Actress. Born Dora May Broadbent, she made her stage debut aged 12 before working with Ensa, the armed forces’ entertainment body, during World War II. After moving to London, she was encouraged to change her surname by Noel Coward while appearing in a production of his play ‘Private Lives’. She went on to play the title role in ‘Hello, Dolly’ on stage and made appearances in such films as ‘The Blue Lamp’ (1950), ‘Carry On Sergeant’ (1958), ‘A Taste of Honey’ (for which she won the best actress BAFTA in 1962), ‘The Great St. Trinian’s Train Robbery’ (1966) ‘Apartment Zero’ (1988) and ‘MirrorMask’ (2005). She also had a recurring roles in ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ and ‘Last of the Summer Wine’. Bryan, who became an Order of the British Empire in 1996, died of natural causes. (bio by: Louis M.)