fantine Episodes 2–41968 Late Night Horror Phrynne Banstead Episode 5: "The Bells of Hell" Middlemarch Dorothea Mini-series; all 7 episodes The Wednesday Play Emma Series 8; episode 13: "On the Eve of Publication"1969 ITV Sunday Night Theatre Jane Series 1; episode 18: "Toys"1970 BBC Play of the Month Irina Series 5; episode 4: "The Three Sisters" The Wednesday Play Emma Series 9; episode 24: "Emma's Time"1971 Jason King Felicity Episode 3: "Buried in the Cold Cold Ground" The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Mary Hisgins Series 1; episode 5: "The Horse of the Invisible"1972 The Sextet Ange Episode 1: "The Gregorian Chant" Vickie Episode 2: "Night Duty" Maggie Firebrace Episode 3: "A Question of Degree" Veronica Sands Episode 4: "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" Barbara Episode 5: "Stoker Leishman's Diaries" Marion Episode 6: "Stanley's Style " Paula Lelliot Episode 7: "Disappearing Trick" Claire Ramsdale Episode 8: "Blur and Blank via Cleckheaton"1973 Menace Sharon Series 2; episode 8: "Comfortable Words"1973–1978 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Betty Spencer Series 1–3; all 22 episodes1974 Zodiac Julie Prentiss Episode 6: "The Horns of the Moon" ITV Playhouse Frances Series 7; episode 11: "A Kind of Bonus"1976 The Morecambe and Wise Show Herself / Constance Series 9; episode 2 1977 I'm Bob, He's Dickie Various Episode 1 BBC Play of the Month Catherine Winslow Series 12; episode 4: "The Winslow Boy"1979 Morecambe and Wise at the BBC Various Episode: 7 February 1979 BBC Television Shakespeare Lady Percy Henry IV, Part I and Henry IV, Part II. Television films1981 Chintz Kate Carter All 7 episodes 1986 The Equalizer Vanessa Daniels Episode: "Heartstrings" 1988 Boon Nikki Series 3; episode 8: "Peacemaker"1995 Bramwell Lady Cora Peters Series 1; episodes 1–4 & 61997 Q.E.D. Anna Peters Episode: "Cause of Death"1998 Midsomer Murders Felicity Buckley Series 1; episode 4: "Faithful unto Death" Vanity Fair Mrs. Sedley Episodes 1–52000 The Mrs Bradley Mysteries Amy Parkin Episode 3: "Laurels Are Poison"2001 The Way We Live Now Mrs. Pipkin Mini-series; episodes 1, 3 & 42002 Holby City Shirley Butler Series 5; episode 10: "Leopard Spots"2004 A Thing Called Love Barbara Hopewell Episodes 4 & 6: "Hooked on a Feeling" and "Love Hurts"2005 Murder in Suburbia Cindy Series 2; episode 6: "Golden Oldies"2008 Doctors Eileen Mullins Series 10; episode 11: "A Pain in the..."2009 Jane Shields Series 11; episode 98: "Hello, Hello, Hello"2010 Agatha Christie's Marple Mrs. Hubbard Series 5; episode 4: "The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side"2014 Death in Paradise Pam Chandler Series 3; episode 8: "Rue Morgue" Big School Rita Gunn Series 2; episode 62015 Inside No. 9 Marion Series 2; episode 2: "The 12 Days of Christine"2016 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em: Special Betty Spencer Sport Relief Special2018 Grandpa's Great Escape Miss Trifle Television film A Very English Scandal Edna Friendship Mini-series; episodes 2 & 32019 A Very British Christmas Sandra Television film. (aka A Very Yorkshire Christmas)2020 McDonald & Dodds Mary Costair Series 1; episode 2: "A Wilderness of Mirrors"2021 The Cockfields Lyn Series 2; 4 episodes2022 The Royal Mob Queen Victoria Episodes 1–32024 Inside No. 9 Party Guest Series 9; episode 6: "Plodding On"2025 Unforgotten Dot Barnes Series 6; episodes 1–4 & 62026The HardacresLady Imelda Hansen
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