Biography

Dilys Laye

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Overview

Born
March 11, 1934 · Muswell Hill, London, England, UK
Died
February 13, 2009 · London, England, UK (lung cancer)
Birth name
Dilys Margaret Lay

Mini bio

A raven-haired, sometimes blonde (particularly in the earlier years) pretty actress, Dilys Laye was capable of a wide range of roles, from straight drama to comedy. She began in the 1950s, like most other British screen actresses of the era, in studio-system-style films. One of her first films was Paper Gallows (1950) and she continued in popular movies like Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957) and Doctor at Large (1957).

Today she is often remembered for her appearances in the "Carry On.." films. Her first "Carry On..." appearance was in Carry on Cruising (1962), where along with Esma Cannon she stole many of the best comedy scenes from the regular cast; the bar scene is an example of this. She took over the role at four days' notice when Joan Sims was unable to appear because of ill health. Her next 'Carry On...' appearance saw her take on a sinister and darker role in Carry on Spying (1964) as Lila. She even sang, in a café-bar scene. In Carry on Doctor (1967) she played patient Mavis Winkle, who is searching for love and finds it in the unusual place of the hospital ward, and in Carry on Camping (1969) she appeared alongside "Carry On..." legend Joan Sims. They were perfectly cast together and complement each other's performances throughout the movie.

After that time her work was mainly on the stage with some television and film appearances. She made appearances in soaps such as Coronation Street (1960) and EastEnders (1985). Other character parts included Holby City (1999) and Doctors (2000).

She played Queen Elizabeth II in The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006).
- IMDb mini biography by: Bobby G

Family

Spouses

Trivia

Lifelong friend of "Carry On..." star Joan Sims, they first met when Dilys was 16.
Was allowed to keep most of the costumes she wore in the Carry On films, in particular. Carry on Cruising (1962) and Carry on Camping (1969).
Was taught poker by Sidney James during the filming of Carry on Camping (1969).
For the last 20 years she lived off Wimbledon Common in the house where she nursed her sick husband, the actor/writer Alan Downer, until his death in 1995. The stress of caring for him brought on her own serious illness but she recovered.
Replaced Joan Sims in Carry on Cruising (1962) as Flo Castle three days before filming commenced. The producers rushed Dilys around London in order to get her fitted with costumes in time.

Quotes

[Speaking about Pinewood Studios and the Carry On films] "We were an elite. It was like being at school, we belonged there."
I've been lucky to play so many different types of women, from a sexy nightclub singer to Mrs Sparsit in Hard Times and I'm still having as much fun as I did when I started, which isn't bad going after 60 years, is it?
Theatre companies are like families and these days of course I'm the mother, dispensing tea and sympathy to anyone who needs it.
My mother always loved the theatre and wanted to be an actress herself. She would have loved me to go to the RADA and become a proper actress but I'd already seen Dolores Gray in "Annie Get Your Gun", so I had other ideas.