Edward Woodward marries

Press, 25 February 1987, Page 16

Edward Woodward marries

By

DAVID BROMFIELD

The British actor Edward Woodward has married his long-time companion, the actress Michele Dotrice, in a lakeside ceremony in America’s Catskill mountains where they are both filming an episode of the hit television series “The Equilizer” which has made him a cult figure in the United States and elsewhere.

Only his punishing work schedule has prevented them marrying until now — and the honeymoon has had to wait "though I feel our last 11 years together have been a constant honeymoon,” Woodward says. Michele, aged 37, is best known as Frank Spencer’s wife in the television series with Michael Crawford, “Some Mothers do ’ave ’em.” For the wedding she wore a stunning Italian suit in salmon pink.

Woodward had put off his wedding, planned for last Christmas.

“There just wasn’t time,” says the man who, at 56, has become an international star and sex symbol playing ex-C.I.A. agent Robert McCall. “But we have been together for 14 years, have a three-year-old daughter Emily

... so it’s about time we got married.” Despite his ruthless

television image, Woodward is a kind, sensitive man prone to tears.

For the first time he talks about the great love of his life — and the pain it has caused him. “I will always regret the distress I caused my wife when I left her for Michele,” he says. “But I fell in love with Michele instantly when we worked together on a play. “We had a terrible time after that We were attacked, vilified publicly for what we did. But you have to ignore all those things. There are times in everyone’s life when you have to make decisions that are appallingly hurtful to other people. “Provided you do it with honesty, you must carry on your life. Hurting my wife was the most awful thing that ever happended to me.- But you have to do what you have to do.”

Michele was only 12 when they first met at a fireworks party. She used to play with his children. “She was acting even at that age,” says Woodward. “Her father, Roy, was a friend of mine. Michele and I did not meet again until she was 26. “I love her because she is the most honest person I have ever met and is enormously loving and caring. In fact, I some-

times think she goes too far with all the attention she gives to stray cats, dogs and people. "She has the most astonishing quality of calmness — a smiling calmness that fills me with confidence and love for her. Michele is also extremely good at helping me with my problems in this business. I am less panicked these days.” Woodward has just finished doing an episode of “The Equalizer” with Michele. It is the first time they have worked together on television and the first time she has worked for more than three years, because of their daughter.

“We loved doing it together,” he says. “I am a very lucky man and very happy.” The dark cloud of his

ex-wife, actress Venetia Barrett, still hangs over Woodward, haunting him. Recently she accused him of discarding her for a younger woman when he no longer needed her support to get on in show business.

He says, “Michele and I know the truth and our friends know the truth. That’s all that matters. There are a lot of personal reasons why I took so long to get a divorce, which I will not go into. I didn’t want it to take that long.

“The distress has lingered on for years, but I try not to worry any more. It’s all rather boring. I could write a television series about that episode in my life that would rival Dynasty or Dallas.

“I think I managed to cope after the break-up because our children were so marvellous. They are intensely loyal and were a great comfort.”

Woodward has two sons, Timothy (32) and Peter (30), and a daughter, Sarah (23). All are successful actors.

“I never thought of myself as a terribly good father,” he said. “Happily, bless them, my children deny that. But I always felt I didn’t have the time for them — that I was for ever chasing after miracles for my career. “This time with Emily it’s different. Although work on ‘The Equalizer’ is long and hard, I have more time to spend with her. It’s not as hard as

being out all the time chasing work.” Woodward admits that when Michele told him she was pregnant he was horrified at going through fatherhood all over again at his age. “I did not know how I would turn out,” he said, “but now I find Emily absolutely adorable. I’m awfully glad I had a daughter, though. I don’t know if I’d have felt the same if we’d had a son. Don’t let anyone-kid you that a baby makes you feel younger when you reach my age. Sometimes, she makes me feel really old.”

He can hardly believe his luck in getting the role of McCall in "The Equalizer.” The series will undoubtedly make Woodward a millionaire before long. It was written specially for him two years ago — yet he reveals that he nearly turned it down. “I liked the character, but not the script,” he says. “And if it had been set anywhere else in the States but New York — my favourite city — I don’t think I would have done it. I did the pilot show and would have bet everything I had in the world that it would be a failure. “No-one was more surprised than,me that it caught on. I suppose it was because I’m so different from the normal American hero. Not just because I am English but a whole character with his own personal prob-

lems and bad points. "Another difference is that I’m no Adonis. I am physically past my prime, so I don’t understand sex symbol thing?’ Woodward is a lot leaner and fitter today than the man seen in past episodes of “The Equalizer.” He says: “For the past few months I have been working out in a gym at least three times a week and eating a controlled, well-balanced diet. I have lost over a stone and aim to get rid of another five pounds. It has given me a lot more energy and I feel a lot younger. Now if only I could give up smoking!” Woodward, who celebrates his fortieth anniversary in show business this year, needs the energy. “The Equalizer” is the hardest work he has ever done.

“Michele and I are not wallowing in success here,” he says. “Anyway, success is only what you read about in the papers. It has none of the glamour the public imagines. “For instance, I start at 5.30 in the morning and may finish around midnight. In the 18 months or

so I’ve been doing this series I have been out to dinner four times and to the theatre twice. There is ho social life because you are too busy or too tired. We get lots of Invitations but can’t accept any. “I feel like a monk and Michele is living like a nun. Nevertheless, I consider myself a very lucky man and I’m enjoying myself more than at any time in my life.” He remembers his days of poverty, when he often nearly quit acting. "Only the knowledge that I was a good actor kept me going,” he says, “and I was proved right by a fan letter from none other than Laurence Olivier himself. I was in a West End show when Larry sent me the most marvellous rave notice I have ever had, and invited me to join the National Theatre. Of course, I accepted. "That was the greatest moment of my life. “Now I have just one ambition left — to return to England and play some of the great parts in Shakespeare before I die.”

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