Diana Dors [Diana Fluck] (1931-1984) b. Swindon, England.

Born Diana Fluck to middle-class parents in Swindon, Wiltshire, curvaceous blonde actress Diana Dors was touted as Britain’s answer to Marilyn Monroe. The daughter of a railway clerk, Diana was a student at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and by the age of 15 had made her uncredited film debut in The Shop at Sly Corner (1946). Signed as a Rank starlet by J. Arthur Rank, she appeared as a troubled teenager in David MacDonald’s Good-Time Girl (1947). Promoted by Rank as a sex symbol, she was cast in various low-budget drama and comedies, and despite proving her acting credentials with effective dramatic performances in A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) and J. Lee Thompson’s capital punishment critique Yield to the Night (1956), she was usually seen in sexy-siren supporting assignments.

When acting roles weren’t forthcoming she toured the country with her one woman cabaret act despite the fact she couldn’t really sing and certainly couldn’t dance. In the late 1960s, Diana continued to be cast in worthwhile supporting roles but was increasing finding work in the blossoming new medium of television. During the 70s she had notable minor roles as the ex-wife of Peter Sellers in There’s a Girl in My Soup (1970), a frustrated housewife in Jerzy Skolimowski’s Deep End (1970), and an excellent character role in The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972). She retained her personal popularity and became a tabloid favourite due to her turbulent private life but was still prolific in television light entertainment throughout the decade. Diana had also become increasingly involved in working for various religious and charitable causes. She returned to screen acting in Joseph Losey’s Steaming (1984) immediately prior to her death from ovarian cancer aged 52.