DB
Dora Bryan
Actor
Born February 7, 1923Died July 23, 2014 (91 years)
Dora May Bryan OBE was an English actress of stage, film and television. Born Dora May Broadbent, her career began in pantomime as a child actor. In World War II she joined the ENSA in Italy to entertain British troops.
After having established herself as a versatile stage actress, covering everything from drama and comedy to musicals, she started to appear in film in the late 1940s, and in 1968 she even had her own TV series, "According to Dora". At one point in her career she was Britain's highest-paid star.
She was active on stage until the mid 1990s and continued to work in film and television until 2005, when she finally had to give up the acting profession as she could no longer remember her lines.
Her autobiography According To Dora was published in 1987. In 1996, she was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to acting and the same year she was also awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for her role in the West End production of the Harold Pinter play "The Birthday Party".
She was married to British cricket player Bill Lawton from 1954 to his death in 2008. She lived in a nursing home in Hove, outside Brighton, until her death in 2014.
After having established herself as a versatile stage actress, covering everything from drama and comedy to musicals, she started to appear in film in the late 1940s, and in 1968 she even had her own TV series, "According to Dora". At one point in her career she was Britain's highest-paid star.
She was active on stage until the mid 1990s and continued to work in film and television until 2005, when she finally had to give up the acting profession as she could no longer remember her lines.
Her autobiography According To Dora was published in 1987. In 1996, she was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to acting and the same year she was also awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for her role in the West End production of the Harold Pinter play "The Birthday Party".
She was married to British cricket player Bill Lawton from 1954 to his death in 2008. She lived in a nursing home in Hove, outside Brighton, until her death in 2014.
Known For
Filmography
| 2006 | Gone to the Dogs · as Rose |
| 2005 | Mirrormask · as Aunt Nan |
| 2004 | Catterick (TV Series) · as Mrs. Trethrewick |
| 2002 | An Angel for May · as Evelyn |
| 2000 | Doctors (TV Series) · as Lily Anderson |
| 1999 | Hippies (TV Series) · as Dame Nelly Fletcher |
| 1999 | Holby City (TV Series) · as Betty Wheeler |
| 1998 | dinnerladies (TV Series) · as Connie |
| 1997 | Bernard's Watch (TV Series) · as Marjorie Bell |
| 1997 | Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Not! · as Millie |
| 1996 | Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout · as Millie |
| 1994 | Moving Story (TV Series) · as Maureen Stevens |
| 1992 | Absolutely Fabulous (TV Series) · as Dolly |
| 1992 | |
| 1991 | Performance (TV Series) · as Bosom Lady |
| 1991 | Palmer · as Monica |
| 1990 | On The Up (TV Series) |
| 1988 | Apartment Zero · as Margaret Mckinney |
| 1986 | Casualty (TV Series) · as Hester Blewett |
| 1986 | |
| 1985 | Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV (TV Series) · as Pam's Mum |
| 1983 | Screamtime · as Emma |
| 1981 | Triangle (TV Series) · as Woman |
| 1973 | Last of the Summer Wine (TV Series) · as Roz |
| 1972 | Up the Front · as Cora Crumpington |
| 1971 | Hands of the Ripper · as Mrs. Golding |
| 1969 | The Coward Revue · as Cast |
| 1969 | ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV Series) · as Bunty |
| 1967 | Two a Penny · as Ruby Hopkins |
| 1966 | The Sandwich Man · as Mrs. De Vere |
| 1966 | The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery · as Amber Spottiswood |
| 1961 | A Taste of Honey · as Helen |
| 1961 | The Night We Got the Bird · as Julie Skidmore |
| 1960 | |
| 1959 | Operation Bullshine · as Pvt. Cox |
| 1959 | Desert Mice · as Gay Bennett |
| 1958 | Carry on Sergeant · as Norah |
| 1958 | The Man Who Wouldn't Talk · as Telephonist |
| 1957 | Small Hotel · as (uncredited) |
| 1957 | Theatre Night (TV Series) · as Julie Skidmore |
| 1956 | The Green Man · as Lily |
| 1956 | Child in the House · as Cassie |
| 1955 | The Cockleshell Heroes · as Myrtie |
| 1955 | You Lucky People! · as Hortense Tipp |
| 1955 | As Long as They're Happy · as May |
| 1955 | Simon and Laura · as Janet Honeyman |
| 1954 | Harmony Lane · as Comedian |
| 1954 | Mad About Men · as Berengaria |
| 1954 | Chance Meeting · as Switchboard Operator (uncredited) |
| 1954 | Shop Spoiled · as Marge |
| 1954 | |
| 1954 | Fast and Loose · as Mary Rawlings, The Maid |
| 1953 | The Intruder · as Dora Bee |
| 1953 | The Fake · as Barmaid |
| 1953 | Both Sides of the Law · as Prostitute |
| 1953 | The Real Thing · as Dora |
| 1952 | Twilight Women · as Olga |
| 1952 | The Ringer · as Mrs. Hackett |
| 1952 | Miss Robin Hood · as Pearl |
| 1952 | Made in Heaven · as Ethel Jenkins |
| 1952 | Vampire Over London · as Tilly |
| 1952 | Time, Gentlemen, Please! · as Peggy Stebbins |
| 1952 | Glory at Sea · as Glad Flanagan |
| 1952 | 13 East Street · as Valerie |
| 1952 | Whispering Smith vs. Scotland Yard · as Miss La Fosse |
| 1951 | High Treason · as Mrs. Bowers |
| 1951 | Bikini Baby · as Movie Publicist |
| 1951 | |
| 1951 | Scarlet Thread · as Maggie |
| 1951 | Circle of Danger · as Bubbles Fitzgerald |
| 1951 | The Quiet Woman · as Elsie Tripp |
| 1951 | Files from Scotland Yard · as Minnie Robinson |
| 1950 | Traveller's Joy · as Eva |
| 1950 | No Trace · as Maisie |
| 1950 | Something in the City · as Waitress |
| 1950 | The Blue Lamp · as Maisie |
| 1950 | Sunday Night Theatre (TV Series) · as Mabel |
| 1949 | The Perfect Woman · as Model In Shop |
| 1949 | The Interrupted Journey · as The Waitress |
| 1949 | Don't Ever Leave Me · as Talkative Hairdresser (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Adam and Evalyn · as Blonde Sales Assistant (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Now Barabbas · as Winnie |
| 1949 | Once Upon a Dream · as Barmaid |
| 1948 | No Room at the Inn · as The Girl |
| 1948 | The Fallen Idol · as Rose |
| 1947 | Odd Man Out · as Girl In Telephone Kiosk (uncredited) |