15 Facts About Dorothy Ward

Dorothy Ward was an English actress who specialised in pantomimes, playing the principal boy roles, while her husband Shaun Glenville would play the dame roles.

Dorothy Ward had a successful 52 year career and played in over 40 pantomimes between 1905 and 1957.

Dorothy Ward made her stage debut at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham in 1905, aged 15, playing Zenobia in the pantomime Bluebeard.

The Christmas season of 1906 saw her as Dandini in the pantomime Cinderella at Edinburgh, where she understudied the role of Prince Charming; when the principal player fell ill Dorothy Ward had her first opportunity to play principal boy.

Dorothy Ward next created the non-speaking role of Etoff in Edward German's comic opera Tom Jones at the Apollo Theatre in London, and in 1908 she played Princess Helene in the operetta A Waltz Dream at the Hicks Theatre.

Dorothy Ward played Robin Hood in the pantomime The Babes in the Wood at the Prince of Wales Theatre in her home town of Birmingham followed by the title role in the pantomime Little Jack Horner at Newcastle in in which the Dame was played by the young Irish actor Shaun Glenville.

Dorothy Ward became noted as one of the leading principal boys, while Glenville as "a pantomime Dame without equal".

Dorothy Ward was Cora Angelique in a revival of The Belle of New York at Daly's Theatre in London, and followed this as Lady Holyrood in a revival of Florodora.

At the outbreak of World War II Dorothy Ward was among the first entertainers to join ENSA, for whom she toured France entertaining the troops.

Dorothy Ward was very proud of how well she'd done, and wanted everyone else to know it too.

Dorothy Ward said nothing, but on the opening night she came on with her hands behind her back and said, "Here I am, Colin the poor miller's son".

From October 1944 to January 1945 Dorothy Ward played Loretta Zelma in Meet Me Victoria at the Victoria Palace Theatre opposite Lupino Lane.

Dorothy Ward is known to have recorded four Godfrey songs: 'Blue Eyes' ; 'Tommy's Learning French' ; 'I Love My Motherland' ; and 'Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty'.

Dorothy Ward was interviewed as a castaway on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs on 23 December 1954.

Dorothy Ward died aged 96 in Hendon in London on 30 March 1987.