Question from Paul: Having worked with Lynda La Plante on a number of productions, would you like to again?
Ann Mitchell: Any time, any where, any place. She's very professional, she has very high standards, but she's very passionate. It's lovely to work with her.
Question from Munazza Anwar: Who is your inspiration?
Ann Mitchell: I would say my mother, my grandmother and my auntie. I think I always wanted to bear witness and I felt very strongly about putting that kind of strength on the screen. I wanted to present the complexity of working class women and not be a stereotype.
Question from Stephie: What was your big break in your acting career, would you say?
Ann Mitchell: It was Widows, definitely. That was my big break as far as TV was concerned. I was a known actor in theatre but that was my big break in TV. The award we won for the programme seemed like a dream at the time. We had no idea there was going to be a second series when we did the first one. It came from the public writing to Lynda.
Question from Joe Wheeler: Might you join any other soaps in the future?
Ann Mitchell: I'm sure I would. Depends on the role really though.
Question from David Stirling: Is it weird to be a part of a show which is really well known?
Ann Mitchell: No because everybody made me incredibly welcome. Anything that I've guested in, I've always found the regular actors like that.
Question from Belle: What was your favourite scene with Roy?
Ann Mitchell: The one in the park, when we were walking by the river. It had to be cut!
Question from Mark Robertson: Do people call you Dolly when they meet you in the street?
Ann Mitchell: They used to, many years ago, when it first came out. That doesn't happen now. It was great at the time. I've never had a problem though. People have always been so kind and enthusiastic about the character.
Question from Glitter Queen: What do you like best, friendly or evil characters?
Ann Mitchell: It's much more difficult to play a character like Jane, which is in some sense goodness, much less rewarding than playing a wicked woman. I like playing wicked women. Dolly was very complex. She was outside the normal standards of morality but she had her own very high personal standards, but she was very manipulative.
Question from Deepun Patel: Ann, what was the drama school you went to?
Ann Mitchell: I was the first scholarship to the East 15 Acting School. It started in the 60's to challenge the established schools, like RADA. It had a whole new approach to acting, like the method acting.
Question from Rach Merriman: I am studying the techniques of Stanivlaski. I was wondering if you have used his methods in any of your roles?
Ann Mitchell: All the time, in everything I have ever done. I certainly use them all the time. As you get more experienced, you bring in other methods and information as well.
Question from Lee Butler: Your performances are always sublime. Why do you not get cast more and are good parts hard to come by these days?
Ann Mitchell: It's interesting. I think after Widows there was a difficulty around me. People didn't quite know how to cast me. I think now there is a poverty of good strong parts for women, certainly in my age group. It would be very different if Widows was to be done today.
Question from Robbie Chapman: Who are you gonna miss from the EastEnders crew the most?
Ann Mitchell: I did have a lot of time with Mo, Kat and Roy of course. And Nathan.
Question from Bec Louise: What film would you like to be in and why would you like to be in it?
Ann Mitchell: I'm not the right age now, but I loved the 40s Film Noir. I liked very much The Way We Were. Again that was a very complicated story and again a strong woman. I'd love to work with Ewan, play Ewan's Mum.
BBC Host: Here's Ann with a final word.
Ann Mitchell: I enjoyed tonight. I also felt a little bit sad about Jane as I was a part of something. I had a very good time on EastEnders.
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