14 Facts About Dora Bryan

Dora Bryan's father was a salesman and she attended Hathershaw County Primary School in Oldham, Lancashire.

Dora Bryan's career began in pantomime before the Second World War, during which she joined ENSA in Italy to entertain British troops.

Dora Bryan made her Broadway debut as Mrs Pierce in Pygmalion, starring Peter O'Toole and Amanda Plummer.

Dora Bryan appeared with Trevor Peacock in the National Theatre's 1994 revival of Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party.

Dora Bryan appeared in similarly stereotypical female roles in other films, for example Gift Horse, The Cockleshell Heroes, The Green Man and Carry On Sergeant.

Dora Bryan appeared in cameo on radio comedy series of which included Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh, Hancock's Half Hour an episode commonly known as "Cinderella Hancock".

Dora Bryan appeared in the film A Taste of Honey, which won four BAFTA awards, including Best Actress for Bryan and Best British Film.

Dora Bryan played the Headmistress in The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery, and she starred in According to Dora, her own television series for the BBC.

Dora Bryan plays the role of one of two eccentric characters described by The Washington Post as two "tea-and-crumpet gargoyle-featured spinsters who snoop the corridors".

Dora Bryan appeared in two episodes of series one of the BBC sitcom On The Up in 1990 as Mrs Carpenter, but left soon after to be replaced by actress Pauline Letts for series two and three.

Dora Bryan received a BAFTA nomination in 2002 for this role.

Dora Bryan's autobiography According to Dora was published in 1987.

An exhibition about Dora Bryan opened on 13 September 2013 at Rottingdean Museum.

Dora Bryan was married for 54 years to former Lancashire and Cumberland cricketer Bill Lawton until his death in August 2008.