Dora Bryan
| Dora Bryan OBE | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Dora May Broadbent 7 February 1923 Parbold, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 23 July 2014 (aged 91) Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England |
| Occupation | Actress hotelier |
| Years active | 1947–2006 |
| Spouse(s) |
Bill Lawton (m. 1954–2008, his death) |
| Children | 3 (2 adopted) |
Dora May Broadbent, OBE, known as Dora Bryan (7 February 1923 – 23 July 2014) was an English actress of stage, film and television.
Bryan was born in Parbold, Lancashire at 14 Mill Lane, later known as "Cob Cottage". Her father was a salesman and she attended Hathershaw County Primary School in Oldham, Lancashire. Her career began in pantomime before World War II, during which she joined ENSA in Italy to entertain British troops.
Bryan made her stage debut as a child in a pantomime in Manchester and, encouraged by her mother, joined the Oldham Repertory while still a teenager. After spending six years honing her craft there, she moved to London to develop her stage career, becoming a regular performer in the West End. Cast in a production of Noël Coward's Private Lives, the actress was encouraged to adopt a stage name by Coward himself. She opted for Dora Bryant, which she often said was inspired by a box of Bryant and May matches which were lying on the table, but a typographical error left off the last letter on the theatre hoarding and she became Dora Bryan.
Recognised for her distinctive speaking voice, which became a trademark of her performances, she followed many of her theatre contemporaries into film acting, generally playing supporting roles. She often played women of easy virtue—for example in The Fallen Idol (1948), one of her earliest films, and Ealing's The Blue Lamp (1950). She appeared in similarly stereotypical female roles in other films, for example The Cockleshell Heroes (1955), The Green Man (1956) and Carry On Sergeant (1958).
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