
Dora Bryan
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.
Known For
Credits
- 2005 ·MirrorMaskas Aunt Nan
- 2000 ·Doctorsas Lily Anderson
- 1998 ·dinnerladiesas Connie
- 1996 ·Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shoutas Millie
- 1995 ·Bedas Bosom Lady
- 1994 ·Mother's Ruinas
- 1993 ·Frank Stubbs Promotesas Molly Bramley
- 1992 ·Absolutely Fabulousas Dolly
- 1992 ·Virtual Murderas
- 1992 ·Heartbeatas Jane Thompson
- 1991 ·Performanceas Bosom Lady
- 1991 ·Palmeras Monica
- 1990 ·On the Upas
- 1989 ·Apartment Zeroas Margaret McKinney
- 1986 ·Casualtyas Hester Blewett
- 1983 ·Screamtimeas Emma
- 1978 ·An Audience with...as Self
- 1973 ·Last of the Summer Wineas Roz
- 1973 ·Last of the Summer Wineas Ros
- 1972 ·Both Ends Meetas Dora Page
- 1972 ·Up the Frontas Cora Crumpington
- 1967 ·Two A Pennyas Ruby Hopkins
- 1967 ·Before The Fringeas
- 1966 ·The Sandwich Manas Mrs. De Vere
- 1964 ·The Dream Machineas Self
- 1960 ·Alice Through the Looking Boxas
- 1960 ·Hello Londonas herself
- 1960 ·The Night We Got the Birdas Julie Skidmore
- 1960 ·Follow That Horse!as
- 1959 ·Operation Bullshineas Pvt. Cox
- 1959 ·Desert Miceas Gay Bennett
- 1958 ·The Man Who Wouldn't Talkas Telephonist
- 1957 ·Small Hotelas (uncredited)
- 1956 ·Child in the Houseas Cassie
- 1955 ·As Long as They're Happyas May
- 1955 ·The Sooty Showas Herself
- Future ·According To Doraas
- 1971 ·Hands of the Ripperas Mrs. Golding
- 1966 ·The Great St. Trinian's Train Robberyas Amber Spottiswood
- 1961 ·A Taste of Honeyas Helen
- 1958 ·Carry On Sergeantas Norah
- 1956 ·The Green Manas Lily
- 1955 ·The Cockleshell Heroesas Myrtie
- 1955 ·You Lucky People!as Hortense Tipp
- 1954 ·Harmony Laneas Comedian
- 1954 ·Mad About Menas Berengaria
- 1954 ·The Crowded Dayas Marge
- 1954 ·The Young Loversas Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
- 1954 ·Fast and Looseas Mary Rawlings, the maid
- 1954 ·You Know What Sailors Areas
- 1953 ·The Intruderas Dora Bee
- 1953 ·The Fakeas Barmaid
- 1953 ·Street Corneras Prostitute
- 1953 ·Women of Twilightas Olga
- 1953 ·The Real Thingas Dora
- 1952 ·The Ringeras Mrs. Hackett
- 1952 ·Miss Robin Hoodas Pearl
- 1952 ·Mother Riley Meets the Vampireas Tilly
- 1952 ·Time, Gentlemen, Please!as Peggy Stebbins
- 1952 ·Gift Horseas Glad Flanagan
- 1952 ·13 East Streetas Valerie
- 1952 ·Whispering Smith Vs. Scotland Yardas Miss La Fosse
- 1951 ·High Treasonas Mrs. Bowers
- 1951 ·Lady Godiva Rides Againas Movie Publicist
- 1951 ·No Highway in the Skyas
- 1951 ·Scarlet Threadas Maggie
- 1951 ·Circle of Dangeras Bubbles Fitzgerald
- 1951 ·The Quiet Womanas Elsie Tripp
- 1950 ·Traveller's Joyas Eva
- 1950 ·No Traceas Maisie
- 1950 ·Something in the Cityas Waitress
- 1950 ·The Blue Lampas Maisie
- 1949 ·The Cure for Loveas Jenny Jenkins
- 1949 ·The Interrupted Journeyas the waitress
- 1949 ·Don't Ever Leave Meas Talkative Hairdresser (uncredited)
- 1949 ·Adam and Evelyneas Blonde Sales Assistant (uncredited)
- 1949 ·Now Barabbasas Winnie
- 1949 ·The Perfect Womanas Model in Shop
- 1949 ·Once Upon a Dreamas Barmaid
- 1948 ·No Room at the Innas The Girl
- 1948 ·The Fallen Idolas Rose
- 1947 ·Odd Man Outas Girl in Telephone Kiosk (uncredited)