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Dora Bryan
Actor

Dora Bryan

7 Feb 1923Born
23 Jul 2014Died
91Age at death
81Credits

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".

Read the full biography

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

The 80 most recent of 81 credits.

  1. TBAAccording To DoraSeries (14 episodes)
  2. 2005MirrorMaskFilm: Aunt Nan
  3. 2000DoctorsSeries: Lily Anderson (1 episode)
  4. 1999HippiesSeries: Dame Nelly Fletcher (1 episode)
  5. 1998dinnerladiesSeries: Connie (1 episode)
  6. 1996Absolutely Fabulous: The Last ShoutFilm: Millie
  7. 1995BedFilm: Bosom Lady
  8. 1994Mother's RuinSeries (6 episodes)
  9. 1993Frank Stubbs PromotesSeries: Molly Bramley (1 episode)
  10. 1992Absolutely FabulousSeries: Dolly (1 episode)
  11. 1992Virtual MurderSeries: Mrs Mim (1 episode)
  12. 1992HeartbeatSeries: Jane Thompson (1 episode)
  13. 1991PerformanceSeries: Bosom Lady (1 episode)
  14. 1991PalmerFilm: Monica
  15. 1990On the UpSeries (19 episodes)
  16. 1989Apartment ZeroFilm: Margaret McKinney
  17. 1986CasualtySeries: Hester Blewett (1 episode)
  18. 1983ScreamtimeFilm: Emma
  19. 1973Last of the Summer WineSeries: Roz (60 episodes)
  20. 1972Up the FrontFilm: Auntie Cora Crumpington
  21. 1972Both Ends MeetSeries: Dora Page (7 episodes)
  22. 1971Hands of the RipperFilm: Mrs. Golding
  23. 1967Two a PennyFilm: Ruby Hopkins
  24. 1967Before The FringeSeries (14 episodes)
  25. 1966The Sandwich ManFilm: Mrs. De Vere
  26. 1966The Great St Trinian's Train RobberyFilm: Amber Spottiswood
  27. 1961A Taste of HoneyFilm: Helen
  28. 1961Happily Ever AfterSeries: Dora Morgan (12 episodes)
  29. 1960Alice Through the Looking BoxFilm: Queen
  30. 1960The Night We Got the BirdFilm: Julie Skidmore
  31. 1960Follow That Horse!Film
  32. 1959Operation BullshineFilm: Pvt. Cox
  33. 1959Desert MiceFilm: Gay Bennett
  34. 1958Educating ArchieSeries (1 episode)
  35. 1958Carry On SergeantFilm: Norah
  36. 1958The Man Who Wouldn't TalkFilm: Telephonist
  37. 1957Small HotelFilm: (uncredited)
  38. 1957Theatre NightSeries: Julie Skidmore (1 episode)
  39. 1956The Green ManFilm: Lily
  40. 1956Child in the HouseFilm: Cassie
  41. 1955The Cockleshell HeroesFilm: Myrtie
  42. 1955You Lucky People!Film: Hortense Tipp
  43. 1955As Long as They're HappyFilm: May
  44. 1954Harmony LaneFilm: Comedian
  45. 1954Mad About MenFilm: Berengaria
  46. 1954The Crowded DayFilm: Marge
  47. 1954The Young LoversFilm: Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
  48. 1954Fast and LooseFilm: Mary Rawlings, the maid
  49. 1954You Know What Sailors AreFilm
  50. 1953The IntruderFilm: Dora Bee
  51. 1953The FakeFilm: Barmaid
  52. 1953Street CornerFilm: Prostitute
  53. 1953Women of TwilightFilm: Olga
  54. 1953The Real ThingFilm: Dora
  55. 1952The RingerFilm: Mrs. Hackett
  56. 1952Miss Robin HoodFilm: Pearl
  57. 1952Mother Riley Meets the VampireFilm: Tilly
  58. 1952Time, Gentlemen, Please!Film: Peggy Stebbins
  59. 1952Gift HorseFilm: Glad Flanagan
  60. 195213 East StreetFilm: Valerie
  61. 1952Whispering Smith vs. Scotland YardFilm: Miss La Fosse
  62. 1951High TreasonFilm: Mrs. Bowers
  63. 1951Lady Godiva Rides AgainFilm: Movie Publicist
  64. 1951No Highway in the SkyFilm
  65. 1951Scarlet ThreadFilm: Maggie
  66. 1951Circle of DangerFilm: Bubbles Fitzgerald
  67. 1951The Quiet WomanFilm: Elsie Tripp
  68. 1950Traveller's JoyFilm: Eva
  69. 1950No TraceFilm: Maisie
  70. 1950Something in the CityFilm: Waitress
  71. 1950The Blue LampFilm: Maisie
  72. 1949The Cure for LoveFilm: Jenny Jenkins
  73. 1949The Interrupted JourneyFilm: the waitress
  74. 1949Don't Ever Leave MeFilm: Talkative Hairdresser (uncredited)
  75. 1949Adam and EvelyneFilm: Blonde Sales Assistant (uncredited)
  76. 1949Now BarabbasFilm: Winnie
  77. 1949The Perfect WomanFilm: Model in Shop
  78. 1949Once Upon a DreamFilm: Barmaid
  79. 1948No Room at the InnFilm: The Girl
  80. 1948The Fallen IdolFilm: Rose

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.