June Brown

June Muriel Brown (16 February 1927 – 3 April 2022) was an English actress and author. She gained fame for her portrayal of Dot Cotton on the BBC soap opera EastEnders (1985–1993; 1997–2020). Brown received several accolades for her work, including the Best Actress award at the Inside Soap Awards in 2005 and a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2005 British Soap Awards. She was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2008 and promoted to an OBE in 2022 for her contributions to drama and charity. Brown was also nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress in 2009, marking her as the second soap opera performer to receive a BAFTA nomination. In February 2020, at the age of 93, she announced her permanent departure from EastEnders. Born on 16 February 1927 in Needham Market, Suffolk, Brown had English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.