Character: Mollie Summersgill
Actor: Liz Fraser
Episode: Bleak Midwinter
Proprietor of the hair dressing salon adjoining the Southern Bank and the former employer of Grace Phillips and Jane Milner. A blousy, silly woman who jumps to conclusions and is a very bad judge of character. She is taken hostage by Harry Osbourne when he uses her shop to gain underground access to the bank.
February, 2007; Publicity Release
Appearing in Foyle's War reminded Liz Fraser of her childhood as an evacuee.
"I remember the 40s well. I was evacuated to a house next door to Winston Churchill in Chartwell and I sat by his fire.
It was an enormous house and the people who owned it were great friends with Churchill. Then things got bad in Kent and I was evacuated to an absolute mansion in Devon.
"It was an idyllic time. There were peacocks walking around and I was a little cockney coming from London, not knowing much, and spending the formative years of my life in the country, living a luxurious lifestyle.
"Nothing has fazed me since and I felt after living there I could handle any situation. I walked nine miles back and fore to school, picking wild strawberries and it gave me a great taste of country life."
Liz plays Mollie Summersgill, a friend of Jane Milner's, who runs a hairdressing salon in Hastings.
"Mollie's salon has all the old fashioned equipment and that was quite interesting to see. I have always watched Foyle's War and was very pleased when they offered me the role.
I liked Mollie and I didn't care how small the part was, I was just delighted to be in a series that I was really fond of. It was a pleasure to work with Michael Kitchen and watch him work. It reminded me of working with Alastair Sim."
Liz has been acting for 50 years with roles in the Carry On films as well as Hancock's Half Hour, Up The Junction, Last of the Summer Wine and most recently Pickles: The Dog Who Won the World Cup.
"I was one of the first pin ups and I still get a lot of fan mail. It's not just the Carry On films either. But I do find it a bit frustrating when an old man of about 110 with a walking stick comes up to me in the street and says "you were my first screen sweetheart". I just wish they were a bit younger!
"I've done a pilot for a show called The Co-stars which went through my career and it brought tears to my eyes watching some of my work again."
Adds Liz: "I still get a great kick out of acting and I turn down a lot of work these days because I don't want to tour any more or do a long-running character in a soap."
Liz spends her spare time playing bridge and bowls as well as working with the Variety Club. "I've also got a new Bassett Hound pup.
He is a handful and keeps me fit and busy. I found out to my pleasure that they are the most intelligent breed."