Thu Sep 12 10:20:55 UTC 2024: ## Two Doors Down Star Doon Mackichan Reveals She Claimed Universal Credit Amidst Public Perception of Wealth

**LONDON** – Despite playing the beloved, perpetually tipsy Cathy White in the hit BBC sitcom “Two Doors Down,” actress Doon Mackichan has revealed she had to claim Universal Credit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mackichan, 62, admitted that her character’s success has led to people assuming she is financially well off.

“People think I’m f****** loaded,” Mackichan wrote in her autobiography, “My Lady Parts: A Life Fighting Stereotypes,” released last year. She explained that while she owns a house in Hastings, she currently lives in a rented property in London and faced significant financial struggles during the pandemic.

“I didn’t care about the indignity of being on universal credit, I just thought: ‘This is a nightmare,'” Mackichan said. She expressed frustration with the system, acknowledging that her experience was not as dire as others, but calling it “a nightmare.”

Mackichan, who also starred in “Smack the Pony” and “Alan Partridge,” uses her book to address broader societal issues, including the pressure women face to maintain youthful appearances. She confessed to carrying a permanent marker to deface advertisements for aesthetic clinics, emphasizing her commitment to resisting the pressures of aging.

“When I see myself on screen, it’s horrible because you go: ‘Christ, who is that very old lady?’” Mackichan said, acknowledging the challenges of aging in the entertainment industry.

While Mackichan embraces the comedic aspects of her “Two Doors Down” character, she clarified that Cathy’s penchant for alcohol is not entirely based on personal experience. “There are three or four people who are definitely my go-to Cathy girls when they’ve had a few,” she said, “But then there’s myself. When I’ve had one too many, I will definitely humiliate myself on the dance floor.” She assured fans that the apple juice she drinks on set is decidedly less intoxicating than Cathy’s usual tipple.

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