Diana Dors (born Diana Mary Fluck; October 23, 1931 – May 4, 1984) was an English actress and singer. She showed an early ambition for acting, reportedly deciding she wanted to be a movie star by the age of three.
At 14, in 1946, Dors won a scholarship to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), where she was the youngest student. Her teachers noticed her natural screen presence and glamorous style. “When I took the train from my home town of Swindon to the big city, I booked a one way ticket,” she said. “I was fourteen at the time, had thirty bob in a rather shabby handbag – and was determined to make my fortune.”
In 1947, at the age of 15, she signed with the Rank Organisation and joined their “Charm School.” The studio aimed to develop stars who could compete with American counterparts like Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. Dors made her screen debut with small uncredited roles in British films like The Shop at Sly Corner (1947) and A Boy, a Girl and a Bike (1949). Even in brief appearances, her vivacious looks drew attention.
During her time with Rank, Dors gained notoriety for publicity photographs and was willing to do glamour shots, leading to a reputation and nickname as “The Body” by August 1947. She was one of the last and most successful actresses to emerge from the studio system of post-war British cinema.
0 comments:
Post a Comment