Di Botcher

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Di Botcher
Born (1959-06-02) 2 June 1959 (age 64)
Port Talbot, Wales
OccupationActress

Di Botcher is a Welsh actress born in Taibach in Port Talbot[1] on 2 June 1959. She has appeared in film and television and on stage in plays and musicals since the 1980s. She starred in several British television sitcoms and dramas, including Sky comedy drama Stella, BBC comedies Little Britain and Tittybangbang and ITV period drama Downton Abbey.

In 2018, she joined Casualty as Jan Jennings.

Early life

Botcher was born on 2 June 1959 in Taibach, Port Talbot, Glamorgan, in Wales, one of two children to parents Bernard and Glenys Botcher. She read English and drama at Warwick University,[1] and after graduating, trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art drama school in London,[2][3] then obtained an Equity card in the 1980s.

Career

Throughout her long career on stage and screen, Botcher has been receiving warm reviews. In a performance of the musical Blood Brothers with the Sherman Theatre Company in 1986, Botcher's performance as the "warm-hearted mum" was singled out by a reviewer as one of the good points in a production which needed "beefing up".[4] Of Black Milk (2003), a reviewer wrote, "In a strong cast, Di Botcher is a beacon."[5] Her performance in the 2017/18 revival of Follies was universally appreciated[6] - "magical";[7] a "stunner of a set piece";[8] "wonderful".[9] On screen, Di Botcher is best known as Aunty Brenda in Stella, and, from 2018, as Jan Jennings, the Operational Duty Manager, in Casualty.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Twin Town Jean Lewis
2002 All or Nothing Supervisor Cameo role
Ant Muzak Diana Fluck the Checkout Assistant Short film
2008 Albert's Speech Gloria Short film
2011 Hunky Dory Viv's mum
2012 The Gospel of Us The Mother Set in Botcher's birthplace
2013 Svengali Mrs Cooper
One Chance Nurse Cameo role
2015 Under Milk Wood Mrs Dai Bread Two

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Screen Two Officer Kyle Season 2, Episode 2
1987 The District Nurse Eirlys Prosser Season 3, Episode 6
1993-1997 The Bill Mrs. Oakes/Mrs. Edwards 2 episodes
1997 Harpur and Iles Jane Mellick TV Movie
1999 Sunburn Wendy's mum Season 1, Episode 3
Kavanagh QC Tilly Burgess Season 5, Episode 2
Rhinoceros Megan Jones TV Movie
2001 Fun at the Funeral Parlour Edith Season 1, Episode 4
People Like Us Frances Churchfield Season 2, Episode 6
The Armando Iannucci Shows Tinaturnerogram 2 episodes
'Orrible Di Clark Recurring character
2002 Casualty Louise Templeton Season 16, Episode 26
Tipping the Velvet Woman with Cigar 2 episodes
Cruise of the Gods Mrs. Hatcher TV Movie
2002-2008 High Hopes Mrs. Coles Recurring character; 20 episodes
2003-2005 Little Britain Marion/Meals on Wheels Lady 6 episodes
2003-2009 Belonging Vanessa Recurring character
2004 Green Wing Catering Manager Season 1, Episode 3
2005 All About George Dorothy Mickens Episode 1
The Thick of It Pauline McKendrick, Piss Woman Season 2, Episode 1
Bleak House Mrs. Woodcourt 2 episodes
2006-2007 Tittybangbang Various characters 5 episodes
2006-2008 Pulling Margaret Recurring character
2007 Ideal Nicki's mum Voice only
Hotel Babylon Myra Walmesley Season 2, Episode 8
Murphy's Law Brothel Madam 2 episodes
After You've Gone Sheila Season 2, Episode 5
2008 Coming of Age Ollie's mum Season 1, Episode 5
Dustbin Baby Pat TV movie
2008-2009 Katy Brand's Big Ass Show Various characters 5 episodes
2008-2012 Doctors Sharon Bretherton/Linda Bolton/Dorit Simpson 3 episodes
2009 No Signal! Various characters Season 1, Episode 9
Collision Mrs. Whitfield 2 episodes
2010 Lennon Naked Dot TV movie
Sherlock Connie Prince Season 1, Episode 3
Coming Up Bernadette Season 8, Episode 4
2011 Come Fly with Me Mrs. Talbot Episode 2
Shirley Mrs. Morrison TV movie about Dame Shirley Bassey
DCI Banks Grace Season 2, Episode 3
2012 Mr Stink Woman with Question TV movie
2013 Downton Abbey Nanny West Season 4, Episode 1
2013-2017 Stella Aunty Brenda Regular character
2014 Inside No. 9 Jean Episode 5
Under Milk Wood Mrs. Dai Bread One TV movie
2015 Coronation Street Debbie Allinson 2 episodes
"Top Coppers" Sandra
High Hopes Mrs Coles
2018- Casualty Jan Jenning Regular character

Selected Stage performances

Year Title Theatre Role
2017-2018 Follies[10] National Theatre Hattie Walker
1997 Cardiff East[11] Vera, Marge and Dolly's friend[12][13]
1995-1996 A Little Night Music[10] Mrs Anderssen[12]
1993-1994 Sweeney Todd[11] Ensemble[12]
2010-2011 A Flea in Her Ear[11] Old Vic Olympe[14]
2009 Chicago[11] Cambridge Theatre prison matron[15]
2003 Black Milk[11][5] Royal Court Auntie Pasha[16]
2000 Flesh and Blood[11] Hampstead Theatre Marge[17]
1997 Beauty and the Beast[10] Dominion Theatre Madame de la Grande Bouche
1990 Sunday in the Park with George[10] London Revival
  • Frieda (Act One)
  • Elaine (Act Two)
1986 Blood Brothers[4] Sherman Theatre Mother
1986 Richard III[18] Royal Shakespeare Company at the Adelaide Festival Theatre Lady of the court
2003 Terrorism[19] Royal Court Old biddy
Cats[14] New London Grizabella
1995 Under Milk Wood[3] National Theatre Miss Price; Mrs Beynon[12]
1986-1987 A Midsummer Night's Dream[3] Royal Shakespeare Company Titania[20]
1987 Speculators[3] Carol Cutter[12]
1999 Card Boys[3] Bush Theatre Iris[21]
2010 If So, Then Yes[3] Jermyn Street Theatre Welsh charlady[22][23]
2009 A History Of Falling Things[3] Theatr Clwyd Mum
2004 Les Misérables[3] Copenhagen Madame Thenardier[24]

References

  1. ^ a b Wightwick, Abbie (24 April 2016). "Stella actress Di Botcher remembers her first job at Port Talbot steelworks". Wales Online. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Di Botcher". National Theatre. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Michael Sheen Leads THE PASSION for National Theatre Wales & WildWorks in April". Broadway World. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b Adams, David (14 February 1986). "Cardiff: Blood Brothers". The Guardian: 18 (lower middle). Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  5. ^ a b Clapp, Susannah (9 February 2003). "Toasters and shysters - Theatre". The Observer Review: 11. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  6. ^ Wolf, Matt (8 September 2017). "Sondheim's 'Follies' Is Back, at Once Bleak and Beautiful". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  7. ^ Taylor, Paul (7 September 2017). "Follies, National Theatre, London, review: It's jaw-droppingly great". Independent. London. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  8. ^ Bano, Tim (7 September 2017). "Follies review at the National Theatre, London – 'not just triumphant, but transcendent'". The Stage. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  9. ^ Kellaway, Kate (10 September 2017). "Follies review – a stupendous Sondheim revival". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d "Di Botcher Broadway and Theatre Credits". Broadway World. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Di Botcher Announced As Special Guest Performer At The West End Gala Of The 12th Annual Stephen Sondheim Society". Broadway World. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Di Botcher". Theatricalia. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Cardiff East". Peter Gill, playwright and theatre director. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Full Cast Announced For Old Vic's A FLEA IN HER EAR". Broadway World. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  15. ^ Koenig, Rhoda (21 July 2009). "Review: Chicago, Cambridge Theatre, London". Independent. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  16. ^ Wolf, Matt (13 February 2003). "Review: Black Milk". Variety. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  17. ^ Tocher, Willie. "Review: Flesh , Blood/ Mike Peters Birthday Review". The Alarm. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  18. ^ Sher, Anthony (16 August 1986). "Dirty Dick Down Under". The Age Saturday Extra. Melbourne, Australia: 1, 10. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  19. ^ Billington, Michael (15 March 2003). "Reviews: The funny side of terror - Theatre: Terrorism". The Guardian: 18. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  20. ^ "A Midsummer Night's Dream RSC Staging History 1960-2007". Macmillan International. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  21. ^ "Review: Card Boys". Variety. 2 April 1999. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  22. ^ Thaxter, John (10 September 2010). "If So, Then Yes review at Jermyn Street London". The Stage. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  23. ^ Sierz, Aleks (9 September 2010). "If So, Then Yes, Jermyn Street Theatre First play in 30 years from the legendary absurdist N F Simpson". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  24. ^ "Les Misérables". Whose is that face in the shadows?. Retrieved 28 October 2018.

External links


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