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| Do you have fond memories of your time on the show? Any moments that particularly stand out as funny or special? Maggie: The first time I heard Delta sing was special; I had no idea of just how talented she was in that department. One of the many funny incidents was Glenn Wheatley’s appearance in his one scene- he stumbled over his own name! We all had a good giggle – including Glenn! Kym Valentine’s work in the difficult scenes involving Dan’s departure was quite wonderful – there were many fine moments. There is a lovely sense of camaraderie between the actors and crew, so working on the set is mostly a pleasurable experience, with lots of banter and joking around. Things can get tense at times of course – that’s inevitable with such a huge output each week. The work itself is however always taken seriously and with a number of experienced talented people in the core cast it shows in the finished product. One great thing about Rosie was that she was no ordinary vicar - from kissing Lou in the vestry to taking a swig out of her hip flask before Steph's wedding. Did you get any reaction or letters from people connected to the church about the character? Maggie: No, not personally; I don’t know if the producers did. I guess if people weren’t happy they would have enough sense to know that it’s hardly the actor’s fault and would contact the producers and/or writers. Rosie’s unconventionality was one of the delights I found in playing her. You'd already worked with many of the Neighbours cast before appearing on the show - did that help a lot when it came to settling in? Maggie: That’s hard to say; one’s job as an experienced professional is to portray the character to the best of one’s ability. While it’s always a pleasure to renew professional acquaintances, especially when they are such fine actors as some of the Neighbours cast, the main game is the work in hand, whoever one is working with. (See Q 2!) Your relationship with Summer and Boyd, Summer particularly, was always great fun to watch. What are your memories of working with the young actors on the show? Maggie: It was fascinating to watch Kyal’s (Boyd) development from a young, rather inexperienced actor, to the much more confident, professional he became. Marisa was a seasoned professional at birth I think! She is enormously talented, and both are delightful, intelligent young people to be around, although Marisa had a rather disconcerting habit of knowing everyone else’s lines!! Were you happy with Rosie's exit from the show? Maggie: No. To have been told on the one hand that the character was working so well that she was going to be permanent, and some weeks later to be told that she was to be dropped was to say the least, puzzling. Something obviously happened to change the producers’ minds between those two incidents; I’d love to know what it was, but of course never will! Most of the cast were as surprised as I was by the news. I was totally knocked out by the response and support of fans – apparently more protests were received about Rosie’s leaving than any other issue! That was enormously helpful to me at the time. Have you watched the show at all since leaving or at least caught a glimpse of Rosie's daughter, Izzy, on screen? If so, what do you think? Maggie: No I haven’t - I’m just too busy. With so many relatives still in the Street, it's plausible that Rosie could reappear at any time - would you go back if asked? Maggie: I don’t know. Quite a few people have said that they find it extraordinary that the Rosie they knew would not have been there for some of the storylines, and felt that Rosie’s character had been totally changed as a result of this. I wouldn’t be interested in the odd appearance here and there. I really don’t know, and would have to think about it very carefully. But I have to say that I don’t think it’s going to happen. It is perfectly clear that the powers that be are simply not interested in resurrecting Rev Rosie and that’s fine by me. Rosie couldn't be much more removed from another of your previous incarnations - Marie Winter on Prisoner. The show still enjoys success around the world and has a very active fanbase - did you have any idea at the time that people would still be so interested in it 20 years on? Maggie: No, how could we have?! It’s such a pity that we signed our lives away at the time; we get few if any residuals from all the re-runs! You've spent some time working in the UK and appeared in panto last year - what was that like? Do you plan to go back anytime soon? Maggie: Panto was a totally new experience for me; it’s hard work but the obvious enjoyment demonstrated by the audiences makes it great fun. I loved playing ‘Fairy Godmother’ in ‘Cinderella’ with a huge white frock and lots of sparkles! I won’t be doing any more, as I am no longer on air in the UK. I hope to be coming back to do a few appearances at the du Maurier Festival in Fowey in May 2005. Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming theatre role in If I Should Die Before I Wake? Maggie: It’s a gift, an absolute gift. The chance to use all of ones skills and abilities comes along so rarely; to play a strong woman facing death, to work with three other fantastic women on such a challenging play, and to be part of a work which tackles some difficult and very much hidden issues is enormously rewarding. And finally, what does the future hold for Maggie Millar? Maggie: Who knows? As decent ongoing roles for women of my age are as rare as hen’s teeth in this country, (unlike the UK!) one needs to have other possibilities, which I have always tried to do. I am doing a course in holistic counseling, and when I graduate may possibly go into private practice, specialising in difficulties experienced by those working in the entertainment industry, and those whose lives have been affected by the adoption and donor conception processes. I may also write a book about some of my life experiences – including my time on and dismissal from Neighbours – and get back to my sadly neglected garden and my painting. Thanks for your time, Maggie! |
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| > Interviews > Erinsborough.com Hi Maggie. Can you remember your first reaction when Neighbours asked you to take on the role of Rosie? |
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| Maggie: At first I was not at all keen; I had retired to the country, and was perfectly happy painting, gardening and writing. I had been ill for some time, and had found my time in virtual retreat enormously healing. In the last couple of years I had done the odd performance (‘Love Letters’ with Alan Hopgood) some readings and radio plays, the occasional workshop on Body Image and Self Acceptance, and some public speaking. However, on being ‘wooed’ so to speak over lunch at the studio by both Jan Russ and Ian Smith, both of whom were very keen for me to at least look at the role, I did so. I decided to accept the role because it was a rare portrayal of an older woman in a very positive light. Mostly women over fifty in TV land in this country are portrayed as either batty, buffoons, or problems to themselves and others! Not so Rosie. Some cast members expressed their delight that at last a woman who could match the strength of the two older blokes in the show was to be introduced. They felt that Rosie could fill a huge gap in the show as a matriarchal figure. So for me it was a political decision as well; I felt I was doing my bit for women of my age who rarely see ourselves portrayed in a positive way. |
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