The Marlene Interview

Only Fools & Horses just wouldn't be the same without Marlene. She has beenan integral part of the show ever since her first appearance in SleepingDogs Lie in 1985. She is an important part of the Fools family, and it would have been the programmes loss had she not been in it, but this could have easily been the case!

 

It was never John Sullivans intention for the audience to ever see the tarty wife of Boycie. Of course she would have been referred to, but neveractually seen, very much a er in doors scenario. With the episode Sleeping Dogs Lie Sullivan had a problem. To give the story line authenticity, we really needed to see the character of Marlene. Sullivan capitulated and wrote in a small part for her.  She wasnt on screen forlong, but Sullivan must have seen something he liked, because he has used her in every series and feature, apart from one, ever since. We can only begrateful for this as she brings yet another dimension to the show.

Her scenes with Boycie are priceless, as were her flirtations with Del Boy.Her obsession with wanting to have children came to a head when she was willing to adopt a knocked off baby from Del Boy. She bought a tear to theeye of many when she knew it wasnt to be.

The person for bringing Marlene to life is the much talented Sue Holderness.Below is our interview with her. It was conducted in her lovely home in Windsor (I am in danger of slipping into OK magazine mode here). She supplied the wine and sandwiches, while we brought the cheese, sorry dictaphone.

HS: Hello Sue, could you tell us what is it like to be part of the Foolsphenomenon?

Sue: Well, I must mention my last holiday, which typifies what it is like tobe part of the show. Everywhere we went to drink or have a meal the waiterswould always open with lovely jubbly. Its amazing, the programme is souniversal. We were in Kenya and the staff in the hotel recognized me. How dothey know the programme so well out there? I had a friend who wasbackpacking across India and he noticed a small restaurant called DelsDiner.

HS: What are your early recollections of the show?

Sue: I joined the show in 1984. I remember the part of Marlene was verydifferent from the characters I had been playing up until then. I used toplay posh birds - PAs to the Prime Minister and the like. So it was strangethat they should ask me to play a character that was at odds with what I wasused to. I didnt actually audition for it. My agent rang me up and saidthat there was one days filming for the programme Only Fools & Horses. Heasked whether I watched it, which of course I did. I was three months pregnant and thought that I was not going to get much work in my presentstate, so I jumped at the chance. The episode was Sleeping Dogs Lie.

HS: Did they know you were pregnant?

Sue: I didnt tell a soul. I realised they could dress me in something quiteskimpy once they had explained the character, so I suggested she wore a furcoat. That way I could cover my bump even though it was unlikely to show. Ididnt think it really mattered, as it was only to be one days work.

HS: Did you enjoy your first day?

Sue: Oh yes. I thought to myself at the time that this would be absolutelybliss to be in. Everyone was so sweet and it really was a fantastic day.Ironically Kenneth Connor, who I knew, was filming down the road from us, hecame up and to say hello. It was a lovely atmosphere, a bit like a party andI was getting paid for being part of it. On that first day I knew thisprogramme was something special but I never realised how much.

HS: At what time do you think people realised that this could be big?

Sue: I think everyone who was in the third series realised that this couldbe huge. It certainly turned out that way. I am amazed at how many times itis repeated and the viewing figures are still exceptional. Most programmeswould be happy with those numbers first time round.

HS: Is it not true that, originally, John Sullivan didnt want Marlene to beseen?

Sue: Yes, I have been told that, but he obviously needed her to set up thescene with Del Boy baby-sitting Duke, and thank God,Rhino  he seemed to likeher.

HS: Who actually cast you for the part?

Sue: Thats interesting because Ray Butt always says he cast me, but SusieBelbin says that she was the one.

HS: Did you watch Fools before you were in it?

Sue: I didnt watch it from the beginning. I started from the third series.

HS: There has been talk of it crossing the Atlantic with other actorsplaying the part of the Trotters. Why do you think it has never made it overthere in its original state.

Sue: I think its the American mentality. They dont like a loser. They likecharacters like Bilko who was a winner. They just dont seem to be able tograb the concept. I also believe that the British love the characters, andfind them endearing, even Boycie. Trigger is a creation out of Heaven. Ithink he is one of the most glorious characters ever written. I thinkanother reason they are so loved is that everyone knows someone like them.Also Del and the rest of them are not what you would call mean or evil.

HS: What do you think of Marlene?

Sue: I have to say that she can be as thick as two short planks, and willsay yes to anybody, but she can be very sharp as well. I believe her to bevery shrewd. She knows Boycie better than anyone and she knows how to playhim. I do adore her. I think the public love her too. I still get fan mail,none of which is detrimental, and if anyone recognizes me in the street theywill always be kind and remark on how fond they are of Marlene.

HS: Did you ever think there was any mileage in a spin off for Marlene andBoycie? Like George & Mildred (sorry bad example).

Sue: There wasnt the scope really. Only if John Sullivan thought it a goodidea would it have worked.

HS: Do you think he writes well for women, particularly as you would have agood idea as you have played another of his creations in Dear John?

Sue: He wrote the episode in which Boycie & Marlene try to adopt a baby sobeautifully. He dealt with Marlene very tenderly, sympathetically, and withgreat understanding of what she was going through, while still giving herjokes. As with a lot of Fools, it was dealing with tragedy in a comicsetting.

HS: That was the show in which Boycie performed his famous Louis Armstrongspeech. How many times did it take him to do that?

Sue: I think he got it on the first go, but they let him do it again.

HS: Was that your favourite episode?

Sue: Yes its got to be From Prussia with Love.

HS: Is it true that you received a lot of fan mail from women who could not have children?

Sue: Yes, and I found that very hard to empathise with. It seemed for fourseries on the trot I was either pregnant, had just given birth or in theearly stages of motherhood. I found it doubly difficult to answer theseletters, as I loved being a mum and doing all the things associated with it.I know that there are girls who have looked forward to having babies fromthe age of sixteen and have never fulfilled that dream. I cant even beginto feel the pain that that would bring.

HS: So how did you respond to them?

Sue: I sympathized as best I could and gave them the addresses of societiesthat would be able to help them.

HS: I gather you received some hate mail from when you played Myra Hindleyin a stage play called Our Kid.

Sue: I did. One of the tabloid newspapers ran a feature on whether it wasright to put on such a production. It was written in such a way as to stirup a negative reaction. As you can imagine it was very hard to do, and I didit for quite a long period as an agent in London put it on at varioustheatres. It takes its toll playing such a monster of a person. I lost aconsiderable amount of weight. I went down to 5 stones and looked like askeleton.

HS: How did you get into acting?

Sue: I was reading the interview you did with Tessa and how she first wantedto be a dancer which is exactly what I wanted to do. There were two reasons I never pursued it. One was that you had to be very, very good to be able toachieve anything. The other was that once I had the experience of playing anacting role I never wanted to do anything else. I loved being someone else.

HS: As part of your dancing you were a gymnast.

Sue: Yes I was. In fact I was an acrobat.

HS: Do you still have a go now? (Steady Peter).

Sue: I did up until I was 45. I had a back for a while and after a session,or just showing off in the back garden, I would be in pain for a couple ofdays. I do much more sensible workouts now.

HS: Was it hard to get into acting?

Sue: I was staggeringly lucky. I had an interview for a drama school inwhich I had to do a speech on stage. I got through the first two lines andhad a panic attack. I simply couldnt do it and walked off. I went home andthought look if I am going to do this, then I am going to have to do itseriously. So I worked very hard with my drama teacher, went back to theschool and got in. I was very lucky. Also, I went straight into work afterleaving drama school and have had regular work ever since. I havent doneanything particularly high profile for the last couple of years, partlybecause I love being at home with my children. I wont spend time awayunless the job is fabulous. Saying that, I do get frantic if after a coupleof months do by and I havent done any work, even relax. Its not that theydont like meeting the fans, its just that it can get a little relentlessfor them.

HS: Do you think it should come back?

Sue: It should if David, Nick and John (Sullivan) passionately wanted it to.They would have to see a storyline and think to themselves  Well, we cantnot do that. Of course, they would have to lose their money pretty quickly.

HS: Well would they? Sullivan made it work with Vince Pinner in Just GoodFriends. He became rich, but his character was as funny as ever. It wouldalso be sad to see them attain what they have always wanted, but then loseit.

Sue: Yes, but it was made clear in that last episode that it didnt actuallymake Del Boy happy.

HS: How does other comedy that you have been in compare to Sullivans work?

Sue: I was in a comedy recently where I play a lesbian vicar, and it showedhow good Sullivan was.

HS: How much of Marlene did you put into the character?

Sue: Oh nothing really. It was all down to the writing. Though a lot ofMarlene is me. Once John sees you play the part he knows how best to bringout the character.

HS: Do you read Hookie Street when it comes through your door.

Sue: From cover to cover. I love it. I go on my bed, nice cup of coffee andread the whole thing. It really is a very good read. I also like the factthat its in black & white. (Cosmic  Perry)

HS: What did you think of the Societies Convention?

Sue: Oh I thought it was just fabulous. I had such a good time. I must admitI was nervous about doing it. I didnt want to be a terrible let down to thefans. Marlenes got all Sullivans lines, I havent! I neednt have worriedbecause everyone was up for it being a party. Everyone wanted it to be fun.It was also lovely to meet up with the others, as we dont really see eachother outside of Fools.

HS: Were you surprised by the number of fans there?

Sue: No. Only because you had told me beforehand that the attendance wouldbe big but what was lovely was how sweet everyone was. People who had queuedfor hours never complained. They all said how much they had enjoyedthemselves and didnt mind the wait.

HS: Would you consider doing a soap?

Sue: Not at the moment. Its very hard work, and with it comes the sort offame that can be very flattering, but also very intrusive.

HS: Have you ever thought of doing a Buster and writing yourautobiography.

Sue: Oh no, Im too boring.

HS: What sort of things do you do for entertainment?

Sue: I love to read. The theatre and the work I do is, on the whole,entertaining. I also enjoy watching my son Freddie in the various sports heplays. In fact, I have become a bit of a football fan, I quite like ReadingFC..

HS: Who?

Sue: Reading.

HS: Oh. Moving on. Do you ever have trouble with your lines?

Sue: Not really, though I am aware that the older I get the harder it willbecome. I am a terrible giggler though.

HS: Was that the case on Fools?

Sue: Always. David was always good at getting me going. Once Patrick(Murray) came in with his arm in plaster. Just before we were about to startour days work, David (Jason) Nick (Lyndhurst) Roger (Lloyd Pack) and John(Challis) disappeared. Suddenly they all walked on the set with their armsin plaster. We all fell about laughing and couldnt properly work for therest of the day. It was a very funny job. That said, I dont know any twoguys to work harder on a script than David and Nick. All the time you couldsee them thinking is there another joke in this, a double take orimprovisation I can do.

HS:  Did they ever become lax as the years went by?

Sue: No never. They would be constantly thinking of new ways to deliver aline or adding another

dimension to what they were doing.

HS: Was the script ever tampered with then during rehearsals?

Sue: If a joke was made during a scene and everyone fell about laughing JohnSullivan was prepared to keep it in but even then it wasnt as funny as whathad originally been written. Basically what Sullivan wrote was gold dust.

HS: A script for the latest series falls on your doormat. Whats the orderof events?

Sue: Well, first my heart sinks because is not a huge part and Im solonging for it to be so. I then sit down and read through it slowly andalways love it. Its like picking up a really good novel, you know youre infor smashing read. You just know that Sullivan is going to take you on awonderful journey and you think to yourself how does he do it? Of course,you cant help laughing to yourself as you go through it. You then start tolearn your lines which is great fun in itself. Then you rehearse with therest of the cast, which, as you can imagine, is tremendous fun. Its notlike a job at all. Then off to the studio.

HS: Did you notice a difference when it went to fifty minutes?

Sue: Not for me particularly, but you noticed that David and Nick couldntsit down and relax at lunch and have a glass of wine like in the old days.They would be off somewhere learning more of their script.

HS: Where else do you think Marlene could have gone?

Sue: It would have nice to have seen her with a couple of kids.

HS: Didnt you find that a funny scene when Boycie was trying to fix thesatellite dish with you and Tyler in the back garden?

Sue: The camera crew had real trouble not laughing through that. It was verycomical.

HS: Do you get to see the scenes that are filmed on location before thestudio audience?

Sue: No. You often know whats going to happen, but you dont actually seeit until the night of recording. I particularly like watching the piecewhere Del and Rodney had just been to the auction of the watch and weresitting in the van. Del turns to Rodney Do you want to go first.? Wellyou know the rest.