Trivia

Made a special guest appearance at the 2005 British Soap Awards and received a standing ovation.

When she auditioned for the part of Lou Beale in EastEnders (1985) she took along her birth certificate to prove that she had been born in Hackney and therefore qualified as a real Eastender, and to prove she was the daughter of a greengrocer like the character that she was due to play.

She was 71 when she auditioned for the role of Lou Beale on EastEnders (1985). She took along her birth certificate to prove she was the daughter of a greengrocer in London's East End.

Was in attendance at the funeral of her former EastEnders (1985) co-star Wendy Richard (9 March 2009).

She was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to Drama and to Charity.

Had 5 grandchildren.

Mother of Mark Wing-Davey (b. November 30, 1948, father is her now ex-husband Peter Davey) and John O'Connor (b.1953, father is her now ex-boyfriend Philip O'Connor).

She started out as an artist's model, and worked in hospitals as a Red Cross volunteer during WWII. She received a scholarship from an unknown benefactor to the Croydon School of Acting when she was 21.

At age 11, she was inspired to become an actor after seeing John Gielgud on stage at the Old Vic.

She attended the funeral of Wendy Richard MBE at a church in Marylebone, London, England.