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ROLE OF A LIFETIME

16 February 2007 When Kazia Pelka is asked 'What do you do?' she must need to think for a moment before responding. As a mother, wife, actress and small business owner she wears many hats, but she wears them well

Her acting CV is loaded with roles in TV faves from Heartbeat, to Family Affairs and she can still be seen as top brass DAC Georgia Hobbs in The Bill. Although it's her characters who visited TVs across the country, it's her role as small business owner that gets her recognised on the streets of East Dulwich.

In between time on set and school runs, Pelka, 46, somehow found time to set up an intoxicating boutique in fashionable SE22. Less than two years after opening its scented doors, Dr Boo is booming and expansion is on the horizon.

Despite being distracted by a successful acting career, Pelka admitted that she has always been fascinated by the rituals of beauty.

"I was a make up artist before I became an actress," she explained. "It's been an interest of mine for a long time."
Although it may seem surprising that an established actress would venture into the world of small business, for Pelka Dr Boo was no surprise. "I chose the name because I like the idea of surprise and artifice in make up."

The idea of becoming a businesswoman coincided with the birth of her daughter, Theodora. After years of playing Maggie on Heartbeat and then Chrissy on Family Affairs, Pelka decided to push the acting pause button and literally set up shop.

Despite being equally at home behind both the beauty counter and the small screen, Pelka is still uncertain as to her favourite role.

"I love all of it," she admitted. "I love theatre because of the intense work during the rehearsal period, I love radio because I like the fact that it's completely vocal. Of course, I love television because I've done so much of it, but it all just makes me enjoy my work as an actress."

With so many strings to her bow, Pelka has set her list of priorities with the titles 'Mum' and 'Mrs' right at the top. "I'm a wife and a mother first and if I never work again - as much as I love it - that's who I am."

Despite remaining humble about the acting, Pelka's TV work keeps on coming and she hints at future projects. However, it's family life and Dr Boo that keeps her grounded.

At an age when many actresses are nervously fighting the clock, Pelka is embracing her age and it is probably her insider 'beauty' knowledge that keeps her sane. Aging gracefully is important, she admits, but that doesn't mean letting yourself go.

"It's amazing the amount of women I know who don't take care of their skin. They don't invest in good products, yet they'll go for the short term fix of spending £700 on two cartridges of Botox!"

"What kind of actress am I going to be if I can't even move my face? I think I'm actually investing in my future by not having it!" she revealed, laughter lines and all. Pelka's investment in both her appearance and the boutique is set to be long term. "God willing, by the time I'm 70, I'll be one of the few actresses able to move her face!"

Dr Boo
22 Northcross Road, SE22 9EU
Tel: 02086934823