A Passionate Woman: Sue Johnston plays Betty in the Eighties

 

How easy was it to portray Betty – the character Kay’s mother is based upon?

“Kay told me the whole story about how her mother admitted to a lost love. There is a scene in the second episode where I tell Mark (Andrew Lee Potts) about Betty’s affair and the fact she never loved her husband and that’s what happened to Kay – she came up to me afterwards in tears.

“It added a certain kind of pressure and in a way, the compliment that she wanted me to play her mother gave me confidence and there must have been some essence of her mother that she saw in me.”

What happens to Betty 30 years on from the affair?

“Betty has a mini-breakdown. She leaves her son, Mark’s wedding and eventually finds herself on the roof – you don’t know whether she is going to throw herself off or not…”

How do you feel about Billie Piper playing Betty 30 years younger?

“I was flattered and I kept thinking – as long as they don’t show my nose… Betty must have fallen over at some point and broken it! We both had brown hair for the character and I wore brown contact lenses.

“When I look at old photographs of me at 19 and 20 I don’t look anything like I do now! Billie is lovely – sure she’ll be brilliant. I met her as I was finishing and she starting. We had a drink and had a chat.”

You have played wife to Alun Armstrong before?

“It’s my third time married to Alun Armstrong! Donald is a different character – very loving. He is taken for granted though and is the safe one Betty married. She carries this yearning, and of course she’s put it all into her son – the love that she thought she’d lost.

“The biggest loss is when she discovers he is going to Australia to live with his new wife – that’s the breaking point.”

Do you get the impression that Betty is not happy because of this marriage?

“You get the impression that she’s lived through her son, so she has been happy as she has had him. Donald’s always on the outside and she never realises – when it all comes to a head, that’s his point – Donald is upset as he says to her that she has never needed him, and never wanted him. Betty and Mark have been a tight unit and she’s lived her life through him so now she doesn’t feel that she has anything left to live for…”

Do you think people will identify with the character of Betty and her situation?

“I think they might, I know I did because my mother lived a lot of her life through me and when I left and went to live in London she said: ‘My life’s ended now’, which felt terrible! Not bad enough to say: ‘Well, ok, I won’t go’, though!”

Did you spend any time on the roof when you were doing the shoot?

“I spent about three days on that roof. We had a stunt woman, but I like getting up there and doing it myself and I was well supported. Once you’re up there it’s quite amazing. Alun made me laugh when he was climbing up the roof, I think he was waiting for them to shout cut but they didn’t so he kept going and his face was very funny!”

What are you most passionate about?

“Liverpool Football Club, I’m afraid!”