Felicity Kendal has revealed that filming the classic BBC sitcom The Good Life helped her forget the heartache of her divorce. The 79-year-old actress, who played Barbara Good in the series, said the camaraderie and laughter on set allowed her to leave her personal troubles at the studio door.
During the show's run from 1975 to 1978, Kendal was divorcing her actor husband Drewe Henley amid reports of his philandering and depression. However, she credits the sitcom with getting her through the ordeal. 'I don't think there was ever a bad day on The Good Life,' she said. 'I was going through a divorce at the time... and yet, I do not remember that coming into the rehearsal or the performances at all.'
Kendal opens up about her life in a new documentary, Beyond The Good Life with Felicity Kendal, airing tonight (May 3). The film charts her rise to stardom, beginning with her childhood in India, where her actor parents ran a repertory theatre company. They later inspired the Merchant Ivory film Shakespeare Wallah.
In the 1960s, Kendal moved to London to pursue her own acting career, initially renting a room in Shepherd Market, an area known for prostitution. She recalled being propositioned by older men but not understanding their intentions. 'It's the only place in England where people smile and say hello,' she said. 'I didn't get it!'
Kendal's career has spanned stage and screen, including roles in Amadeus, The Vortex, and Strictly Come Dancing. This summer, she returns to the London stage in Cole Porter's High Society at the Barbican. Despite her many achievements, she remains forever linked to The Good Life, which she joined after being approached by Richard Briers, who thought the show might flop. 'He said it probably won't work and there'll be no money,' she recalled. 'I knew I'd do it anyway because I wanted to work with him.'
