Subject

Actor and singer. Born Diana Mary Fluck in Swindon. She was promoted as the English Marilyn Monroe, and at the age of 16, joined J. Arthur Rank's charm school appearing in many of his films. She attracted interest in Hollywood, and signed a three-film contract with RKO Pictures. Returning to Britain, she had a moderately successful recording career.

'Dors' was her maternal grandmother's maiden name. She married 3 times: Gittins - widowed after 8 years; Dawson - 2 sons, they divorced after 7 years; actor Alan Lake, married in 1968, a son in 1969 and together until her death.

It is said that she was a close friend of Ruth Ellis, (the last woman to be hanged in Britain) who had a bit part in one of her films. In 1982, she gave her son, Mark Dawson, a code that would reveal the whereabouts of £2 million pounds which had been secreted in various European banks. Her last husband, Alan Lake, supposedly had the key to the code, but he committed suicide shortly after her death, and the money has never been traced.

Our image comes from Barrons and apparently shows Dors in her home in Burnsall Street.