"The girl-next-door image is a sort of joke; for years, I couldn't get any roles other than as somebody dark"

Felicity Kendal's quote speaks to the trouble of being typecast in the show business. She suggests that her "girl-next-door" image was a joke, as she was unable to get any functions besides those that required her to play a "dark" character. This might be translated as a commentary on the restricted roles readily available to women in the market, in addition to the limited variety of characters that are available to them. It could likewise be viewed as a criticism of the industry's propensity to pigeonhole actors into specific functions, despite their skill or variety. Ultimately, Kendal's quote speaks with the need for more diverse functions and characters in the show business, so that actors can be provided the chance to explore their complete range of skills.