English actress
Made a special guest appearance at the 2005 British Soap Awards and received a standing ovation.
Was in attendance at the funeral of her former "EastEnders" co-star Wendy Richard (9 March 2009).
She was awarded the MBE in the 2009 Queens Birthday Honours List for her services to Drama and to Charity.
When she auditioned for the part of Lou Beale in "EastEnders" she took along her birth certificate to prove that she had been born in Hackney and therefore qualified as a real Eastender, and to prove she was the daughter of a greengrocer like the character that she was due to play.
Had 5 grandchildren.
Mother of Mark Wing-Davey (b. November 30, 1948, father is her now ex-husband Peter Davey) and John OConnor (b.1953, father is her now ex-boyfriend Philip OConnor).
She started out as an artists model, and worked in hospitals as a Red Cross volunteer during WWII. She received a scholarship from an unknown benefactor to the Croydon School of Acting when she was 21.
She was 71 when she auditioned for the role of Lou Beale on "EastEnders" . She took along her birth certificate to prove she was the daughter of a greengrocer in Londons East End.
At age 11, she was inspired to become an actor after seeing John Gielgud on stage at the Old Vic.
She attended the funeral of Wendy Richard MBE at a church in Marylebone, London, England.
