Di Botcher


Diane Botcher is a Welsh actress. She has starred in several British television sitcoms and dramas, including the Sky comedy drama Stella, BBC comedies Little Britain and Tittybangbang and the ITV period drama Downton Abbey. In 2018, she joined Casualty as Jan Jenning.

Early life

Botcher was born on 2 June 1959 in Taibach, Port Talbot, Glamorgan, in Wales, one of the two children of parents Bernard and Glenys Botcher. She read English and drama at Warwick University, and after graduating, trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art drama school in London, then obtained an Equity card in the 1980s.

Career

Throughout her long career on stage and screen, Botcher has been receiving warm reviews. In a performance of the musical Blood Brothers with the Sherman Theatre Company in 1986, Botcher's performance as the "warm-hearted mum" was singled out by a reviewer as one of the good points in a production which needed "beefing up". Of Black Milk, a reviewer wrote, "In a strong cast, Di Botcher is a beacon." Her performance in the 2017/18 revival of Follies was universally appreciated - "magical"; a "stunner of a set piece"; "wonderful".
In 2018, she began appearing in the BBC medical drama Casualty as Jan Jennings. Later that year, she also began portraying the role of Nana Margie in the BBC Three series In My Skin.

Filmography

Film

Television

Selected Stage performances

YearTitleTheatreRole
2017-2018FolliesNational TheatreHattie Walker
1997Cardiff EastNational TheatreVera, Marge and Dolly's friend
1995-1996A Little Night MusicNational TheatreMrs Anderssen
1993-1994National TheatreEnsemble
2010-2011A Flea in Her EarOld VicOlympe
2009ChicagoCambridge Theatreprison matron
2003Black MilkRoyal CourtAuntie Pasha
2000Flesh and BloodHampstead TheatreMarge
1997Beauty and the BeastDominion TheatreMadame de la Grande Bouche
1990Sunday in the Park with GeorgeLondon Revival
1986Blood BrothersSherman TheatreMother
1986Richard IIIRoyal Shakespeare Company at the Adelaide Festival TheatreLady of the court
2003TerrorismRoyal CourtOld biddy
CatsNew LondonGrizabella
1995Under Milk WoodNational TheatreMiss Price; Mrs Beynon
1986-1987A Midsummer Night's DreamRoyal Shakespeare CompanyTitania
1987SpeculatorsRoyal Shakespeare CompanyCarol Cutter
1999Card BoysBush TheatreIris
2010If So, Then YesJermyn Street TheatreWelsh charlady
2009A History Of Falling ThingsTheatr ClwydMum
2004Les MisérablesCopenhagenMadame Thenardier