Anita Dobson has described her iconic stint in EastEnders as a “momentous” chapter that significantly shaped her life and her relationship with rock legend husband Sir Brian May.
The actress, famed for her portrayal of the Queen Vic’s Angie Watts, joined the BBC soap 40 years ago, aged 35, and remained a key figure until 1988.
In a nostalgic nod to her roots, Anita reprised her role during the soap’s 40th anniversary celebrations this year, bringing Angie back to the heart of Walford to see her daughter Sharon amidst dramatic scenes.
Now 76, Anita, who is wed to Queen’s guitarist Brian May, attributes her part in EastEnders as pivotal in crossing paths with her future spouse at a film preview, leading to their marriage in 2000.
Chatting with Woman’s Weekly, she reflected: “It was such a big, momentous moment in my career. It changed my whole career and my life. And I wouldn’t have met Brian if I hadn’t played her.”
In an earlier conversation with the Mail, Anita revealed how meeting May opened up a new realm of possibilities, describing him as a “god globally”.
The couple, who tied the knot at a Richmond upon Thames register office, celebrated their union with a romantic honeymoon in Venice.
Beyond the Square, Anita’s career flourished with roles on screen, stage, and even earning a Laurence Olivier Award nomination in 2003 for her performance in Frozen.
Following Brian’s health concerns last year, where he endured a “minor stroke”, the guitarist informed his Instagram followers that he retained his guitar-playing skills.
He announced: “I’m here to bring you some good news – the good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days.”
Detailing the incident, he shared: “I say this because it was in some doubt because that little health hiccup that I mentioned happened about a week ago and what they called it was a minor stroke. It was a little scary, I have to say.”
Anita reassured fans on Good Morning Britain earlier in the year, telling Ed Balls and Charlotte Hawkins that Brian had bounced back and was “back to his old self”.
Speaking with the Mirror in December, Anita detailed Brian’s recovery, stating he was “much better now” and had found stability. She divulged how Brian had embraced playing piano frequently at home, enjoying a hefty dose of Beethoven, which she finds particularly calming.
Anita explained: “So, yeah, he’s good to go now. He’s playing the piano quite a lot in the house. He likes a lot of Beethoven. I love it – the piano in the house is really, just very relaxing.”
She noted that Brian had waited for a recovery before attempting to engage with musical instruments again, saying: “He didn’t actually try until after he’d recovered quite a bit.”
