EastEnders actress Annette Badland has disclosed that her portrayal of a villainous character on the soap forced her into “living in hiding” after receiving death threats. The 74-year-old played Mick Carter’s (Danny Dyer) malevolent aunt, who engaged in various crimes, including baby farming, blackmail, and nearly leaving her sister Sylvie (Linda Marlowe) for dead.
In an exclusive interview with Reach PLC, Annette reflected on her experience, stating that while she enjoyed playing Aunt Babe, some fans took their animosity too far by sending her “disturbing” threats. She revealed, “It’s always good to play villains; it’s intriguing, though it has its consequences in a soap because I did receive death threats in the end.”
“It’s very unsettling that some people can’t differentiate between the character and the actor; they don’t realize I’m just acting,” she explained. While the threats subsided after about a month, security at the BBC and the police advised her to avoid revealing her whereabouts and limit her outings, adding an element of fear to her life at the time.
Despite the fear, Annette later regarded the messages as “a compliment” to her convincing performance. She left the soap in 2017, citing an abrupt exit due to a new producer who canceled a year-long storyline planned for her character.
Though she departed, Annette hasn’t ruled out returning if a captivating storyline arises. “I’d consider it for a storyline or something; I don’t know if I’d commit for an indefinite period, but you never know. It depends on what they come up with,” she noted.
Regarding her character’s fate, she mentioned, “My boy is dead now, Danny,” then teasingly added, “Or is he?!”
Currently, Annette is appearing in the new comedy-drama ‘Portraits of Dangerous Women,’ which follows the intertwined lives of three characters after a peculiar roadway incident. Instead of seeking help from the authorities, they form an unexpected alliance, revealing their pasts and finding camaraderie.
She was attracted to this project for its unique approach, stating, “It isn’t conventional; it doesn’t follow a typical trajectory. I also liked that it focuses on women, which I support.”
Annette appreciates the humor, storytelling, and relational dynamics in the film, commenting, “I enjoy that it’s not so linear like most things; it takes unusual turns, which I find very interesting.”
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