Karen Dotrice (born 9 November 1955) is a British actress known primarily for her role as Jane Banks in Walt Disney's feature film adaptation of the Mary Poppins book series. Dotrice ( ) was born in Guernsey (one of the Channel Islands) to two accomplished stage actors. Her career began on stage, expanded into film and television roles, and concluded with a short run as Desdemona in the 1981 pre-Broadway production of Othello. In 1984, Dotrice retired from show business to focus on motherhood; she has three children from two marriages. She was named a Disney Legend in 2004.
Daughter of Roy Dotrice and Kay Dotrice. Sister of Michele Dotrice and Yvette Dotrice.
Worked in a friend's art gallery after giving up acting.
Ned Nalle is a Philadelphia blue-blood who became an executive at Universal Studios. Karen and Ned were married in a Philadelphia church where his ancestors worshipped. In 2004, Ned became the President of Programming for Playboy Entertainment.
Children's names: Garrick William (1990, by Alex Hyde-White), Isabella 'Bella' (1995) and Griffin (1996) (by Edwin 'Ned' Nalle).
Sister-in-law of actor Edward Woodward.
Former daughter-in-law of Wilfrid Hyde-White.
(2004) Named a Disney Legend.
Her daughter Isabella made an uncredited appearance in Young Blades "The Invincible Sword" with her in 2005, playing "Jacqueline/Jacques" as a child.
Her frequent Disney childhood co-star Matthew Garber, who appeared with her in three films, including Mary Poppins (1964), died on June 13, 1977 at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, London, of "haemorrhagic necrotising pancreatitis". He was only 21. A younger brother interviewed years later believes that Matthew had contracted hepatitis from eating "bad meat" while traveling in India in 1976, and it had already spread to his pancreas when their father brought Matthew back to England the following year.
The late actor Charles Laughton was her godfather.
Last performed in a stage production of "Othello" in 1981 playing Desdemona opposite James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer (I).
