Queen’s Brian May’s Wife Became His Caregiver Muse — They Made It to 22 Years despite Predictions to the Contrary

Many people predicted that Brian May and his wife Anita Dobson’s marriage would not go the distance; however, they have proven everyone wrong. They have been together for 22 years now, with Dobson becoming May’s dependable caregiver at one point. It makes everyone wonder what the secret behind their union’s longevity is.

Lasting marriages are not very common in the entertainment world; things often start on the right foot but turn sour as time passes. However, now and then, there comes along a love so strong that despite all the ups and downs, it endures.

An example of such an enduring love story is the one Brian May shares with his longtime wife, Anita Dobson. The pair recently celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary and shared pictures on social media and their joint webpage.

Brian May with wife Anita Dobson arriving at the premiere of “Bohemian Rhapsody” on October 30, 2018 | Source: Getty Images

In a picture May posted on Instagram, the pair were captured in a public space with beautiful smiles plastered across their faces. Dobson was holding a plate that had small clam shells and the words “Happy 22nd Anniversary” written with what looked like liquid chocolate.

The Queen guitarist and former “EastEnders” actress married after dating for 12 rough years. The wedding was a civil event at the Richmond Register Office in the presence of 20 close friends and family members, including May’s crewmates, Roger Taylor and John Deacon.

The wedding came about several months after the pair got back together since splitting due to May’s affair with his secretary, Julie Glover. They surmounted such obstacles because, according to Dobson, she wanted to be with him and make things work.

The pair first met in 1986 when Dobson was at the height of her “EastEnders” success, and they started going out. However, in 2015, appearing on an episode of “Loose Women” with his wife, May revealed that many in his entourage did not believe their relationship had a future, including Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury. May recalled:

“A lot of people, including Freddie [said it wouldn’t last].”

May believed Mercury thought Dobson was a volatile match for him because he also had a fiery streak, so the late singer used to tell him:

“Darling, you’ll never last.”

May also admitted his manager at the time had scoffed at the idea of him marrying an actress, but that’s exactly what he did, and he has never regretted the decision. He is known to take any opportunity to praise his wife and her virtues.

In an old YouTube video that featured the singer answering his most Googled questions, he talked about his wife’s amazing career. One question asked about who he was married to, and May took it as a chance to talk about how Dobson was when they met.

He said the fights, sometimes caused by minor reasons, only happen because they care about one another.

According to the songwriter, at the time, Dobson was more famous than he was, thanks to “EastEnders.” He also said her role as Angie in the series was one of the best and worst things to happen to her.

Musician Brian May and actress wife Anita Dobson attend the 10th Annual Classic Rock Awards at Avalon on November 4, 2014 | Source: Getty Images

According to May, Dobson’s involvement in the show was great because it brought her wealth and fame, however, he explained:

“People were so married to this wonderful character that she created, Angie, that they wouldn’t let her be anything else. So she’s fought long and hard to re-establish herself as the actress that she was before she went into the soap. She’s an amazing actress, an amazing performer – and an amazing wife.”

Dobson means many things to May. Besides all he mentioned above, he also has the privilege of calling her his muse. According to reports, she inspired the famous single “I Want It All,” which he wrote.

Brian May and wife Anita Dobson at St Martins Lane on April 11, 2017 | Source: Getty Images

The single was responsible for Queen’s return to the UK singles chart after being off the chart for nearly three years. According to May, the song, which resulted in more hit singles in the space of seven months, was inspired by something his wife used to say.

“The actual title was a favorite phrase of Anita’s, a very ambitious girl.… ‘I want it all, and I want it now.'”

The Hard Times

Despite the longevity of their marriage, Dobson and May have not been immune to troubles that came in different forms. During the lockdown period, May got so sick Dobson started fearing her life would never be the same.

Speaking about the experience in a past interview, Dobson confessed she “went into shock” because she could not believe what was happening. According to her, every facility in her body went numb, fearing something terrible would happen to her husband.

May suffered a heart attack, sciatica, and a hemorrhage, all of which affected him so much that Dobson had to step back from acting to focus on being his caregiver.

She said that the role, which involved being a cleaner, cook, and carer, was not suited to her personality. However, she did her best, and May made a great recovery.

He returned to making music, and Dobson went back to acting. Those who saw May in public attested to how healthy he looked, and when they went out together, the love between them was undeniable.

The Secret

Bryan May marrying Anita Dobson seems likelier to have been a match made in heaven. Several years ago, when they appeared together on an episode of “Loose Women,” Dobson revealed what makes their relationship work.

May said that he had “massive respect” for Dobson as a wife and actress even though they usually had many arguments. He said the fights, sometimes caused by minor reasons, only happened because they care about one another.

Dobson can deal with May’s temper, and come what may, she is ready to work things out with him. When asked how they made it all work, she admitted:

“I want to be with him, so that’s the whole reason we’re still together.”

The pair have been married for over two decades, and with the looks of things, they’ll remain this way for years to come. Theirs is clearly a Hollywood fairytale story.