Dora Bryan

She was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1995 (1994 season) for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in "The Birthday Party".

She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1996 Queens Birthday Honours List for her services to drama.

She has done a lot of charity work to help homeless and sick animals.

Gave up smoking in 1985.

Retired in 2006.

(September 2013) Brighton, East Sussex, UK: Now 90 Dora is the subject of a major exhibition @ Grange Museum, Rottingdean, East Sussex Sep 2013 - Apr 2014. On display is her Best Actress Academy Award for her 1961 film A Taste of Honey.

She chose the stage surname "Bryant" after the popular brand of matches Bryant and May but had to change it to "Bryan" after a theatre mis-spelled her chosen name in a theatre programme.

She first appeared on stage, in a pantomime in Manchester, when she was 12. She worked with Ensa, the armed forces entertainment body, during World War II.

Was several times hospitalised after nervous breakdowns caused by repeated miscarriages.

At one time ran a hotel in Brighton, which she later converted into a block of flats.

Achieved international recognition as the domineering alcoholic mother of Rita Tushingham in "A Taste of Honey".

At the age of 12, she made her stage debut in a pantomime in Manchester. At 15 she joined Oldham Repertory as an assistant stage manager and remained with the company for four years, by which time she had graduated to playing juvenile leads.

Was the younger of two children of the director of a cotton mill.

Twice played the mother in a mother and daughter role with Anne Reid , both times for Victoria Wood and despite being only 12 years older than Reid. The first time was in 1986 in a sketch for an episode of Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV. The second time was in 1998 in an episode of Dinnerladies.