The most expensive thing actress Annette Badland has ever bought for fun was a £3,000 sculpture of a very well endowed female nude. The 73-year-old award-winning actress has rarely been out of work, having shot to fame playing Charlotte in the BBC’s Bergerac in the 1980s. She has also played Dr Fleur Perkins in Midsomer Murders and Babe Smith in EastEnders, and appeared in the comedy football series Ted Lasso on Apple TV+. In an interview with Donna Ferguson, Badland discusses her upbringing, career, and financial decisions. She is an ambassador for the charity Target Ovarian Cancer and resides in East London with her partner, actor David Hatton, 81.
During her upbringing, Badland was taught by her parents to save and live within her means due to money being hard to come by. She recalls times where money was tight, despite people assuming her family had plenty of money. Her father worked in the car trade and was paying alimony from a previous marriage. Badland remembers living in a large Edwardian house that had been divided into flats, sharing a bathroom with other tenants and having an outside toilet.
Badland’s father worked for Rover and later made Robin Reliant cars. Ironically, she ended up driving a Robin Reliant while playing a character in EastEnders. Badland shares her experience of struggling to make ends meet during her time at East 15 drama school, relying on cheap food and support from her parents.
The best financial year of Badland’s life was when she joined Bergerac in 1983, which provided her with a regular job on television. This allowed her to take out a mortgage and buy a house for her parents. She reflects on the gender pay gap in the acting profession, particularly in shows like Midsomer Murders. Although she is happy with her income from the show, it is dependent on the number of episodes produced each year.
Badland reveals that the most costly thing she has bought for fun was a sculpture of a well-endowed female nude. She cherishes the sculpture and finds it pleasurable. Her best money decision was getting on the property ladder in the 1980s. She purchased her current home in 1986 and is now mortgage-free.
She saves into a pension with the actors’ union, Equity, and also receives her state pension. She has an Isa but does not invest in the stock market due to lack of knowledge. If Badland were Chancellor, she would prioritize funding for the NHS. She is an ambassador for Target Ovarian Cancer and is passionate about raising awareness and supporting the cause.
Badland believes that famous actors lead privileged lives and should give back to society. At 73 years old, she still works long hours and finds joy in playing different characters and the variety her career brings.
Don’t miss the chance to participate in the Target Ovarian Cancer Walk/Run at Regent’s Park in London. Visit targetovariancancer.org.uk for more information.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
