Anecdotes

Pregnant in 1955 and 1957, she suffered miscarriages on both occasions, which led to severe depression and a nervous breakdown. She suffered a third miscarriage and in 1980 and was hospitalised again for depression and alcohol dependency. She did bear one biological child, William Lawton, after she and her husband had adopted two children: Daniel and Georgina. Daniel had one son (Samuel) and William had one son (Nathaniel). Georgina Lawton died from alcoholism at the age of only 36.

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.

Achieved trans-Atlantic recognition in Britain and on Broadway as the bigoted, domineering, alcoholic mother ("Helen") of Rita Tushingham's character ("Jo") in Un goût de miel (1961).

The younger of two children of Albert Broadbent (1894-1959), the director of a cotton mill, and Georgina (née Hill) Broadbent (1896-1960), Dora, at age 12, 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.

Used to own Clarges Hotel in Brighton which was seen in Carry on at Your Convenience (1971), when the workers' coach pulls up outside. Exterior shots of the hotel were used in Carry on Girls (1973). The hotel was later converted into a block of flats (an apartment building).

Bryan was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama, as well as for her charitable work on behalf of animals in need as well as the homeless.

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.

Twice played the mother in a mother and daughter role with Anne Reid, both times for Victoria Wood, despite being only a dozen years older than Reid. The first time was in 1986 in a sketch in an episode of Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV (1985), and the second time was in 1998 in an episode of dinnerladies (1998).

Won the Variety Club of Great Britain best stage actress award for She Stoops to Conquer.

Children Daniel born1958, Georgina born 1960 and William born 1961.

She spent time at +Oldham Repertory Theatre.

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".

Gave up smoking in 1985. Retired in 2006.

Named Best Actress in 1962 for A Taste of Honey.

By the time she was 37 she had made 50 films.

Although she won acclaim, winning a Best British Actress BAFTA, for playing Helen in the 1961 film version of "A Taste of Honey" she never appeared on stage in the role. Avis Bunnage played the part in the original London production (1958/59) and Angela Lansbury took on the role on Broadway (1960).