Di Botcher

Botcher was born on 2 June 1959 in Taibach, Port Talbot, Glamorgan, in Wales, one of the two children of parents Bernard and Glenys Botcher. She read English and drama at Warwick University, and after graduating, trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art drama school in London,{{cite web |title=Di Botcher |url=https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/people/14096 |website=National Theatre |accessdate=28 October 2018}}{{cite web |title=Michael Sheen Leads THE PASSION for National Theatre Wales & WildWorks in April |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Michael-Sheen-Leads-THE-PASSION-for-National-Theatre-Wales-WildWorks-in-April-20110214 |website=Broadway World |accessdate=28 October 2018 |date=14 February 2011}} then obtained an Equity card in the 1980s.

Throughout her long career on stage and screen, Botcher has been receiving warm reviews. In a performance of the musical Blood Brothers with the Sherman Theatre Company in 1986, Botcher's performance as the "warm-hearted mum" was singled out by a reviewer as one of the good points in a production which needed "beefing up".{{cite journal |last1=Adams |first1=David |title=Cardiff: Blood Brothers |newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 February 1986 |page=18 (lower middle) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260088779/ |accessdate=28 October 2018}} Of Black Milk (2003), a reviewer wrote, "In a strong cast, Di Botcher is a beacon."{{cite journal |last1=Clapp |first1=Susannah |author-link=Susannah Clapp |title=Toasters and shysters - Theatre |journal=The Observer Review |date=9 February 2003 |page=11 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/258138464/?terms=%22Di%2BBotcher%22 |accessdate=28 October 2018}} Her performance in the 2017/18 revival of Follies was universally appreciated{{cite journal |last1=Wolf |first1=Matt |title=Sondheim’s ‘Follies’ Is Back, at Once Bleak and Beautiful |journal=The New York Times |date=8 September 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/08/arts/follies-sondheim-national-theatre-london.html |accessdate=2 November 2018}} - "magical";{{cite journal |last1=Taylor |first1=Paul |title=Follies, National Theatre, London, review: It's jaw-droppingly great |journal=Independent |date=7 September 2017 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/follies-national-theatre-dominic-cooke-imelda-staunton-a7934266.html |accessdate=2 November 2018 |location=London}} a "stunner of a set piece";{{cite journal |last1=Bano |first1=Tim |title=Follies review at the National Theatre, London – ‘not just triumphant, but transcendent’ |journal=The Stage |date=7 September 2017 |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2017/follies-review-at-the-national-theatre/ |accessdate=2 November 2018}} "wonderful".{{cite journal |last1=Kellaway |first1=Kate |title=Follies review – a stupendous Sondheim revival |journal=The Guardian |date=10 September 2017 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/sep/10/follies-olivier-london-review-dominic-cooke-imelda-staunton |accessdate=2 November 2018}}

In 2018, she began appearing in the BBC medical drama Casualty as Jan Jennings. Later that year, she also began portraying the role of Nana Margie in the BBC Three series In My Skin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2019/06/28/43425/bbc_orders_a_dark_comedy_about_a_teen_and_her_mentally_ill_mum|title=BBC orders a dark comedy about a teen and her mentally ill mum|work=Chortle|access-date=27 March 2020}} 2022 BBC Radio 4 The Archers as Caitlin Thomas.

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Category:21st-century Welsh actresses

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the University of Warwick

Category:Alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art

Category:People from Port Talbot

Category:Welsh television actresses

Category:Welsh film actresses

Category:1959 births

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