One of Britain’s best loved actresses, since her breakthrough role as Nancy in Rock Follies, Rula Lenska has starred in numerous iconic shows including Doctor Who, One Foot in the Grave, EastEnders, Boon, Take A Letter Mr Jones, To The Manor Born and The Saint. She talks to us about the touring stage thriller The Case of The Frightened Lady which runs at the Theatre Royal in Bath from 14^th – 19^th May.

How would you describe The Case of The Frightened Lady?

It’s a fantastic mix between a thriller and a psychological drama. It all takes place in a slightly crumbling, huge country mansion where the remnants of a dynastic family live. There’s lots happening, but from my point of view it’s about a mother and son relationship. This is an aristocratic family who have fallen on very hard times. The mother is desperate that the son should marry to carry on the lineage, but the son doesn’t want to. There is a pervading air of suspicion throughout the whole play, because everybody at some point is under suspicion. I’m not going to tell you what for.

It’s a play that makes the audience work, which is great. They have to figure out what’s going on. People will be fascinated by how this story unravels, and how every time it unravels a little bit more there is another possible spike. It keeps the audience guessing.

I love this show. When you look at a script it either goes ping or it doesn’t. This one went ping.

Who do you play?

I’m playing Lady Lebanon. She is a very strong, powerful, driven woman.  Very multi-layered. She’s high aristocracy, which is nice for me because that is actually my roots. She is extremely driven by her heritage. I’m not as much, but I do feel it in my heart and in my soul.

The show has a fantastic cast, including Gray O’Brien and Denis Lill. Have you worked with any of them before?

The brilliant Denis Lill was in Rock Follies with me years and years and years ago. I’ve crossed paths with him many times over the years and always adored him. The nature of the beast of theatre is you that meet up, make friends with people, then don’t see them for years. So it’s lovely when you’re brought together again.

The show tours all over the UK how do you prepare for that?

I could write a book about it… I need certain home comforts when I’m on the road. I have a nesting instinct, so wherever I go I make it home. I take wraps and books and candles and incense. Small things, photographs, things that remind me of home. I always travel with my own pillow. And I always travel with a hot water bottle. I try to see and do as much as possible in the various cities that we visit – art galleries, cinemas. Happily, most of the towns and cities that we’re going to I’ve been to before, so I know what to expect.

You’ve had such a wide ranging career. Can you pick any highlights?

I’ve been extremely lucky. As we get older, even the most successful of female actors will tell you there is a shortage of decent parts. But I’ve done alright. What stands out in recent years is a play called 84 Charing Cross Road, which again was a long tour. It was a wonderful part. I played a New York writer and I looked completely different. And I’ve made some lovely guest appearances; most exciting was Inside No. 9. Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith are geniuses.

What can Bath audiences expect from a trip to see The Case of The Frightened Lady?

They can expect excitement, surprise, visual splendour and something that’s going to make their brain work.

Photo of Rula Lenska by Nicholas Dawkes