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Elizabeth DawnBritish actress
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
Early Life and Career
Elizabeth Dawn (born Sylvia Butterfield) was born on 8 November 1939 in Leeds, Yorkshire, and grew up in the Holton Moor estate. She began her career as a nightclub singer before venturing into acting in the late 1960s.
Dawn landed small roles in television programs and commercials, including a memorable Cadbury's biscuit advert that brought her further attention. In the 1970s, she played supporting roles in "All Creatures Great and Small" and Colin Welland's television play "Leeds United" (1974). She also appeared in several episodes of "Play for Today" in the mid-1970s.
Coronation Street
Dawn made her debut in the long-running soap opera "Coronation Street" in 1974. She periodically reprised her role as factory worker Vera Duckworth, with Vera's husband Jack, played by Bill Tarmey, first appearing in 1979.
After Dawn was diagnosed with emphysema in March 2004, Granada Television, which produces "Coronation Street," announced on 22 July 2007 that Vera Duckworth would be "written out" by Christmas at the actress's request due to her deteriorating health. Dawn's last full episode of the soap aired on 18 January 2008, with Vera dying in her sleep according to the storyline.
Dawn returned to the show once on 8 November 2010, in an episode where her on-screen husband Jack dies in the same chair as Vera did. The actress portrayed Vera's ghost, who comes to take Jack away; the final scene depicts the couple dancing. In December 2015, Dawn appeared in one episode of the soap opera "Emmerdale Farm" as Mrs. Winterbottom.
Honors and Accolades
Elizabeth Dawn was appointed an MBE in 2000 for services to drama. She also received a British Soap Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2008 for her decades-long portrayal of her iconic character.
Health and Advocacy
Dawn was diagnosed with emphysema (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in March 2004. She attributed her condition to her smoking habit and her years of performing in smoky nightclubs.
In June 2008, Dawn became a "star supporter" of the British Lung Foundation, a charity that raises awareness of lung conditions and provides support to people affected by lung disease. Dawn worked to raise awareness of COPD.
In 2013, Dawn revealed that her health had deteriorated after she suffered a heart attack and that her lung function had reduced to a third. In September 2017, Elizabeth was admitted to a hospital in Manchester with severe breathing difficulties. Dawn, who had given up smoking in 2002, stated that her emphysema had been so severe in the past that she had almost fainted while receiving her MBE at Buckingham Palace.
Death and Legacy
Liz Dawn passed away on 25 September 2017, at her home in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, after a long battle with COPD. Tributes poured in from former "Coronation Street" cast and crew, as well as fans of the soap, including Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who praised Dawn's acting and political activism in a Twitter message.
Former "Coronation Street" actress and current Labour MP Tracy Brabin said of Elizabeth: "She was a legend and an icon, an incredible person to work with... Completely authentic, a natural comic genius, with a heart as big as Manchester."
