Katherine Florence Dotrice (née Newman; 9 May 1929 – 2 August 2007), known professionally as Kay Newman and Kay Dotrice, was a British stage and screen actress, best known for her roles in the UK TV series '' Crossroads'', the movie '' Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers'', and many repertory performances during the 1950s.

Career

Dotrice began her career performing in revue and

repertory theatre A repertory theatre, also called repertory, rep, true rep or stock, which are also called producing theatres, is a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation. United Kingdom ...

, particularly in the north of England. She played many lead roles, and consistently received positive notices. Reviewing J. Hartley Manners' ''Peg O' My Heart'', one critic wrote "the Chichester family .. members were vividly contrasted

ith The Ith () is a ridge in Germany's Central Uplands which is up to 439 m high. It lies about 40 km southwest of Hanover and, at 22 kilometers, is the longest line of crags in North Germany. Geography Location The Ith is i ...

... Kay Newman, fresh from her success as Emmy in "They Walk Alone", as the resentful Ethel", while another said, "Kay Newman, as the slandered wife, gave an appealing performance". Reviews of Mel Dinelli's ''The Man'' commented "Kay Newman in particular gave an impressive performance. As the frightened and tormented woman who unwittingly hires the services of a homicidal maniac as a house-help, she had a firm grasp on the part", and "Kay Newman reveals strong dramatic powers as in rapid succession she conveys nervous tension ranging from surprise to panic." In

John Van Druten John William Van Druten (1 June 190119 December 1957) was an English playwright and theatre director. He began his career in London, and later moved to America, becoming a U.S. citizen. He was known for his plays of witty and urbane observations ...

's ''Behold We Live'', she "gives a delightful character study as a down-to-earth London housekeeper." In performances on Guernsey of '' Johnny Belinda'', "the leading part of Belinda asa personal triumph for Kay Newman, who played it with charm and restraint."
In 1962, her six-year-old daughter

Karen Dotrice Karen Dotrice ( ; born 9 November 1955) is a British actress. She is known primarily for her role as Jane Banks in Walt Disney's ''Mary Poppins'', the feature film adaptation of the ''Mary Poppins'' book series. Dotrice was born in Guernsey in t ...

was offered a five-year contract by

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney ( ; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer, voice actor, and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the Golden age of American animation, American animation industry, he introduced several develop ...

, and Kay Dotrice spent all her time with her, supporting her and helping her learn her scripts. In 1977, she returned to performing under the name Kay Dotrice, playing the roles of Mrs Darling and Michael in a

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, record label * Decca Gold, classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, musical theater record label * Decca Studios, recording facility in West ...

recording of ''

Peter Pan Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythical ...

''. The following year, she was cast as Mrs Crisp in the long-running ITV series Crossroads, and appeared in twenty-five episodes. In 1984, she appeared as the midwife in the film '' Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers''.

Selected stage performances (as Kay Newman)

Family

Dotrice was the wife of actor Roy Dotrice. They lived for many years in

Shipston-on-Stour Shipston-on-Stour is a town and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon District in southern Warwickshire, England. It is located on the banks of the River Stour, Warwickshire, River Stour, points of the compass, south-southeast of Stratford-up ...

Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Staffordshire and Leicestershire to the north, Northamptonshire to the east, Ox ...

. Their daughters, Karen,

Michele Michele () is an Italian male given name, akin to the English male name Michael. Michele (usually pronounced ), is also an English female given name that is derived from the French Michèle. It is a variant spelling of the more common (and iden ...

and Yvette, have also been actresses.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dotrice, Kay 1929 births 2007 deaths British film actresses British stage actresses British television actresses Shakespearean actresses 21st-century British actresses 20th-century British actresses Kay