Biography
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.
Acted in 73
2000s
- 2005
- 2000
1990s
- 1999
Hippies
Dame Nelly Fletcher · 1 episode
- 1998
dinnerladies
Connie · 1 episode
- 1996
Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout
Millie
- 1995
Bed
Bosom Lady
- 1993
Frank Stubbs Promotes
Molly Bramley · 1 episode
- 1992
Virtual Murder
Mrs Mim · 1 episode
- 1991
Palmer
Monica
1980s
- 1989
Apartment Zero
Margaret McKinney
- 1986
- 1983
Screamtime
Emma
1970s
- 1973
- 1972
Up the Front
Auntie Cora Crumpington
- 1971
1960s
- 1967
- 1966
The Sandwich Man
Mrs. De Vere
The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery
Amber Spottiswood
- 1963
- 1961
- 1960
Alice Through the Looking Box
Queen
The Night We Got the Bird
Julie Skidmore
1950s
- 1959
Operation Bullshine
Pvt. Cox
Desert Mice
Gay Bennett
- 1958
Carry On Sergeant
Norah
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
Telephonist
- 1957
Small Hotel
(uncredited)
Theatre Night
Julie Skidmore · 1 episode
- 1956
The Green Man
Lily
Child in the House
Cassie
- 1955
The Cockleshell Heroes
Myrtie
You Lucky People!
Hortense Tipp
As Long As They're Happy
May
- 1954
Harmony Lane
Comedian
Mad About Men
Berengaria
The Crowded Day
Marge
The Young Lovers
Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
Fast and Loose
Mary Rawlings, the maid
You Know What Sailors Are
Movie
- 1953
The Intruder
Dora Bee
The Fake
Barmaid
Street Corner
Prostitute
Women of Twilight
Olga
- 1952
The Ringer
Mrs. Hackett
Miss Robin Hood
Pearl
Mother Riley Meets the Vampire
Tilly
Time, Gentlemen, Please!
Peggy Stebbins
13 East Street
Valerie
- 1951
High Treason
Mrs. Bowers
Lady Godiva Rides Again
Movie Publicist
Circle of Danger
Bubbles Fitzgerald
The Quiet Woman
Elsie Tripp
- 1950
Traveller's Joy
Eva
No Trace
Maisie
Something in the City
Waitress
The Blue Lamp
Maisie
1940s
- 1949
The Cure for Love
Jenny Jenkins
Don't Ever Leave Me
Talkative Hairdresser (uncredited)
Adam and Evelyne
Blonde Sales Assistant (uncredited)
Now Barabbas
Winnie
Once Upon a Dream
Barmaid
- 1948
No Room at the Inn
The Girl
The Fallen Idol
Rose
- 1947
Appearances3
2000s
- 2003
Thora Hird Tribute
Self (archive footage, uncredited)
1970s
- 1978
1950s
- 1955
