Diana Dors
(1931-1984), ActressSitter in 18 portraits
Britain's platinum-blonde answer to Marilyn Monroe studied at LAMDA and made her screen debut at 14 in The Shop at Sly Corner (1946). She followed this with Good Time Girl (1948) and Dance Hall (1950). Her playgirl image, vulgarly exaggerated sexuality and poor choice of film roles disguised her real acting potential best seen in her film based on the Ruth Ellis case Yield to the Night (1956). Dors continued working until her early death at 53 making a notable appearance in her last film, an adaptation of Nell Dunn's play Steaming (1984).
Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
by Harry George Gillard ('Gill')
vintage bromide print, 1955
NPG x199710
Diana Dors aboard the Queen Elizabeth liner
by Unknown photographer
gelatin silver print, 26 June 1956
NPG x194476
by Michael Ward
selenium-toned archival bromide print, 26 June 1961
NPG x46558
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