Sue Holderness, renowned for her role as Marlene Boyce in the iconic 80s sitcom Only Fools and Horses, recently shared a harrowing experience involving a late-night encounter with an attacker. During a podcast interview with her Madame Blanc Mysteries co-star on A Night In With Sally Lindsay, the 76-year-old actress recounted how her self-defense training for acting inadvertently helped her fend off a real-life assailant.

The incident occurred in the 70s while Holderness was performing on stage. As she walked home one night after a show, a man suddenly approached her from the shadows and attempted to strangle her. Drawing on her karate skills acquired for a role as a villain’s foil, she instinctively incapacitated the attacker by striking him under the chin with the heel of her hand.

In a mix of relief and panic, Holderness feared she may have fatally injured the man, recalling the self-defense instructor’s warning about the potential danger of striking the chin’s side. To her surprise, there were no reports of any such incident at hospitals or police stations the following day, suggesting the assailant likely stumbled home in a daze.

Reflecting on a personal tragedy, Holderness also revealed the heartbreaking loss of her younger brother, who fell into a coma and passed away during her childhood. Despite the profound impact of this loss on her family, she emphasized the importance of cherishing the happy memories shared with loved ones during difficult times.

With a successful career spanning multiple TV series beyond Only Fools and Horses, including The New Avengers and EastEnders, Sue Holderness continues to captivate audiences with her talent and resilience.

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