Diana Dors
born: 23-10-1931
birth place: Swindon, Wiltshire, UK
died: 04-05-1984
Diana Dors, born Diana Fluck, was Britain’s forerunner to Marilyn Monroe. Though stereotyped as a post-war good time girl, she was more, bringing talent and sensuality to the British cinema, as well as driving men wild with her mink bikini.
The railway town of Swindon was an unprepossessing start for a starlet, but Diana loved film from the age of three. Her mother lavished Diana with gifts and her father begrudgingly sent her to the best private schools.
Physically and socially mature for her age, Dors became a pinup girl at 13. She lied to the photographers and later directors, claiming she was 17. Her first flirt with the camera came at 15, in 'The Shop at Sly Corner'. She played the beautiful blond in the background, a role that she was to repeat with frequency, along with that of a gold-digger.
She trained at the Royal Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (RAMDA) and cornered the market as a sex-pot with character. In 1948, she appeared in six films, some unaccredited walk-ons, others with actual character; the best as Charlotte in 'Oliver Twist'.
A genius at publicity, whether through her love life or her attire, Dors was a glamour sensation, unrivalled throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s. She was a darling of the tabloid press and a good friend of the notorious East End gangsters, The Kray twins.
As age advanced and she was no longer able to rely just on her siren status, Dors developed into a credible character actress in the 1970’s, playing in 'The Amazing Mr. Blunden' and 'Steaming'. She also tried, but failed, to become a success in Hollywood.
Her last jobs were as Adam Ant's fairy godmother in the video of 'Prince Charming', and also as an agony aunt on GMTV.
She died of stomach cancer in 1984.
