Bernie O’haraisa cross between Wyatt Earp and Calamity Jane...with a Glaswegian accent
something at The Tramway years ago and I felt it really was my mother.
“She was a strong character and it’s great to feel her coming through, to channel her in what I’m doing. “Both her and my father have been such a support in everything I’ve done, they’ve always been right behind me.
“I called him as soon as I got River City and he was like, ‘Oh kid, that’s magic!” Barbara’s husband Sean Scanlan, who appeared in Nesbitt as Rab’s posh cousin Shug, died of throat cancer last year. And the mum-of-two has really thrown herself into work to help cope with the loss of her partner of 20 years.
She was in musical comedy The Wedding Singer and then toured all over Scotland in musical Bingo.
In fact, she’s been so busy she actually turned down a major role on the other side of the world when BBC Scotland came calling.
“I had done a play at the Edinburgh Festival years ago and although I hadn’t signed up yet I wanted to go to China to do it,” said Barbara.
“I thought that River City would probably have let me out to do it but it’s a long way and I thought doing this and then flying to China would be too much.” Barbara made her big screen debut 45 years ago with a small part in film The Wicker Man but she insists she has never lost her passion for acting.
“When I’m standing out there and they call action it’s as big a thrill as ever,” says Barbara. “I still feel like I’m living the dream.
“I think it’s amazing that I’ve kept working all my life. I feel so fortunate. “I don’t really have any ambitions left. I’m so old think I’ve done it all except maybe come out of a card as singing telegram – and I really don’t fancy that.” Barbara won over a whole new legion of young fans with her portrayal of Grandma Mainland in the hit TV adaptation of the bestselling Katie Morag books.
“When I was rehearsing for the musical there were some children in a nursery downstairs. When they spotted me when we broke for lunch they were all giving me hugs and cuddles, which was so brilliant.”
River City BBC1 Scotland Tuesday 8pm.