Edna Doré

Edna Lillian Doré (''née'' Gorring; 31 May 1921 – 11 April 2014) was a British actress. She was known for her bit-part roles in sitcoms and for playing the character of Mo Butcher in ''EastEnders'' from 1988 to 1990.

Career

Doré began her career as a chorus girl in ENSA, then joined the wartime company of Phyllis Dixey at the Whitehall Theatre as a dancer. She later spent 17 years in repertory theatre before becoming a member of the National Theatre for 10 years, especially remembered for her roles in productions directed by Bill Bryden, such as '' The Mysteries''. She turned to television acting in 1960 and had parts in many successful series, including ''Dixon of Dock Green'', ''Doctor in the House'', '' The Liver Birds'', '' Terry and June'', '' Tenko'', ''Z-Cars'', and ''Open All Hours''.

In 1988, she starred in Mike Leigh's film '' High Hopes'', for which she received the award for Best Supporting Player at the 1989 European Film Awards. Here, she played Mrs. Bender, who suffers from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. That year, she was cast in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', where she played Mo Butcher, the battleaxe mother of Mike Reid's character, Frank Butcher. During her time in the show, she received wide acclaim for her portrayal of an elderly lady's descent into Alzheimer's disease. The story—about the effect that Alzheimer's has on the sufferer's family—had to be curtailed when Doré decided to leave the programme in 1990. The character was killed off at the end of 1992. In 1997, she played Kath in '' Nil by Mouth''. Other film credits include '' Tube Tales'' (1999), ''Weak at Denise'' (2001) and '' All or Nothing'' (2002).

In later years, she had parts in many television shows, including: '' Love Hurts'' (1992), ''A Year in Provence'' (1993), '' Casualty'' (1987; 1993;1997), ''Men Behaving Badly'' (1997), '' Peak Practice'' (2000), ''Holby City'' (2001), '' Time Gentlemen Please'' (2000–2002), ''The Bill'' (2002; 2003 & 2006), '' Eyes Down'' (2003–2004), '' Murder in Mind'' (2003), '' My Family'' (2004), '' All About George'' (2005), '' Hotel Babylon'' (2006) and '' Doctors'' (2006). She played the role of Maeve in the ''Doctor Who'' episode " Fear Her" in June 2006.

In September 2006, she appeared in the comedy show '' That Mitchell and Webb Look'', and in April 2007, she appeared as a guest star in ITV's '' Diamond Geezer'', playing the role of Violet. On 24 December 2008, she appeared in the Christmas special of '' Gavin & Stacey'' as Edna, Pete Sutcliffe's (Adrian Scarborough) mother, again playing a character affected by dementia. In February 2009, she held a small role in an episode of ''Minder''. She also played Grace in '' Skellig''. In January 2010, she appeared as Nin Gallagher, the grandmother of Frank Gallagher, in the series '' Shameless''. The same year, she appeared in Mike Leigh's film '' Another Year''. In March 2011, she appeared in an episode of ''Midsomer Murders''.

Radio

Doré was also a radio actor. She was heard in ''Bringing Eddie Home'' by John Peacock, based on a true story of the fight by Eastend couple Edna and Jack Wallace to have their son's body brought home from Aden, and the ensuing fight for the rights of British servicepeople. In February and March 1998, Doré appeared in the BBC Radio 4 series '' Paradise Lost in Cyberspace''. In her final radio role, she played Alice in ''A Telegram from the Queen'', broadcast in 2011.

Personal life

Doré lived in Barnes. She married actor, stage director and writer Alexander Doré in 1946 in St Pancras, London and was with him until his death in 2002.Alexander DORÉ profile
ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2014. Her son, Michael Doré, owns a pub in Hampshire. Doré studied acting with Anna Wing, known for playing Lou Beale in ''EastEnders''. Doré died on 11 April 2014 at the age of 92, from emphysema.

Filmography

References

External links

*
Interview promoting ''Eyes Down''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dore, Edna
1921 births
2014 deaths
Actors from the London Borough of Bromley
Actresses from Kent
English soap opera actresses
English television actresses
European Film Awards winners (people)
People from Bromley
Deaths from emphysema