Dora Bryan
Acting
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
Acting87
movieMirrorMask
2005
Aunt Nan
movieThora Hird Tribute
2003
Self (archive footage, uncredited)
tvDoctors
2000
Lily Anderson
tvHippies
1999
Dame Nelly Fletcher
tvdinnerladies
1998
Connie
movieBed
1995
Bosom Lady
tvFrank Stubbs Promotes
1993
Molly Bramley
tvVirtual Murder
1992
Mrs Mim
tvHeartbeat
1992
Jane Thompson
tvPerformance
1991
Bosom Lady
moviePalmer
1991
Monica
movieApartment Zero
1989
Margaret McKinney
tvCasualty
1986
Hester Blewett
movieUp the Front
1972
Auntie Cora Crumpington
Both Ends Meet
1972
Dora Page
movieHands of the Ripper
1971
Mrs. Golding
movieTwo a Penny
1967
Ruby Hopkins
movieThe Sandwich Man
1966
Mrs. De Vere
movieThe Great St Trinian's Train Robbery
1966
Amber Spottiswood
Happily Ever After
1961
Dora Morgan
movieThe Night We Got the Bird
1960
Julie Skidmore
movieOperation Bullshine
1959
Pvt. Cox
movieDesert Mice
1959
Gay Bennett
movieThe Man Who Wouldn't Talk
1958
Telephonist
movieSmall Hotel
1957
(uncredited)
tvTheatre Night
1957
Julie Skidmore
movieYou Lucky People!
1955
Hortense Tipp
tvThe Sooty Show
1955
Herself
movieHarmony Lane
1954
Comedian
movieMad About Men
1954
Berengaria
movieThe Young Lovers
1954
Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
movieFast and Loose
1954
Mary Rawlings, the maid
movieThe Intruder
1953
Dora Bee
movieThe Fake
1953
Barmaid
movieStreet Corner
1953
Prostitute
movieThe Ringer
1952
Mrs. Hackett
movieTime, Gentlemen, Please!
1952
Peggy Stebbins
movieGift Horse
1952
Glad Flanagan
movie13 East Street
1952
Valerie
movieWhispering Smith vs. Scotland Yard
1952
Miss La Fosse
movieHigh Treason
1951
Mrs. Bowers
movieLady Godiva Rides Again
1951
Movie Publicist
movieScarlet Thread
1951
Maggie
movieCircle of Danger
1951
Bubbles Fitzgerald
movieThe Quiet Woman
1951
Elsie Tripp
movieNo Trace
1950
Maisie
movieSomething in the City
1950
Waitress
movieThe Blue Lamp
1950
Maisie
movieThe Cure for Love
1949
Jenny Jenkins
movieThe Interrupted Journey
1949
the waitress
movieDon't Ever Leave Me
1949
Talkative Hairdresser (uncredited)
movieAdam and Evelyne
1949
Blonde Sales Assistant (uncredited)
movieNow Barabbas
1949
Winnie
movieThe Perfect Woman
1949
Model in Shop
movieOnce Upon a Dream
1949
Barmaid
movieNo Room at the Inn
1948
The Girl
movieOdd Man Out
1947
Girl in Telephone Kiosk (uncredited)