Ask June Brown transcript
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| This event took place Thursday 14th February, 2002 |
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June Brown
The wonderful Dot Cotton, aka June Brown, joined us for a Live Chat.
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Question from Doreen Robinson: Hi June, really love you in the show, how did you enjoy filming tonight's episode?
June Brown: I did enjoy it, I didn't think I would because it was a bit vulgar with all that viagra stuff! We had a wonderful director, Phillip Casson, as you noticed I'm sure.
Question from Michelle: What do you enjoy the most about playing Dot?
June Brown: I don't know if I do dear, I think I've been doing it too long! I enjoy the comedy. I like the fact that she's amusing. She's not dreadfully funny but she's amusing and I like that because it lightens it up a bit.
Question from Jamie Turner: June, is EastEnders still the same as it was back all those years ago and what has changed? Also, what would you change?
June Brown: Course it isn't the same! We only did two episodes a week, we all rehearsed together, so we just sat in the green room and talked. We used to film on a Wednesday and Thursday. Now we don't know where we are now, we're all over the place. Chaos has come again!
Question from Debbie Freeman: Dot has surprised us on a number of occasions with stories about her life. Does she have any more secrets to tell?
June Brown: I don't think so, I think you've heard them all. She's had an abortion which was very surprising ... she was very sympathetic with Michelle when she was going to have one. I think you've had Dot's life story. If you saw the two hander with Ethel, you would have found out a lot more about both characters. You never know though, they do come up with people.
Question from Ant Jones: What do you think about Alistair McGowan's impersonation of Dot Cotton?
June Brown: It's wicked isn't it, in the nicest sense of the word. John Altman met him and told me to send him a card. I did and I told him I was doing him doing me! I start doing the thing with my neck and stuff. It's great.
Question from Sarah: I am a big fan of EastEnders and I just wondered what is it like having your character Dot, getting wed to Jim?
June Brown: Neither of us were sure it was a good idea as when people get married on screen, they get boring. We weren't too sure of it. Then they persuaded us, we shouldn't have been persuaded really as she's not called Dorothy Cotton any more! I suddenly thought, maybe it's a good thing. With Dot losing her grandson, I thought that was a dangerous thing to do to Dot. If you lose a grandson it would have changed a person. The only way she would get over it would be to have someone else to care for and when it happened there was nobody. With marrying Jim she gets a family - that's what persuaded me. That house will become a house again - it will have a central point, they will be able to use the house as a central point, as Dot will be there.
Question from Simon Hughes: June, fantastic performance tonight, you are a legend. What do you think of your choice of husband?
June Brown: I think he's awful! He's been known to be a thief, he's not very truthful and he drinks! I think he's kind though he's an older Charlie really.
Question from Kirsty: How did working on Gormenghast compare to EastEnders?
June Brown: Different thing altogether. With Gormenghast, I had a car sent for me. When I got there the door opened and a runner took me to the dressing room and brought me the menu. It was like first class television, it was great. Everybody liked each other, we used to laugh a lot. Funny story with Gormenghast, I had the big hat on so I couldn't get in a car, unless it had an open roof! We filmed it on a lot of stages at Shepperton. The library had gone on fire so there was lots of smoke - I was by the door. I got myself with this hat and I couldn't get up again. I was there for an hour! Suddenly I began to laugh and the director called out to me, it was like play acting. I loved it! The BBC were wonderful about it though, they arranged it so that I could do EastEnders and then to do Gormenghast. They were very good to me so I went from one to the other. Perhaps there will be something else like that soon. I want to play a proper lady!
Question from Jackie Callaghan: How many fags do you smoke a day?
June Brown: I don't count. If you don't know how many you smoke it doesn't worry you. It's like going to bed late - as long as you don't look at the clock it doesn't matter. That's what I do. If I actually have two hours sleep I may think I have much more. I have been smoking since I was 17. If you're young, don't smoke as it ruins your gums. I would advise you, only because of your gums, don't smoke or you'll get horses teeth!
Question from Louise Harding: Did you get any Valentines cards today?
June Brown: I don't think I did. I don't bother about birthdays, valentines cards, none of those things matter to me very much.
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