Kathy Burke doubts if she will ever return to acting unless she is offered a special role, as she is content in her self-imposed exile.
Kathy Burke doubts she will ever return to acting as she enters the “last chapter” of her life.
The 62-year-old British acting legend has enjoyed an acclaimed career in comedy and drama which has spanned five decades and included memorable roles in sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, sketch show Harry Enfield’s Television Programme, drama film Nil by Mouth.
Kathy – who started out at Anna Scher Theatre School in London – has been on a self-imposed semi-retirement from acting for the past decade and she has no burning desire to get back in front of the cameras.
When asked on The Adam Buxton Podcast, if she had any acting roles coming up, Kathy answered: “Probably not… I’m not working. I’m having a break … [Although] Never say never.”
The Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie star did agree to appear in Steve McQueen’s World War II drama Blitz, after being personally asked by the director, who she has enormous respect for.
And Kathy credits Academy Award winner McQueen for motivating her to write her autobiography A Mind of My Own by telling her that “working class stories are very, very important”.
She said: “I love Steve McQueen. It was just great to work with him and be in his company for a few days. And he actually encouraged me to write my memoir. He said, ‘What are you doing? What are you doing next?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know. I’m sort of umming and ahing about whether to do a book, to do a memoir.’ And he just said, ‘It’s very important. Working class stories are very, very important. You’ve got to think about the next generations. They need these positive outcomes.’
“So then when I finished it, I wrote to him and said, ‘Well, you’ve got to give us a quote because I don’t think I’d have written it without you.'”
Burke is already looking ahead to a second memoir that will explore her experiences with illness, the menopause, and various personal challenges.
Kathy has found it difficult to adjust to life in her 60s and admits reaching the milestone age hit her hard, unlike when she turned 40 and 50, because she realises time is running out.
She said: “You come to terms with the fact that it’s possibly the last chapter, that’s what you come to terms with, I think.
“I’ve spoken to a couple of mates about this, that because I had no problem reaching 40, I had no problem reaching 50. But when I was approaching 60, every time I thought about it, my tummy turned over because it was like, ‘Oh, f***, you can’t say, well, 60 is the new 40 or because it isn’t.’ Do you know what I mean? 60 is 60, and I know we’re living longer and everyone sort of keeps themselves young. It’s a much healthier world in a way. People are into fitness and healthy food and all that caper. But if you’ve got to 60 or beyond, you’re very lucky to have reached this far.”
“Speaking for myself personally, I had to face up to the fact, that okay, this is heading towards the end.
“It just made me feel a bit sick every time I thought about it.”
Kathy Burke doubts she will ever act again
