She's old enough to be drawing her pension but Ruth Madoc is in no mood to even think about hanging up her panto frock. She spoke to us as she prepares to appear the Good Fairy in Blackpool.
SOME actors get a bit sniffy about pantomime. They do it once a year but don't do much to hide the fact they're doing it for the cash and that they believe it's beneath them.
Not Ruth Madoc.
She genuinely loves panto, not just for the fun and excitement it brings to the kids in the audience but as a genre in its own right.
"I'm playing a goodie this year as The Good Fairy, but it doesn't matter to me," said Ruth, who has starred in more than 30 pantomimes in every major city of the UK.
"I've been doing this for many many years and have played just about every character and I love them all. I love the whole genre of pantomime.
"I've always said panto is the way to coax children into theatres. I came into it in the early '60s when it was popular. There was a lull at the end of the '60s and in the '70s but it picked up in the '80s. Slowly parents have realised their kids wanted something with a strong story. I was lucky to learn a lot from some of the very greatest panto actors. I've worked with Billy Whittaker and Les Dawson, who were both great dames, and John Nettles. I was taught very well."
The only aspect of the role that concerns Ruth is the flying.
"I haven't flown on stage for 30 years," she laughed.
"And even then it was difficult. But I'm quite looking forward to re-acquainting myself with the harness. It might prove a little tricky because of the huge heavy skirt on my fairy costume, but hopefully I won't get caught in the harness and expose myself."
Being away from her home town of Swansea doesn't worry Ruth - her family are so used to her being away for Christmas, it's become a tradition.
"My family are quite used to the fact that they have to come to see me in panto," she said.
"The last time I didn't do a pantomime at Christmas was about 20 years ago.
"I decided I'd spent Christmas at home being a mum.
"My daughter was about 12 at the time and on Boxing Day she was really miserable.
"I asked her 'What's wrong?' and she said 'Christmas just isn't the same without going on a trip to see you in pantomime on Boxing Day, mum'.
"She used to love coming backstage and seeing behind the scenes.
"I really thought I was doing the right thing as well. From then on I thought blow you lot, I'll do panto then.' Of course Ruth is most famous for her wonderful portrayal of Gladys Pugh in the classic TV comedy series Hi-De-Hi!, for which she was nominated for a BAFTA.
"If it wasn't for Hi De Hi I'm sure I wouldn't be talking to you now," said Ruth.
"I'm genuinely appreciative of what that show did for me.
"I was nearly 40 when I joined, which is a funny old age for an actor, especially a female actor.
"If I hadn't got that who knows what I'd be doing now."
After Hi-De-Hi left our screens Ruth spent much of her time in theatre.
She toured Japan and the Far East as Madame Giry in the musical Phantom of the Opera and was Mrs Bardell to Harry Secombe's Pickwick at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Sadlers Wells Theatre and on an extended national tour.
Ruth starred as Dorothy Brock in the hit musical 42nd Street and as Miss Hannigan in Annie.
She has also appeared as Maria in Twelfth Night at Regents Park Theatre, London.
She has also won a legion of younger fans playing the mother of Dai, "the only gay in the village," in comedy Little Britain.
And although she celebrated her 64th birthday this year, she's not ready to stop yet.
"This profession has been wonderful to me," she said.
"I don't even want to contemplate retiring at the moment.
"If it got a the time when I couldn't keep up on stage I hope I would notice before anyone else so I could give up.
"I would hate for my profession to say 'She's getting a bit past it.' "I never want to be one of those actors who keeps going longer than they should."
- See Ruth Madoc playing the Good Fairy in Blackpool Grand Theatre's production of Sleeping Beauty, running from December 7 to January 5. Call 01253 290190 or visit www.blackpoolgrand.
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