Quotes from Anita Dobson

'EastEnders' changed everything. I was a jobbing actress living in Stepney, and I was on the dole at one point. Then people started to send me scripts, which was always my dream.

My parents used to go ballroom dancing in their latter years, and it gave them so much pleasure.

There's no secret it's hard work. Even though Brian's the love of my life, and he's absolutely adorable, it's not easy, and we have to work at it. But because we love each other and keep working at it, it pays off.

When I walked away from my role as Angie in 'Eastenders' all those years ago, it was a huge risk, but I always had this great desire to do so many things.

I'd sue the bottom off my husband if he dared to put me in one of his films, and he knows that.

When I was a kid, I used to watch all those Sunday afternoon matinees featuring all the Hollywood greats.

In the days of 'EastEnders,' I couldn't go into a pub or supermarket, as people would recognise me and follow me home.

The last place you'll find me is the gym. It seems to me to be a waste of time - I could spend that time doing so many other things.

Every morning, I have a coffee to wake up my system, but I don't think you should eat just because it's a meal time, so I often won't have breakfast until late morning.

Everything in life is a double-edged sword.

People are innately curious.

I was appearing on 'Top of the Pops' when I was in my mid-thirties or something. It was fantastic! But it was the weirdest thing, I'll admit. Was I me? Was I Angie Watts? Was I me as Angie? I didn't have a clue, but I was having enormous fun all the same.

I'm up at the crack of dawn. If I'm filming, then I'll wake at 5 A.M. so that I can get on set and made up before the cameras start rolling.

I can do glamour, but I can also play something like I did in the play 'Wild Justice,' where I was demented with grief and anger, and there was snot coming out of my nose, and my clothes were all over the place.

Once, I was followed by a car when I was driving. Every time I sped up, the car sped up, and when I slowed down, it slowed down. Eventually, I stopped, got out and screamed, 'What do you want?' He said, 'I just wanted to give you some flowers because I'm such a fan.' I felt awful. He was just being kind.

For me, to be on television and not be afraid of making a mistake is freeing.

People were following me home in cars, singing outside my window at my flat. I couldn't go to pubs or supermarkets or walk down the street. It was bizarre, but that was my life.

I don't love the fact that gravity is winning as I get older, but there's also a calmness that comes with it, which I'm secretly enjoying.

I was invited to see Queen at Wembley - I think it was the last tour they did, and then afterwards, they had a huge party, which I was invited to - it was all thanks to EastEnders.

I knew of Queen, and I knew of Freddie, but I didn't know who the rest of the band were. I became friends with Freddie first; then I got to know the others.

People who are geniuses, once they get going, you really have to keep up.

I have loved being a step-mum to Brian's children. We have a great relationship, and it's lovely to spend time with the grandchildren.

Wonderful things happened to me - I met my husband, I got invited to previews and premieres, I was asked to do fashion shoots and front covers of magazines. You've just got to embrace it and do the best you can.

I was always slightly afraid of marriage because I didn't like the idea of being tied down. Even when I met Brian, when I was in my mid-thirties, I didn't actually see it on the cards for us. He was a huge rock star, and our lives were very different.