June Brown Has Created a British Institution That's 100% Cotton
by Tim Wilson
BOREHAMWOOD, U.K.-All right, let me state this upfront. Meeting and interviewing June Brown ("Dot Cotton") has been, without a doubt, a highlight of my life-and I am no longer a young man.
"Dot" has always been my favourite EastEnders character and June has been one of my favourite actresses PERIOD in any medium. I've admired her work for so long.
When we met at the EE studio back in late November I was keenly aware of how privileged I was for this opportunity and was determined to savour the moment. I like to think I did.
We first met very briefly in her dressing room as she was preparing to go on set. There, June was in full "Dot" regalia-that extremely familiar plain brown coat and that plastic rain hat. The infamous umbrella with the duck handle was leaning against June's dressing room table. I could barely contain my excitement.
She beamed broadly at me and remarked that she remembered when we were in correspondence with each other back in 1989 and 1990. I told her I still had the Christmas card she sent. She said she still had the letters I sent-somewhere! She apologised profusely for the "frightful" schedule the show has been putting its actors through to get four episodes of the show a week in the can-as it would hinder our interview time somewhat. She had to go off and do a bit in the Square-where "Dot" is bumped into by some hooligans and she couldn't believe she was being dragged in tonight just for THAT.
I was initially dropped off in the actor's Green Room where actress Lucy Benjamin ("Lisa") was thoroughly enjoying a tape of new Friends episodes I'd brought in for her and Natalie Cassidy ("Sonia").
June popped in briefly to ask if we wanted to meet up after she was done shooting in the actor's smoking room, which was down the hall from the green room. It's a good thing I'm not averse to second-hand smoke-I'd have had serious problems with being cooped up in there for too long.
She finally returned, after around a half-hour, with actor John Bardon ("Jim Branning") in tow. These two are a hysterically funny double act on-screen AND off. Much of the initial repartee between them was about an upcoming charity ball, with John suggesting that she wear a nice blue dress she'd already worn to another event and June shooting back with, "Don't be so daft, Jim, uhhhh, I mean John. Of course, I can't do that, you silly bugger! You can just wear the same suit with a clean shirt but with us ladies it's different. Oh, you can be a right old fool at times."
There was obvious affection underneath the bickering between these two.
June does sound an awful lot like "Dot" in person, but I'm still not sure she was doing it because she liked to stay "in character." In any event, she was thoroughly delightful.
She bid John goodnight and settled down with me to enjoy one of her cherished cigarettes. Since she was still in full "Dot Cotton" drag I had to remind myself not to blur the lines between the two ladies and thus not to ask "Dot Cotton" questions.
June Brown: Oh, finally-away from that set. I thought it would never end, dear. I couldn't believe they had me come in for just that silly little bit. And it might not even make it when the show goes out! (Writer's note: She was right. It didn't!) At least it's Friday and now I can sit here and enjoy me fag!
Walford Gazette: I'd be very disillusioned if you didn't smoke like "Dot" does. When Wendy Richard was in New York she told us all about how the two of you are like a pair of chimneys.
JB: Poor "Dot's" tried to quit, poor thing, but I certainly haven't. Haven't got the willpower, I suppose-at least with this.
WG: I still remember an early episode when Dot was chewing on nicotine gum to cut down on the cravings when she first tried to quit and somebody in the Vic had told her that non-smokers were "anti-social."
JB: (laughs) Oh, that's right! That must have been when "Angie" was behind the bar, bless her.
WG: Yes, and Wendy was in the scene. "Pauline" was asked by "Dot" if she was being anti-social and "Pauline" responded with a weary "Oh, just leave me out of it, Dot, eh?" and walked away.
JB: That sounds like "Pauline," alright. Grumpy thing. And then "Dot" would go around trying to get rid of the smoke in the Vic with that aerosol can, right? Air freshener?
WG: (laughs) Yes-that was so funny.
JB: Hmmmm... the good old days.
WG: I can't let another moment pass without bringing up what I think is one of the funniest things I've ever seen-"Dot" putting on a posh voice to dispatch OzCabs in the cafe.
JB: Shall I do a bit for you? "Oh, OzCab Five, OzCab Five, where is your destination, please? Marylebone Road? Oh, that'll do very nicely. Over and out." I loved that bit.
WG: And so did I and everyone else who saw it. Looking at you, I'm so pleased that with "Dot" very little seems to change...like her wardrobe!
JB: It's called consistency, dear. Yes, that is so true about "Dot." I've had this coat here for 17 years. They always try to get me to wear new things but I graciously but firmly decline. I have a fur coat that "Angie" gave "Dot" when she went to Spain, which was used for a very important recent episode set on board the London Eye-that ferris wheel thing built for the millennium.
WG: I saw that episode-it was very touching. And you looked great!
JB: Well, "Dot" thinks she looks right smart in her wardrobe so there's no need for her to march down to Marks & Spencers or Selfridge's to get herself decked out. There's no need at all. And of course "Dot's" hair never really changes. Everyone always thinks it's a wig but it's not. It's all to do with curlers, dear. Curlers and patience. It takes about three quarters of an hour, which can be very tiresome indeed but I endure it for dear old "Dot."
WG: I don't quite know where to begin with "Dot." She's been in so many great storylines and had such wonderful lines.
JB: My favourite line of all time with "Dot" was "Well, I hope you're satisfied. My Nick's gone and I've come out in a rash." That was to her beloved "Charlie." I was so angry when they decided to kill him off, having him get run over by that lorry. "Dot" and "Charlie" still had so much left to go through together, I thought. But I think it was because they had to come up with a way for "Dot" to once again accept "Nick" into her life after he tried to poison her. Still, I wish they could have waited a bit longer.
WG: If it's alright let's just backtrack a bit-like, to the beginning. Well, the beginning of "Dot," actually.
JB: The first time we saw "Dot" she was standing alongside "Ethel" outside the Vic watching the funeral cortege of poor little "Hassan." I think "Dot" was probably smoking a fag and tetching away to "Ethel." Her character was immediately established as something of a busybody, wasn't she? "Nick's" mother had been talked about right from the very start of the show-she lived in the same block of flats as "Pete," "Kathy" and "Ian Beale" and was always doing the other shift in the laundrette after "Pauline" had gone home to that rowdy bunch of Fowlers.
WG: Hey, hey, hey. "Nick" was no day at the beach.
JB: Now, now, now, I won't hear a word said against my "Nick." He's a good boy-most of the time. (laughs) He's simply a cross she's had to bear. A rather large one, I'm afraid.
WG: At an AOL EastEnders chat I suggested THE CROSSES I HAD TO BEAR as the would-be title of "Dot's" autobiography
JB: Oh, really? How apt. "Dot" hasn't said that in a long time, though. Thank you for reminding me-I must put in one of those bible quotations into one of my scenes with Wendy next week. Well, the character of "Jim Branning" is swiftly becoming one of the crosses Dot must bear. Hmmmm...d'ye mind if we go across the hall for a hot chocolate and then to my dressing room so I can begin the process of getting out of this place?
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