Katherine Florence Dotrice (née Newman; 9 May 1929 – 2 August 2007), known professionally as Kay Newman and Kay Dotrice, was a British stage and screen actress, best known for her roles in the UK TV series Crossroads, the movie Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers, and many repertory performances during the 1950s.
Career Dotrice began her career performing in revue and repertory theatre, particularly in the north of England. She played many lead roles, and consistently received positive notices. Reviewing J. Hartley Manners' Peg O' My Heart, one critic wrote "the Chichester family .. members were vividly contrasted [with] ... Kay Newman, fresh from her success as Emmy in "They Walk Alone", as the resentful Ethel", while another said, "Kay Newman, as the slandered wife, gave an appealing performance". Reviews of Mel Dinelli's The Man commented "Kay Newman in particular gave an impressive performance. As the frightened and tormented woman who unwittingly hires the services of a homicidal maniac as a house-help, she had a firm grasp on the part", and "Kay Newman reveals strong dramatic powers as in rapid succession she conveys nervous tension ranging from surprise to panic." In John Van Druten's Behold We Live, she "gives a delightful character study as a down-to-earth London housekeeper." In performances on Guernsey of Johnny Belinda, "the leading part of Belinda [was] a personal triumph for Kay Newman, who played it with charm and restraint." In 1962, her six-year-old daughter Karen Dotrice was offered a five-year contract by Walt Disney, and Kay Dotrice spent all her time with her, supporting her and helping her learn her scripts. In 1977, she returned to performing under the name Kay Dotrice, playing the roles of Mrs Darling and Michael in a Decca recording of Peter Pan. The following year, she was cast as Mrs Crisp in the long-running ITV series Crossroads, and appeared in twenty-five episodes. In 1984, she appeared as the midwife in the film Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers.
Selected stage performances (as Kay Newman) Year Title Author Theatre Role Company 1952 They Walk Alone Max Catto Royal, Castleford Emmy Frank H. Fortescue Players 1952 Peg O' My Heart J. Hartley Manners Royal, Castleford Ethel Frank H. Fortescue Players 1952 Scandalmongers Royal, Castleford Slandered wife Frank H. Fortescue Players 1953 Gathering Storm Gordon Glennon Hippodrome, Keighley Good-time girl Queen's Players 1953 Life Begins At Fifty Armitage Owen Hippodrome, Keighley Queen's Players 1953 The Man Mel Dinelli Hippodrome, Keighley Woman who hires homicidal maniac as home-help Queen's Players 1953 Wuthering Heights Hippodrome, Keighley Catherine Earnshaw Queen's Players 1953 Behold We Live John Van Druten Hippodrome, Keighley London housekeeper Queen's Players 1953 Beggar My Neighbour Arnold Ridley Hippodrome, Keighley Queen's Players 1953 Desire in the Night Hippodrome, Keighley Mother Queen's Players 1954 Johnny Belinda Elmer Blaney Harris The Little, Guernsey Belinda Charles Denville Players 1955 Charley's Aunt Brandon Thomas The Little, Guernsey Guernsey Repertory Company 1957 Goldilocks and the Three Bears (pantomime) The Little, Guernsey Goldilocks Guernsey Repertory Company
Family Dotrice was the wife of actor Roy Dotrice. They lived for many years in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire. Their daughters, Karen, Michele and Yvette, have also been actresses.
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