Actress. From a career of more than 50 years she shall probably be remembered for a late-life role, that of the foul mouthed, dope smoking, Doris on the BBC comedy television series "Gavin & Stacey". Raised in Swansea, she graduated from London's Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in 1950. After some radio and stage appearances she made her 1956 television debut in a Welsh language drama; over the years she continued with her radio and live theatre work, and even made a few movies, but was to have her greatest impact on the small screen. Her long list of credits includes appearances on "Doctor Who" and "Coronation Street", while her first major hit came in the early 1980s as doctors' office receptionist Marian Owen in the ITV soap "Crossroads". John worked steadily and earned praise in the reoccuring roles of Elsie Hepplewhite in "High Hopes" from 2002 to 2008 and of Doris in "Gavin & Stacey" from 2007 until 2010. In 2009 she was seen on stage in "The Vagina Monologues" and had turns in the film shorts "Cow" and "A Bit of Tom Jones?", while on May 17th. of that year she was presented a Welsh BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award. Kept busy in private life with charity work she never retired, being seen in the drama "Alys" only three days prior to her death in a Swansea hospital.
Actress. From a career of more than 50 years she shall probably be remembered for a late-life role, that of the foul mouthed, dope smoking, Doris on the BBC comedy television series "Gavin & Stacey". Raised in Swansea, she graduated from London's Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in 1950. After some radio and stage appearances she made her 1956 television debut in a Welsh language drama; over the years she continued with her radio and live theatre work, and even made a few movies, but was to have her greatest impact on the small screen. Her long list of credits includes appearances on "Doctor Who" and "Coronation Street", while her first major hit came in the early 1980s as doctors' office receptionist Marian Owen in the ITV soap "Crossroads". John worked steadily and earned praise in the reoccuring roles of Elsie Hepplewhite in "High Hopes" from 2002 to 2008 and of Doris in "Gavin & Stacey" from 2007 until 2010. In 2009 she was seen on stage in "The Vagina Monologues" and had turns in the film shorts "Cow" and "A Bit of Tom Jones?", while on May 17th. of that year she was presented a Welsh BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award. Kept busy in private life with charity work she never retired, being seen in the drama "Alys" only three days prior to her death in a Swansea hospital.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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