Ah, the joys of air travel.... I woke up the morning of March 13th to fog and drizzle. Naturally, the flight out of Piedmont Triad International Airport was delayed. We were so late getting into Charlotte that, upon landing, I was forced to hit the concourse running. (They had been boarding my connecting flight for ten minutes.) I made it. Chest heaving, I handed my ticket to the attendant. I was going to Miami to meet Anita Dobson!
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When I arrived in Miami, it was 87 gorgeous degrees outside. Within thirty minutes I was pulling up in front of "the hotel," conveniently located in the middle of South Beach --- the fashion district --- and just one short block from the Atlantic! Yes, life was good. "the hotel" is a 1939 Art Deco classic, owned and restored by renowned fashion designer Todd Oldham and his family. There are beautifully potted orchids everywhere; and the ambiance has a very eclectic feel. Designer bathrobes hang in "loos" big enough to turn a VW Beetle around in. |
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And there is an amazing pool on the roof of "the hotel." If you are ever in South Beach, make your way to 801 Collins Avenue; the staff will make you feel right at home. --- Plus, you can say to yourself, "This is where Anita Dobson slept!" At about 7 o'clock that night Chris Mitchell, the producer of EastEnders Revealed, rang me and asked if he could "pop over for a chat." He arrived within minutes sporting a T-shirt, khakis and BARE FEET! (So you see, Esta, North Carolina isn't the only place where shoes are optional!) |
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Chris filled me in on the events of the day, telling me they had just returned from filming on the beach. He confided that Anita had become a bit emotional, as the bits they were taping dealt with "Angie's" life since leaving Walford. Finally, Chris told me about the next day's schedule --- and my part in it. First, Anita was going to be shopping in Bel Harbour for a dress for Liza Minnelli's wedding in New York. Then they were going to be filming our Ange driving around Miami in a rented Cadillac. At about 5 in the afternoon, me and a few other EastEnders fans would gather in the hotel restaurant. That's when Anita would arrive! |
Chris didn't want me to see Anita before the actual filming. He said the "element of surprise" would be lost if we had previously met. So we struck a deal: Chris would put in a word for me with Tony Jordan so I could get on the EastEnders set in August; and I would stay out of sight until the next afternoon.
EASTENDERS REVEALED
Jim, Jan and Dayle, and I met at "the hotel" about 3 the following afternoon. We sat out on the patio, talked about our favorite program, and got to know each other. I said it then, and I repeat it now: It doesn't matter where I go.... EastEnders fans are the GREATEST folks around.
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Simon, one of the Producers, |
and Ralph, the "Sound Guy." |
Chris showed up a few minutes before 5 and asked us to assemble in the outside restaurant of the hotel. The film crew was hot on his heels and hurried to set up. Tape running, Chris asked us some questions and let the four of us work off each other with our replies. --- This was the segment they would air in the UK.
Afterwards, Chris confessed that Brits have a hard time believing that EastEnders has such a large following here in the United States. It seems that our interest in the show is what the English want to hear about.
Then, right in the middle of our impromptu chat, who should walk down the steps but ANITA DOBSON herself!
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I immediately ran over to Anita and gave her a big WNC EastEnders Fanatic hug! It was then that I had a brilliant idea.... The bar was only ten feet away.... Perhaps "Angie" would like to pour us a pint? Anita enthusiastically agreed and asked the hotel staff if they would accommodate us. Within minutes we were on bar stools, "Ange" was favoring us with "Shandy's," a half beer and half lemonade treat, and the EastEnders Revealed production staff was getting some of the best footage they had ever shot. |
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Oh, the stories she told us! For instance, "Willie," Ethel's little pug, was infamous for farting. (Anita's EXACT words!) She revealed that many times they would have to stop shooting a scene because they couldn't breathe. Anita said that "Roly" was an amazing dog. He was well behaved and acted on cue much better than the cast at times. As a result, she loves standard poodles. She told us that all the beer in the Vic was real but the liquor wasn't. And that, sometimes, the extras in the scenes would be wobbling in the background from too much ale! She also told us that she chose all of "Angie's" wardrobe. And she related that we would be surprised at how small the EE set actually is. |
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Other anecdotes revolved around the time when "Angie" was contemplating the affair with "Tony Carpenter." The producers wanted her to kiss "Tony" in the Vic. Anita said she informed them that, "Angie wouldn't **** in her own house!" (She very discreetly whispered this to all of us.) She refused to have any part of it. Anita looked at the picture of "Angie" in my 1987 EastEnders calendar and told me that once she arrived at Elstree, it took her an hour to have her makeup done. She said she remembered the German-made blue eye pencil that often gave her eye infections. She added wistfully, "What price beauty, eh?" |
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Anita was surprised when she saw I had a copy of her book, "My EastEnd." She thumbed through the pages, showing us favorite pictures of herself and her parents. Looking at one, she remarked that she remembered the dress she was wearing so very well. Anita confessed that she doesn't watch EastEnders any more due to her busy schedule. But she did mention that, had it not been for EastEnders, she doesn't think she would have met her husband, Brian May, formerly of the rock group "Queen." Anita said that being in Miami and filming this episode of EastEnders Revealed was the closure that she and viewers alike needed to finally end the hopes of "Angie" returning to Albert Square. |
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Filming was over. But was that the end? Not a chance! Anita continued to visit with us for the next two hours. We talked about everything. She commented on how nice everyone had been in Florida. She confided that she never did manage to find that "perfect dress" for Liza's wedding. She told us that, earlier that week, the BBC had surprised her with her own episode of "This Is Your Life." Many of the EastEnders cast --- past and present --- had taken part in it. ("Sharon," "Den," "Kathy," and "Pat" were on hand, to name a few!) She said "Ethel" was there as well, still spry and full of energy.
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She was amazed at the things we fans remembered about the early years of the show. Her favorite memories included "Den" giving her the divorce papers on Christmas Eve, and the episodes filmed in Venice when "Den" found out she had been lying about being ill.
I told Anita that I had some mail for her --- from fans here in the States who wanted to let her know how much they enjoyed her work on EastEnders. She was very eager to see them. As we stood there at the bar, she read through some of the notes. I saw tears in her eyes as she put them away and told me she would read them on the plane going home.
I had some of our WNC EE club wear on hand to give Anita: T-shirts, a tote bag, and a cap. She donned the cap right away. I apologized for having only large t-shirts. She turned to me and said, "I love big t-shirts to sleep in!" I thanked her for being so sweet about it and she said, "You don't believe me, do you? Melissa, I WILL wear this to sleep in!" --- You know what? I believe her.
Melissa Berry
