Monica Dolan, 54, has opened up about her role in ITV's Mr Bates vs The Post Office, saying the drama resonated with audiences because they saw 'their worst nightmare unfold'. The actor, who plays a key part in the series about the Horizon IT scandal, spoke to The Observer about the impact of the story on subpostmasters and the public.
Dolan said she spoke to a subpostmaster whose children used to ask when he was going to jail, highlighting the human cost of the scandal. 'There's been too many lies and people want to not feel helpless any more,' she added. She called for 'proper accountability and proper compensation', criticising the government for knowing about the injustice for a long time and acting only when facing an election.
The actor, known for roles including Rosemary West, discussed her approach to accents, describing them as 'like scales on the piano'. She learns lines and does psychological work separately from accent training. Dolan also revealed that fear motivates her: 'I'm frightened of letting people down. Sometimes that can be inhibiting, but it's also a strong signal to stretch yourself.'
Reflecting on her family, Dolan said her parents were scientists who initially did not understand studying arts, but supported her once she got into drama school. She spoke about the deaths of her sister in 2008 and brother in 2020, and the realisation that she could not make her parents feel better about it. 'I can't control it, so I have to let it go,' she said.
Dolan also shared lighter moments, including her love for her Siberian husky Velma, whom she described as her 'PA', and her regret at missing Live Aid in 1985 after a school friend offered her tickets. 'I could have seen Queen being amazing, but instead I had to watch it on TV,' she said.
