Question from Charlotte Hills: If you could change anything about Dot what would it be?
June Brown: Her hairstyle I think! I've got one side longer than the other at the moment as I hacked at it a little while ago. I was going to the hairdressers tonight before I came here but because of the traffic I didn't get chance. In a few weeks, you'll see Dot with a new hairstyle - I won't tell you what happens because it will spoil it! She has a lovely hairstyle. Write and tell me what you think.
Question from Mark J: Hi June. Dot originally left in 1993, what made you want to return in 1997?
June Brown: I didn't go back for Dot or EastEnders, I went back because I was going to do another series so I thought I'd raise my profile! They ended up putting that series off. I said to the producer I enjoyed myself, so I said I'd come back in four months, as that's how far ahead they were. I had to go back for a year so they could do something with the character, and I've been there ever since!
Question from Libby: Are there any circumstances that Dot would allow Nick back into her life, e.g. if he returned with a new grandchild?
June Brown: It's about time he got married isn't it. Even Ashley was born out of wedlock. I think the thing about Dot was that she always used to forgive him. I had a letter from a girl who said she wanted to come and live with me when she grew up. Dot hasn't been too nice to him since. I think she probably would forgive him.
Question from Chris Dean: I thought the Dot and Ethel two hander was amazing. It was so well acted and such a test of Dot. Do you miss Ethel?
June Brown: Thank you. Brilliantly written ... I'm terrible and I always want to change things. They're very kind and let me do it sometimes, but that was so wonderfully written you didn't want to change a word of it. He was wonderful.
Question from Ed Harker: How did you get into acting and why?
June Brown: It was an accident - my whole life has been chance. I wanted to be an osteopath. I want to go and study to do that and my father said he wasn't paying for me to be an osteopath because I was only a girl and I'd only go and get married! I thought I'd try and do it at school. I tried to do physics and chemistry for three years ... I found it all too much and joined the Wrens. I did a play in that and I thought that was lovely and I was extremely serious about it. That whetted my appetite for acting!
Question from Quizzy: The night Ethel died I cried my eyes out. How did you feel when you went home after filming that episode?
June Brown: For anybody that's in pain or is a vegetable, I think it's a good idea. I'm going to make a living will I think. Because I'm an actor, it didn't really bother me too much but I knew I was going to miss Gretchen. I had to adhere to the script during those scenes. We had a wonderful rapport which you don't usually have with another actor or actress and I enjoyed that. I know she'll be in bed now and not on the internet though. I do miss Ethel, it was great with Dot and Ethel. They did try and stop us working together at one time, but the producer changed and it all went back to where it started.
Question from Jeff: Do you have any input into how you are asked to portray Dot?
June Brown: They're very good to me and they trust me. There are actors that say they don't want to do that, but they mean they don't want to, not the character. But if I say Dot won't do that, they recognise that I'm not talking about June, but Dot. I was upset about the wedding episode and I'm glad that it's come out as delicate - I didn't want it to end up crude, which it didn't. 'I am a gay acorn, whatever that means' - I came up with that line!
Question from Catherine: Why do you think Dot appeals to young and old?
June Brown: I think that it's because a lot of people know a Dot. People write to me and say their Aunt or Mum or somebody they know are like Dot. I think she's universal, fortunately. When I was given this character, I just had a list of illnesses she had. It meant she was a hypercondriac because she had nobody to care about her. She was quite a selfish woman. I do miss Dr Legg, I miss him. It's great to have a doctor in the square.
Question from Thomas, Cornwall: Which would you say is your favourite storyline since starting EastEnders?
June Brown: The poison - the Shepherds Pie - the moment she realised it was true what Nick was doing. I did love the Ethel storyline but I really liked the Nick poisoning one. John's off playing the lead in Chicago at the moment, he's very good apparently. I haven't seen it yet! John is a gentleman. He's kind, loving and a dear!
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