Muriel Bats — © VRT, Liesbeth Verhulst
Six years after her departure from ‘Thuis’, actress Muriel Bats (56) can be seen on the small screen again, in that other well-known soap opera ‘Familie’. “After my dismissal from ‘Thuis’ I felt a bit defeated. Should I have to sell myself again at the age of 50?”, says Dag Allemaal.
Bats played the character Mayra in ‘Thuis’ for seven seasons, but that came to an unexpected end in 2018. A decision that was difficult for the actress. “After my dismissal I was discouraged, I felt a bit defeated,” she says in Dag Allemaal. “Did I really have to start knocking on doors everywhere again at the age of 50 and try to sell myself? I didn’t like that anymore. You know you shouldn’t take it personally, but it’s still difficult not to relate something like that to yourself. I was tired of fighting myself all the time.”
There was then no wind for almost six years. “I played a guest role in ‘Lisa’ in 2021, but otherwise it remained quiet,” says Bats. “Although that may be partly my own fault. I have made little effort to put myself on the map in recent years. But one blue Tuesday I received a phone call asking if I was available and would like to come and play in ‘Family’. Of course I immediately said yes!”