CULTURE

MAKING A SCENE

Frances Barber chats about her latest outrageous role, trying a bit of Botox and her famous friends

Although she has worked in theatre, TV and film for almost 50 years, Frances Barber is still amazed when a new role comes her way. “I used to lament that I would never be cast as Juliet because I wasn’t the blonde pretty girl,” says the actress, who has portrayed the likes of Eliza in Pygmalion and Lady Macbeth.

“But I think it’s worked in my favour because I’ve got to play all different kinds of characters. I’m lucky that I haven’t been pigeonholed.”

Indeed, Frances, 67, has taken on an impressive range of projects, from classical theatre to TV series such as Doctor Who and Whitstable Pearl, and films including Prick Up Your Ears and Sammy and Rosie Get Laid.

Despite her extensive list of credits, there is one role that Frances still wishes she had landed. “I was disappointed that I wasn’t in Peaky Blinders, because I’m from Wolverhampton,” she says. “But Helen McCrory was sensational and it was one of my favourite things ever. They did a brilliant job.”