Katherine Florence Dotrice (née Newman) was born on the 9th of May, 1929 in Liverpool, known professionally as Kay Newman and Kay Dotrice. She grew up in Liverpool and Cheshire, and began her career performing in revue and repertory theatre, particularly in the north of England. In 1945 she met RAF flyer Roy Dotrice, who had just been released from a German POW camp. Following his release from the Royal Air Force in 1945, he had started acting in theater, in the same place Kay was working at. They wed in May 1947 with Kay later giving birth to three girls, all to become actresses. Michele, who starred on the British series 'Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em' and 'Chintz' and the miniseries 'Vanity Fair' and 'Bramwell'; Karen, who appeared in 'Mary Poppins' and in the 1978s 'The 39 Steps' and the series 'Upstairs Downstairs'; and Yvette, who starred on British TV’s 'Crossroads', 'Maybury' and 'Fox'. Michele made her stage debut at three weeks old in 1948, when her mother Kay and father Roy Dotrice had lead roles in repertory with the Fortescue Players and she was carried on by her mother as the script called for a baby.                                        

During the 1950s Kay appeared with her husband in a lot of repertoire productions in theatres throughout Britain. She played many lead roles, and consistently received positive notices. Reviewing J.Hartley Manners' 'Peg O' My Heart' (1952), one critic wrote "the Chichester family .. members were vividly contrasted [with] ... Kay Newman, fresh from her success as Emmy in 'They Walk Alone' (1952)', as the resentful Ethel", and another said, "Kay Newman, as the slandered wife, gave an appealing performance." Reviews of Mel Dinelli's 'The Man' (1953) commented "Kay Newman in particular gave an impressive performance. As the frightened and tormented woman who unwittingly hires the services of a homicidal maniac as a house-help, she had a firm grasp on the part." and "Kay Newman reveals strong dramatic powers as in rapid succession she conveys nervous tension ranging from surprise to panic." In John Van Druten's 'Behold We Live' (1953), she "gives a delightful character study as a down-to-earth London housekeeper." In performances at The Little on Guernsey of 'Johnny Belinda' (1954), "the leading part of Belinda [was] a personal triumph for Kay Newman, who played it with charm and restraint." Kay also appeared there in the pantomime 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' (1957).

Following appearances on televison in 'ITV Television Playhouse' (1961), 'ITV Play of the Week' (1962) and in 3 episodes of 'BBC Sunday Night Play' (1960-62), she appeared in 'The Wednesday Play' (1968-70) with daughter Michele; in 25 episodes as Deborah Crisp in the soap opera 'Crossroads' (1978-79), with Yvette; and in the 2004 TV documentary 'Camp Hollywood', in which she played herself. Her film work includes Cheech & Chong’s 'The Corsican Brothers' (1984) in which she played a midwife alongside husband Roy. In 1962, her six-year-old daughter Karen was offered a five-year contract by Walt Disney and Kay spent all her time with her, supporting her and helping her learn her scripts. In 1977, she had returned to performing under the name Kay Dotrice, playing the roles of Mrs Darling and Michael in a Decca recording of 'Peter Pan' with Roy Dotrice as The Narrator, Captain Hook, Mr Darling and Pirates, Michele Dotrice as Peter Pan, Karen Dotrice as Wendy, Kay Dotrice as Mrs Darling and Michael, and Yvette Dotrice as John.

The family appeared with Roy on 'This Is Your Life'.

Her husband's considerable success in 'Brief Lives' which had taken them to America and in another one-man show 'Mister Lincoln', in which he appeared on Broadway in 1980 meant they spent most of their time there. However while living and working mostly in the US,  they kept a flat in St Martin’s Lane, next door to the Duke of York’s theatre, so that they could visit their family. They did however live for many years in Shipton-on-Stour, Warwickshire.

Kay Dotrice died on the 2nd of August 2007 of a heart attack at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. She was 78.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/07/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-john_20.html