Nellie ‘a tremendous character to play’

Press, 21 October 1989, Page 22

Nellie ‘a tremendous character to play’

Jean Boht, who plays Nellie Boswell in “Bread” (Sunday at 8 p.m. on One), says she looks like a dog’s dinner in the programme.

Despite her appearance she says Nellie is a tremendous character to play.

"I have a concrete hairstyle and look like a dog’s dinner in ‘Bread’ because Nellie doesn’t care what she looks like — she only cares about her kids,” Boht says. “But she’s a wonderful character, the heart of the family. They sometimes try to hide things

from her, but she always knows what’s going on. “The script is very funny, even though it’s basically about unemployment. They’re running a family business — a survival business — but they do very well out of it. I think the message is that if you get off your backside and get out into the market place you can live very well.” Nellie Boswell presides over the family, cooking food and feeding everybody with an almost religious fervour. Although Boht is also a

mother in real life, she says that is where any similarity ends between herself and Nellie Boswell. Boht is married to the American composer and conductor, Carl Davis, and has two daughters, Hannah, aged 17, and Jessie, aged 14. She met her husband in 1970 when they were both involved in a production at Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop. On television she has appeared in “Boys from the Blackstuff” and “Scully.”