June Brown has landed her first post-'EastEnders' role.
June Brown
The 93-year-old actress - who played Dot Cotton on the BBC soap until earlier this year - has been cast alongside Sam Barnard in 'Missing You', a new audio drama about separation during the pandemic.
June plays the part of a mother who is separated from her son - who has Down's syndrome - during the health crisis.
Richard Vergette, who wrote the script, said: "When writing the role of Margey I had the voice of June Brown in my head and so asked the producer, Ashley Byrne, 'Can we find a June Brown-type of actress?'
"'How about June Brown?' he replied! I still can’t quite believe that a living legend is playing in a piece I’ve written."
Sam, 35, also relished the experience of working with the iconic actress.
He said: "June is such a legend and a hero of mine since I was little. When I was asked to play this role I said, 'Oh, I say!' and did a little dance of joy!"
'Missing You' will be available on the 'Distinct Nostalgia' podcast from December 26.
June previously admitted that leaving 'EastEnders' was a "strange feeling", and she likened her exit from the soap to a bereavement, admitting Dot was "spiritually" part of her real-life self.
June - who took a four-year break from the soap between 1993 and 1997 - said earlier this year: "I was feeling rather down the other day. I thought, 'What's the matter? Why do I feel so sad?' It's almost as if I've been bereaved.
"I've played two people simultaneously for 35 years. Really Dot wasn't me, but spiritually she probably was."
John Altman, who played Dot's son 'Nasty' Nick Cotton, has also hailed his former co-star.
He said: "June as an actress is one of the greatest we've got, and I learned a lot from her too. She's an incredibly hard worker."
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