Mrs Culfeathers

Lesley Mackie

Brief info

Born in Dundee, where she spent her formative years, attending Hawkhill Primary and Harris Academy, Lesley got the acting bug from early childhood. At the age of six she played Little, Little Red Riding Hood at the old Nicholl Street Repertory Theatre. She went on to study drama at the RSAMD in Glasgow and from there, went into The Great Northern Welly Boot Show with Billy Connolly.

Lesley made her film debut in 1973 as the schoolgirl Daisy in The Wicker Man, for which she also sang the title song. She still finds it fun to be part of a cult film.

She has worked extensively in Repertory Theatre since 1974, playing many wonderful parts, her special favourites being Piaf, Judy, Shirley Valentine and Miss Hannigan in Annie. as well as many appearances on television including a lead in Peter McDougall's Play for Today, Just Your luck, and a spell in High Road.

She won a Laurence Olivier award in 1986 for her portrayal of Judy Garland in the musical Judy at the Strand Theatre written by her husband, Terry Wale. Other London appearances include Bells are Ringing (Greenwich) and Brigadoon (Victoria Palace Theatre).

In 2006 she appeared in the first Scottish tour of The Vagina Monologues and Mum's The Word 2 and, following a pantomime appearance as Cinderella at the Oran Mor Theatre, returned to play Dorothy Parker in Excuse My Dust, a one woman play by Terry Wale, which went on to play at the Edinburgh Fringe. (Gilded Balloon)

Many cabaret appearances include Toujours L'Amour (her tribute evening to Edith Piaf) and A Garland For Judy. In 2015 she played Toujours L'Amour for the last time at the Gardyne Theatre in Dundee, to commemorate the centenary of Edith’s birth.

Back in 1998, she wrote a serialised version of her life for the Dundee Courier and after another 25 years, In and Out of the Spotlight (The Ups and Downs of an Actress) was published on Amazon. She has recorded almost 250 audio books.

She is thrilled to be part of the legendary play The Steamie.

“Over the years I’ve seen The Steamie a couple of times and have always thought it an iconic and terrific piece of work. I was actually asked to do it back in 1989 and again in 1994, but somehow it never worked out for one reason or another, once because I thought I was too young for the part! Well, although I’d still like to say the same (!), that may not be entirely true anymore. So I’m delighted to have been invited to play Mrs Culfeathers in The Steamie on its Scottish tour, commencing in August in my hometown of Dundee.

I know many of the actors who have appeared in various productions over the years, and it seems to be one of those experiences that everyone remembers fondly, both actors and audiences alike. I’ve also known writer and actor Tony Roper since my days at the RSAMD in Glasgow over fifty years ago, although it’s been many years since our paths last crossed. If it hadn’t been for Facebook and the ease with which you can reconnect with people, I might never have had the opportunity to perform in this smashing play for the first time, and to be directed by the writer himself!

I haven’t toured for many years, so here’s to this one. I’m looking forward to meeting many old friends and colleagues along the way.”