June Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
June Brown
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Brown in April 2009
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| Born |
June Muriel Brown
16 February 1927 Needham Market, Suffolk, England
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| Died | 3 April 2022 (aged 95) Surrey, England
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1952–2021 |
| Known for | Role of Dot Cotton in EastEnders |
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| Children | 6 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
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Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1944–1945 |
| Unit | Women's Royal Naval Service |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
June Muriel Brown (born February 16, 1927 – died April 3, 2022) was a famous English actress and author. She was best known for playing the character Dot Cotton in the popular BBC TV show EastEnders. She played this role for many years, from 1985 to 1993, and then again from 1997 to 2020.
In 2005, June won the Best Actress award at the Inside Soap Awards. She also received a special Lifetime Achievement award at the British Soap Awards. For her amazing work in acting and for her charity efforts, she was honored with the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 2009, she was even nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress. This was a big deal because it's rare for actors in soap operas to get a BAFTA nomination. June decided to leave EastEnders for good in February 2020, when she was 93 years old.
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Early Life and Education
June Brown was born on February 16, 1927, in Needham Market, a town in Suffolk, England. She was one of five children in her family. Her family background included English, Irish, and Scottish roots. She also had Sephardic Jewish heritage from her grandmother, who came from Algeria, the Netherlands, and Italy. Through her grandmother, she was related to a famous Jewish boxer named Isaac Bitton.
June went to St John's Church of England School in Ipswich. She then earned a scholarship to Ipswich High School. There, she passed her school certificate exams. During the Second World War, she was sent away for safety to a Welsh village called Pontyates. Later in the war, she served in the Wrens, which was part of the Royal Navy for women. After the war, she trained as an actress at the Old Vic Theatre School in London.
June's Acting Career
June Brown had a very long career in television and theatre. She appeared in many popular shows and plays.
Television and Film Roles
June had many small roles in TV shows. She was in Coronation Street in the early 1970s. She also appeared in Doctor Who as Lady Eleanor in 1973–1974. Other shows she was in include Angels, Minder, and The Bill. She played Mrs. Leyton in The Duchess of Duke Street and Mrs. Mann in Oliver Twist.
She also acted in several movies. These included the horror film Psychomania (1971) and the comedy Bean (1997). In 2006, June played Aunt Spiker at the Children's Party at the Palace. This was a special event to celebrate the Queen's 80th birthday. In 2010, June even took part in the Christmas special of Strictly Come Dancing. She danced the tango with her partner, Vincent Simone.
In 2012, June hosted a documentary for the BBC called Respect Your Elders. This show explored how society treats older people.
Theatre Performances
June was also very active in theatre. She directed plays like Pin Money and Double D. She played Mrs. Danvers in a touring show of Rebecca. Other plays she performed in include An Inspector Calls, The Lion in Winter, and A View from the Bridge. Early in her career, she even played big roles like Hedda Gabler and Lady Macbeth. In 2009, June played Jessie in the West End play Calendar Girls. She acted alongside other former EastEnders stars in this show.
Playing Dot Cotton in EastEnders
June Brown was suggested for the role of Dot Cotton in EastEnders by another original cast member, Leslie Grantham. She played Dot from 1985 to 2020, with a break between 1993 and 1997.
On January 31, 2008, June made history. She became the first and only soap opera actor to carry an entire episode by herself. The episode was called "Pretty Baby....". In it, her character Dot spoke into a tape recorder, sharing memories of her life for her husband Jim, who was in the hospital. This episode was very touching because the actor who played Jim, John Bardon, was also recovering from a stroke in real life. In 2009, June was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actress for this special episode.
In 2012, June took a six-month break from EastEnders to write her autobiography. Her book, Before The Year Dot, was published in 2013.
In 2015, June shared that her eyesight was getting worse due to a condition called macular degeneration. Later, in 2016, this was written into Dot's storyline on the show. June said in 2019 that her eyesight had worsened and that she didn't go out much because of it. On February 20, 2020, June announced that she had officially left EastEnders.
Personal Life and Legacy
In 1950, June married actor John Garley. He passed away in 1957. In 1958, she married another actor, Robert Arnold. They had six children together in seven years, though one child sadly died very young. June and Robert were married for 45 years until he passed away in 2003 from a type of dementia. After that, June lived alone in Surrey.
June was a supporter of the Conservative Party in politics. She was also a Christian, just like her character Dot Cotton.
June was honored twice by the British Crown. She was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2008. Then, in 2022, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Both honors were for her services to drama and to charity.
June Brown passed away on April 3, 2022, at the age of 95. When her death was announced, EastEnders paid tribute to her. Many of her former co-stars shared their sadness. The episode of EastEnders broadcast that evening was dedicated to her memory. After the show, the BBC aired a documentary about June called June Brown: A Walford Legend and an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? that featured her.
Awards and Recognition
June Brown received many awards and nominations throughout her career for her role as Dot Cotton in EastEnders.
- In 2000, she won Best Actress at the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards.
- In 2001, she won Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards. She also won Best Storyline for Dot's Schizophrenia Plot.
- In 2002, she won Best On Screen Partnership at The British Soap Awards, sharing it with John Bardon (who played Jim).
- In 2005, she won Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards and Best Couple (with John Bardon). She also received the Lifetime Achievement Award at The British Soap Awards.
- In 2009, she was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Actress in a Leading Role.
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