Doris was born 1st March
1905 in Bargoed, Glamorganshire, Wales. Born into
an acting family, her Father, Mother 3 Brothers and 2
Sisters were all on the stage. At the age of three she
made her professional debut at the Alexander Portable
Theatre in their production of Current Cash. She
continued working in music halls and choruses before
making her West End debut at The Palace as Sally in The
Scarlet Clue in 1916.
In a packed career that spanned
almost ninety years she has toured Ireland, Australia
and South Africa as well as appearing in America in
various productions including Night Must Fall. She has
also played a principal boy in pantomimes and has worked
for the Royal Shakespeare Company and The National
Theatre.
Doris had a long and
outstanding career but was always modest about this.
The roles she played were many and varied and was a
forces sweetheart of The Merchant Navy often heard on
radio during the war in "Shipmates Ashore"
Doris was awarded
the MBE. Doris never forgot her roots and carried on working
until she sadly passed away at the age of 95. The
actress died on at Denville Hall, the actors' retirement
home in Northwood, Middlesex.
The role of Mum made her famous around the world, but
played so many other roles that her whole life was that
of acting, and was to be a subject of This is your life. |