Movie star Diana Dors was known as the British Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s thanks to her curvy figure, blonde hair and undoubtable sex appeal.
Here we look back at her dramatic life including her three husbands and the death of her youngest son alongside plenty of gorgeous photos of the star.
What was Diana's real name?
She was born Diana Mary Fluck, but changed her name – along with her hair colour – to become a Hollywood star.
Diana Dors: the British Marilyn Monroe
At the age of eight Diana Mary Fluck exclaimed to her classmates, “when I grow up I am going to be a film star and live in a big house with a swimming pool and a cream telephone”. And although it might have sounded precocious, she ended up being completely right! Like a butterfly she emerged from her childhood to become the blonde bombshell Diana Dors, also known as the British Marilyn Monroe.
Diana Dors’ life story
Born in Swindon in 1931 to Albert and Winifred 'Mary' Fluck, the young Diana was doted on by her mother, who encouraged her daughter's dream of becoming a famous actress. Diana had nothing but the best – she attended private school, took elocution lessons and wore the finest clothes in town. Diana's father was more conservative and hoped that one day she would find work as secretary, settle in Swindon and marry 'a decent sort of chap' - an idea which horrified Diana with her dreams of Hollywood.
"I based my career on sex: on men, sex and money, in that order"
Diana Dors: the flirt!
Diana's world changed in 1944 when the American GI's came to Swindon during the Second World War. She was just 13 and it was as if Hollywood had landed on her doorstep!
Mary allowed Diana to attend GI dances on the condition that she accompany her. With her glamorous clothes and flawless make-up, a 13-year-old Diana told everyone she was 17 and as she jitterbugged the night away no one questioned it! Diana also took part in dramatic productions put on by the new influx of Americans and her talent was soon recognised.
Eventually, after much persuasion by Mary, Albert allowed Diana to attend drama school as a full-time student. In 1946 Diana left Swindon and became the youngest ever student at LAMDA.
Soon after she was offered a screen test for the film 'The Shop At Sly Corner'. Her agent suggested she change her surname from Fluck to something more glamorous, so she took the name of her maternal grandmother and Diana Dors was born.
Diana Dors’ wedding to Dennis Hamilton
In 1951, Diana married Dennis Hamilton – a charmer with a flair for publicity. The wedding was a media frenzy, but did not run smoothly after Hamilton had an altercation with the registrar.
"I never fell in love with Dennis nor loved him in the truest sense of the word. Rather I was the fly caught in the spider’s web"
Diana soon became a phenomenon and with her abundance of confidence and glamour she was a welcome relief to the austerity of the war years. She turned down the offer of a Hollywood contract, became the youngest registered owner of a Rolls Royce (despite the fact she had not yet passed her test) and released a book of risqué photos entitled Diana Dors in 3-D, complete with glasses! At the Venice Film festival she almost caused a riot when she sailed down the Grand Canal in a mink bikini.
What films was Diana Dors in?
Diana's most celebrated role was in Yield to the Night (1956), in which she played a condemned woman in a prison cell. Diana won both critical acclaim and respect as a serious actress – she was now Britain's highest paid film star, residing in a 23-bedroom mansion, complete with the swimming pool and the cream telephone she'd dreamed of as a child.
Hollywood beckoned and Diana signed a three-picture deal with RKO studios. When Diana held a party for all the Hollywood luminaries it ended in chaos when she and Dennis were knocked into the swimming pool by a photographer. A fight ensued, resulting in the headline 'Go Home Diana and Take Mr Dors With You'.
By this time, she and Dennis had grown apart – she had become weary of his womanising ways, aggressive outbursts and controlling nature. Diana's third Hollywood picture never materialised and she returned to England. Months later, after a short illness Dennis passed away at the age of just 34.
Diana Dors’ first sons Mark and Gary
In 1959, Diana married comedian Dickie Dawson. They had two sons, Mark Dawson and Gary Dawson. While pregnant with Mark, Diana recorded the classic lounge album 'Swingin' Dors' and also released an autobiography of the same name, which caused quite a stir with its scandalous revelations. The family made a permanent move to America, but the marriage eventually failed and she once again returned to Britain.
Diana Dors and Alan Lake
Disappointed by the film work on offer during the Seventies, Diana forged a career touring working men's clubs and branched out into TV. It was on the set of the TV show The Inquisitors that Diana met actor Alan Lake. The two soon married and had a son named Jason.
In 1978 Diana released her first book For Adults Only which was a bestseller. She also became an agony aunt for the Daily Star and dazzled as the Fairy Godmother in Adam and the Ants Prince Charming video. In 1981 she celebrated her 50th birthday on a special edition of The Russell Harty Show filmed at her sumptuous home, Orchard Manor.
The death of Diana Dors' son Jason
The youngest of Diana's three sons, Jason Dors Lake was sadly found dead at his flat by a friend days after turning 50.
Jason had been open about his struggle with alcohol throughout is life but Jason is said to have particularly struggled after witnessing the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017 and following this he returned to drinking.
It is believed that Jason had planned a trip to Columbia with his girlfriend, but wasn't allowed to board the plane due to being too drunk. He instead returned to his flat in West London alone.
A friend said: "I think he was just drinking a huge amount and had taken some pills and just didn’t wake up.
"A friend had to climb through the window to check he was okay and found him."
Diana Dors’ death
During the last two years of her life Diana battled cancer, but her vigour and determination meant she did not stop working. She had a regular slot on TVAM and continued with her many television appearances.
In March 1984 she began her final film, Steaming. Sadly, on May 4th 1984, Diana passed away. Her devastated husband Alan told the press that “The world has lost a legend”. Unable to live with his grief Alan took his own life in October 1984, 16 years after they first met.
The death of Alan Lake
Following Diana's death, Alan immediately burnt all of her clothes, falling into a depression. Five months after Diana's' death, he took Jason, who was then a teenager, to the railway station. He then returned to his home, and shot himself dead in their son's bedroom.
Diana Dors' funeral
Diana claimed to have left a large fortune to her son, in a secret code given to Alan Lake - but no code was found and this remains a mystery.
Diana Dors was a British icon, she was admired for her wit, talent and courage. When reflecting on her life in her autobiography Dors by Diana she exclaimed she “enjoyed the whole absurd mess to the highest possible degree”.
Quotes from Diana Dors
"I am by English standards, a fairly flamboyant character ... I am paid large sums of money not because I look and act like the girl next door, but because my name is linked immediately with mink, fast cars and pink champagne."
"The figure was fabulous, but my face was never much, little eyes and lips like rubber tires, I did well because I was the first and only British blonde bombshell."
"I'm the only sex symbol Britain has produced since Lady Godiva."
"When Marilyn Monroe's first film was shown here, a columnist actually wrote, 'How much like our Diana Dors she is'."
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