June Brown is a beloved television actress who is best known for playing Dot Cotton on EastEnders, the incredibly popular British soap opera, for nearly 35 years.
Along with her many accomplishments thanks to her work on EastEnders, Brown has also appeared in a number of plays throughout her career. From where she was born and raised to the tragedy she’s survived, here are five fast facts about the actress.
Who Is June Brown?
Brown was born on February 16 in Needham Market, Suffolk. She attended St. John’s Church of England School and then went on to Ipswich High School. She served in the Wrens (Royal Navy) during World War II and was trained at The Old Vic Theatre School in Lambeth.
Soap Career
Brown has been working in television since the 1950s. Her first soap role was from 1970-71 when she played Mrs. Parsons on Coronation Street. In 1973. She played Sister Waters on General Hospital. In 1985, she was cast as Dot Cotton in EastEnders, thanks to Leslie Grantham, one of the show’s original cast members, who recommended her to producers. Brown is currently the longest-running actress in the history of EastEnders.
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Theater Vet
Along with her work in television, Brown has also performed in the theater throughout her career. She played the role of Chica in The Rough and Ready Lot and has appeared in other plays such as An Inspector Calls, The Lion in Winter, and A View from the Bridge. She also directed Pin Money and Double D.
A Special First
Brown became the first and only actress to carry an entire episode of EastEnders by herself on January 31, 2008. She was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress in 2009, becoming the first actress to be nominated in that category for a soap opera since 1988.
Getting Personal With June Brown
Brown married actor John Garley when she was 23, but he suffered from depression and ended up taking his own life in 1957. She then married Robert Arnold in 1958 and they had six children together. They were together for 45 years before he passed away in 2003. She has also survived the loss of her daughter, Chloe.
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