Mary Millar

Irene Mary Wetton (26 July 1936 – 10 November 1998), better known by her stage name Mary Millar, was a British actress and singer best remembered for her role as Rose in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances. She was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire.

Millar made her first television appearance in 1953, aged 17, in Those Were the Days. She also made appearances on The Dick Emery Show and The Stanley Baxter Show. Millar gained acclaim for her part in Keeping Up Appearances as Rose, replacing Shirley Stelfox for Series 2 in 1991 as Stelfox had prior commitments to Making Out. Rose was a popular character in the sitcom, with a flair for drama and a fancy for married men. Millar remained with the series through to its conclusion in 1995.

In 1960, Millar travelled to New York to understudy Julie Andrews in Camelot. She began her West End career in 1962 as Cloris in Lock Up Your Daughters. In 1969, she played the title role in the musical Ann Veronica, based on H. G. Wells' novel. In 1986, Millar originated the role of Madame Giry in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera. She played the role for four years and her voice appears on the original cast album. From 1997 to 1998, she played Mrs Potts in the London production of Beauty and the Beast, and appeared on the cast album composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. In February 1998, Millar left the show because of deteriorating health.